Our new babies have arrived

A week ago, Faraoh had to be put down as he had cancer and he could no longer step on his foot. It was so sad to let him go, as he was a good dog and even while his leg was so painful, he would never stay behind while we went for a walk!
We did not want 12 year old Jakkie to be on her own, so we promptly bought "Heart stealer". She is a very special labrador puppy and we hope to breed with her in about 3 years time. We call her Jolga: all our animals who are born this year, get a name starting with a J and the Volga/ Olga is to remind us one day of OUR TRIP.

Thelwyn and Martelize were there to welcome the lively 12 week old newcomer.

A little while later the L's arrived with Franco sporting another Ouma Elna jersey.



Tannie Dorette sang "Rol op die tolletjie" and Martelize was thrilled.

"En hoekom sing jy nie meer nie?"

Franco and Martelize bathed together for the first time and had great fun.

"Ons almal klap ons handjies...!" Martelize showing us her tricks: clapping hands and twisting her tongue. (Ouma can't do that at all!)

En ek klap ook my handjies. Franco enjoyed his cousin's antics.

Splish, splash, ..... As boetie bad is alles nat....

Kyk die borrels!

A week later Jolga's friend, Joris, was 6 weeks old and we went to fetch him. (Get it? Boris - Joris. Jeltsin is a bit of a difficult name to call.) Joris comes all the way from Randfontein and his registered name is Themic.

Meeting the family. Jolga is more than twice Joris' age and at first she was a bit rough with him, but he was soon trotting after her. Grandmother Jakkie is as good as gold with the puppies - she no longer plays, but patiently tolerates their jumping up to bite her neck. The three of them sleep together - very cosy.

Another year has gone by... Part 1

It's July again - Another year has gone by...! I have truly been greatly blessed by an angel for a husband, a loving, supporting family, many friends, excellent health, a great job, a comfortable house etc. etc. My birthday was celebrated twice - first with our S family in Pretoria and on my real birthday with my sister and cousins at Cape Vidal.

Three beautiful cousins: Tani, Rhigardi and Corinne

Willem and Rina

Gert and Franco

Hendrik and Jan

Noella and Chris

Frans

Dorette wonders if she should try out my hula hoop.

Franco thinks it is great.

Martelize's socks matches the hoop.

"Handjies klap!" "Daarsy!"

Thank you, thank you God! Your love endures and I am humbled by it all. What am I that you should visit me? And yet you do... everyday... through the many blessings that come my way.

Easter Weekend Pictures of Franco and Martelize

These photos were taken recently of Franco (11 1/2 months) and Martelize (8 month 1 week). Although Franco is 3 months older, he is, like his parents, shorter than average and Martelize is, like her parents, or more specifically her dad, rather tall. Both babies are now about the same height, but Martelize is generally daintier than her robust cousin.

It is amazing how their different personalities come to the fore: both are relaxed and happy and both smile easily. However, it is not very easy to get Martelize to smile for the camera. Franco on the other hand, poses readily for the camera.

Martelize has very sensitive feet. Franco has a very sensitive mouth - he doesn't put any and everything in his mouth. This causes some problems when it comes to trying new food: he will squash a piece of watermelon, but not put it in his mouth. Martelize on the other hand has to be watched or she will choke on a piece of paper: she loves tearing paper and everything goes into her tiny little mouth...

We have an old army chest in the sitting room. Normally it is prettily covered with an embroidered cloth, but with these two Ouma has to quickly remove the cloth... The chest is filled with toys - not really baby toys, but a selection of my old playgroup toys. (There are still lots in the container behind the house.) However, the best toy is the chest itself. It has hinges and handles that make a lot of noise! It is at a very convenient height for standing and it is the best drum in town!









Franco climbs onto it with ease and Martelize has also started to climb on.



Both are teething now. Franco has 7 (?) teeth but Martelize has only very swollen gums. Both dribble a lot and have to wear bibs - not something that they needed in the past!



