14th Anniversary - we are still having fun together

"Love You to the Moon and Back"

Thank you, dear Hubby! There is nothing like an anniversary of taking stock of your relationship and of what is important. We celebrated our 14th yesterday. It really goes by too quick (*sic*). Life feels a bit harsh at this moment, but we can still go home to each other and our home, and slay life from our protective family nest.

WE are still having fun together (check the Instagram photos), and laughing together!

This is 51

What I wanted!

At the age of 51 we can poke fun at ourselves. I am constantly amazed at the number, because I don't feel it at all! I am supposed to be wise and have all the answers... Most of the times I think I do have all the answers! But I know for a fact that the more I think I do know all the answers, is that I don't! Life shows it to me in so many ways! Ha! Life! You are so funny!

Most of the times I ignore my own wisdom in any case. For example: Who wants to drink water, when you can drink wine? Or: Who wants to hike at Kloofendal, when you can stay in pajamas until 10 on a Saturday? Me, of course! Life is short! Ha!

I wanted to be in Mauritius last year on my 50th birthday, and this year we are doing the wedding! The engagement has come and now it is the preparations. It is also exciting, and we are looking forward to it.

Happy birthday to the best Dad!

To the best Dad in the whole wide world! Happy birthday!

You are the best Dad!
We appreciate you so much!

13 years - That's seven bags of salt!

The 1st of May was our 13 years of marriage yesterday! Every year we love the fact that our day is on a public holiday! We have an in-built Break, a long anniversary weekend,  every year to celebrate our anniversary!

There is an Afrikaans idiom "Om sewe sakke sout saam op te eet" (Translated: "To eat seven bags of salt together"). The idiom started as eating one bag of salt together (experiences and difficulties shared together), which changed to seven bags! I would love to know how it changed, but most probably because of certain songs that influenced the colloquially. (?)

It feels like seven bags of salt, but luckily we have each other! It's great to have a Partner, a Friend, a BFF, a Husband, you name it... All doing this together!

I am lucky to have found him!

Thanks for 13 years, Hubs! It has gone by in a flash!
I am looking forward to many more!


Photo by The Eldest!

A long anniversary weekend

We had a very quiet, but lovely weekend.
It was our anniversary as well, but we kept it low-key this year!
The budget had an impact, and it's 12 years! By now we have figured out we like each other, and we would like to stay... ;-)

No, each year I am reminded again of how lucky I am to be married to this guy! I would not want my life to be any different than being with him! Thanks, D!

We had a movie date on Sunday and went to see The Dressmaker! What a strange but delightful movie this is! But be warned! There are serious plots involved! I am still a bit dazed about all the twists in the movie!
Afterwards we had a light meal in Parkview, and that's all I want in life!
A dinner and a movie with my Hubby! It was a perfect anniversary!

We started the long weekend at our favourite Papachinos, and Little Miss told me to take this video! I don't know why or what, but when she says take a movie, I jump! I shared it on SnapChat (The chances of getting her on screen are few and far between!)


What did you do this past the long weekend?

10 Things that make me Happy

I was tagged on Instagram by Moipone Islam at ferocioushaven

Here is mine:

10 Things that make me happy!

(Not necessarily in this order)

1. Happy is a choice! I choose Happy!

2. My Eldest. When she’s happy, I am happy! It is so-so-so GREAT that everything is working out this year for her. She is finishing up with her studies, she got a REAL job, she is madly in love and she’s got a car!

3. My Youngest. She makes us happy every day! (Sometimes crazy, but mostly happy!) Just being her! So glad that she is in our lives!

4.  My Husband!  He’s our rock and showing us each day what a good husband, father and provider he is! He is the best chef as well!!

5.  The extended family that cares about us

6. Friends that care

7.  Our dogs (Hubby won’t agree on this one! ;-) )

      8.  Coffee/Red wine (equally happy!)

      9. Books/reading.

      10. Blogging

What makes you happy?

2016 - a few notes on the start of the year!

This is the week that everything goes back to reality!
I have been back at work since last week, so it does not feel as alien, and I don't have the millions of emails to sort through!

