E - Vida

There's no sense in denying it - after my longest contract yet,  I am looking forward to a break... I'll resist the urge to make a 'To Do list' (mostly because I have a version somewhere already), and instead, pinpoint specific photos that help me identify what I look forward to doing the most during my time off: Catching up with friends -  Surrendering my smartphone was a bittersweet moment of 2013 because I no longer had the power of push-button technology to keep in touch with friends both near and far. Fortunately, I still enjoy sending snail mail. Unfortunately, I have not been very good at it over these past 8 months! It's in the post! Getting organised -  So maybe this picture is a little misleading, but I can dream right? A neat cupboard, an orderly file...these are a few of my favourite things! Ash-reorganise One-on-one contact with the kids -  It's no secret that my family means the most to me. Ask the office - I made no ap...

What was I thinking, using this blog as a platform to launch ambitious ideas like 'bake days', 'up to date journals', 'exercise programmes' and 'read-a-thons' and unintentionally make it seem as if this author runs like a well-oiled machine...when, upon closer inspection, you'll discover that on days much like today, I'm lucky to have made it out the house with matching socks and my hair slightly brushed. #thatsthetruth I started Jorja's journal as soon as I discovered that we were expecting. How's that for planning ahead?! I remember leaning over my protruding belly for days on end, copying my scribbled love letters to my unborn child into a slightly more civil format. I wanted her to know what was happening before she could read it for herself... When the news of Ethan's pending arrival broke, all I could find was a notebook meant for poems ( dare I say, another neglected line item on the list ) ... and so, Ethan's journal...

This Easter, we branded all of the treats that we exchanged with a simple picture. In the first of many efforts, we are on a mission to clarify some things around this season for our children and loved ones: 1. Easter Sunday is a celebration of Jesus' power over His crucifixion death on Good Friday and His ultimate authority over sin because of God's unconditional love for us. 2. Easter Sunday is not about the consumption of chocolates. 3. Easter should be celebrated with as much boldness and attention to detail as Christmas...if not more! A few weeks ago, fresh out of the Colour Conference hosted by Hillsong, Aunty Ilana held an impromptu shoot with young Jorja and Jude - our 2009 treasures. Turns out that these two can just pick up where they left off every time we get together, further dissing my and Noleen's dismal efforts as Mums and official play-date co-ordinators, to keep in regular contact! This year we'll be 5! Complete with gang signs... ...

Play date  or  playdate  is an expression primarily used in the US for an arranged appointment for children to get together for a few hours to  play . [1]  - Wikipedia Despite Cycle Tour silly season being over, I still find myself quite busy from nine-to-five, and  the family has to be on standby for any last minute babysitting requests. While we are thankful to all the Moms, Dads, Aunts and Sisters, this arrangement has worked out especially well for little Zac! We're able to use it as a trade exchange!! We thoroughly enjoyed having him over last weekend while his folks went off to the rugby. I would only replace the word 'play' in the definition above with: eat, sleep, splash, dig, climb, screech, dive, roll, clap, swing, submerge and ...to give us all a better understanding of what really happens on our type of play date -   The fuelling The fun: The family portrait: The fading   Forget it - I'm finished!...

In Grade 6, I took part in my first (and probably last) ever spelling bee. I remember travelling, by myself, to previously unknown parts of the Blue Route Mall in Tokai: up a flight of stairs to a white walled room with lots of chairs, not as many people and long table at the front of the room. The competition itself was a blur - but yesterday it all came flooding back as we travelled home in the car and Jorja sat behind my seat saying, "Spell hospital " "Spell  boat " "Spell xylophone " "Spell  animal " "Spell  computer " and then again "Spell  hospital " "Spell  boat " "Spell  xylophone " "Spell  animal " "Spell  computer " ...man! If those were the words in that competition 17 years ago, I would've been the Spelling Queen Bee! Admittedly, when she started going for the 3rd round of the same words, I was beginning to doubt the co...

The first term of Jorja's Grade RR year has come to an end - and we are all still standing. A scabbing scrape on the knee, a peeling lunch bag label, a growing spread of stray curls sticking straight up on her head and a t-shirt with unraveling stitching...but generally all in one piece. Before the Term started, we joked about being in constant contact (aka speed dial ) with the office - wondering what PJ's child would cook up at school...And she did not disappoint! (But in the best ways that we could've hoped for) - feedback from the Teacher, updates from the office, invitations to meet the other new parents... It was all welcome contact and we'd much rather be in the know, than be guessing what Jorja was doing from 8am - 1pm on weekdays! After just a few short weeks, Jorja discovered the after care facility. We've all had a chance to be the bearer of bad news, arriving to fetch her after school and spoiling any chance she may have had to be booked in. W...

A weekend away is a special treat - given the general, current state of affairs. If it's not time or money or weather forecast, it's something else! Our Family Holiday embraced all of the above - we took advantage of the public holiday Friday, booked our favourite rustic cottage with less frill, more bed frames and foot meterage and packed in our swimming costumes despite the overcast and rainy predictions. Walking the Wellington Mall in pajamas Robyn's done a great job of documenting the weekend's happenings here  - and there are so many pictures of us (me!!) featured in it that you would be forgiven for thinking that it was from our blog! (Except that I would never showcase so many snaps of me in my bather on this platform)... So I won't rehash it all here, but I will reiterate just how lovely a time it was with all the family, all the sun, all the relaxing hours with minimal cellphone coverage, internet connection and tv reception...and all that food to...