Annemie’s first birthday

Annemie turned 1 on 13 October. 

We celebrated it at our house, with a big feast that Thelwyn and Frans had prepared. 

Our little one year old in her polka dot dress, awaiting the guests.  She seemed to know that the fuss was about her and she enjoyed every minute.  (She has been walking since 10 ½  months.)

Martelize and Franco and the other friends admiring the polka dot cake.

Janita looking forward to the jellies that Martelize had made. 

Frans lit the number 1 candle…

while Annemie looked on.  The candle certainly got her attention! 

The happy family: Martelize (4), Frans, Annemie (1) and Thelwyn

Franco and Janita headed for the rocks to eat their party packs.

The “grown-ups’” table – with only half of the food out yet. 

Annemie with Oom Hendrik. 

“Look my brand new first tooth!”

The weather was glorious and the children played outside with a ball.  They also had a great time on the climbing frame and the trampoline. 

Annemie loved her gifts – this push school bag was from the L’s.  Now she has a bag just like her Ousus and her cousins. 

A soft doggy elicits a beautiful smile and a hug.

She is already a little bookworm.

Playing with her gifts – and the tablecloth weights! 

But Zaran is the best toy of all!

We had an unexpected visitor: a huge tortoise.  He was the largest tortoise we had even seen on the farm and of course all these animal lover children were ecstatic!  He did not stay long though – he soon disappeared  into the bush. 

Dankie Mamma vir ‘n baie lekker partytjie! 

Thank you God for my brown eyed girls and all our family.  And thank you for such special occasions!  Thank you for giving us Annemie:  she is such a little ray of sunshine! 

Looking after Martelize and Annemie

The week after our Namibia holiday, we looked after the two H’s as Thelwyn went to Fauresmith for the National Endurance Ride.  (Sadly her horse became lame and she was unable to complete this tough course.  A real pity after she had worked so hard!  But there you have it: sport is sport and accidents can always happen.)

At home we had fun with the two H granddaughters.

Martelize loved playing with my bag of potatoes. They could transform from bird’s eggs to ice-creams. Jan’s grandmother’s silver bowl was just the right container for them!

Annemie  8 1/2 months and Martelize nearly 4 years. 

 

One morning Annemie only ate about half of her cereal.  Silly me left the bowl with the left overs on a side table in the sitting-room.  This is the scene that greeted me a little while later:

Annemie had found the bowl and spoon-fed herself the rest!  At 8 months a bit of a mess is to be expected, but neat little Annemie used the cloth on the side table as a serviette…

Jan went to fetch the two L’s to join in the fun.  We were so busy, there wasn’t time for photos!  To get all five of them ready for playschool was quite a challenge!  (My friend Jessie and I have a small play group at Camp Reynard next door.)

The following day, we all went to Pretoria zoo.  Janita is standing in front of Franco, with Surprise and Tannie Jessie next to him and Tabihle and Martelize at the back. 

Martelize, Janita, Surprise and Jessie

Janita, 2 years and 3 months.  She walked all the way up to the lions and back and never complained!  Quite a long and steep walk for such a little one!  Only right at the end of our tour did we put her in the pram and Annemie onto my back!

Franco, 4 years 2 months was disappointed that the lions were in their cage under the road – we could hear, but not see them!

A special treat was a ride in the zoo train. 

Frans and Annemie

The family came for a braai to celebrate my birthday.

Dorette with the Breytenbach “crystal”.

Hendrik

My precious darlings!  8 July 2012

Thelwyn with Martelize on Jessica.

Thank you God for my darling, darling grandchildren!  Bless them and keep them safe. 

Namibia tour: Days 9-12: Agama, Sossusvlei, Namtib, Oas

En route from Swakopmund to Agama camp.

The sunset at Agama. This was a very clean and neat camp in the desert. We especially loved the roofless bathroom – they certainly do not expect a lot of rain there!

We drove through to Sossusvlei the next morning – not as early as our camp neighbours who aimed to catch the sunrise there. The arid landscape was pretty much the same as the day before, but then suddenly we saw the first red dunes. Gene did the 4 x4 thing and got us safely through the sand until Dead Vlei.

Anne, Gene and Lalie hiking to Dead Vlei.

Anne at Dead Vlei

Jan and I scrambled up the side of the dune. Was it ever steep! And the sand was so loose that we had to scramble up the last bit on all fours!

My red face says it all – I was exhausted, but it was well worth our while!

Gene going back after taking beautiful pictures of the Dead Vlei

Lalie on her way back

Jan coming down – walking down the ridge was much, much easier than going up the side of the dune!

At Sossusvlei itself – lovely shiny water in the middle of the desert!

After Sossusvlei we travelled down the loveliest road in Namibia: the D707 along the Tiras mountains. We struggled to get hold of a campsite, We had hoped to sleep at Koiimasis, but they never answered their phone! When Anne finally got hold of a site called Namtib, they lady said we couldn’t possibly make it there in the afternoon – we HAD to travel the road in the daytime because it was so beautiful. As it turned out, we did arrive at the camp after dark, but could easily pitch tents in the moonlight. The only light in the bathroom was a candle, but the water in the donkey was still nice and hot.

Jan and Gene – we did not have as many campfires and we had hoped to have: the camper was packed to capacity and there wasn’t space for wood.

Early the next morning Jan and I scrambled up the irresistible rocky hill. How I wished that we could stay there longer! These rocks were easier to navigate than the extra large ones at Spitskoppe. It was FUN!

En route to Karasburg to pick up our bakkie.

We drove along a road that is not on most maps…

Outside Karasburg – on our way to our last camp in Namibia and this time in our own bakkie. With the new engine, we had to drive @ 80km per hour, but seeing that we were going to drive on dirt roads, this did not really bother us.

God, please bless Kobus and his work shop and all the people of Karasburg. Thank you for the good roads of Namibia that made it possible for us to see your creation.