Glenmore Holiday!

Gert and Dorette had to attend a wedding in Port Edward on 25 April, and as we were to babysit Franco, we made a holiday of it and went down to Glenmore, after voting on election day. This was the view from "Fourie Cottage" where we stayed.


23 April 2009: One year old! Look how big I have grown!


What is this? What do I do with it? Does it make a noise?

A BIIIGG! sandpit! Wonderful! (Franco loves the sandpit at school and had a great time here)

Hendrik and Marietjie also loved the sand and quickly made a tunnel.

Oupa and Franco soon had other ideas...

Back at the cottage: Birthday party! Again! "Veels geluk liewe Franco omdat jy verjaar..."

So many cameras! Waar moet ek kyk? Franco, Franco... Julle maak my deurmekaar!

What's this? Franco does not like to put strange things in his mouth and has not eaten cake before.

Hey! This tastes great!

"Klaar-klaar!" Do I really have to eat supper? With half of his cake on the floor, Franco still had quite an appetite!

The neighbours cat came to visit! Animals are the greatest!

Spit image of Ouma Elna!

Ham sandwiches for Marietjie and Hendrik.

Hannes, Gert's brother came along too. Seven adults and one baby - that's the way to do it.

The previous time I was here, was 27 years ago: My sister Lalie and I went to Glenmore with 9 (yes nine!) children and only two adults! Jansie (10), Ethie (8) and Thelwyn (4 1/2) were the "big"ones. Eugenie and Dorette were (terrible) 2 and Hendrik was 10 months and then Lalie had two foster children of 3 and 1 years old as well. We had a rough time counting heads on the beach then! No-one got breakfast before 8 o'clock because we had to make sure everyone was really hungry and would eat enough to last until 12 o'clock. Nine plates of Pronutro did the trick!

Back to the present holiday... Franco loved the water!

The lagoon is the best, but the sea was thrilling too!

"Look what I found!"

A family pic of the L's

And another one! Franco in his carrier: the best way to carry a baby to the beach.

Franco wasn't much interested in boats and ships in the sea, but when they towed in this boat onto the trailer... Now that was very fascinating for this future engineer.

On our last day it was rainy and rather chilly, but nothing would keep these 3 out of the sea! They say you can always tell who are from Gauteng Province (Pretoria, Johannesburg region): the only ones in the sea on a day like this!

Franco can clap hands and wave "Tata"

Hendrik's turns 27.

It was Hendrik's birthday on Thursday. Frans and Thelwyn took him to a show with some friends, so I had to babysit Martelize. I fetched her from her school for the first time. I found her swinging happily and I was greeted with a BIG smile.

She was as good as gold the whole time and did not even cry once. (Honestly! She really didn't.) I fed her, bathed her and put her in her cot to sleep at the appointed times and every time she happily obliged. What did I do to deserve such a good little grand baby girl? Martelize, as always, it was just pure joy to look after you!
Today (Sunday) we all celebrated Hendrik's birthday. The L's are househunting and the H's are getting the Malperthuis house ready as a weekend house. It's a privilege to dream with our children.

"Sharing a joke with Ouma. Ouma you are so funny and I am so friendly! Dis lekker op die plaas!"

"Look how my hair has grown! Ouma brushed it after bath time."

"At Tannie Lisa's baby shower on Saturday. I wore my camo outfit and everyone oohed and ahed. Tannie Lisa is expecting a little girl and I will play with her when we go with our parents to endurance rides and horse shows."

Two birthday boys: Hendrik and Gert's brother, Hannes. Hannes's birthday is on Monday.

"Riding horse on Oupa Jan is great fun."

Hendrik opening his gifts. He was thrilled with his Zulu CD rom, suitcases, special handtool and English Bible.

"What do we have here! " (Farao got a fright from the flash of the camera, not Franco - sorry Farao. The L's do not have a dog yet, and Jakkie and Farao were just as curious about Franco and he about them.)

"See, I can crawl fast, if there is something really interesting I need to investigate...!"

"Let me check your teeth. Everyone checks my four pearls and three other ones on the way every now and then."

A sniff from Jakkie.

"And the fun is spoiled, and my hands get a thorough wash... Oh well, we'll visit the farm again."

"Hi there, Cuz. Why are you chewing Ouma's red blanket?"

"Well hi there yourself! I was just watching you going all gaga over the dogs. I know dogs very well. Sandy and Zaran love me."

"What can I do now? I'm not feeling too grand - have a bit of a cold, so they won't let me play with Martelize, but still it's "lekker op die plaas." See you next week."