Clay Jar People

I have officially found kiddy-heaven… and hey, its nirvana for moms too!

The Greenpoint Bio-Diversity Park.

Its FREE… its in Cape Town… and it has the most awesome freaking play areas!

There is a special fenced in area for the toddlers to play in, which leaves moms with the chance to mildly relax, and not stress that their mad toddler will end up at the stadium. The play apparatus is all safe and made for little kiddies. Special swings, a low slide, a weird funnel shaped roundabout… all just for under 6′s. The ground under these amazing play-things is a cork-like material, which means less of “Jack fell down and broke his crown”.

I went there with 2 friends and our total of 5 kids, and it really was great. We could chat a bit while the kids played all the while resting in the knowledge that our kids could not escape.

Another fab feature of the park is the adventure course for kids from age 6 to 16… man I wished I was 16…
The climbing things and the swings all called my name… well my 16-year-old name!

I wish I could live closer… and go every day…

(i found this image via Pinterest)

I don’t usually review or promote restaurants… but I have recently been introduced to this little gem, in Durbanville. (Its actually 2 doors down from my brother’s local “kuier-plek” in Oxford street.)

Its called Our Place.

The decor is gorgeous, a kind of rustic/country French Provence style with whites and wooden floors. The menu is extensive and provides for all tastes. Last Friday, I was there for a meeting and I had the Caprese Panini… oh my goodness, it was divine – I adore caprese salad and this was just fabulous. Their prices are really reasonable too.

You have the option of sitting inside, in the grandly decorated dining rooms or, as we prefer, sitting outside under trees or in the play area.

A play area… a mom’s dream… This play area has scooter-bikes, a tree-house, a huge sandpit in the shape of a boat and a heap of other toys to occupy children. I love the fact that you can sit right there with the kids, and the waiters actually serve you there. Elijah loves playing there, with the sandpit and he actually learnt to ride a scooter-bike there.

Our Place also boasts a really quaint party venue, where Marjolein – a party-organiser of note, plans and executes the most gorgeous parties. She runs art classes for kids as well. I met her at my friend, Natasha’s little boy’s party (which she did, and it was brilliant) and she is a lovely person and great with the kids.

I am really hoping that Chris, Elijah and I can head to Our Place this weekend for some yummy munchies and a great time.

(images from Our Place’s Facebook page)

Its been a while since I have done a real update on our family… if ever… oops! Well here goes…

In January, Chris found out that the company he is currently working for is going to add some clients to their repertoire that compromise everything we as Christians believe. This led him to resign his job, on faith. We trusted that God would come through for us, as we stood up for His glory. The job he would be able to get, which is with a great group of Christians, would only be able to start in July… which meant that from April to July, we would be without any income.

We prayed and trusted and stood on the Word of our Lord who is faithful, and good.

And He answered.

Last Thursday afternoon, my love received a call from the boss-man at the new company saying they can hire him from April! God really is Jehovah Jireh! They can afford to pay him just enough to cover all our expenses… co-incidence? I think not!

Not once in this time did either of us consider me going back to work. God led us to the decision to homeschool and for me to be at home teach, training and growing our family… and He provided all the work and money thus far, so we knew He would continue to honour us for doing His will.

God is really good… ALL THE TIME!

Job said: ”Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” (Job 1:21)

We try to do this in all things… because ultimately the Lord knows what’s best for His children.

On another note… After spending time with my friend, Trudie of Fun with Little Mouse and spending hopelessly too much time on her blog… I am inspired to start slowly doing Tot School with Elijah. Basic things like encouraging fine motor skills, and showing him letters and so on… (there are soooo many resources for Tot School, like here and here) Its all going to be playful, but I feel its important for me to stimulate him more, and get my lazy brain thinking a bit more about his growth.

Another cool idea I found via Trudie’s blog, is Muffin Tin Monday. The basic idea seems to be to put the tot’s lunch/snack or whatever in a muffin tin and make some extra effort with it. I have done two now, and Elijah seems to enjoy it… its messy as all get out, but he eats a bit.

Sippy-cup with water, peanut butter bread, twistee chips, more PB bread, boiled egg and bread

I might feature this on my blog… but it won’t be regular.

Well, that’s our update for now…

Maggie, the farmer’s daughter receives a letter which says she will soon be receiving a gift. After much anticipation, the gift arrives… what is it?

Now that would be telling… all I can say is that this little gem of a book perfectly describes the gift of forgiveness to young children. It shows us how to understand God’s forgiveness of our sins in a simpler form. Its a great book for Easter!

This is a sweet 32 page little book, by renowned Christian author, Liz Curtis Higgs is definitely a book I would recommend to moms and dads, and anyone needing to buy gifts for a child. Ms Curtis Higgs has also penned a few more “parable” books that I would love to get my hands on for Elijah.

I fully intend to buy the hardcopy of this book for our collection, as my review copy is an e-book and around here, we love real books!!

(I received an electronic copy of this book, via the NetGalley program. I was not reimbursed for my review, and all opinions herein are my own.)

This weekend, we finally decided it was time to admit that Elijah is no longer a baby and move him to a real bed. He has a need for independence, and the cot was preventing him from being able to do things for himself, like get up and move, which meant that he would wake up and get hysterical if I didn’t come as soon as he was awake.

I was greatly motivated by my friend Grietjie, who has had her youngest two children in cot-free rooms since birth (excepting the co-sleeping as young babies). Her post here helped me finally get my butt in gear and make the shift. I am trying to incorporate some more montessori principles in our daily lives for Elijah to learn from and to be more independent. Its all baby steps though… I really love the ideas and the layout of this room, by Meg from Sew Liberated.

So, yesterday I dismantled the cot, it was bittersweet, I used the cot as a baby myself and I remember assembling it just before Elijah was born. But I feel that he will be happier and sleep better if he is able to move. So we brought in a decent single bed mattress, as I prefer knowing if he rolls off he won’t fall far.

Sleeping on my big-boy bed

Last night he slept on it for the first time. He woke up once in the early evening, but he was overtired, and then he wakes more and sleeps badly. It was very sweet seeing this sleepyheaded little monkey walking into the lounge to come cuddle with mama. I took him back to bed, fed him and he slept from there, with the occasional nightmare and weird whimpering. He woke up at about 4am, and I went to lie next to him, fed him and he slept until 5:30, at which time I moved him to our bed, as I was planning on feeding him to sleep, and getting up to do my biblestudy. He eventually went back to sleep… but so did I. We woke at about 6:30 and that was it.

All in all I think it was a great first night for my little-big-boy.

Really miss my tiny baby though…

Since its February and the month of loooove, my friend Julie, at Caramella Clan is doing a Love Story series on there. Today she is featuring US… Very sweet indeed.

Be sure to share the love and comment on her blog and follow it. She’s a sweet young wife to a great guy and they look after babies in need.

(on a side note: some of the image on my blog are broken… we’re looking into it… thanks for the patience…)

My Oma is 88(?) and she loves Elijah

Opa turned 81 on Sunday and he enjoys this funny little boy.

Um… our family has a thing with wigs…

Reading a book with Papa

(all photos taken at Riverside close to Mosselbay by Danie Pretorius – my uncle)

source: Pinterest