Soul Food

This afternoon I was refreshed, and rejuvenated.

Beauty sank deep into my soul.

Joy filled my spirit.

And the thirst for time like this, the deep craving within me the last few weeks has been filled.

We spent the afternoon, soaking in the sun, catching fish, spending quality time with one another, the children and I at Silvermine.

King Arthur trying to catch a fish
(got to love his net!)

Belle swimming her heart out!
The water was LOVELY, I even swam.

My golden hearted boy, feeding the ducks
the fish bait as they looked hungry!

This is the stuff childhoods are made of.

Sweet, sweet time...

Sizzling Summer

Temperatures in the Western Cape are estimated to hit 45 C today - can you believe it?! I am in NO way complaining, but sure would like a pool! However, in the early and late parts of the day, we can be found at the beach - am loving this one in particular this season - no crowds, and a wonderful lagoon. Normally it's icy waters deter us, but even I swam today!

New Year's Day - late afternoon

having such fun!

munchies

chilly!

wonderful boy

Today, morning time, cousins

Dregs of 2010

Don't you just love waking up on a Cape Town morning to stillness?

Especially after the constant blustery gale?

This morning, at our house was one of those mornings. And it was pure bliss!

The last few days of this year have been good. We went walking in Newlands forest (p.s. a wind free zone! Magic!!!! I'm going to go back soon!) with a friend from Zimbabwe...

a somewhat empty stream

...which  the boys had to climb through

pretty huh?

The reason we went to the forest was to build forts -
sadly Newlands doesn't lend itself to forts as well as Cecilia forest,
but Braveheart and the boys made a grand attempt!

Today, we went to Cecilia forest with family, and walked along the path through the forest and into Kirstenbosch. A lovely manageable stroll, with a delicious picnic at the end....

The time it took was greatly extended by discovering that this stream that we crossed
had tadpoles in it, which the boys just HAD to try and catch! They caught
four, I was quite impressed!

Belle and her cousin

I realise I take loads of photos of Belle - but I also think
it's because she just sits still! The boys
can't stop long enough for me to take good ones!

the cousins

the boys cooling off 

So it's the last day of the year. I'm am not a fan of New Year's resolutions, but I do love the start of a New year, and the opportunity it gives to start things afresh, to change, to move on.

And although I did New Year's Eve parties in a big way when I was growing up (as my parents hosted endless numbers of them, and still do to this day and they're over 55!), in my parenting years they hold very little attraction for me. I think it's the combination of a great night - but a late night, and then an early morning with the kids!

This year, I really wanted to spend it with the kids, and also had hoped to hike somewhere for the sunset. But given that we'd already worn them out on a hike this morning, I opted instead to picnic on the beach at sunset. Aha! little did I know the South Easter would pick up, yet again!

Undeterred, we went to Noordhoek beach, where the sand was stinging our legs and blinding us, and climbed high into the sand dunes and sat in the shelter the Milkwood trees offered us. It was really lovely....

Aragorn...

Our view

We drew a line in the sand, said good-bye to 2010 whilst facing the land (suburbia), and then turned around, jumped over the line and yelled hello to 2011, looking at the ocean. I found it symbolic. (God had laid it on my heart earlier today - and I find those sorts of things sometimes downright odd (doing something physical that God has asked you to)). But this afternoon, looking at that expansive horizon, I realized that's what 2011 looks like for all of us.

A blank horizon. Empty. Barren. Open.

A year of opportunity.

Of Possibility.

Of hope.

As we continue to walk down this road together, may our year ahead be one that changes us all,

 forever.

Camping by Camera

So we arrived in the Cedarberg...in the rain! And I swear that the rain
was ONLY falling in this valley where we were camping -
a fine mist was over everything else.

We kept the kids in the car for as long as we could while we put up the gazebo
...and then let them loose so that they could use some of their pent up energy.

Can you see the steady rain? And for those people already there - this was day 2 of

solid rain! My rain jacket was useless!!!! Good to know now that it is NOT

waterproof, depsite the K-Way label :(

Home sweet home...for a few days!

 The mud proved to be an awesome play area for our kids -
can you believe I do not like dirt? But I do like camping! Odd hey?