Little Miss asked me this morning if school is going to start tomorrow. She was very relieved to hear that she has two whole days left of holidays!

Little Miss in 2016

- She is not as excited about Grade 2 as she was about Grade 1.
- She is also worried about bullies in her class this year. I told her that we would sort them as soon as they start with bullying. We have already asked that she not be placed in the same class as two kids who made her life miserable the previous years. (I hope so, but I trust the school will honour our request!)
- We bought a new school case, but I recycled most of her stationary from the previous years. She was upset at first, because it's "old"! Luckily the complaints stopped when we put everything in a new stationary box for school. You can't see the difference, and we saved a lot of money!
- She is getting big and I love all the conversations we are starting to have. Real existential questions and remarks. I was in awe last night about the depth of her understanding about spirituality!
- I will try to write it down and share it here! (If she allows me!)


MomAgain@40

- This little blog has only a year left before the 40 won't ring true anymore! (Heavens!!)
- Little Miss is also getting bigger, and I am starting to censor more about what is being put here!
- I have a year to decide what I am going to do with this blog, but I think I will re-purpose or start a new blog with a new theme! I still love blogging, the community of bloggers and what I have learnt while blogging!
(There is sooo much I have gained from my experience here!)


Me, Myself and I

Yes

- My word and my motto for this year is Yes! I already had the opportunity to say yes without thinking twice this year because of this!
- I have never regretted saying yes to new opportunities, and this year is going to be better and bolder!
- I still need to work on a Vision Board for 2016. It really works! (Does any one knows about a good Vision Board app? Off to search...)
- On the second of January of this year I became a vegetarian. I have always said that the moment I have to kill for my own food, is the moment I would stop to eat living things! I have been a hypocrite for most of my life! I am taking it day by day, but it is not as difficult to make other choices!
I still eat eggs and dairy which makes me a ovo-lacto vegetarian! (Little Miss tells me that I should stop eating eggs as well! For now I am feeling proud of myself for getting 10 days into the new year without eating any meat!) My family supports me, but it is difficult as we love to braai (barbeque)! My go-to food now for a braai is a mushroom! (Sorry Hubby!!)


The Student

- I feel unsettled about The Student as this is her year to start with a new job and finish the final studies.
- Everything is uncertain, and we don't know yet what is going to happen...


The Hubby

- I am extremely grateful for Hubby who keeps us together and fed!
- I am sorry for upsetting the equilibrium by becoming a vegetarian. (Thank you for taking it in your stride!)
- This year is going to be a better year for you as well! I know it and I feel it!


2016 is starting with new things, new challenges and lots of uncertainty!
BUT I have good feelings about 2016!


May 2016 be good to you as well!
What new things are in the pipeline that is worth sharing?

It's his birthday!

This time of the year always hits us with a bang!

And before we realize it is Hubby's birthday again!

I hope it will be your best year and day today!

You are much loved and appreciated in our lives!

It was difficult to find something special for him. But I found Bain's Cape Mountain Whiskey (as suggested on Rattle and Mum) with an extra power bank included at Makro yesterday. (Totally worth it!) 

Coldplay released today, but I could send the iTunes gift today. And Mark Haze's latest could also only be found on iTunes. 

What do you buy for your special man?

11 years of fun

I cannot believe that eleven years have passed so quickly.


Thank you to a wonderful husband

- Being there for us.

- Being a wonderful husband to me.

- Being a great dad to our daughters.

- Doing your share in everything that's needed to be done. All the mundane nitty gritty that needs to be done to keep a family afloat!

- Thanks for the great food you make every day! (It deserves a special mention!)

- Taking the stress for all of us.

- For taking us on adventures, and being always game for new ones!


You make me looking forward to the next eleven years!
Thank you!

I am the lucky one!

10 years of happy!

We celebrated our 10 year anniversary on Thursday last week!
It is really genius to have the 1st May as our  anniversary, as it is Worker's Day in South Africa and a public holiday. We are guaranteed a yearly public holiday to celebrate our anniversary as well!

I can't believe that it has been 10 years! It has been so much fun!
"Effortless" is the word that comes to mind!

