The Greatest Christmas at Menlyn - on our bucket list

We are not so lucky to be able to go away this December. The budget is non-existent. Fortunately there is a lot going on in Gauteng. We still like to do things that are festive and family orientated. If it is "free" even more so!

Menlyn Park in Pretoria has launched their Greatest Christmas at Menlyn campaign on Saturday with a Carols in the Sky show. It was fantastic! I wish I knew how grand it would be, so I could have told you before the time. *Sorry*
See my Instastory for some of the magic. Conductors Tim Roberts and Unathi Malunga were fantastic together with the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra. Then there was Zanzi Afrirca and Brandon October as soloists. The Ndlovu Youth Choir was the cherry on top. Excellent! Excellent! Next year make sure you attend as well.

First ever The Greatest Christmas Carols In The Sky @MenlynSA #MenlynSky#CarolsInTheSky#ChristmasAtMenlyn pic.twitter.com/BXeWMBH95e

- Karen from the Roof (@karentoittoit) December 1, 2018

Ed Sheeran Shape of You in Zulu The Ndlovu Youth Choir #ChristmasatMenlyn #MenlynSky #CarolsintheSky: https://t.co/naguuYdXtO via

— iloveza (@ilovezacom) December 2, 2018

Fortunately Menlyn has a whole programme running until 23 December.

Santa Visits

Meet up with Santa at Mini Cavendish Court from 9am - 7pm.

We got our photo. Santa is friendly and he doesn't mind posing for hundreds of photos every day. He wanted to know what Miss Fine wants for Christmas. She doesn't want to tell us, but we have a good idea.

Zip Zap Circus

Zip Zap Circus - CC Menlyn

Every day at 3 pm and 7 pm at Cavendish Court.
We missed the launch tonight *crying*, but this is definitely on our list for December.

The Zip Zap Circus is a social circus that was founded in Cape Town in 1992, with the aim to inspire young people and help build a new culture of peaceful coexistence in South Africa.
Working with a diverse community of children from all backgrounds, Zip Zap helps kids to ‘dare to dream’ and learn to make those dreams a reality.

Menlyn is raising funds for the Topsy Foundation, which empower rural communities infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. You are welcome to give a donation at Menlyn or online.


See you at Menlyn?


What more is happening in Pretoria this holiday?

All I want for Christmas...

Christmas wishes

Is all I have!

It is always difficult for me to decide what I want for gifts! It is sometimes much easier to buy presents for other people. I also usually buy the things I love the most. When someone asks me what I want, I usually can't think of a thing!

That's what makes me so grateful!

Kindness for Christmas: Consider Maitland Cottage Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital

Christmas is a time for giving and being kind. This is the one thing in our lives where we have control. Being kind, and spreading the kindness. I am so glad I have chosen KIND as my word of the year. It has helped me to focus in uncertain times. Maybe I will keep it for 2018 as well?

If you are still unsure about where to spread your kindness this season, there is this campaign you can get behind. 

A Christmas campaign has been set up on Thundafund for Maitland Cottage Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital. The campaign aims be to buy a Christmas present for each of the 85 children at the hospital, as well as one big present for the hospital.

The magic of Father Christmas

The fantasy and magic of Christmas time! I believe in adding fantasy and magic to the lives of our kids! They love the stories of a Christmas Father, with reindeer, and bringing the presents from the North Pole.

(On that note: How cute is the Portable North Pole videos from Father Christmas that you can personalize each year? For free! (Although there are cooler options when you upgrade.) There are also the birthday video that comes once a year!) We watch them every year!

I can remember my own excitement as a little kid at Christmas time!

I do not want to take this special time away from her. Little Miss has already told us that she knows that it is us who brings the presents! She is nearly 8 years, and it seems this year is the turning point! Some kids at school have also voiced their opinions... But she still gets excited about putting up the Christmas Tree, and musing about her presents!

I saw a video of a pastor in America shouting to kids at a mall that Father Christmas is not real! *Sigh*

I do not think of it as telling lies, but as adding excitement and fun into her life. She will be able to separate the myths from the truths in years to come! How boring would life be without these family traditions?

(It is also not difficult at all to add religion into the mix when you explain the reason why we are celebrating this time!)

I was reminded about the seriousness of her beliefs in a Tooth Mouse when she dislodged one of her final teeth last week. She immediately went to put the tooth in a shoe and kept on checking up on it through the evening. The Tooth Mouse was very tardy, because when she checked up the next morning, the tooth was still there! The Tooth Mouse had a lot of explaining to do (in a letter) about helping Father Christmas at this time of year...

I personally love the magic of Christmas time!
This is the best week of the year building up to Christmas Day!

Enjoy!
Peace!
Happy families!

Glass full

Screen print from #Aleppo on Twitter

The ongoing tragedy of Aleppo and so many refugees worldwide struggling over this Christmas period get to me. As a mother it's horrifying watching the videos and clips on social media! Watching a boy cry for his dad that was just killed... I can't!! I am thinking about the children and how it must be being stuck in situations like that!

