Keeping ourselves busy.

I've been trying to do more art type activities with my children lately. I was feeling a little like I wasn't giving them enough input or experiences in art. To keep it more at both of their levels we've just been learning about how to make new colours, printing with different types of objects or paints and discovering textures. Jenna loves to paint and draw and after Michael's attention span has reached it's limit she'll often carry on painting and create her own paintings. This means it also gives her the chance to explore the idea I introduce but gives her a chance to make her own discoveries! Something I think is really important when it comes to art work.

Of course there's always more fun to be had when it's clean up time and the containers need a wash! As they haven't had much water play lately I just left them to play after painting. I also bought them some funnels which have added to their water fun. Such simple things keep them busy....

like cleaning tables...

playing with felt shapes,

and playdough (Michael's favourite),

and building beds for teddies-not sure how comfortable that was!

Last year for Father's Day we printed Ray some sleep shirts. Michael had asked if we could make one for him after seeing his dad wearing his again. So we borrowed these lovely sponges from a friend and printed on these shirts.... now just to get him to wear it! Jenna wore hers the other day, but Michael is not quite convinced yet!

The seasons have been changing again so there's been lots of discussion about the leaves changing colour as Autumn has arrived. It's Michael's first year of beginning to show understanding about the season changes. I'm trying to chat about how the temperatures are getting cooler in the mornings too and how we have to choose warmer clothes to wear. He's still convinced sunshine means short sleeves! But, I remember Jenna learning about choosing appropriate seasonal clothing too, so I know he'll eventually understand! At least he's understanding rain means a tracksuit!

Rain also means RAIN SPIDERS around here! We found a nest just outside the window that is next to our dining room table-the same one where they entered last year! Well needless to say, Ray got rid of it on the week-end! (Much to Jenna's disappointment)

Rain also means tent time in our home. Here they built a pirate ship to snuggle in while they ate the last of their easter egg stash and watched a DVD.

A wedding and a sleep over!

Last week-end Ray and I had a rare childless night! We drove out to Stellenbosch to celebrate my cousin's wedding. We left the children, happily, at our friend's. They were very excited about an opportunity to sleep over the whole night! 

Stellenbosch is a beautiful wine-farming area. The wedding and reception was held on Kanu wine estate. The ceremony took place outside on the lawns and we had a spectacular view surrounding us.

The bridesmaids arrived, each one wearing a green dress which was a different shade and style-it looked beautiful.

Abbey, the elegant bride, escorted by her very proud, tearful dad arrived thereafter! Her dress was covered with lace and tiny beads. The soft chiffon veil looked so beautiful flowing in the wind. (Unfortunately it was rather windy that day-but I don't think she noticed!)

The newly weds, Lawrence and Abbey, just look at that smile! Lawrence is from New Zealand. They are both very sociable people (just like their parents!) so there were many visitors from all over the world. It made for a very lively reception, filled with laughter and love.

I recently cut my hair short and had had it coloured for the wedding (needing to hide those greys!) It was rather funny that even my mom and brother didn't recognise me at first. In fact not one family member at the reception recognised me-my brother says I've had an Extreme Makeover. I will admit it is taking some getting used to!

After a long night of dancing and Kiwi/SA/British entertainment we headed back to our B&B-which we had decided to spoil ourselves with instead of driving the long way home. It was very strange waking in the morning not to be greeted by little smiling faces, but I knew that we should make the most of our time alone so we slowly enjoyed our breakfast while relaxing in the B&B's garden.

After breakfast we drove to a nearby wine estate to try for a peaceful, romantic walk in the vineyards, but it was too early! So we headed off to Spier (a very touristy destination) to walk through their gardens. By this time it was getting close to 11:00 and I was feeling the pull to head back home to see our children.... well it turns out that they had had a great time and with very brief hello's they quickly returned to playing with their friends!

It was a blessing to spend the night out, but even more of a blessing to have our whole family sleeping under one roof again that night! What can I say? I'm a mother hen who likes her little chickens to be close to me ;-)

Family time on Easter Sunday.

On Easter Sunday we headed out to Pringle Bay to spend time with my husband's family....

We haven't been there much as a family as it's quite a long drive for a day trip-it's on the other side of False Bay-and it's almost always windy! But as we hadn't been for a while, and hence hadn't seen his cousins for a while, we thought we'd make a day of it.....

