The Wedding was the best party ever!

#HnK #JacobsTroue - Patrick Pretorius Photography

Our Wedding of the Year was finally on Wednesday last week. We could not have picked a better day. It was summer in Brits. The Eldest got married to her soul buddy, the same guy she got engaged to a year ago. She still likes him a year later. ;-) They worked hard to accomplish this wedding, but it was all worth it!

Wedded couple - Patrick Pretorius Photography

As mother of the bride I enjoyed the whole day. There were a few tears, but not much. It was just one big happy party! I shared a few photos on Instagram about the wedding: #JacobsTroue. We were so grateful for everybody who took the time off to celebrate the day with us. I think it was the best wedding ever! Of course! ;-)

Miss Fine the Flower-girl - Patrick Pretorius Photography

All the hard work of making the wedding decorations paid off. The rustic wedding theme looked amazing. I will be sharing some more in later posts.

I am so happy that my daughter is happy! She is having the time of her life!

The wedding couple also entertained us immensely on their wedding day. They danced and danced.
This is from a screenshot from one of their dance creations. That was so clever and entertaining, you two! We are impressed and think you just lifted the bar for upcoming weddings.

#JacobsTroue #HnK

All our blessings are with you!
May you have wedded bliss always!

One week to go - The Wedding

MomAgain@40 clan

We have one week left, before our Eldest move out of the house. The Wedding is near. I am going to be M.O.B. The excitement levels are exponentially increasing. There is nothing like a wedding. We can't wait!

I am so glad everything worked out in the end. We did not know how we could afford a wedding, but somehow it all came together. This has been a very tough year. With lots of luck, blessings from friends and crafts all is ready to go. The Eldest is counting down each day. My sister and her husband is already here from London to celebrate their big day.

I feel a bit sad that the Eldest is moving out of the house. Permanently. This is the last week she is going to be around. The last week that we are going to ask, Are you eating here tonight? It is going to be strange to not have her around. I am sad. She is such a lovely person to have around. We will definitely miss her, and Miss Fine especially. She loved to have her around in the evenings. Even the dog stands in front of her door and cry in the evenings when she is not at home.

We are going to miss you! But we are so glad you found your special partner to share your life with! That is the best any parent could wish for their children. I know we will always be your parents, and we will always be involved with your life. You will happily drive off in the sunset, but life will unfold to the next chapter.

We will be here!

Kitchen Tea at Urban Angel Café

Kitchen Tea - Urban Angel Café

The Eldest who is getting married in less than a month, had her Kitchen Tea this past weekend. She was able to guess that her Kitchen Tea would be on the same day her soon-to-be-husband had his bachelors'. It wasn't a surprise, but it also was. She had great bridesmaids who sorted everything, and made the day very special to her. The future mother-in-law also had a hand. She is very lucky to have these people in her life. She enjoyed it so much, and she got everything she wants for her future home. A Mr Price gift registry worked it's charm.

Urban Angel Café is a firm favourite with their quality food, good vibes and great service. That was a great choice for the venue. Their cake was divine! See below! Everybody also ordered their own food, from breakfasts to sandwiches to nachos. We all loved it!

Here's some random photos from the day.

Plans for the weekend in a cold Jozi

Coffee with a view

This is a short update post. Life is changing so fast, and I want to come back here to see how it was ... The Eldest is busy starting to move her things. She is still most of the times at home. The wedding is less than a month away. We are excited!

Last night we were following her on our phones via Live location while she came back from the airport at 11 pm. With an Uber, and we had the Uber guy's name stored as well. That's cool, but also seriously testing our nerves. If the Uber stands still for too long, or the signal picks her up in a random suburb next to the highway.... We begin to worry!!! (I'm sure we will never stop worrying.) Technology makes it easy, but also makes us worry about every little detail. Because, if there really happens something to her, how will we find her when we have to start driving? Screen print the last place on the map? Race to there? Just some of the thoughts that goes through my head at 11 to 11:30pm at night. Luckily she was safe, and her Uber driver delivered her safe and on time.

There's a Kitchen Tea and a Bachelorette's Party coming up this weekend. The Eldest knows about it, but no details. She's got great bridesmaids that sorted everything. Will be reporting back about the Kitchen Tea. We are looking forward to it. I am sure after this the wedding vibes will kick in seriously.

