An ode to great Dads

Father's Day and fathers!

I have a great Dad! He still shows us the what a true Dad should be and we know that he loves us dearly!
Thanks, Dad, for always being there!

That's why I knew in a previous life that the dad that was being shown to us was not the correct one! I was flabbergasted, because I had such a different upbringing. But I knew it was not right! Contrary to that life, there was no issues and dramas in our house growing up. We had a Dad that worked and was there when we had anything going on at school or needed help or a taxi! He was there! (Not so with the cancelled one!)

Thanks to my Dad who was my original measure of what a Dad should be! That's why I am so thankful to Hubby who is also a great Dad to our two daughters! He is present and involved and doing his bit in the daily rat race! Thank you so much, dear Hubby!

Print-out from Parent24

Some fun facts about Dad, from Little Miss. (For posterity purposes!)

- My dad laughs when he reads something funny.
- My dad's favourite food is meat.
- Something my dad always says is I am a princess.
- My dad is good at making food.
- I love my dad because he loves me back.


We had a lovely day yesterday with the dads and sharing lunch together!
What did you do for Father's Day?

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

A weekend at the Crowne Plaza Rosebank

We got ourselves a weekend with a Mo, and we just loved it! (Of course!)

It was worth all of the moustache of Movember last year!

We still had to do the weekend run of tiny gymnastics, and had to pick up the student, AND had to worry about a broken-hearted student, but we had two evenings to ourselves! (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!)

I felt like stepping out of the rat race, and just go into spoil mode! 

We loved the hotel and the décor and the friendly service, and going to the movies and dining out!

*Sigh* A weekend is way too short!

We would love to do this regularly! (Hint-hint, Universe!!)

Fresh Restaurant

Sparkling wine and a view! Perfect!

Deluxe Room

Swimming pool area

Circle Bar

The lobby

Interesting art work

I had to restrain myself not to Instagram every photo of the weekend, but I added some to the collection: Instagram

Hope you also had a good one?

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! ;-) )

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

A less-than-perfect Valentine's Day!

This Valentine's Day could easily have been called a Super Bummer!

- We had empty purses!
- We bought each other a kitsch Valentine's present!
- The Toddler got the Influenza virus, and she was booked off for the rest of the week.
- I struggled with a sick toddler the whole day who only wanted to sit with me, and who didn't want to eat anything...
- There was no time to put on fancy clothes for a date night!
- We went to sea the early movie, and after we came out of the cinema, the restaurants were packed. I did not think of placing a booking, and we ended up at Juicy Luicy. (We were thinking in terms of sushi...)
- The movie made me bawl my eyes out, and I looked even worse!
- The food was crappy as well!

But it did not matter in the least!

- Hubby bought me flowers as well!
- The kitsch Valentine's presents are a tradition we are going to keep!
- We had a good date night in spite of the fact.
- The movie, The Descendants, was a great movie!
- We had a good laugh sitting at Juicy Luicy and watching all the people in their "Valentine's" outfits walking past in the mall.
- The Toddler enjoyed her stay at her grandparents, and she was asleep when we got home. Huge bonus!

I realized how lucky I am to have such a great friend in my husband, and that we do not have to have a perfect evening to enjoy each others company!
I declare Valentine's Day 2012 a success!

What did you do on Valentine's Day?

Hubby's BDay

Elise du Toit Photography

Hubby is celebrating his last year of 30s. Happy, happy birthday my dear husband!

I like  to point out that that he is still in his 30's! (While I have done the "cross-over" a couple of years back ;-) )
It gives me lots of bonus points!

A friend said today that I am very lucky to be be here!
Yes, I am! But I have made the choice to be here, and I did not stay in something that was bad!

I have met a soul mate and friend who makes life fun and worthwhile and great to come home to!
Each and every night!

Thank you, Hubby, for being in our lives and for all that you contribute to our family!

You are a great husband and father and cook and handyman and friend and provider and always ready for an adventure!

You are our Hero!
Hope you had a great birthday!

Taking a break & first ballet for the Toddler

A chilled weekend!

We had some friends over on Friday.
We should make more time to see our friends! That’s what we decide every time... We should not let the rat race and tiredness prevent us from meeting our friends and family o a regular basis. Even if it means scheduling it into our dairies weeks ahead!

