So Grateful.

We started visiting a new church a couple of months ago....CityHill in Hillcrest. Steve Wimble(the pastor) is a brilliant teacher of the word and we always leave church encouraged and equipped with practical 'tools' that can be implemented in our lives.

(side note..... Steve Wimble's son is one of the boys who cornered Miss Tanzi and stole her chocolate! Luckily he escaped the wrath of her chompers... the other guy was not so lucky!)

Anyhow... this past Sunday Steve spoke about gratitude and being thankful for what we have.

I decided to reflect upon my blessings, so thank you Jesus for.............

MrGee's new kidney

healthy, happy, life-loving children

a beautiful home and garden

an architectural job

a domestic worker 

true friends... Marcia and Pauline 

the 8 years I got to home-school my children

the leafy suburb of Hillcrest we live in (it's really beautiful!)

a Hubby who is faithful, dependable, hard working and a wonderful father

2 cats who fight to sleep on my side of the bed each night

the beautiful pinky/orange colours in Your sunrise

technology (blogging memories and catching up with Facebook buddies) 

a reliable car

family that have not emigrated overseas. We are all still in South Africa... this is quite amazing!

my health

............... and there is so much more.

It's all about what we focus on.

As Pastor Steve encouraged "Think of a doughnut.... we can choose to see the hole or the delicious ring of pastry!" So simple, yet great reminder.

.

HAPPY 70th DAD !

 My Dad is one of a kind..... he is loud and bolshy. Feisty and argumentative!

I say this with a smile on my face..... as I know my Dad would be quite happy with this summary as he is very proud of who he is!

 And I am too.... My Dad HATES injustice and has on many occasions stood up for the underdog.

 My Dad may be loud and feisty, but he is interesting and there is NEVER a dull moment when he is around! 

My dad is a music lover who has always exposed my brother and I (and his grandkids) to artists of note. 

My Dad is fun!

I love you Dad, and look forward to many more happy memories made.

x

Girls road trip to see JUSTIN

We had such an amazing time together in Jozi that Miss Tanzi has decided we have to do a girls road trip once a year.

Oh yes... I'm game. We had fun! 

Sporting purple... our favourite colour!

We hired a bus to the stadium, so we were extra early and had to wait almost 4 hours before the gates opened and before we could wee!

waiting........

and then it happened..... 

He was SO far away and SO small but, it felt like we were on the stage with him. 

What an experience to share with my beautiful girl.

WE ARE BELIEBERS!

New improved cast of Friends ....?

Mr Gee and I are blessed to have such good friends. Lets keep the good times rolling..... No pun intended at all! *evil laugh*

New Beginnings

After school I did a 4 year diploma in Architectural Design. It wasn't my first choice, I had wanted to do Primary Ed, but at that time(1987) the government cut their teaching subsidies so unfortunately I was not able to study teaching. I am grateful to God that I have had the privilege of homeschooling my kids for the last 7 years, but I am feeling that this season in my life is coming to an end. MrGee has been encouraging me for a while to get back into my architecture but I have been rather reluctant as the industry has changed so much in the last 15 years with the progression from paper to computer.
I bought a Book on Revit and began my first design this morning..... I actually enjoyed it.

Ladys for a day.

I hadn't been counting down the days till the Royal Wedding but 5 days before the special occasion I decided it was a good enough reason to get together with a couple of close friends and have some girlie fun. And that's exactly what we did. Hat's all round, cucumber sarmies, Earl Grey Tea and cream scones were the order of the day.



In true girlie form we criticised attire, applauded style and nibbled continuously! What more could a gal wish for..... oh yes..... a romantic, smoochy kiss.

No such luck - protocol prevailed!

Valentines Day Tea

Valentines Day is not a biggy for our family. We prefer the L-O-V-E all year round !

But this year I decided a homeschooling event based on the whole pink/red theme would be great. So we hosted a Valentines Tea with close friends.

Miss Tanzi made a heart cake for her precious daddy and I made a special roast for our family dinner.

Miss Tanzi vamped up the mood with her funny antics! xx Sending love xx

My Dressing Room is complete.....

..................... And I LOVE it.

Night out on the town ......

MrGee and I both 'birthday' in November! This year we decided to have a combined bash celebrating our belated 40th's. We invited 4 couples whom MrGee and I have known since we were in our early twenties.