I am sure we have no idea!!

I am trying to tell Little Miss to not always recount her half empty glass of woe! She's got nothing to complain about! I try telling her about the situation the children - with their parents - find themselves in, but I can see that she does not really understand. I will also not complain anymore about my holiday blues after we have had our holiday break already! How utterly selfish of us!

The Huffington Post came up with a list of organisations we can donate to.
There's much more if you do a search!

This end of year I will be focusing on gratitude!

How do I teach her being more grateful?
I will go search for ideas to put in a blog post!
Your inputs will be greatly appreciated!

Happy holidays!

This is the Season of opposites! 

This is the time that highlights the opposites in our lives!

The season of merry, but also of sadness. 

The season of belonging, but also being alone.

The season of children, but also of loss and the longing for a child.

Happy holidays to those that are taking a bit of time off!
Thinking of you who are still working!
(I am taking time off between Christmas and the New Year)

Merry Christmas to you who are celebrating Christmas!
My thoughts are with you who are not with your families and you who do not have something to be merry about!
My thoughts are with you who are sad this year!
My thoughts are with you who have lost someone close to you!
My thoughts are with you who are longing for a child!

We will be with family on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day!
I realize that it is something very special, and something to be extremely grateful for!

What will you be doing this time of the year?


Hope there are blessings to all during this time!

Merry Christmas!

Appelblaar Christmas lights even better this year

Christmas lights at 14 Appelblaar Avenue
Randpark Ridge

We went to see our favourite Christmas lights house in Randpark Ridge. Each year there are more lights and more people stopping by. This is the 12th year they are doing it!

This year they added Christmas songs in the mix.

My photos are definitely not doing it justice, but it is really worth driving past there!

The owner Tamryn Paley left a message on my blog in 2012. They are doing it for charities!

Save-a-Bundle ideas for the Christmas period and into the New Year

Written By: Karen du Toit

Brand: Budget Insurance

We are feeling the pinch even more this year!

I do not think it is only us, as I have heard many expressing the same misgivings about the exorbitant nature of this time of the year. We have to survive the festive season, but also be able to cope in the New Year which has its own demands.

• Hubby is still busy getting his business off the ground. 
• The Student is going to do a post-graduate diploma next year, and we do not have the luxury of a bursary any more next year! 
• Little Miss wants to start with music lessons on top of her other extra-murals. 
• We are planning a trip to visit my brother in America in the middle of 2015! We have to start “saving”! My sister believes you just put down the date and make it happen. We have! (Take note, Universe!)

I have compiled a list of things we can do to save-a-bundle this period, but also try to help us get into the groove of the New Year and help us to stick to our New Year resolutions.

Christmas lights in Appelblaar Avenue in Randpark Ridge

We had to check up on our favourite house of Christmas lights this year. It is a great place to drive by at this time of year. Some people even brought their picnic baskets while enjoying the lights!
The owner of the house left me a message on my blog last year. I am copying & pasting it here! This year is the 11th year they are doing it!

"Thank you so much for this story. It is so lovely to hear how you and your family enjoy the lights, Our solar panels, and LED lights work very hard at this time of year :) but this is worth it as we bring joy, and help to many charities and individuals that need a little help at this time of year, and i think stories like this really do make us continue every year.
I trust you and your families have an amazing and safe festive season. if you would like to pop round, this year is our 10 year anniversary and is very special this year.
regards
Tamryn Paley
14 Appelblaar Avenue Randpark Ridge"

Ears pierced!

Little Missy finally got her pierced ears today.

We walked past a counter with a sign in the mall, and I asked if they did the piercings in one go...

She was all keen, as she had been asking us for having her ears pierced for ages. It was on her Christmas wish list last year.

There was a flash of stunned horror on her face when they shot in the piercings, but then she was all smiles!

Dad had walked away. (He could not stand to watch them do it!)

She ran to him after that, and have been all smiles for the whole day when we talk about it!

She was a brave little girl!

Best of festive wishes!

I hope you had a great festive season with your loved ones!

We had such a great time with the families on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day!

This is what Christmas time is all about - spending time with the family! (Or that is what we think it is!)

Our little one had the best of times, and she was all wide-eyed about Father Christmas and the presents!

It's the start of another few years of Christmas traditions, such as a cup of milk and cookies for Father Christmas! (See photo)

------------

We are taking a break and chilling at the moment! 

Hope you are taking a rest as well?

Enjoy these special times with your families!

Wordless Wednesday #160 - #BlogSecretSanta spoils

Related post: 

What I want for Christmas #blogsecretsanta

The advent calender is a real winner

We made our second advent calender for the little one!

For a second year in a row I used Cat at Juggling Act of Life's details and printed out the calender.

She can't wait each morning to open the window.

Each night she spent a lot of time standing in front of the calender and speculating what is inside, and when she will be able to open it!

We bought some chocolates, and stickers, and a little doll with accessories that are scattered around the boxes.

The balloons seem to be a big hit, but the Hello Kitty tongue tattoos does not work, and only makes her tongue black, and leaving a slimy cardboard taste in the mouth.