The gymnastics started again after the holidays, and the Toddler enjoyed every minute! It seems everything they were taught the previous semester soaked in during the holidays!

We took the Toddler to her first ballet on Saturday. She sat mesmerized looking at Cinderella at the UJ Arts Center. There were a lot of keen girls with their parents, and a bit of a buzz on the balcony where we were sitting. The Toddler had her finger in front of her mouth, trying to shush them... She was immensely impressed and told us that she wants to dance like that!

Today was spent at home. We just chilled in the winter sun (which was really great today), and Hubby barbequed great chicken and vegetables!  (Master Chef was in the house again!) It was nice to do NOTHING, and some more of NOTHING!

The Toddler is struggling with a cold and a cough! Hubby took the day Friday to keep her at home. It was a first, because I usually stay at home. He said he enjoyed the bonding with her, and I came home to a tidied home, ready for the guests!  (He’s a Keeper!)

But Toddler is not yet better! I just hope that she is going to be well by tomorrow when we want to go to work again. What are the odds? (Don’t tell me!)

And she’s not sleeping yet... It’s half past nine on a Sunday night!

Daddy's girl

Daddy is the flavour of the month at this time! Daddy must do everything! He must read the Toddler her story, and he must lie next to her when she goes to sleep... He must make her bottle!

And she wants to go to him the whole time! "Pappa toe!"
Maybe it's got something to do with him going away last week to a conference?

I am not complaining at all! It is a wonderful relationship, and Mum gets a bit of me-time! (Wicked! Wink smile!)

Perfect, it seems!

I am looking forward to a beautiful weekend. Winter is closing in on us, but we are going to enjoy a bit of the warmth of staying indoors, and each other's company!

Hope you have a lovely time as well!

I am linking up with Supermom and her Friend Finding Fridays today.

Partner at conferences and team-buildings

I am really irritated by conferences and team-buildings where the partner has to go away for a couple of nights. Even one night is not on... No, I am more than irritated!

(Or the case of Sour Grapes-face. ME!)

Rhetorical questions to companies:

• Why can’t you say what you have to say during normal working hours?
• Why do you have to do team-building with people who do not work with you in the same branch/department?
• Why take a staff member out of his office for days, AND then have to cope with absenteeism afterwards because of THE FLU? (Or THE HANGOVER)
• Why do you spend exorbitant amounts on travel and lodging and gifts and entertainment? It does not make sense in this day of cut-backs and poor economies, or is somebody not giving us the whole picture?
• Why do you take parents away from their families?
• Why do you have harem night parties with lots of booze when the spouses are not around? (We always get to hear the stories afterwards…)

I am just venting a little bit after the Hubby had to go to a conference, and came back sick like a dog. He was not here for almost three days, and now he is also relegated to bed! Shame and he still gets up to help with dinner and dropping The Teen off at school in the mornings… He’s the real Hero here, and I am Mrs. Sour Grapes! Sorry, Hubby, I know it is not your fault!

Who also feels a bit annoyed with all these “conferences” the partner has to attend?
(Please tell me it is not only me that hates it when Hubby has to go away!)

This week I’m grateful for... my family

I am linking up with Maxabella and her I’m grateful for.

It is Sunday already, but I m so glad my family is all back at home again. The Teen is back from her Paris and London tour, and Hubby is back from his Namibia conference. I missed them!

Nothing than a missing family member to make us realise how important they are in our lives!

How lucky we are to be a family! Our lives are enriched beyond our wildest expectations. We are able to share our lives and tours... We know that when we share our photos, the members of our family actually want to see what we have been up to! (wink smile)

I love my family!

Montecasino Night out for 2

Montecasino Piazza

Montecasino has a great special offer going on called Night out for Two. Hubby and I were treated to it with a special night in the hotel thrown into the deal as well by his company!

It was great to chill all by ourselves for a whole evening. Drinking red wine and listening to jazz on the Piazza. We had dinner later at Billy G.

We could have spent the voucher for the casino that comes with the deal. But there is nothing that I dislike more than spending time in a casino. I do not like throwing my money into a machine. I would much rather eat it...

We went to watch a late night movie. Morning Glory is a delight with Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton. It has been a while since we left a movie theatre after midnight!

