E - Vida

...Better late than never, eh? The week past was not unusually busy but it just seemed to whizz by and then I woke up and I'd missed "blog date". Fortunately, that's only a date in my  head! We missed home in Cape Town as little Bayley-Bug celebrated her first birthday and dedication. As well as the greater family having National Braai Day together. We did our best to celebrate our heritage, too, with the kids dressing up for school and then a roti-curry-malva-custard dinner last night. You never would've thought we were any distance from Athlone at all. The central heating was activated  on Monday and then promptly switched off again when the natural heat returned for a few days. What a treat to have this feature...and what a juggle to make sure that the difference between car, home, outdoors, other people's homes and the shops are carefully balanced as best as possible. For peace of mind, we took E to the Dr on Tuesday. While his result...

It's (a) cold!  Not only has the temperature taken a bit of a dip these last two days, but we've had all three kids come down with the common cold as a result of it. I have to keep reminding myself: it's not that the temperature is so low (yet), but more the difference between the crackling hot-with-humidity versus the real feel right now. While I do appreciate a good bundling up, I'm of the opinion that snot, sniffs and other silly symptoms are part of having children - or being human for that fact! So while we're medicating, adding layers and limiting outdoor and communal play, being cooped up in the house is already going to guarantee me at least three poorly poodles anyway. Thank goodness for a weekend - even if we're missing Braai Day. Since last week: E's lost a tooth. It was loose but still sore and in the end, popped out by accident. But one week later and the evidence of loss is gone as the next one didn't waste any time...

A little late this week, but for good reason. We were in Burlington yesterday - 9 weeks to the day - when we arrived from New York JFK Airport; Hot, tired, excited and heavily laden. This time, it was just the two of us in the car taking the 90 minute drive up for a meeting (but more on that another time) and then driving back down. Being without the kids for such an extended period was quite...weird. I'll be the first to admit that I was looking forward to some time to myself or at least with strictly adult company. I even started zoning out a little in the car, but then realised that the driver was quite a Chatty Cathy! I can see why the kids prefer him on the morning school rush ride in Cape Town. The route is serene. Lush green mountains, leafy rolling hills and wide open roads... As we get closer to the City though, the traffic grows, a few more long haul trucks speed by and you'd be forgiven for feeling a little anxious after all these weeks tucked away in the qui...

Hard to believe that another week has passed us by already. This morning, I watched our eldest, dressed from her neck to her ankles in a black cotton ensemble, paired faux leather pumps and her brother, barefoot in a too tight shorts and (I'm convinced, but he's not) pajamas vest , walk ahead of me on their way to Ma's house. When did they get so independent - and stylish?! Speaking of which, Baby was there too, bringing up the rear, in slacks, slops and toast in hand. I had never seen anyone more Parkwood looking this side of the Atlantic. I silently berated myself for not having my camera with me. Now this  was a memory I would've loved in the hardcopy photo album. Alas, I was trying to be ...present. Yes, the kids have been having school with Ma this week as I get stuck into another project that requires some heavy lifting and helping to sort. It gives me four, labour intensive but slightly more adult hours in a day. I'm physically exhausted at the end of th...