 Hiking through the streams

 Belle was carried mostly - how I wish we'd fitted in the backpack!

Belle and Braveheart

 Chongololos! At least that's what Zimbabweans call millipedes.
In Zim they're this size but a deep dark black colour

 The campsite is home to this lovely swimming pool along the river

 We camped along the river - and had to drive/walk
across this lovely stream often.

 This was right beneath our camp -stunning!

 King Arthur pretending to be swept away by the rapids!

Campfire and roasting marshmallows

 Playing inside the tent

 Building a mudcastle

 Hiking along the hilltop, camp below us

 We found a beautiful secluded waterhole to swim in which was so lovely -
had it all to ourselves as well!

 Belle and I

Loving time with their dad!

Threatening Thunderstorms

OK. We are going camping today - on the foothills of the Cedarberg Mountains, on a lovely organic mango farm, right next to a river. Sounds idyllic huh? Only here's the thing:

1. The weather forecast for that area suggests that there is a 60% chance of thunderstorms occurring today. On one hand, it's been so long since I experienced a real thunderstorm (as opposed to Cape Town's insipid rainfall) I'm excited. Thunder. Lightning. Heavy rain. Might even get to smell the rain! On the other hand, can you imagine trying to put up a tent in the rain? Should make for some amusing pictures! Look at these...am filled with a tangible feeling of nervous dread!

Can you just imagine this - no dry ground/clothes/bedding....

Not quite the camping trip I had in mind

    2.   We had a shocking night's sleep - Belle was complaining of ear ache and a sore throat, so                  Braveheart and I were like yo-yo's all night.

    3.    In the wee hours of this morning (you know the ones where your slumber is at it's deepest ESPECIALLY after preceeding intermittent sleep) King Arthur woke with bad croup. It's been ages since he had his last attack. Now here's the thing. I am a 100% believer in Pre-flam for this condition, but I don't have any at the moment. This is going to require a very sweet phone call to my gp quite far from me (who only sees babies and children and whom I respect and love) to get a script faxed to a pharmacy near me. If I can't raise her on this South African public holiday, I shall have to resort to the medical practice nearest me who, last time I visited them, told me I was being a shocking mother (truly, I kid you not. Hence my vow that I shall never return - can anyone recommend an adult doctor to me?).

   4.    I haven't packed a thing!

Ho-hum. Best I go and make some tea and get cracking! Have a great long weekend!

Being on my Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday, and it was quite honestly, the best birthday I have had in years. I think it has to do with just 'being' me this year, and embracing all that I am and acknowledging all that I would like to change. Last year on this day I bolted. I ran a million miles from people and hated the day!

Birthdays have that effect on me - I love to celebrate other people's birthdays, but feel intensely uncomfortable when it comes to my birthday. But this year, I placed some boundaries around what I feel comfortable with - like no large extended in-law family dinners, and chose to do something on the day, that I love. Might sound strange to those of you who actually enjoy birthdays :)

As a family we're trying to make birthdays mean something significant...to mean something more than just presents for the kids. I love so many of the Jewish traditions, and love how they seek to speak blessing over each child on the day of their birth. With the boys this year, in the morning I told them their birth story and I prayed for them, and then at the end of the day we prayed for them and spoke into their lives what we hope for them in their future...just a small step in the right direction.

So...yesterday morning I invited a good friend to go along with me to a beach - Belle came with and we had it to ourselves! (We went to Boulders - do you Cape Townians know about the Wild Card for Cape Town? Such value for money!)

Filled my soul right up!

The afternoon was harried - the boys had had a rough day at school and so were somewhat testy...and there was to-ing and fro-ing from gymnastics....but then -

to Table Mountain we went! And we were so fortunate because it had been closed for two days prior to this because of the winds, but it calmed down sufficiently for us to enjoy it! And it was stunning - we last did this when King Arthur was about one I think, just after we'd moved here.

The kids loved it, and were  a bit in awe of the cable cars and how high we were. My goodness, I didn't anticipate the stress I would feel with my boys, running and jumping on the top of the mountain. Heebie-jeebie stuff!

And then I get to celebrate with my girl friends tomorrow morning. Sigh. A wonderful birthday!