Before and After, or Why I must have a pony!

Hello Oupa en Ouma! Ek's wakker en ek het die koord ontdek....!
We looked after Martelize this weekend, while Frans, Thelwyn and Hendrik went off to an endurance ride. (Hendrik was the only one who rode this time. He rode Pula and both horse and rider did very well!)

Kyk hoe mooi kan ek by die trappies afklim.

Ouma se kas is 'n lekker speelplek.... ek kan al die groot laaie oopmaak, maar dis 'n goeie ding ek kan nog nie soos Franco skroefdeksels afdraai nie, anders was Ouma in die moeilikheid. Haar kalsiumpille is 'n lekker ratel vir nou.

Kyk hoe mooi lyk ek nadat Ouma my aangetrek en my hare gekam het.

Ek kan die proppie op my "No more tangles" bottel pas. Ek's mal oor bakkies en potte met deksels.

As jy mooi kyk sal jy my nuwe tande sien. Ek is 14 maande oud en het nou twee tandjies... en 'n paar ander wat pla! Ek hou daarvan om aan 'n appel te "kou" - kan nog nie stukkies afhap nie!
Like mother like daughter... Thelwyn was nearly 15 months before she cut her first tooth!

Ouma het na badtyd my hare drooggeblaas en 'n ander haarstyl probeer. Sy speel so lekker met my hare.
A hairclip also does the trick. Martelize never tries to take these hair things out of her hair, but apparently the other babies at her creche do! Guess who threw tupperware on the floor and who loves playing with the vacuum cleaner!

Slaaptyd!

This weekend was really busy. On Friday we had supper at Dorette's with two of Jan's sisters. Franco and Martelize were so cute, but I was so busy that there wasn't time for photos. I hope to get a new one of the two together soon, but with both of them running around, it is not so easy!

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.

Videotjies van Franco

Just a few video clips that were taken on Father's Day.

Franco enjoys walking, but still holds onto a hand.

Franco learning to do summersaults. (Dorette was quite a gymnast in her day. Will he do gymnastics too? He loves rolling.)

Franco is mimicking others more and more and sometimes says words distinctly, if not appropriately like "Tannie" instead of "Pappa". Here he copies his father who is making "Indian" noises.

Father's Day

We spent a happy, peaceful Father's Day, celebrating this wondeful father and grandfather of the family.

Gert and Dorette came for lunch. Gert was in Japan last year on Father's day - when Franco was only 6 or 7 weeks old, so this was his first father's day that felt like Father's day - at least I hope so Gert! It was Frans's first Father's day but he andThelwyn had to go to Vanderbijlpark to fetch Douel - a well trained Arab gelding. (Anyone interested in buying a good Arabian horse with lots of endurance potential?)

Franco spent the day exploring new frontiers. Our sitting room is quite big, so normally we arrange the furniture in two groups. Franco discovered the lovely tunnel between the two couches.


What it is to be a grandfather!

Franco just loves being outdoors. (Trouble is, someone else must also share his enthusiasm for the great outdoors...!)

Another irresistible Ouma Elna smile.

The "ringworm" on the back of his head is not ringworm, but a bit of plaster stuck to his hair. The plaster was stuck there after blood was drawn for tests during his grommets operation. His Ouma was brave enough to rip it off when he had his bath that evening. As an ex Speelgroeptannie and preschool teacher, I am used to plasters and pulling baby teeth. However, I tried to loosen the glue first by rubbing on a little bit of peanut butter when the plaster has started to peel away - I know peanut butter helps to loosen chewing gum in hair. It didn't work though, but after the bath, Franco had a nasty rash in his neck. It seems he is VERY allergic to peanut butter! - had never eaten it before and also (fortunately) did not want to taste it when I offered some while he was in the bath. The blood tests revealed that his iron is too low and that he is allergic...but not what he is allergic to, so now it will be a process of elimination. Sterkte Dorette!

Very nearly walking on his own. His balance is much better after the grommets, but he is in in no hurry to walk on his own - pushes his bus and kitchen stools around though as gets where he wants to be.

We got some sad news a few days before Father's Day. Farao has bone cancer. See the lump on his right front paw? There is nothing to be done, but to make his last days as comfortable as possible. He is on painkillers and they help - he still goes with us when we go for a walk - even limps up the koppie! He still digs in the garden - this hole is right next to my only rose bush and right by the front door! However, such "mishaps" are now ignored... and he may get some titbits hereto forbidden due to his big mass. (He weighs more than I do!) Who has to die with a healthy heart and kidneys anyway? Let him enjoy his last days.