The kids loved playing in the river mouth despite the cold wind blowing! How do children manage to ignore that cold wind?!

They had loads of fun helping their uncle set up for the braai (barbecue).

As she's watched dad do this hundreds of times Jenna had lots of advice to give...

Ray had lots of time to chat with family....

and lots of time for cuddles too!

When we weren't on the beach the kids played in the garden with their new friend-Mr Snake. He was great for riding on .....

And great for sharing discoveries with. Like these "dinosaur" prints Jenna found in the bricks. Ok so YOU can't see them, but SHE could! What an imagination!!

We met a new bird-a quail we think!?

And we met a new family member.... baby Lia.

We even discovered a dragon on the beach after lunch. Which became part of the highly- protected-possibly-soon-to-become-extinct variety as Michael was in destruction mode on the beach bashing down all of Aunty Yvonne's sand castles. Actually, she built them all with the intention of distracting him from running over and jumping on the dragon.... which was a highly effective plan in the end. Once he'd had his fun bashing he calmly went over to examine this masterpiece and then....

Jenna attempted to make her own crocodile-awesome sweetpea!

....and Mikey built his own castle! I love seeing them express their creativity. Especially when it's self initiated.

And then it was time for some dune rolling,

just the perfect energy release for this energetic little man!

After another dip in the river it was time to head back to the house for some shelter from the wind. On our walk back Michael asked to be picked up: Please pick me up, God is blowing me! You are just the sweetest, my little man!

By this time I had run out of energy, but of course the kids hadn't so dad played catch and chase and hide and seek and was finally allowed to rest before bath time and our long drive home! Thanks Love! You're THE best entertainer ever!

Although it had been a windy day.....

There were many special moments with family that made it an awesome Easter Sunday!

One which I know won't be easily forgotten by all who shared it.

Learning about the penguins.

A few weeks ago our co-op group went on an outing to SANCOB in Tableview. SANCOB is a recovery sanctuary for sea birds. It is mostly known for cleaning and rehabilitating penguins which are caught in oil slicks from shipwrecked oil tankers.

We left in convoy and had our own personal guide for the journey to SANCOB.

Follow that penguin!

My, what big wings you have Mr.Albatross!

At SANCOB we were met by Mr.B the passionate, penguin "professor". He has a delightful, enthusiastic way of lecturing the children that had them all waiting in anticipation for the next piece of info about his beloved penguins. The little education room is beautifully painted to look like a scene from the natural habitats of the sea birds from our area. There are many models of real birds in the room, placed in their habitat. The most impressive of which was the albatross-what a BIG bird! Did you know that the albatross can fly and sleep at the same time? That was my little bit of info I learnt from Mr. B.

feeding the African Penguin

A moulting Rock Hopper

He also introduced us to two live birds. The precious little Rock Hopper and the African Penguin (previously known as the Jackass Penguin-because of the braying donkey sound it makes. It's name was changed as there are several species in South America which also produce this braying sound.)

We watched as the penguins were fed their daily vitamins in a fish fed to them by Mr.B. He then explained why the penguin seemed to be loosing it's feathers-it was moulting-which is usually the time when they don't eat much. That explains why it took some convincing to eat!

even our tour guide enjoyed the talk

After we had listened carefully we were rewarded with the opportunity to stroke the penguin. So soft!

...and he got to meet the penguins!

oh, he's so soft!

And then it was time for the hard working little penguins (who had done three tour groups that day) to go for a well deserved refreshing swim. And with a flap of his flippers it was time to say good-bye. We all left, well informed about this little creature who had waddled into our hearts.

Because we had been to SANCOB I thought it would be appropriate to take my children to Boulders Beach. This is a sheltered cove just outside of Simon's Town-quite appropriately it fitted into our exploring of Simon's Town "theme".

Here we got to see the penguins in their natural habitat as they huddled on the rocks,

waddled along the beach....

and slept in the sun.

And after we had observed them for a while it was time for us to have some fun in the sun....

My children had a blast! They splashed in the cool waters, explored the rock pools....

and wrote in the sand.

They even had a chance to make new friends! 

Jenna is definitely our social butterfly who loves to make new friends. Michael just can't miss out on anything his sister is doing and so is learning from her example of being a gentle, kind, hearted friend (well, most of the time ;-). Isn't it wonderful how the Lord can use even the smallest of these to teach us how to overcome and to love?