Our new nativity scene.

For a while now I have been wanting to upgrade our very old and rather plain looking nativity with something a little different. The other day I found this Jim Shore version that I fell head over heels in love with....

I showed MrGee and he agreed it was magnificent ....... Sold!

xx

Cellphone causes a stir!

I don't usually rant and rave on my blog, but today I will !

Every three months my boys go on an outdoor adventure camp with the school they are currently attending. WizzKid(grade 7) goes away for a whole week.
Let me express that I love Hillcrest Christian Academy and I really admire the head principal. He is a very approachable man with a heart for the children in his school. Both WizzKid and CoolDude's teachers this year have been wonderful.

Getting to the reason for this post....... On Monday we packed Wizzkid off on his final Outdoor camp of the year. MrGee and I have ALWAYS insisted he takes his cell phone with him. Okay so we are a very technological family and we have allowed our kids to have cellphones from the age of eight.(To the shock of many close friends!) The boys do not have contracts and they are not allowed mix-it...... we keep a very tight reign on this. BUT.... MrGee and I both agree it is a necessity in the world we live in, especially in South Africa!
Well..... last night I got an SMS from Wizzkid to say he thinks he has sun stroke and that he is feeling grim. I texted back to say hold in there, chin up and keep lathering yourself with suncream. The next morning he texted that he was feeling terrible and that he had vomitted.... and what should he do? So I left a message to go and speak to his class teacher. Then I heard nothing for the whole morning.
I mentioned to Mrgee that I was concerned and he encouraged me to phone the camp organisers. Well........ this just let all hell break lose! I asked the lady in charge how my son was doing because he had contacted me and told me he felt ill. She let rip......
"How did he let you know he was sick?" she asked.
"He sms''d me." I answered
"So does he have a cell phone with him?"
"Yes he does, but that's not the point...... can you please tell me how he is."
"Do you know that he has broken the rules?"
"Yes perhaps he has, but we gave him permission to take it on camp."
"Well I am going to have to take this up with the Principal.... you have no authority to do that!" she yelled.
At this stage I tell her " I will no longer be continuing this conversation." I put the phone down ...... and burst into tears. All I want to know is how my son is!
Of course I phone MrGee, he gets involved and the whole situation is then taken to another level.
Subsequently the Headmaster calls and tells me that we are teaching our son to break rules, disrespect authority and ultimately sin! (I thought we were born sinners and that it wasn't a learnt behaviour.)

The thing is that Hubby and I don't have a problem with breaking that rule. WizzKid is our son and we are more concerned about his well being than a rule!
Call us rebellious, we don't mind, we've been called that before by a very controlling church. Only once we were separated from that institution( and we saw the light!) did we realise their faults.
With that off my chest........ I am still open to the Lord revealing my faults and wrong doings in this situation! But as parents we have to take a stand...... I mean who else will with our own kids!

I feel a little lighter and I loudly echo ......" Role on homeschooling!"

xx

Such a surprise!

I would have posted before on this, as my birthday was a week ago, but I had to wait to get pics from a friend. MrGee organised a surprise High Tea for my 39th B-day!

A couple of these friends I have known since I was 13, so we go WAY back! One very dear friend, Alison, used to be my clubbing buddy. We had great fun together in the unsaved chapters of our lives. Most of the other girls I met through my Hubby and the church I was welcomed into when I first became a Christian.(16 years ago!) And of course..... my dear Mom made the long trek down to celebrate with me! I was so blessed!

xx

The start of our Christmas tree!

Look what we are having for our christmas tree this year! Yes it's a Jesse Tree!

I used this air drying clay to create the symbolic ornaments.

I still need to create a few more ornaments.... and then paint them all.













The wooden structure will be wrapped with some sort of leaves before the painted symbols get hung on it!

xx

LOOK what Hubby got me!

MrGee really spoilt me this birthday! He bought me a piano! It is a refurbished John Brinsmead that was built in 1935! I have been eyeing this magnificent piece for about a month.

