Posts filed under ‘Friends & Family’
As I mentioned before …
… Stodels is a pretty cool place to go when you’ve got small kids.
Normally I enjoy the luxury of having the place mostly to ourselves and a few other lucky ones who have the choice to go there during regular working hours.
Last week I experienced though that it can also be fun during its very busiest days – the school holidays.
We went there to meet Erik’s sibling kindergarten friends Karla and Paul to find the place packed with pool, water slide and – of course – masses of families frolicking all over eating ice creams, hopping on trampolines, splashing in the water or even cuddling huge snakes and iguanas. (lizard tongue sticking out over delighted little boys’ shoulders, claws hanging on to their arms, both looking very happy … In such situations my kids prefer a safe distance while I wish I was small enough to also get a turn).
Karla and Paul’s Mom had me green with envy as the two year age advance of her children allowed her to peacefully indulge in coffee drinking and scones eating while I was constantly helping Lilly up and down the irresistible slide. And still SHE is the one finishing the Two Oceans marathon last weekend!! Not fair.
Erik, the observer, was easy. first he watched the kiddie train, then the kids on the trampoline, then the kids on the waterslide until finally sitting down next to and striking up a conversation with an elderly lady on a bench.
All in all it was lots of fun, almost overwhelming, and the best part was feeding the animals (my personal favourite the tortoises of course).
On a more cheerful note …
… I continue my flashback.
Pssst, don’t tell Erik that one day when he was in kindergarten Lilly got to GO TO THE BEACH!
And here she is, busy busy and super cool in Mommy’s sunglasses.
(Urg? What’s WORDPRESS doing? That’s not the right order! But WHO CARES??? I can finally insert many photos at a time which saves me, like, HOURS!!! Oh, goodie, I can blog myself (and you) insane!! YIPPIEH!)
So, this is not Lilly, but Nena LOVEingly cleaning her feet of sand.
The two lovebirds again.
And again.
There she is! Still all cooool.
Having lots of fun.
Suddenly she demanded to have a look at the “water”. She was very impressed, but refused to go closer.
Pick up sand, throw the sand. Repeat!
There comes Nena – typical Mom. Goes shopping and buys something for her kids. Sounds familiar. Without her I’d be in rags.
Nena, it’s quarter past nine – SCRABBLE time!
Sniff, I think we must start to online-Scrabble.
Don’t mess with this little lady!
Our little girl certainly is a tough one – by nature and also by learning to survive an older brother.
Sometimes she looks it too!
And sometimes one can’t imagine her not being anything but simply sweet and of course completely innocent (I suspect this innocent look will drive Erik crazy in the future when the question is “Who did it?”).
Whether lady or rocker – she certainly is talkative. Here an introductory course to “Lilly”:
Awe (Affe / monkey))
Kuk (or kuch) (book or Buch)
juice
Oupa
shoes
want it!
cacker (cracker)
Aja (Anja)
Ball
ss (heiss)
poopoo
Arm (and “upi” to be picked up)
ja
up
Dudu
an (on)
kitty
hat
Auto/car
nana (banana)
Happy New Year!
With a few impressions from our very nice outing to Hout Bay last Tuesday with Glenn’s parents as well as Ashley, Jackie and Marcelo who were visiting from Johannesburg …
(yuuuuuuuuuummy fish& chips lunch!)
… we now wish you all a great start into 2012!!
Lots of love from us KohlRabies!!
Christmas Eve 2011
Needless to say Erik was speechless when Santa talked to him personally
(until he mentioned Lilly that is)
http://magicsanta.ca/player.html?code=cpxhxz
After decorating the tree in the morning of Christmas Eve the kids were very excited and it was impossible to get a proper picture of them in front of the tree.
After their nap “Auntie Ant” and her Mom arrived.
We all (-2) had a nice cup of coffee and some home baked cookies …
… and then Santa arrived …
… bringing with him lots of presents including Erik’s greatest wish:
For a while he completely forgot that there were other presents waiting for him and he just walked (and rocked) around the lounge playing along to “Jingle Bells”.
Nostalgia
Before I post the pictures of Rooiels that Glenn promised I want to show you some images of our outing to Hout Bay today …
Little table dancer at the fish & chips place …
… and everyone enjoying their ice creams for desert.
I’ll soon post more pics of our fun time at the beach!
XMas Moments…
Christmas Eve…
Xmas is traditionally a time for candles, fires, snow and food to warm the heart.
In Cape Town, I would have gladly traded some of our sunshine and heat for a little bit of a white XMas. Luckily Auntie Ant and her mom Sylvia joined us to celebrate a traditional Weihnachten despite the 28 degrees.
Luckily the heat couldn’t keep the man in red away, and he Ho-Ho-Ho’d down our chimney and there was ringing of bells, much to the children’s delight! (Erik was suitably impressed that I managed to snap a pic of “The Christmas Man” in the act!)
The next day…
We went through to Granny and Oupa and joined the rest of the Rabie Family for a hot XMas lunch.
The women were cooking up a storm in the kitchen…
…while Miss Rabie did her best to look too cute for her XMas sock
After a light snack for lunch (Hahahahaaaaaa!), Granny and Oupa held court over their brood in the shade.
…but as soon as Granny was distracted and went inside, the “Manne” took over the court (complete with the visiting jester!)
Little Miss wasn’t fussed and took her dollies for a constitutional in the perambulator.
“Hmmm…my cousins Nikky and Michael have water and sand! Maybe I need to rethink this Little Miss prim and proper thing…”
Even though he lives at the North Pole, Santa had the sense to bring a pool! So after some huffing and puffing and discussing (and cussing!), the kids were cooling down!
After lots of laughter, fun and excitement, little elves were taken off to bed. Thanks everyone for making this XMas the fun family occasion it was meant to be.
To family and friends far away, we shared a little bit of our sunny fun and Xmas cheer and add our love. We miss you all lots.
Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays from the Rabies!
This and That
Here some stuff I haven’t shown you yet. Most recent is this one – this morning Lilly tried to pick up the chalk that was lying on the floor. Every time she picked one up the bucket would tip over and the others would fall out. She found that very amusing herself 
The following picture was taken last weekend. You might remember her unusual sleeping positions in the past? Well, she is keeping up her habit (it’s not so unusual, but very cute I think).
Erik LOVES his new balancing bike. Sometimes he takes it to kindergarten with him, but most times he prefers to ride the ones that are there (then he doesn’t have to share his own).
He has now also started drawing “things”. The other day he drew his first “man”.
Here’s Lilly – after waking up she often likes to hang on to her cuddle blankie or bunny – or both.
Thanks again to Rika and Wolfgang for the great shirts!!
The other day Geraldine stayed over night babysitting and brought her little daughter Lauren Fay who Erik instantly “fell in adoration” with. You should have seen him show off his toys and skills! 
And finally- talking of skills – here’s Lilly practicing her fine motor ones.(http://tafelbergmom.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/a-practical-tip/)
The BirthDAY
Erik’s birthday party taking place a day early the lucky boy ended up having a birthday WEEKEND!
The actual day was quieter than the one before. Erik woke up early as usual, but after a glance into the kitchen he wasted no further thought on snuggling with us as he normally does.
“Mama, Daddy, there’s a BIKE in the kitchen!”
Here’s enjoying his presents and of course Granny and Oupa’s visit.
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