Monthly Archives: July 2017
Nut cracking
Addy has a way of getting into hard nuts – and actually can get in there!
Rhino search
Eli wanted to see a rhino, so we set off for Kragga Kamma Game Reserve in hunt of rhinos. Fortunately we were relatively quickly rewarded.
Rhino Selfie!
Eli ranks his favourite animals spotted today as rhino, warthog and giraffe.
Grace’s top animals were the rhino and cheetah
We spotted loads of the animals that they have there and Eli, Grace and Adam all really enjoyed the experience. Adam was particularly good at spotting animals, and we got to be up close to many of them.
Birthdays, mini golf and hospital visits
Donné turned 39 today! It was a mostly peaceful day, which took a turn for the slightly-more-exciting-than-aimed-for.
We went out for some putt putt at the beach front. Check out those birthday girl boots.
Donné versus the octopus
This was all going brilliantly with laughs, smiles and us having a good time. We got to the last hole and things took a rather sudden change in direction.
Adam tripped on one of the obstacles and went face first into the bricks edging the hole. When I picked him up it was just blood everywhere, and I knew we were going to need to make a trip to the hospital.
Fortunately they just glued him back together (litterally), and the milk he drank on the way calmed him.
The final golf tallies tell an inaccurate tale. Although it looks like Eli is an ace, he actually skipped about half the course, and Donné kept marking Grace’s shots in her column.
Birthday cake! (made by the birthday girl)
May it be a blessed year ahead for you my love.
Ergo walks
We’ve had our Ergo from when Grace was little and one of things I’ve done with all of the children is take long walks on the beach in Jbay with them in the Ergo – putting them to sleep, getting Eli out early in the morning to avoid disturbing others, or just long peaceful walks together. Adam is growing quickly though, and it won’t be long before he out grows the Ergo, but we’ve still got some walking to do.
Eli was watching TV and I put Adam down next to him while he ate a snack. I put him down on the other side of the couch, but as soon as his bum touched the couch he slid over to Eli for a snuggle.
Bubbles and balancing
We spent a day visiting with Aunty Doreen, Christo and Aunty Gaenor – family friends from when Ian was born. Doreen bought everyone some bubbles…
We channeled some of our internal Karate Kid on our walk today
Merry go round
Adam got to enjoy some time on the merry go round with his siblings – his first real time on it on his own….and he did enjoy it.
Just look at his happy face
Family tree climbing
A day to just be
Today we took it slow enjoying just being here. Lego was built, books read, board games played, a short walk on the beach, naps, knitting and some shoe shopping.
Eating a snack while Grace knits
Holiday time
After what has been a crazy year, it’s time for some JBay down time, so we packed our trunk and said goodbye to the circus.
Adam was a champ on the trip. No crying, no accidents, and generally just chill.
The other two settle down to watch some movies on the tablets while we drive, so they switch off for most of the trip.
Which gave Donné and I some much needed quiet time to just be together and chat, and connected again after a long period of being ships in the night passing by each other.
And when we get to the Jbay wind turbines, we know out journey is coming to an end. It was a safe and peaceful trip, and we’re all looking forward to some downtime.
The final installment
So it’s been about 7 weeks since we embarked on the potty training train and I’m happy to say, our little 20 month old man is potty trained. Yay!
Adam loves taking selfies and saying cheese
The last 7 weeks have come with there challenges, firstly with an ear infection, a week and a half in, which resulted in us regressing back to nappies full time for a week or so. The difficulty of dragging a toddler around to drop and fetch siblings and then the ‘I only know how to poop in standing’ challenge.
The last 2 weeks Adam has been in underpants full-time and since Thursday has figured out how to poop in the toilet, which is so much better than the floor, ask my shoes! The only nappy he wears is at night and the last 5 days it has been dry so when we get back from Jeffreys Bay we will probably be totally done with nappies.
Beanies lovingly made by granny
It’s weird to think the nappy chapter in our lives is over, but at the same time I can’t say it’s something I’ll miss.
Watching dad, Grace and Eli riding their bikes at the bicycle track
Now if only potty training my kids was as easy as getting my kids to sleep through the night (don’t stress Grace and Eli sleep through the night), I definitely would have thought I’m made to be a mother, but luckily parenthood is a humbling affair and kids know how to keep you in check!
Uppie!
Adam has learnt to climb the cargo net, and takes much joy in it, calling, “Uppie!” while he climbs