SNOW Days

Snowball fight preparations

Kurt was deserted in the duty of Snowman building while everyone else just had to play!

Snow Angels

Julia and Liam played outside for hours while Mila and neighbours were at school.

Wonderland back yard

I did not expect, on moving to Dallas, that I would experience my first genuine White Christmas. I did not expect much white anything, actually. We were quite delighted when it snowed just a month after we first arrived here .. and everyone seemed surprised .. like this was very rare! This year, however we have had rather a LOT of snow. Since sometime last week we have been threatened with more snow today. But it just never came and I see somehow it is now no longer expected. Must have found an alternate route. I must say I am relieved. Just 2 weeks ago we had 12 inches!! That was what I heard - it snowed for 2 days - but it was not very cold outside and there was a constant melting. The children (yes, Kurt included) made snowmen and had snowball fights. Julia and Liam played outside for hours and hours. They ate a LOT of snow and ended up with diarrheoa. I guess I should not have allowed that:( !

Mardi Gras and the Bucket List

Zulu parade - French Quarter

Smooks in Wonderland with Alice

Right at home with the Zulus

Parades in Metarie

Back at the hotel we tried to put on the necklaces that Mila had accumulated - got to heavy to stand up.

Liam and the singing, dancing bunny he was thrown.

Liam was entranced by the horses and desperately wanted to touch them ... so I took him up and we were kindly allowed. It was worth it for the excitement Liam displayed.

This was us looking for alligators on a "swamp walk" unfortunately we only saw what Kurt dubbed a swamp rat!


We took a drive (ok, we kicked the children out the car and let them walk for some exercise!) through a cemetry. It was very enjoyable and beautiful. The children were quite in awe ... and so were we!

Back at the parades... Mila collected as many beads as possible - Julia was more discerning, only accepting "little" beads!

An extra special Mardi Gras this year as New Orleans was also celebrating their Super Bowl victory. A lot of patriotic WHO DATS ... (this is apparently what they call themselves down there - what they lack in refinement they make up in character!) That is Peyton Manning on the front!

Liam refused to wear beads - although they were thrown at him constantly - he happily accepted this pair of glasses though ... and a bunny ... and a number of balls!

This Lady is dressed up as the Super Bowl Trophy!! Go WHO DATS!!

Kurt manipulated me into taking the kids on a 9 hour car trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. He told me it was on his bucket list ! How do you say "no" when someone says they want to do something on their buckt list? So we took Mila out of school ... and despite the fact that Julia and Liam both had diarrhoea... we set off for New Orleans. We seem to have a family tradition of sorts that every time we travel, the children make the journey extra special by coming down with something that induces vomiting or diarrhoea. You would think this would keep us pretty close to home. But unfortunately neither Kurt or I inherited those "stay close to home" genes. So we keep exploring - despite the fact that sometimes it makes the stomach queezy and the eyes droopy (with three kids along for the ride) - because that is what we do.

Is it always worth it? Absolutely.... after a few weeks!

Sunday Mornings

Church is in the afternoon now - at 1pm. This allows for a lazy morning and I embrace it. This morning I sent the children upstairs to play after breakfast. I was enjoying listening to their game, which eventually evolved into getting their stuffed toys ready for church. Julia was the "mother" and hurried everyone into the "car" saying "come- on we're going to be late!". Then their happy journey was brought to a grinding halt "uooh noooo!" Julia exclaimed "I have run into that person. The police are coming, quickly run, lets hide in the church!"

Last week the kids came downstairs dressed as ROBBERS:

Turning 30

Yes, this week Thursday I will be a grown up. Since Mila's birthday is next Saturday, we celebrated mine tonight. We had cheese over candles and boerewors. An unlikely but marvelous combination. We have discovered a Quickshop that sells SA goods... and that includes the most amazing boerewors and drywors. I am in a happy place, saturated... and un-homesick.

I am looking forward to next week: Kurt will be done with a big deadline and Mila will be home from school for the week.

Mila

Sitting high up in the tree

Ocassionally you acknowledge me

You're searching out your quiet places

The next step - after tying laces



In a world of fairies and dinosaurs

Naughty dolls and much applause

Adventuring into the night

Devouring books and taking flight.

Although you have been quick to share

The thoughts going on up there

Now, a hint of scepticism

As you relay information...

Could mother really understand

Whats going on in my strange land?

Why is life sometimes unfair?

Does God always answer prayer?

So take time high up in the leaves

Embrace the world of make believe

But when you venture back to earth

Let me remind you of your worth.

Liam

Although Liam (and probably most children) cannot compete with the total chaos Julia could create in seconds at his age.... he does manage to steal away and enjoys a good mess.

