playing with Picasa Collage Maker

Bear with me on this one, I have discovered Picasa Collage Maker, downloaded for free from Google and it automatically makes these lovely collages for you, at least now I don't have to choose which photo's to publish.

Last night we had a lovely dinner and this morning were woken up by James at about 6am wanting to know if they could open presents, but Rob told them to go back to bed until about 7h30 - that as you can imagine took a lot of self control on their part. so we told them they could in the meantime open their Christmas stocking and one of their gifts were bubbles (always a winner)
We spent the afternoon on the beach, the kids building a castle out of rocks and playing catch with their ball.

Rob was exhausted and manged to get a couple of hours shut eye. Don't you like the sign that James made Rob buy for me for Christmas? No Grumpy HusbandsAnyways, off to go and play with some more collages . . .

there were 2 in the bed and little one said . . .

Well that will teach me to brag as I did in the previous post, all about there being no wind. Last night I think every possibly God out there wreaked their revenge on us and an almighty storm broke out over us last night. The wind was so strong we honestly thought our tent would blow away and as for the rain, it did not stop until after breakfast this morning.

I don't remember what time it was this morning, but Rob woke up and found poor Chris and Maxine were getting wet, as well as the floor in the tent of the caravan. so there he was lifting all the clothes and goodies and unplugging all electrical appliances. Maxine eventually had to move into the caravan with Andy and Mandy and Chris moved in with Rob and I onto the double mattress (u can picture the squash), thank goodness he did because literally half an hour later, the tent poles where they had been sleeping collapsed.

On Monday we went up the Outeniqua Pass using the Power Van's from the Transport Museum. The museum was very interesting and the kids had a ball running and climbing into all the old trains. We also sat in an old railway coach and had lunch with the kids. After the museum, we decided to try and find the house where Gran had grown up in George, but the address she gave us in Albert Street is now a second hand car sales lot, so that didn't exactly work out.

But all is well that ends well, we had a lovely breakfast of bacon and eggs etc etc and then packed up the car and as I type this message, am now sitting in J-Bay, with lovely smells coming out of the kitchen for Christmas Dinner that Dawn is cooking.Dawn is also making marshmallows - yes, marshmallows. Will let you know how they come out, looks really simple. Gran of course is standing around doing absolutely nothing (hee hee), no just kidding, that because she's not allowed to, as usual Dawn is spoiling all of us rotten as we all kind of sit on our bums whilst she does all the work.

The kids of course have plonked themselves down in front of TV that they have missed for the last couple of days and Chris has already been on facebook to look at the pictures of Gill who went shark diving . . . . (crazy girl!)I think poor old Chris is really missing his friends and particularly Gill, he is just that much too old to play with the little ones, but not old enough to go socialise on his own (thank goodness)

According to Ingrid, little Tigger is becoming really playful now and pouncing around - can't wait to see him.
With all the piddling rain, the kids did a lot of beading and James and Tiffany in particular. They in fact took their wares and sold them around the campsite and made about R160 - needless to say Mandy and I did not see any of that to cover costs of the beads . . . , but hey it kept them occupied for ages and ages.We took the rubber duck out and had a picnic on one of the beaches, whilst Andy took the kids for spins (and tumbles) on the tube. They all came back afterwards with bumps and bruises and grazes, but having had loads of fun. That night they all went to bed nice and early.

It was Andy's birthday whilst we were there, and instead of a cake, we raided woolies and had a chocolate selection, which needless to say did not last very long.

One night, the kids (and I include Rob and Andy in this) decided they needed to go fishing after catching about 100 prawns with the prawn catcher. So off they went, with all their gear and when they came all that was missing were the prawns and no fish to replace them, but they had fun.

This whole holiday has been great so far, the kids all get on so well, making it so much easier for us as parents. So far all that I can see that we have left behind at the Camp site, is my computer charger (AARRRRGGGHHHH) Thank goodness I can still access the cyber world via Dawn and Peter's pc and Rob's. We will have to stop in there on the way back - what a pain, but I need it for work.

Yipeee we are now officially on holiday, sitting here at our campsite in Knysna, the kids are pumping prawns, the boys are roasting duck and chicken for dinner and Mandy and I are on our pc's. The weather here is stunning and so warm, but the best part is there is no wind!!!

The journey up was uneventful, buy VERY long for some reason. We stopped along the way to buy a beading book for James so that delayed the trip slightly, but at least we are here and firmly entrenched int he dirt. The camp site is absolutely beautiful, we are situated right in front of the pool, closest to the Knysna Lagoon and the trampoline's, so we don't see the kids for dust the whole day. The coming up here was loaded to the hilt, so much so that Rob could not even see out the back windows, we had to bring bedding for the four of us as well as Christmas present, so going back should be much easier.

Gran on the other hand took the easy way out and flew up to Jeffrey's Bay yesterday, so we will link up with her when we get there.

Andy and Mandy have decorated the caravan with Christmas lights and it looks so pretty. We are here now for 5 nights and then off to Jeffreys Bay for Christmas.

Before we left we had a Christmas lunch with Nana and Oupa and Ingrid and that was so nice to spend the day together. Check out the photo's of the 'breekers' . . . It was so hot that the kids spent the afternoon in nana's pool playing silly buggers with their Christmas presents.