Although, when we look at our selfies, it definitely looks as if  10 years has passed! (Hubby's food is to blame! Definitely! - That's why there is a shadow selfie!)

Thank you my dear Husband for the person that you are, and the way that you are treating us! The girls and I love you very much, and we appreciate all that you are doing for us!

It really has been a joy to have you in our lives!

We had a lovely breakaway at Glenburn Lodge which is only 30km from Johannesburg. It was especially great that we could fetch the children the second day and that we could spend some time together.

(I will do another post about our stay because most of my photos have already been downloaded on my home computer.)

I just wanted to say thank you to a great partner!
I "know" that it is not always as easy as this! (From a previous nearly forgotten life!)

I am the lucky one!

Working parents juggle it!

I got a Whatsapp message from the teacher today. Little Missy was complaining about her cheek, and the teacher thought it was a tooth!

I was in a conference and asked Hubby (also by IM) to phone the dentist to hear if they had an opening for the rest of the week for me to be able to take her.

He followed up, but they were fully booked.

In the meantime I was texting the teacher to ask her to give the little one a bit of Panado.

Then the dentist phone Hubhy again to inform him that they had an opening immediately. 

I must mention the following: Hubby started with a new job today! But off he went to fetch the Little Missy and to take her to the dentist.

I was texting him and the teacher, while trying to follow the conference proceedings...

She has a teeth that needs to be fixed, but not a big issue! In the meantime we will have to get her to sit still! (Not sure when that will happen?)

Hubby had an appointment with his new boss as well. He rocked up with Little Missy in tow, and apparently it wasn't a problem. (We hope!)

She got a little bit difficult in the end, I was told.

And her water bottle leaked all over Hubby's tablet and work papers. 

All in a day's work!

Thanks to my wonderful husband who did not hesitate to fetch the Little Missy, and who took her to his workplace on the first day of his new job!

That's how working parents juggle it!

Feeding the elephants at Glen Afric

We have been looking forward to do this for quite a while. It is only on Sundays that they bring out the elephants at Glen Afric.

Hubby is celebrating his birthday this week, and we treated him with a Sunday buffet AND the elephants.
It was a treat for everybody! Little Missy loved it!

A cool down in the pool afterwards

It was a lovely Sunday!

Hope you had a great day as well?


Related post:

Glen Afric - a place to go for a bush outing

Gautrain from Rosebank to Hatfield

We celebrated 9 years of being married yesterday!
It has been so much fun, and I love how I still enjoy going home at night! We enjoy each other's company, and we love doing stuff together.
Thank you for being the perfect mate and pall and life partner! I am so lucky to have you in my life!

Yesterday we finally did the Gautrain trip to Pretoria. We got on at Rosebank, and stepped down in Hatfield. Little Missy loved it!

When the first train arrived, I could not see a "perfect spot" for us to sit, and we stepped out of the train.
Big mistake! You can't take your time getting on. We had to wait another 30 minutes, and I was not very popular!

The train ride to Hatfield just takes long enough for us to enjoy. About 30 minutes!
We could also step out and walk to Hatfield Plaza and Square where we found Cappellos to have lunch at. The service was not that great, because they forgot to put in Little Missy's order, but for the rest it was perfect!

This was definitely a great way to spend our anniversary!


Related posts:

Gautrain train trip - The Toddler's first

Movie Clip Monday #10 - Toddler on the Gautrain

Wordless Wednesday #177 - Waiting for the Gautrain

Posted with Blogsy

Wordless Wednesday #177 - Waiting for the Gautrain

We got ourselves a weekend with a Mo

The Twitter message that made him a #Movember winner

Especially for Valentine’s…

Last year we had a whole Movember of moustache, but it was worth it in the end.
Hubby won the Crowne Plaza Rosebank Hotel competition for the best/worst (?) Mo.

The competition was “tough”, as can be seen on the Crowne Plaza Pinterest board. (Hehe!)
But that does not take away the prize! A whole weekend in a hotel. He also got a whole stash of Gillette goodies. (It is going to take a while to work through it!)