His latest stunts revolve around 2 things - 1. Cream and 2. Water. It is a marvelous achievement to combine both of these!! Within seconds he can launch himself into the kitchen sink and Oh... there is a third 3. Soap... pumps enormous amounts of liquid soap from the dispenser. He joyfully rubs the soap into whatever he is wearing but his hair takes priority. A few months ago I gave up on purchasing liquid soap and all soap dispensers are filled with a very dilute dish washing liquid. Although this can be confusing and possibly somewhat disturbing for guests, it is good for my budget and inner peace. He easily empties a soap dispenser a day ( Yes, think relentless.... EVERY TIME I turn my back, walk to another room, pee etc ... he gets hold of soap). Perhaps I could discipline this out of him - but am terrified he will resort to something less harmless to entertain himself.

Yesterday I was talking on the phone to my great friend and neighbour Mrs S whose teenager has recently discovered the world of dating. I was just thinking how lucky I was to not be faced with some of the things she is having to deal with .... when I walked into my bathroom to find Liam sitting in the sink. He had filled it up with water (not surprising) and then unpacked the bathroom cupboard of anything cream-like and squeezed endless amounts of body scrub, face cream, factor 75 sun block (think very thick and oily) and more cream, all onto the top of his head. Having a phone in one hand and without a camera easily available, I did not capture the scene on film. But it is well burned into my mind. I sent him out the bathroom with wet pants and did not do much to tackle the cream hair. A few moments later I was entertained by the neighbour girls who came knocking to play. When Liam appeared at the door both recoiled involuntarily with exclamations of "uuuuughh" and then "What is in his hair?" This pleased Liam mightily. Apparently he got his hair just right.

Enlightened

Julia .. shared this with me today. She spoke very seriously and had an air of GOSSIP about her: I saw Ms Sz with a scarecrow today... and I don't think she is scared of crows. .... it was just (hushed tones with eyebrows raised) decoration.

Then later she let me in on another top secret tid bit: "I almost blessyoud at Nate's party". I responded under my breath: "Does that mean you almost sneezed?"Once again she raised her eyebrows a little and gave a small nod to acknowledge I had heard correctly ... but not enough to draw any unwanted attention!

J: Matter of factly:"You know Dinosaurs stinkt?"

Me:"Dinosaurs stink?"

J:" No they are stinkT"

Me: Oh, extinct - they are all dead... yes....

J: Well yes, they are all dead but you must be careful- you shouldn't go into a big forest just in case there is a dinosaur there. Some dinosaurs will just crack you in half because they want to get to the meat- they love meat"...

....and then "but dinosaurs don't scare me"

Grandma and Grandpa

It is always wonderful to have Mom and Dad visit. It is never long enough ... I am always left yearning for more...

Monday morning Moment

Liam had been awake for while when Julia came down stairs this morning. "Julia" he exclaimed joyfully when he saw her. She sleepily smiled at him. "Huggeee Julia" Liam demanded. Julia looked at him sceptically and then confirmed :"You want a hug?".

"Huggeee". This lead to a quick embrace... and the start of a beautiful day!

The Baby Shower Block Cake

The block were bigger than they look - most pieces were shared!


This was another of Mrs S's ideas ... luckily I couple of old Beatrix Potter books that I picked up for 50c at a garage sale!

So, a few months ago, Mrs S and I agreed to throw a baby shower for our neighbour, Mrs Sz.

I envisioned brownies, cheese scones and cookies... as time progressed, however, it became obvious that Mrs S had a grander plan. We were an interesting mix of skills - Mrs S spoilt by the convenience of box cakes and me, spoilt by the taste of "from scratch". Mrs S transforming a onesie into an outfit with matching burp cloth etc. and me providing an abundance of clothes purchased on sales. Yes, we both use the shortcuts that work for us.

First,Mrs S mentioned she had always wanted to make a baby block cake -she called it something fancy ...petifore (not a word according to spellcheck?), I think- individual, fondant covered baby blocks. Neither of us had ever worked with fondant before.

I said "OK" because I am open to trying new things (at least once!) and suggested that I make brownies ahead of time as the cake inside the blocks. She tactfully mentioned that here "we don't usually have brownies as the baby shower cake - white cake is preferred!!

So, white cake it was...

I knew I could use her kitchen aid and you can do anything with a kitchen aid... right?

Well, as it turned out the fondant recipe did not call for a kitchen aid but it was very useful to whip up the cake and icings. I found making and working with fondant to be somewhat a mix of bread making (kneading) and playdoh crafting. Both of which I have some experience with!

What I did not anticipate was the need to make 3 different icings - buttercream between layers and to adhere the fondant to the cake, fondant and then royal icing to decorate. It was wonderful to discover royal icing again. As I read the ingredients and worked with it, there came a flood of memories as I realised my mom often used this icing. Mrs S and I spent a few nights of baking and decorating. Whenever I thought we had everything covered, Mrs S would come up with another wonderful idea - like decoupaging baby name letters and using pages from a child's book as decorations. Minimalist that I am, I was certainly not the one coming up with the ideas - but I found myself surprisingly equipped in skills to carry them out. It was a fun experience and made me even more appreciative of those who have held baby showers in my honour in the past.