Spoiled!

I will soon get back to the first half of the year, but I am going to break in and brag about my birthday!
I have truly been blessed by the friends and family in my life! While Mom and Dad where here, I asked Mom if she would help me throw a luncheon with some of my friends here in South Africa to celebrate my birthday! Unfortunately we had to have it a week prior to my birthday, because Mom and Dad where leaving before! It was a beautiful day filled with laughter, good food, and wonderful conversation! Mom cooked one of my favorite luncheon meals, lime chicken and artichoke rice, and I invited some of my closest friends and even some special teachers! It was so awesome for my Mom to meet all the people that mean so much to us here! The luncheon began at 12, and ended at 9 that night! All of the husbands and children, along with my Dad, Pat and kids helped us finish the night with dinner! One of my favorite moments was when one of our close South African friends corralled the kids; and had then stand up and sing the South African anthem for my parents......priceless!
On my actual birthday I awoke to my sweet kids and all of their goodies they had bought me themselves! Hunter had set up his desk in his room with a card and my gifts, similar to what I always do for their birthdays in the kitchen (maybe I do make a good impression)! Pat surprised me with a beautiful diamond pendant, and of course my Italy trip in May! I was invited to a champagne breakfast with three wonderful friends, I received the sweetest calls; and then to finish my day off another one of my close friends made me dinner! Absolutely a wonderful day, I am extremely lucky!

The first half of this year has been a whirlwind!
We made it through another hot South African summer, Pat completed another Cape Argus cycling race, my baby turned 13, we celebrated Easter at the beach, I went on an ALL girls trip to London and Italy, Mom and Dad came to visit for three weeks; and now I am turning 40!
To catch up, here are some fun pics from the last few, several months!
It was very hot this summer, we lived in the pool! This little girl is mastering swimming, and next year will be life vest free!

Valentine's Day 2011!

Pat completed an awesome project....This is my dollhouse that my dad made for me when I was little!

Pat turned it into this for Claire.....

A trip to the beach!

Pat's biggest fans ready to watch his 3rd Cape Argus!

Pat in red jersey!

Claire dressed as a cowgirl for a school function!



Claire with her buddies!


The biggest event, Taylor turns 13!

My boy is growing up... not too fast, but he is! He has made both Pat and I so proud to call him ours! Just recently he had a high school interview, which starts here in 8th grade, and I was blown away by this little boy that we have raised! We met with the Headmaster, just Taylor and I, and had an amazing talk! Taylor and the Headmaster spoke to each other, and I mostly listened and even choked back tears a couple of times as I watched some of my dreams become reality....for my baby to grow up to be a good person! He described himself to a tee, and his description made me proud and the Headmaster surprised that such a young guy can have a good head on his shoulders! I realized in that moment that this move has made a mark on him, but a good one, a mark that he will carry forever!
We had a dance and swim party, which included a DJ! What a fun night, Pat grilled while we had about 40 kids playing, dancing and swimming....such fun!


The action on the tennis courts, soccer goal and swimming pool!


The group dancing, notice Claire busting a move!


Taylor surrounded, happily!

Our "South African family" dinner...







Much more to follow....................................

Back to School!

So I say goodbye to this... Wild Monkeys!

And get this.... School Kids!

Claire's first day back to Theodore Herzl!

Boys first day back to St. Dominic's!

So my crew went to school today after being off for almost 2 months! As with every beginning of every school year, I am a little depressed! It makes me sad to say goodbye to our school holidays, only because it means they are one year older! I can not believe that I now have a 7th grader and a 4th grader! It seems like it was just yesterday that I cried when Taylor went off to kindergarten, and then first, second and third grade; and then I said goodbye to both a 4th grader and a kindergartner...wow it goes too fast!

As much as they need to be back in school, I could have them home forever! Claire was so ready to get back into school, and out of all three kids....she really needed to be back at school(let's just say she can be a little difficult)!

So once again my heart is so very heavy as we pack school bags, make lunches and label supplies! Unfortunately we begin that crazy school and sports schedule(Taylor has already chosen 3 sports for this term!); and this year will fly by... as they always do!

Halloween

My good friend and I threw a hell of a good Halloween party! The kids and adults all had a ball! We had the party at my house, but equally decorated and cooked! We had close to 60 people...We got a little scared as it started pouring as the guests arrived! Luckily the weather cleared some, and our 2 high school girls that we hired to entertain the kids pulled through and played all of the games that we had set up(ghost bowling, mummy wrapping, spoon race, apple bobbing)! While the kids played their games and jumped on the jumpy castle, the adults partied! We drank and danced until the last family stumbled home....late into the night! One requirement of the night was that everyone must come in costume; we had the Addams family, vampires, princesses, pirates, Minnie Mouse, fifties girl, priest, pregnant nun, doctor, bird,Zulu warrior and princess and lots, lots more!
I would say we succeeded in showing our South African friends what Halloween is all about!
Probably one of my all time favorite times of 2010!
Hunter, CSI Detective

Taylor, Harry Potter

The Lion

The Lion and Harry Potter

Mummy wrapping

Some of the girls...

Minnie Mouse, Zulu Princess and some very interested little ones...

Our very own Zulu warrior and Princess

Early in the evening, as children where still allowed on the dance floor...

Cutting a rug...

The music gets louder, the real fun begins...

Love this....

Dave, our buddy who brings the speakers and the music, what is a party without music?!

OK, my favorite of all things South African....this warrior dance that our friend Clayton does!

Catch Up!

Over the course of the next week I am hoping to post many posts, beginning with Claire' birthday from October! One of my New Year's resolutions is to keep up with this blog and begin photo albums! This blog serves as a journal for me, I have never kept journals but hope that this blog will help me remember our life! Have fun catching up with me!

Claire turns 5!

My baby turned 5! So many emotions come to play for a momma of three, when her third is no longer a baby..sadness, happiness, excitement! Claire is a very active, strong willed child that has stolen our hearts! She has scared us to death, with all of the unknowns; but has made us stronger for walking her down this road!
Claire continues to make lots of progress in all of her therapies, and has proven many therapist wrong in what she can achieve! Her biggest issue is her speech, but like everything else she has made remarkable progress this year! She finally is intelligible to most people, and my translation skills are not needed as often!!!
She loves to play outside, and loves to change clothes! She has really had a great year in school, and has made some friends! She recently had her first play date, and loved every bit of being with her friends!
Gosh, she is growing up and with every new word, long sentence; I am able to catch my breath and know that there is a great big future ahead of this little girl!!!!
Birthday breakfast

School Birthday Bash

Claire and friend, Emma

Birthday dinner at local restaurant with friends....

We went all out for her birthday this year, and had a "Wizard of Oz" theme. She loves the movie, and made quite a cute Dorothy!

I made all of the decorations, her dress, and even had the Wizard of Oz gang for display! The food was all labeled with Wizard of Oz names; such as "lion cookies", "red slipper juice", "tornadoes" and many more! My good friend made her cake..OMG! First, she made it a rainbow cake and then with fondant decorated it, so cute!

It was a beautiful day for an outdoor party...

The whole "gang" was represented...

The food table...

The cake...

Love this pic, everyone was quite surprised to see the rainbow cake!

Claire's friends...



The Wizard of Oz party was a hit, and everyone had a great time including "Dorothy"!