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I love it's simple classic look, and it reminds me of the piano we had at home when I was young! It has a beautiful sound. I am thinking about doing my teachers..... this will take ALOT of hard work and many hours of commitment!

My son the poet!

WizzKid has got most of his exam marks back. He has done brilliantly and I am sure he will get his Academic Colours again!
What I was most impressed with was a poem that he wrote in his English exam. He was given the title ...... 'Blue.'

Blue is a pool on a hot summer's day,
Blue is the sky that steals your breath away.
Blue is for when you're down and sad,
Blue can cheer you up and make you glad.
Blue is for emotion , filled with bliss,
Blue reminds about friends you miss.
Blue stands for love, joy and trust,
Blue is something that's in all of us.

Happy to me!

Yes it's my birthday today! Hip Hip horay!
Look what my dear friend Marcia made for me..... it's a vase holder for a flower arrangement, and isn't it just gorgeous!

She's sure she can dance!

The kids and I are avid fans of "So you think you can dance." I am sure we are watching the season that my american friends saw 6 months ago, never the less, we still love it dearly!!!
Little miss Tanzi has always had a passion for music and dancing..... so here she is doing her "So you think you can dance" routine!!!


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MrGee makes Thai!

I am no domestic goddess..... particularly in the kitchen. I cook most nights, and try to make sure everyone gets a healthy balanced meal, but I have certain recipes that I stick to and hardly ever deviate from! Now MrGee is quite the opposite. He doesn't cook much but when he does ...... he creates this masterpiece that has us hovering and begging for dish-up time!

The other evening he arrived home with these ingredients .....

He searched for a recipe on the internet......

..... and with the help of a very enthusiastic side-kick.....

...... MrGee filled the home with awesome smells of ginger and garlic!

They were both very pleased with the outcome!

He created a stunning Thai meal! I was so overcome that I forgot to take a pick of the final dish before it was devoured!

xx

Our organic veggies!

We have already had a delicious serving of creamed spinach from our veggie patch. I cut about 40 medium sized leaves. Unfortunately it only made enough for 3 small portions!

Tomatoes........

Cabbage ...............

Broccoli .............

Red Cabbage...........

Chillies..........

Tobacco .........

Yes you read that correctly ...... Tobacco . MrGee is doing a little experiment. He is hoping to get a harvest and make a cigar or too. Not that any of us smoke!! I used to in my early 20's so I told him I might consider being his chief tester!! MrGee's dad had a tobacco farm in Zimbabwe many moons ago, and MrGee is considering (once things settle in that region) trying to get the farm back and do a little tobacco farming. Yip it's sort of a pipe dream!

xx

Our Christmas Tree?

When I was dropping off TanziPanzi at her preschool, I noticed a dead bush that had been pulled out of the soil and was just waiting to be chopped up and thrown away! I asked if I could have it, and they said "Oh yes, take it with pleasure!"


I do see the potential of this dead ugly bush....... and in due time I hope to show case the vision in my mind! Perhaps I will do a Jesse Tree interpretation. Now that would be exciting!

xx

Breaking the rules!

Playing tennis in the house would not normally be allowed!

But because it was Aunty Nyretta, whom we see very little of and love dearly, I decided to turn a blind eye! WizzKid couldn't believe his luck!

MrGee's 40th Family Bash!

MrGee turns Fortee!!!

What an AWESOME weekend we had! For the first time since they all moved out of home, MrGee, his three siblings and parents stayed under one roof again! It was MrGee's 40th Birthday on the 7th Nov, so I invited his family over for the weekend. MrGee's family stay ALL over South Africa so it was a wonderful surprise to hear that most of the family would be able to make it to his birthday celebration. Boy did we reminisce and laugh...... and laugh a whole lot more! I am SO blessed to have in-laws that I find easy to love and whom I know love me dearly!
We ate ... and ate.... danced.... chatted a lot .... talked ... played the fool ... giggled !

All in all we enjoyed each other immensely!

xx