(I should have started to search for little things a lot earlier... Next year!!)

Thanks again, Cat!


Related post:

The Christmas tree is up (the advent calender of 2011)

The Christmas tree & Lights

The Christmas tree went up this weekend.

This December feels like it is slipping by so fast!
I would have liked to put the tree up earlier...

Luckily the Toddler loved decorating it, and between her and her sister it went up in a jiffy!

Last night we went for our usual drive to the house with the most Christmas lights (Cnr of Appelblaar & Mopani in Randpark Ridge) we know in our area. They have even more lights up than the previous year!

I had a special day with the Toddler today. The school is closed, and we are struggling to make plans of what to do with her. Luckily there's a Granny and Grandpa, as well as my aunt. (Thank you! Thank you!)

It is a huge headache for working parents when schools are closed for the season!

Today made me realise of how much we are missing. There were so many sayings that I would have missed...

- Apparently she has two books of God. One of God, and one of Jesus.
- God loves children and wants to hug them. Adults just a little bit!
- We saw a car with pink wheels, and Jesus loves that person even more by given him/her the pink wheels.
- She wonders where God is staying, and if He is alone?
- The angels are getting old, and He is getting lonely!

I got to make a Christmas list of the things she wants from Father Christmas:

1. Ear rings (it involves ear piercings) > Where do we go to find a place that will shoot in both at the same time?
2. A new dress.
3. A tray with clay.
4. Make-up.
5. Leappad apps.
6. New shoes with heals.
7. A guitar.

It was a great day with my little one!

Related post:

Wordless Wednesday #150 - Christmas Tree Angel

The Christmas Tree is up

Wordless Wednesday #158 - Christmas tree angel

What I want for Christmas! #blogsecretsanta

The Christmas feeling is not here yet, and it seems that everybody feels a bit run-down at this point in time...

That's why I think that joining in with the following initiative is a great way to step into some festive spirit.

Especially since thinking about spoiling yourself are usually the last thing on your mind...

Charlotte at Stiletto Mum is linking all up for Blogger Secret Santa. She is aiming for 100 participants this year! Names should be in by 16 November and presents should be in the region of R100.

I am also in, as I have enjoyed Robin's blog book swop (The Book Club Blog) so much.

List of things I would love to get for Christmas:

• Funky hats;
• Kindle gift vouchers/ books;
• Bath goodies, such as bubble bath and soaps;
• Chocolate, the darker, the better;
• Funky watch;
• Scarves;
• Hair accessories;
• Red wine;
• Cute notebooks;
• iPad cover;
• "Words", such as "Peace", "Love", "Dream", "Play", "Laugh", "Happy", etc.

• Bling;
• Anything from Poetry;
• Gift vouchers for manicures/pedicures;
• Gift vouchers for massages
• Kodak Inkjet printer
• Kodak canvas print

(Oh, and no kitchen gadgets or anything kitchen related ;-))



Who is also joining at Stiletto Mum?

Posted with Blogsy

Christmas lights

Corner of Mopanie & Appelblaar in Randpark Ridge

We found this house of Christmas lights by word of mouth.
We were not the only ones stopping in the street and getting out with the kids...

Amazing that the lights can draw so much attention! It has been our second drive-by already this year!
The first time the Toddler was asleep by the time we got there.

She loved it, and we only got her back in the car when we promised a slow drive-by when leaving!

In South Africa it is not as commonplace to make up you house with lights at Christmas time.

Do you know of an other houses in Johannesburg looking like this?
(Please share the links.)

Early Christmas

We had an early Christmas here. 

Part of the family is not going to be with us next week!

We had two days of family get-together events this weekend. 

This IS the festive season!

It is definitely part of the festive traditions that I want to impart on the Toddler:

-          It is a time of family and togetherness.

-          It is a time of giving.

-          It is a time of fun.

-          It is a time of love and peace and rest!

-          It is a time focusing on our children.

-          It is a time of reflection and renewal.

-          It is a time of telling stories.

The Toddler is going to have a week of presents with her birthday coming up on Wednesday...

What Christmas traditions are important to you?

The Christmas tree is up

Can't believe we are as excited about Christmas as we are...
But having a little one all wide-eyed and excited about things like decorating a tree and opening up an advent calender does that to one!

Yesterday, on the 1st of December our Christmas tree was up!
The toddler loved decorating it with her sister the night before. 

 I made my first ever advent calender thanks to Cat at Juggling Act of Life.
I'm sure if you go there and ask her nicely, she will still send you the details. It was super easy to make, and it is much nicer than any advent calender you can buy in the shops.

The advent calender thanks to Cat at Juggling Act of Life

Some of the goodies as seen from the back

The calender worked wonders yesterday and today to get the Toddler out of bed and in a good mood...

December is going to be a festive month!

When are your trees going up?
It seems that everyone is catching on to the Christmas spirit this year? (It's not just us! ;-))


Related post of the previous year:
The Toddler and Christmas Two - report