SunSquare Hotel in background

After a great breakfast we headed home to fetch The Toddler at Grandma and Grandpa. She enjoyed it so much; she was not even fazed when we arrived there!I think it is some sort of punishment as well: "You left me here: I am not going to show you how much I missed you!"

We really missed her, but it was great to spend some time alone... One of my New Year's resolutions is bearing fruit: spending more time alone with Hubby. (2011, here we come!)

LOVE and Bling

Jenna Clifford Fine Jewellery

Maxabella inspired me with her Bling on Love post about jewellery and LOVE. Especially since it’s 14 February on Monday next week! I am linking up with her and Felicity of Gifts of Serendipity.

I tried to take nice photos with my BlackBerry, but unfortunately this is the best I could get! I was trying not to get too much of the wrinkles on those hands, but getting a clear picture of the ring. Not very successful on both counts, but what the heck! You get an idea of the rings! The blur takes away the wrinkles, at least... (Wink smile!)(And I still love my BB! And I am not a photographer...)

When Hubby and I got engaged he was still a teacher, and did not have a lot of spare cash going around. So we settled on a small gold and silver ring with a small diamond. The “silver” lasted only for a month, when it started to wear off! So I have a small gold ring, which I now wear on my right hand.

We are both in agreement that I am still waiting for that special ring. So this is not a “hint” post, because Dries knows what I want. It is a specially designed Jenna Clifford ring, something like the rings on the photo. I am not that into diamonds, and would love a tanzanite or topaz white gold or platinum ring!

I am now wearing a silver ring, with bling stones, as well as another plain silver ring. The combination works well. I luuuurv my bling for the time being… Especially since it was given by my Hubby! Because it was given out of LOVE!

Love is...

Love is... a verb.

taking out the nappy bin e-v-e-r-y time.

starting with dinner when he gets home before us.

picking up the dog poop e-v-e-r-y day.

buying groceries without being asked.

fetching the Toddler to our bed when she wakes up at night.

driving the Teen to school e-v-e-r-y day.

dropping and picking up the Teen when she wants to go out.

doing DIY jobs  when asked.

playing with the Toddler when trying to get something done.

making breakfast.





Love is?

Related page:
The MM

Worth more dead than alive

We usually joke and say that we are worth more dead than alive. But it is not true!
Hubby is far more valuable to me, even if we count it down to Rands and cents...

The previous week I was reminded again of the painful loss of a partner when Lori at Random Ramblings of a Stay at Home Mom lost her husband. Read Speak, her eulogy to her husband at his funeral. Haunting stuff!

Reasons why Hubby is worth more alive than dead:

• Although I complain about the snoring (wink smile), I cannot imagine not sleeping next to him each night. He makes me feel safe and secure. The rest of the family feel out of zinc when he is not around, especially at night! (“Where’s the Daddy?” gets heard quite often when he’s not around.)

• He works! Every day! (Major deal breaker!)

• He prepares breakfast, and lunches, and dinner! It is quality food as well! (I am soooo lucky, I know!)

• Hubby is a handyman as well! He fixes things; and it looks as good as the original. He also cleans up after he has done a DIY job!

• He is a great friend to have around! Make any suggestion of an outing or “adventure” and he is there!  And he enjoys it as well!

• Hubby is a great father! He changes nappies, makes bottles in the middle of the night and he drives the teenager around!

• Hubby goes camping and hiking with me. We are planning our next hike in the Drakensberg Mountains for this year.

• He drinks and enjoys red wine with me!

• He loves going out for breakfasts with us (my favourite pastime).

• He makes time for us, and usually makes sure that he is at home when we are home.  He sometimes says no to after-work drinks with the guys...

• He gives me space to be me, and to do what I want to do!

Definitely, he is not worth more dead than alive! I am “rich” because of him in our lives! Corny! Sorry!

Lori, I am “sorry” that we get to go back to our lives with our partners and that we have mundane stuff to worry about! “Sorry” is the only word that works here!

You made me acutely aware again: I am grateful that we have the small stuff to worry about! AND we have each other!

Related post:

My Millennium Man, The MM.

Weekend in pics - Hubby's BDay

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Wordless Wednesday #52 - Breakfast at Olivia's with sleeping toddler