Ingrid has kindly agreed to feed our zoo whilst we are away, hope she can cope with little Tigger nuzzeling into her hair and sleeping with her on her pillow.

Hard to believe, but I was actually swimming this morning for about an hour with the kids, the water was lovely and much as I am in the pool every day, I couldn't even make one length under water, which only Tiffany and James did manage. We all seem to have gotten burnt on our first day away (tut tut) even though we put sunscreen on all day and I was sitting in the shad of a tree, obviously the rays got through.

The kids and Andy all went out ont he boat with he tube and were gone for more than an hour, then swam the rest of the day. This evening the kids have gone off to the local caravan shop to buy a prawn pump and bucket and are now down at the waters edge pumping prawns so they can go fishing tomorrow. You can imagine the squeals of glee/horror at the prawns having to be picked up. What a bargain, R85 for the pump and hours of entertainment for the kids - couldn't be cheaper.

We off to read my book some more - will post some more soon.

Absolutely nothing to say on this one but AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW HOW CUTE!!!!

Just finished a lovely dinner of snacky finger food with Ingrid, Nana and Oupa, Nicky and Gran. The kids had their own friends there, so we ate first and let them have the leftover - mean hey!

Yay its school holidays, no more sandwiches and making sure kids get to bed on time. Can't believe another year let alone a week is flying past. Just looked and its last Friday since I last updated.

With Rob being away for a 2 week stint, I took the opportunity to have a bit of clean out session and this picture is the result of what was weeded out of the kids cupboards, need to still try and persuade Rob he can get rid of some of his 2 shelves, 2 deep piles of T-shirts, but it always feels so good when you've done things like this.

Chris had is last day in junior school last Friday and fortunately he was not involved,but some his grade mates got involved in writing on the school walls and landed up with community service for 2 hours on their last day of school at the end of the day. What was most shocking though was it was the kids that are normally the goodie too shoes (spelling?) - just goes to show.

Chris has had a hectic couple of days, going out and socialising with his girlfriend and friends, this morning he seems to be having a good lie-in (recharging his batteries)

So finally its official, I have resigned from the Constantia portion on my job and will not be full time (mornings only) employed by BKM - YAY YAY YAY.

During this week, one of the guys I work with had to attend and Constantia Valley function and his wife is away and Rob is away so we were rent a husband and rent a wife for the evening. We went to Peddlars on the Bend which has just been revamped. Chatting to the owners, they said its been around for 15 years (can't believe it!) The renovations are very nice and I could highly recommend it as a place to go and have a nice dinner.

Jess has taken to hiding little tigger in our linen cupboard which opens out into the passage, to when the door is open there is this automatic tendency to want to shut it, locking the poor little thing in. He is growing so fast, literally before our hours. Rob is going to be shocked when he comes home. As for Mickey, when Tigger does come out, Mickey just wants to play with him, but of course he is far too rough for the little thing.

Can't wait, 3 more days of swimming and then I don't need to go near chlorine water for a couple of weeks, in fact quite looking forward to going swimming in a river or the sea for a change.

We are off to Knysna to camp with Andy and Mandy which is always brilliant fun, the kids and more selfishly myself always have an absolute ball. Where the biggest stress is normally what are we going to eat today - no TV, cell phones, laptops (although these will go with) and just deck chairs and a glass of wine - CAN'T WAIT!!

After that we are off to Jeffreys Bay, hopefully we will be taking bicycles with us for the boys who are now old enough to ride around on their own and of course Chris who is now brand and image conscious will just love shopping in J-Bay for new clothes.

What a stunning week, Monday kids slept out, Tuesday Gran cooked supper, tonight we are having a meza (??) platter i.e. finger foods and tomorrow night dinner is also organised, so just need to think of something for Friday.

When the kids slept and Ingrid, Morten (shock of shocks) was there and he gave James a ride on his motor bike. James who as usual did not have shoes there had to borrow a pair, he said he was initially a little nervous, but from there he loved it. One of my clients gave me tickets to Ratanga Junction, perhaps he will now go on the Cobra?? We'll see. . .

One's eyes start to open the others are closed!

Little Tigger is starting to open his eyes, 9 days old and as per the text books started opening his eyes, he is sooooooooooo cute.

Here is a video and some photo's of him now.

Last night we went to Christopher's Grade 7 prize giving and a couple of my friends who also were attending husbandless hinted we should disappear off to the pub for an hour then come back and fetch the kids - they never win certificates so what's the point. Well blow me down is Christopher doesn't for the first time in his life win a certificate from school for Excellence in Swimming. What makes it that much more special is no everyone is given certificates (like they do in the younger grades). So of course I had to do the proud mommy thing and take the photo. Won't tell you what I said to get him to smile . . .

Yay today is break-up day so kids finish school at 11 and then it's taxi time. Chris is already off to a party this afternoon, sleep out tonight and beach tomorrow - thank goodness we have implemented pocket money otherwise I would be bankrupt.

I have had Michey helping me at the office for 2 days which has been great, she is extremely efficient and capable, she said she would rather come to work with me than spend her day at school playing board games - yes, this is what they have been doing for 2 weeks since exams finished.