Yes, my eldest is now the proud owner of a yellow belt in karate.  As I was looking at him last night (and as my dad commented this morning) I noticed just how seriously he takes things he participates in.  He puts his all into it.  He expects himself to do well at all costs.  I think he puts loads of pressure on himself. I'm extremely proud of him though.  I've uploaded his photos here. 

• I took Zander for his 14 week injections this morning (Yes, I know he is almost 20 weeks lol) and he did just fine.  Only moaned a little bit with the third one.  What a big boy.  I still felt horrible taking him.
• Today is my mom's birthday.  We are going out for lunch after I pick the boys up from school.
• Our computers are giving us loads of trouble at work.  So much so that I can't really complete anything and that is seriously ticking me off.
• I forgot Jason's school bag at home this morning.  So after dropping it off, I had to rush back home to get it.
• I hope my darn husband is in a better mood this afternoon.
• I do understand though.  The guys he did contract work for (our lovely government) owes him lots of money.  This should have been paid weeks ago. 
• This of course messes up our cash flow a lot.

May you all have a marvelous, fantastic, joy-filled, wonderful and absolutely amazing Thursday.

I'm so freaking pissed off at my husband.  We had planned a lovely morning together.  We would have gone out for breakfast, then gone shopping for a present for me and for my mom (who has a birthday tomorrow)

The breakfast was lovely.  Although I found it a bit strange that he wanted us to go in separate cars.  I could see him getting a bit antsy at the Wimpy already, looking at his watch.

We went to the Post Office after that, as I have finally received my mother's ring that I got with Zander's birth details.  (photos to come)  While there he told me that he would have to go to Orkney.  He is a bit pushed for time.  (His office is in Orkney)  So I assumed that he had to go for work.  Since it is a work day.  I asked him what the hurry is and he said that he needs to tee off at 10 am!!!!  Yes, as in go to play golf!!!!  AND he already played golf yesterday.

I was so upset that I started crying.  He left and then came back, saying we must get me a present, the other golfers can wait.  In no nice words, I told him to leave as I'm not looking for a present when I'm pressed for time.

Oh boy.  At least he didn't forget my birthday unlike a certain friend of mine who celebrated her birthday last week.

   32 years ago a young woman gave birth to her third child.  As she already had two boys and no ultrasounds were available at that time, she was desperately hoping for a little girl.  She got her wish and that little girl would be me. 

It's tradition in our home to wake the birthday person up with a cupcake with a candle stuck in it.  Since we had no cupcakes, Tommie brought me a cookie with a candle next to it.

  I got to open presents from my boys (my mom took them shopping yesterday).

• Quintus got me the nicest wind chime.  He is such a thoughtful little boy.  Even remembering it's my birthday when he came into our room and sang happy birthday to me.
• Zander got me two hugging cows (maybe since I'm his cow?)  
• Jason got me play dough! and a Barbie sweet.  I thought that was so adorable coming from a three year old.

Tommie and I are going out for breakfast this morning, then I'm going in to work.  After going shopping for my mom's birthday that is tomorrow.

Thanks so much to sweet amazing fabulous friends for my lovely gifts. I especially love the "Supermom's Taxi" thing you got.  I love that.

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

I have finally gotten around to downloading the photos that I have taken with my cellphone. Some from even before Zander was born!  Here's a few I like.

The first photo was taken with my cellphone, just days after Zander's birth.  I love how tiny he looks between his brothers.

This I suppose is what Zander thought of us, not wanting him to suck his thumb.

I took this photo of Zander this weekend.  There was only a shower in the tent house where we stayed.  So I had to bath him in the sink.

Then my boys all went to sleep together after a long day at the rugby

Now this is what I found interesting.  We had a couple in the tent house next to us.  Their son, Benjamin plays rugby with Quintus.  We were spending the night socializing with them, when we got talking about our kids and how relaxed we are about raising our kids.  How we don't sweat the small stuff.  They too co-sleep with their kids.  Just because it's easier.  It's safer (in our country) to have your kids in your room.  It's nice to wake up with your children next to you.  Mostly because there is such little time when they are so small and want to sleep in your bed.  Too quickly they will be teenagers and won't at all want to share a bed with us.  I love co-sleeping. 

We never co-slept with my parents but I do remember getting into their bed in the mornings.  I loved it.  It fills me with such a warm feeling.  I hope that co-sleeping will leave my boys with the same fuzzy feeling. Knowing that they are very much loved.

We went to Buffelspoort this weekend for a whole day of rugby.  It was awesome.  We left right after the little preschool rugby games that was held at Quintus' school.

Right after getting there on Friday, we went swimming.  It is much warmer in Rustenburg (where the resort is) than in Klerksdorp.  Yet, not warm enough to swim outside.  They  have a lovely huge heated indoor pool though and we made use of that.  Zander got to swim for the second time and totally loved it.

Zander was fast asleep just seconds after I got him dressed.  You know that deep sleep where their necks are almost like a newborns and you can almost do whatever you want to, they just won't wake up.

Later that night we got together with the other parents and had some hamburgers before going to bed early, so that our little rugby player would be ready for the long day.  Good thing we did, as it was really a long long day.

The boys played on big rugby fields.  Easily twice the size that they normally play on.  They played six games and won all six.  They played so well.  They played against schools that are much bigger than our school.  They played with such vigor though, that the other kids just didn't stand a chance. 

Of course it helped that they had all us parents as the cheering team!  Most of us are without voices this morning due to all the shouting.  At one stage we were cheering them on so loudly that the parents from the game next to us, turned around and started watching our game!

The games were hard though and Quintus got a knock on his nose during a tackle right at the end of one of the games.  He came off crying and all the parents were telling him what a great job he had done and how proud they all are of him. As I wrapped my arms around him, he looked up and said "All I do after a game is cry"  (Which of course is not true but he was so overwhelmed at that stage)

Quintus played especially well.  He scored two tries.  He just did everything right.  This is one of his tries.

Jason was amazing.  It was a really long day (the games were from 9 am to 4 pm) and he was so well behaved.  Just walking with us from field to field.  Sitting by my feet or playing with his sword. He never complained.  Was just a good little boy.

Zander of course stole the spotlight with all the women there.  He was in his sling most of the time, unless we were waiting between games in the shade.  At about 3 pm one of the mothers came up to me and said that she wasn't trying to intrude but that she had not seen Zander drink at all today.  I replied that indeed he had drank quite often really (due to the heat).  She looked at me and said that she hadn't even seen any bottles.  I just laughed and said that he is breastfed.   She look rather surprised and answered that I'm really good at this as she had not seen me nurse him once.  This while I had been doing it right next to them often!

Quintus didn't feel so well during the night though, I think he had a stomach bug or ate something that just wasn't right.  So we left earlier than we were planning on.  I'm going to miss the rugby weekends when they end in two weeks time.  It has been fun.