Miss Fine has been on holiday forever. She has been at work with me for three days, and then at Vacation School for two days this week. It has been challenging, but better than when she was younger. I love the fact that she can keep herself busy for longer. She used up my data in record time at the office, but she was reading as well, and enjoyed going to the library here at work. She exchanged a book that she was not feeling for another book the next day. She also helped me with my work, writing on DVD's and pulling up a roster of my daily work which I now have on my door. That was so sweet of her. (No sarcasm here.) Thanks, Miss Fine. I enjoyed our conversations while you kept me company. We don't always get so much time together.

Tonight we will be "chilling" (it's cold here in Johannesburg) at home, and hopefully the weekend will not go by in a blink.

What's your plans for the weekend?

M.O.B. - Mother Of the Bride

Wedding - MOB Dress-ready

The excitement is gaining momentum in the family. In less than two months we are going to have a WEDDING. I am going to be "Mother of the Bride". I am going to be MOB (He-He saw this on t-shirts, and quite like it). It is not a scary or a sad concept. I love it! I have a daughter, the Eldest,  who has found her Love, and she is happy. What more can I ask for? Nothing.

The first time I saw your faces

Daughters

With Mother's Day coming up and having all the warm fuzzy feelings about being a mother, and having a Mom whom I only appreciate more and more... I feel blessed. I have signed up for the first time for the Mother's Day Connect on Sunday where groups of moms will visit new moms in hospitals. You can still sign up here: Embrace Mother's Day Connect. It's only an hour out of your day, and you can still be back with your family on Sunday.

I was very lucky to have support and family, and we could prepare for both our daughters. I can't imagine how scary it must be when you don't have that?

I can still remember how I felt when I first saw these precious faces.

Engagement celebrations!

Happy couple at Drie Berge 

I have been so excited on my Eldest behalf for a few weeks now. The boyfriend asked the parents a couple of weeks back, and we could not say anything to her!

How sweet that the boyfriend made an appointment with us when she was not around? He planned the whole engagement affair, and we as her parents were asked to join afterwards with a braai (barbecue) celebrating the good news!

Birthday at Hard Rock Cafe in Johannesburg - Such a treat!

We celebrated The Eldest's birthday two years back at Hard Rock Café in San Antonio. We have never been to Hard Rock Cafe in South Africa, and this year we decided it was time! It's a thing to buy a t-shirt in a Hard Rock Cafes whenever you visit a city worlwide. The Eldest has a nice collection already, and she is planning to get some more... (*Thumbs!*)

We love the vibe and the food! It's an experience. They have a kiddies menu as well.

The poses!

Happy birthday with a cocktail!

Hard Rock Cafe interior! Such a treat with all the musical legends and paraphernalia

We had the Paul McCartney booth

Paul McCartney signature

And of course, the obligatory selfie with the great man, Madiba, on Sandton Square!

Nelson Mandela statue on Sandton Square

Related post: A birthday at Hard Rock Cafe in San Antonio

To the Eldest

Happy birthday, K! I am so glad that you are enjoying your life, and having the best time!

May your day today be one of celebration! We are stretching it out until the weekend this year!

Thanks so much for all you are teaching us. You are the kindest and most compassionate person I know! You are always helping others! Thanks for the lovely example you are for our youngest!

Your smile and warm greeting to each and every body you meet makes it a pleasure to be around you! Stay as you are!

May this year be the best yet, and may you still go on those travels you were planning!
Boomerang back as much you want! ;-)

The Boomerang Generation

Millennials coming back home after their studies or doing it on their own. The Boomerang Generation is an apt description for older kids living with their parents! I have many friends who also have these Boomerangers back in the house! (Is that a word?)

The Eldest is still staying with us, working and doing her own thing! But living again with the family after she was a student for three years away from home. This was not the original plan, as we thought she would pack her bags and go off on adventures after her studies...

Strange how life works?!

As a mom I must say that I am grateful for this extra grace in time with my Eldest! I love that we get more time to spend with her! Of course she has grown up too fast! I love that we have this extra boomerang period!

The only drawback is that we worry more about her! (Maybe?) We know when she's out and about, and worry! We also still appreciate and ask for the messages each day of her arriving safe at work and back!

We don't know how long this will last!
But for now I will cherish this special time!