This morning I decided to join Tommie on his Sunday morning golf trip.  I haven't gone with in ages, first saying that I'm too far pregnant and then that Zander was too small.  I think I have run out of excuses.  Truth be told though, I do enjoy it every once in a while (like twice a year or less!)

The Sunday morning golf though turned into a whole day thing.  Especially since we met up with my in-laws in between for lunch.  Urgh, let's just say that I cannot handle anyone being rude to a waiter.  I was this close to getting up and walking out.

Anyway, my boys decided to go home with my in-laws.  Tommie and I (of course with little Zander) finished the last 9 holes.  It was fun.  Even though we had to wait at every hole for the players in front of us, it gave us a lot of chance to just relax and chat.

Zander amazes me.  Man he is such a good, calm baby.  Between feeds, naps and waking you won't hear a peep out of him. Except for the occasional laugh.  He is such an easy child.  I totally love how he will just start laughing at the smallest of things - a shadow, a moving leave.  So adorable. 

Here's some photos of our day.

We are having such a lovely calm and relaxing Saturday.  We obviously went to the Wimpy this morning and then for a little bit of shopping.  We got home and the boys and I did some finger painting.  Even Zander got into the action...  Can't start them too early right?  I've uploaded some pictures here.

Then Maggie and Michael brought us the books I ordered recently.  I'm so glad to have the books.  The one is a baby signs book and the others are Afrikaans books for the boys.  Most of our books are English, so it will be nice to have Afrikaans books. 

The best however is that the one is Haasdas se Nuuskas.  This is a story that came out just as we (meaning us South Africans) got TV.  I clearly remember the kids in the neighbourhood (we lived in a tiny tiny town) coming to our home to watch this story.  Everyone in the pj's, hair combed neatly.  This made such a big impact on all of us.  So it's great to be able to share that with my kids.

I love how different my boys are.  When we got the books, Jason immediately took them and paged through them.  That while Quintus sat with his Uncle Michael and watched rugby.  He is such a sports fanatic.

I've created a quiz.  If you want to see how well you know me, take it!  BTW you don't need to give a real e-mail address.  Just make one up.

I almost had heart failure this morning.  Tommie had already left to take Quintus to school. I was getting Jason and Zander ready.  We were just about to leave, when I heard the front door open.  Now for some idiotic reason, I froze.  One would think that I'd make a dash for the kitchen (real close to my bedroom) to at least get a knife or something to protect us with.  But no.  I just stand there.  Finally when I got enough guts to get moving and dash for the kitchen, I ran right into Tommie.  If I had a knife in my hand I might have stabbed him.  What a horrible feeling!  I immediately gave him a mouthful because he didn't greet as he came into the house, so that I would know that it's him.

That got me thinking (and my anxiety every night, when I wonder if that will be the night when someone breaks in - yes, I'm not well) that we really need to get an alarm system fitted in our home and put in more security gates.  Yes, build ourselves a little prison.  Must do that as soon as our finances allow us.

• It's Friday.  YEAH BABY.  I am so looking forward to the weekend. 
• I'm very extremely and totally worried about a dear friend of mine.  I'm here for you.  Together we can beat anything.
• I feel like going on a shopping spree.  I wanna buy lots of things.  Clothes, jewelry, things for my home.  Mmm...maybe I should just shop online but never go to the check-out counter.  Much better for our finances that are non-existent.  lol
• I had a whole big bag of chips yesterday.  Salt and Vinegar.  Hi...I'm Melany .... I cannot fight back against cravings .... If it wasn't at 9pm last night, I would have forced myself to go jogging lol  By this morning though I feel less guilty about it and won't mind a piece of chocolate cake!
• Yes, I'm not well
• We had a predicted temperature of -2 degrees Celsius this morning.  Was only 0 degrees.  Well, I suppose freezing is not bad.
• I'm hoping it will snow in the Drakensberg.  I wanna take my kids to play in the snow.  Okay okay *I* want to go play in the snow!

I went with on an outing with Jason's preschool.  Now, when I heard that they were going to the local supermarket, I was more than just a little sceptical.  I mean really.  My child goes there on a daily basis, what's there to learn?

Well the kids had a ball.  The supermarket is owned by one of the dads.  He went through so much trouble.  The kids went into the bakery and saw how they made bread, bread rolls, cake, tarts.  They loved it.  They got to make and decorate their own cupcakes. 

The went into the butchery but they were not impressed with that.  To tell you the truth, neither was I lol  I cannot like the smell of raw meat.

They walked through the supermarket and were told where all the products were from.  Once they got to the storage room, they were all hungry.  They had a little picnic table set up for the kids outside, with bread rolls  (freshly baked I might add) and viennas.  They got to make their own and had a choice of cooldrinks to drink with it.  They got strawberries for pudding.  As we left, they each got a party pack as well, filled with sweets, chocolates and the likes.  I'm sure this is one outing the kids will remember

• What's up with the Rand?  I think I should get Tommie to do diamond prospecting again.  The way our Rand is going, we could be very rich soon!
• Both Quintus and Jason were in Tuesdays local newspaper.  Quintus's rugby team was featured because they were unbeatable this year.
• Then both Quintus and Jason were in a photo taken of the kids that got their yellow belts.  Jason was wearing normal clothes.  He stood in the middle, doing on or other karate move, while all the others stood there in their white clothes and yellow belts.  It looks so cute.  I'll try to scan it in and show all of you.
• It's so nice to see the two of them excited about karate.  As soon as we get Jason's karate outfit I'll have to take a pic of the two of them.
• Zander is loving his food.  I should really take a video of it.  He doesn't mess at all.  He swallows so nicely.  It was obviously the perfect time to start him on solids.
• I'm getting sick and tired of clients not paying their accounts.  Really messes up my cash flow for sure.
• Schools close tomorrow.  It seems as though everyone is going on holiday. Isn't it always like that?  When you aren't going, it seems as though everyone else is.

Zander started on solids last night.  I've been debating with myself whether or not to start.  I tried giving Jason solids when he was just over 5 months old but he was no where near ready.  I had a feeling though that Zander was ready.  Just by how he was trying to take the foods out of our plates lol

So we took the step.  And boy did he love it.  As you can see from the photos above...he didn't dive right in but soon got the hang of this and wanted more and more.  He was taking my hand and shoving the food in.  It was hilarious.  He hardly spit anything out (as you can see how clean he stayed).  He is really good at this and was obviously ready.  I even managed to express milk to mix his food with.  (Thanks for the pump Sarah!)

His brothers were very excited about the whole idea of him eating.  Quintus told him  that he is all grown up now and won't need anymore Na-nas (Mommy juice)  I had to explain that he will only be getting a little bit of solids and will still nurse just as often.  I think his brothers are going to have such a great time with him once he can crawl and gets bigger.