We have fantasies of long dinners and a choice of movies at a cinema where the age of a four-year old won’t have to be considered!
Not that we don’t like going to the movies with our little one! But we have only seen Skyfall, for us, in the last few (6?) months!

On Valentiner's we usually say to each other that we won’t buy anything for each other, but in the end there are usually cards, and chocolates, and eating out. This year we are going to have at least two dinners and at least one leisurely breakfast over the weekend for Valentine’s! Not bad!

I got two bunches of flowers yesterday, of which one was immediately claimed by the Missy! Luckily I could convince her to keep it in the living area as well, and not in her room!

She was very happy this morning to go off with a little rose for her teacher!

Valentine's flower for my teacher!

I loved this article yesterday from Psychology Today about Sweethearts in training.
It gave me some insights in how to include our children in Valentine’s, and not only on the 14th of February.


What are you doing on Valentine’s?

10 ways to get your husband to do what you want around the house

I had to smile at this title, and it made me read the list.

I am one of the lucky women whose husband does his fair share.
So far so, that he sometimes complains he is working his ass off in this house...

I don't have to ask my husband to help me. He just does! (Thank you!)

I wonder if these tips would really help in getting the man helping with all the mundane chores?
It seems to be a bit patronising?


But here it is for a good giggle on this Friday afternoon. The article was suggested from Housekeeping, and it can be read here:

10 ways to get your husband to do what you want around the house


1. Incentive 

2. Tit for Tat 

3. Logic 

4. Hysterical Tears 

5. Bribery 

6. Guilt Trip 

7. Work Together 

8. Ask the Right Way 

9. Make a List 

10. Go on Strike 

A very important day

To a very important man in our lives!

40 Forty four O The Big 4

My wishes for you!

- That you will have many more adventures!

- That you will reach your ultimate goals in life!

- That you will have many lucky surprises in your life!

- Lots of Joy!!

- Happiness!

- Peace!

- Love!


Thank you for being a true millennium man and showing our daughters how a dad / husband / man should be!

We are extremely lucky to have you!

May you have a wonderful day / year / life!!


From your happy wife!

(Finally we share the same decade! ;-) )

This Dad rocks it!

I had a breakfast date on Saturday, and Hubby took the Toddler with him for breakfast.
(Something I suspect he is quite keen to do, because he gets a lot of attention when he is alone with her.)

He had just ordered the drinks when there was an announcement that the Toddler had an accident in her pants. The stomach bug kind of accident...

Hubby was not fazed at all, but made a makeshift plan with the panties in the toilets. He's not one of those dads who you will find gagging...

They had to hurry along with breakfast, but after a second "explosion" it was time to go...

I found them at home in a good routine of extra panties, and wet wipes (toilet paper is too harsh, apparently!), and glasses of water and cool drinks standing around to keep the hydration up.

And that is how the rest of our weekend went!

We could at least do a breakfast (photo at D'Ouwe Werf in Broadacres) on Sunday and laze around because she did not feel unwell...

Luckily she clutched out at six last night, and this morning she was all well again.

This is the second weekend that has gone by with some sort of bug pestering us!


How was you weekend?

Eight years of adventure

We celebrated it with a canopy tour in Magaliesburg yesterday!

It was my first time sliding over the tree tops from the cliffs.

The guides know their story and before we could even think of getting scared of the heights, we were sliding down 10 different sets of slides from cliff to cliff!

Thanks to my Hubby for always being game for new adventures...

Thanks to eight years of being married to him, and 10 years of knowing him!

We are having so much fun!

What next? ;-)

Keep calm and do not send the angry sms

The Significant Other is in Mauritius for the week.

He phoned me on Tuesday from a colleague's phone after they had arrived on that side.

Since then I haven't heard from him...

You would think that he would have send me a short sms/email/whatever...
You would think that he would make a plan to contact us...
(We have technology nowadays!)

But nothing!

I need one of those "Keep Calm" posters now!
I am very tempted to send an angry sms to the colleague's phone!


KEEP.CALM.AND.DO.NOT.SEND.THE.ANGRY.SMS.

He is coming back tomorrow!


Related post:
Partner at conferences and team-buildings