We sipped on champers as the limos drove us to a private venue at The Oyster Box Hotel.(the glass roof above us created some funny moments)We had fine cuisine and wine.Then we cranked up the music and had some laughs as we displayed our phenomenal dancing skills!!!

Happy Birthday to us! Thanks dear friends for making it such a special evening!

Call it vanity ......

At the mo I am sitting in a B&B in Johannesburg all by myself ..... and happy to be catching a break from the business of my offspring!!
WizzKid is at swimming training with his old club and MrGee has taken CoolDude and Miss Tanzi to a movie.
As I type, I keep turning my head and smiling into the mirror beside me! Yes I am loving this quiet time ...... but even more so, I am admiring my beautiful pearly whites! I had them whitened today and they look just fab.
Take a look at this gorgeous pic of me(not!) ......... hehe
Some gnashers ..... aren't they!Am I the only vain girl around?

I loved making this .......

I have known Ali for twenty years! She is one of my closest and dearest friends. Ali has just finished renovating her kitchen and I noticed she had incorporated a Southern American theme so I thought a hot chillie tray would be the perfect birthday gift.

My perfect day!

We all woke up early ... bright eyed and bushy tailed! By 7:20 am breakfast had been devoured and the boys started their half an hour of gym. I packed Miss Tanzi a snack and dropped her off at preschool.
By the time I got home the boys had already started their quiet time/devotions and I was able to enjoy a peaceful cuppa Earl Grey Tea.
At 8:30 formal schooling began and it continued til 3:00. During this time I picked Miss Tanzi up from school at 12:00 and brought her home for lunch.
We all worked hard and and extremely well!

CoolDude did English, Science, Afrikaans and a shack load of maths!
WizzKid worked through some Biology,Physics, Chemistry and English. He is doing Grade 10 and it is complicated! My latest teaching advice for him is ........ "Just google it!" (I thank the Lord daily for the Internet. ;) )

At 3:00pm WizzKid and I did a few errands. We visited the post office, got photos reproduced for his swimming buddies and we bought a huge birthday cake for the swimming club. Then the boys were dropped off at swimming at 4:00 and I came home to make dinner.Whilst making sweet and sour chicken with noodles I watered half the garden(it's so dry here), bathed Miss Tanzi and sent off some important emails.... oh yes and I checked facebook.(of course!)

At 6:45 I picked up the boys from swimming. They ate at 7:15 and then enjoyed an hour of jamming on their guitars. Miss Tanzi played housy-house as they practised.

It is now 10:00pm(MrGee is away) and I am enjoying the peace in the house and the clicky-clack my fingers are making on the notebook!
A day done and dusted ........ productive and pleasing!

Pascale's 21st ... what a beautiful celebration.

The daughter of close friends had a 'Midsummer Nights Dream' theme for her 21st party. Pascale(the birthday girl) and Miss Tanzi enjoyed many a cuddle.........


I presented the choice of fancy dress to my men ....... they could go as fairies or donkeys. They all chose to be a$$es ...........It was a BEAUTIFUL night full of flowers,fairies,cherubs,donkeys, memorable speeches, delicious curries and disco dancing into the wee hours of the morning! Some of the boys striking a pose..... Justin Bieber hairstyles all round!A very funny incident occurred as Miss Tanzi and I were beautifying ourselves for the evening. Miss Tanzi was getting dressed in her room when I realized ....... silence prevailed! Miss Tanzi loves to sing or make some kind of noise (all the time) so when she is silent I know something is wrong! She is either doing something she shouldn't be or she is in a pickle! Well, the latter was the issue..... you see she had managed to get a comb seriously stuck in her long fringe. I took one look at her head and said "Oh boy Tanzi I think I might have to cut the comb out." She began to wail ...... "I'm going to look like a boy!" ...... "Next time ask me for help." I reprimanded her............. she replied with .... "I DON'T DESERVE TO BE YOUR DAUGHTER." (bwaaahahaha she cracks me up)I want to end with a really stunning pic of a some of my closest girlfriends.
The beautiful gal in the orange dress made my wedding dress, and the lovely lady in blue was the MC at my wedding.The doll in black is a new friend but fast becoming a close one!

x