Finally they sit down to the plastic toy container. First they have a friendly "tug of war" and then Franco has other ideas what to do with the container!





Oom Hendrik is a great uncle.

Bad news Thursday, Fun day Friday

On Thursday evening a terrible thing happened to Hendrik. His "new" car was stolen at church while he was attending a "selgroep" (prayer group). His previous car was stolen last year while he was at work. Of course he stresses a bit, but he is not too depressed. There is another reason for his cheerfulness, but that is another story...! We pray that the car will still be found because in it were his tools, his brand new gumboots (which he had just bought before cell group) and worse his medication.

On Friday, the L's came to visit after work. Jan was still away on a "bosberaad" (planning session for the work) and only came later. In the meantime, we enjoyed the glorious autumn weather (late summer really) and played with Franco outside. He is now 11 months.

He is very interested in Jakkie, our 10 year old Labrador. She is very friendly, but a bit lively and not too clever when it comes to babies. She still has to learn not to lick him in the face!

His dad put him in a tree and he drooled from enjoyment or is it apprehension? It was quite high and the trunk felt rough.

After supper we absconded to our bedroom/ T.V. room. Here Gert and Hendrik are fascinated by......

"Noot vir Noot" - a "How well do you know music" competition programme. A friend of Gert and Dorette's, Andre Opperman, took part in the competition. He is the one with the green shirt. He came 2nd.
Meanwhile Franco had a ball climbing all over Oupa.

Oupa your tummy is just right for standing up.
Jan is very ticklish and of course Franco gave his tummy a drooly kiss. Jan shrieked and Franco couldn't quite make out what was so funny.

Franco is going places..... "Ouma se klim en klouterkous!"

He quickly pulls himself up on the bannister above our bed and just about hangs from it from his little arms. Will he be a gymast like his mother has been?

Or perhaps a dentist? Oupa has a very fascinating mouth...!

What interesting thing is this?

Franco tried out the treadmill and soon caught on what it is all about. We did not switch on the machine but took turns in moving the "conveyor" belt. Quite hard work.

Oupa's turn to give Franco crawling exercise.

The engineer in Franco soon discovered the treadmill's bolt. Ever since he was a tiny baby, he has been very interested in hinges, electrical plugs, screwdrivers, bolts etc. Dorette says he now makes his swing stop by holding on to the sides!
The blue mark under his eye? No his parents are not baby batterers. Before we went to play outside, Franco tried to crawl onto our couch, slipped and bashed his little face against the wooden leg. Sorry Franco! (He succeeded in crawling onto the couch right after the accident and happily stood there looking out the window - that's why we went outside instead.)

Bedtime! Last smile for the camera! (In the background is a very exciting 20/20 cricket match between South Africa and Australia. South Africa won of course, but it was quite nail biting! Morne Morkel saved S.A.)

Is this blog going to become a household tip blog? I hope not but I was so thrilled about our "new" way of defrosting the freezer that I have to share this tip (Hendrik's idea) with you.
How to defrost your freezer
Get an attractive young right brain young man to help.
Unpack everything (just check that your right brain chap does not forget to put the ice cream in a cooler.)
Put a fan on a table in front of the freezer and go and have a cup of coffee. (Sorry, Rooibos tea - Hendrik says coffee is bad for you.)
Suck up water and loose ice with the vacuum cleaner. Keep fan going until the freezer is dry. (It dries it much better than a cloth!)
Done!
This was a quickest, easiest and by far least messy operation ever. I really recommend this method. I just wonder... How many people still have upright freezers that need defrosting? We have this separate stand upright one, a 3o year old refridgerator with a freezing compartment on top and a chess freezer and Hendrik and I cleaned all three of them all this morning! (End of household work for the day! The rest has to wait.)

I couldn't resist placing a photo showing what an excellent son I have. He has very creative ideas and is always willing to help. Maybe a certain someone will read this blog one day and know just how special he is...! We hope to meet her soon.

Franco on the treadmill.