THE WEAVERS NEST

A MAGICAL LONG WEEKEND

We are back. Had sooo much fun this weekend! The Drakensberg is such a special place - in general - but it is especially special to Pete and I.

The first time we visited The Berg together was in 2001. Before we were even engaged. I was doing a Physio placement job here in SA for 3 months, so Pete flew out to join me at the end of it, and we had a wonderful holiday - going to Cape-Town, Stellenbosch, Victoria falls, the Pilanesberg, Sun-City, Ballito and finally - Cathedral Peak, in The Drakensberg. Of all the beautiful places we visited on that wonderful holiday, The Drakensberg was our favourite. It stole our hearts - so much so, that when Pete proposed on Christmas day 4 months later, back in snowy England, we decided to plan our wedding to take place there. We phoned Cathedral Peak on boxing day, and booked our wedding for the 14th December 2002. And the rest, as they say, is history.

So since our wedding, we haven't been back to The Berg. It was so special to revisit with our 3 children, almost 9 years since our wedding day - and 10 years since we first visited.

We laughed and laughed and had sooo much fun as we re=enacted our wedding photos! Ryan was put in charge as chief photographer for our 'posed' shots - and he did very well, considering my SLR camera is not a doddle to use, and is also quite heavy! Little miss madam would not be left out of the photographers role - but alas, the camera is not her forte, so we ended up with dodgy shots like this:

And this:

Actually - after trying to photograph my children and the scenery this weekend - I now appreciate the very difficuilt task that our wedding photographer had at our wedding. That scenery is breath-takingly beautiful, but oh my.... the light is tricky to play with, and even more tricky is photographing the subjects but also keeping the background scenery as a focal view! I will forever look at my wedding photos in a different way now - and really appreciate what a marvelous job our photographer did!

And heres a few fun snaps of our wedding poses :

So much fun this weekend... too many pics I want to share with you...but I will limit it to these few more:

My gorgeous dudes

The 3 dudes in my life approaching the chapel. How gorgeous? x

I cannot tell you how many times I get asked how old my twins are.... they do play so nicely together x

Girls unite

Could this be the most beautiful Chapel in the world?

And thats enough.... for now! Will share more pics on Facebook x x

I hope you all had great weekends.... and its hot here!!! 37C in Pretoria today.....PHEW

 

OFF TO THE MOUNTAINS...

It's half term here, and we're off for a quick break to The Drakensburg. Cannot wait! Its the first time we're taking the kids to the "berg ( a very special place for Pete and I as we got married there at Cathedral peak.) Miss Madam was very excited about going to the mountains.... and claimed that she would build a snow-man on arrival. Ummm - good luck with that young lady, no snow around here - the temps are more likely to be around 31C.... The big boy was excited about going to the mountains, cos that must mean we're going on an Aeroplane and going out of South Africa. Sorry - no such luck my boy - we're going in the car and believe it or not, we do have mountains in south Africa. Quite a lot of them in fact... we are quite fond of mountains. And the baby boy was excited about going to the  mountains because we could see dinosaurs and live in a cave and eat cheese and milk. (?) No more Heidi watching for you then ;)

But - its the parentals that are the MOST excited about going to the mountains... cos the resort we are going to is a kiddie and parent haven. The kids have kiddie entertainment, babysitters, activities... they even eat in their own dining room. And the parentals have romantic meals, lazy walks, skinny dips, no cooking, no lifting.... and lots of leg crossing so as not to come back with another Weaver on board ;0

I'll be back to share some pics of our little jaunt away. So heres wishing you all a very happy (early) weekend x

 

 

LITTLE LUKE IS 4 TODAY!

Aaaah - can you believe it? My BABY boy is 4 years old. I really don't know how we got here.... wasn't it just yesterday that I had 3 babies in 4 years.... now all of a sudden, my youngest is 4! It really does feel bitter-sweet. I heard it so many times when I was stuck in the trenches with 3 babies.... but now I can appreciate the truth in those words uttered to me ..."Enjoy your babies - it passes way to quickly."

On the one hand, I really do feel like we've arrived. Our 3 kids are easy now - no nappies, no bottles, no prams - and they are so close in age, so play with each other, leaving Pete and I free to spend some quality time together. But on the other hand, I do miss having a wee baby on my hip. It was a natural stance for so long.... :(

But that being said.... I am DONE with babies. LOVED my time with them, love that I had them when I did, and really couldn't contemplate juggling babies again at my old age ;).

So - Lukey my cutey: Today you are 4! Today - you will have 4 candles on your cake. Wow!

At 4 years of age, this is what excites you:

• Ben 10
• Transformers
• Star Wars
• Soccer
• Lightning Mcqueen
• The Beach
• The Bush
• Snakes and spiders
• Your Leapster Explorer

You are having a Pirate party for your 4th Birthday. We are doing a joint party with your best buddy Cade - and you have invited the whole class.

You are a happy, active little boy. You are coping well at school, despite being one of the youngest. You have learnt to swim and enjoy your swimming lessons and Catrobatz. You constantly try to keep up with your big brother and big sister - never wanting to be left out. You love singing along to the radio in the car, and always ask me to "turn it up" when you hear your favourite songs! Favourite songs at the moment are " Moves like Jagger" and "Tonight Tonight"

You love to jump and dance around with your siblings and spend hours on the trampoline lost in your own little world.

You are a vibrant member of our family. We love you so VERY much - our cutey, chubby chappy!

Have a very very happy birthday our BIG 4 year old x x

 

A WEAVER RITE OF PASSAGE...

...facial stitches, that is.

It would appear, that in order to become a fledgling Weaver, a prerequisite is to have facial/ head stitches before the age of 4. For some of them, more than once. I'm not mentioning any names here... but the girl type has done it twice.

When Ryan was 3, he fell at the swimming pool in Aylesbury and managed to get himself transported via Ambulance to have his head stitched back together. Very exciting for a small boy... not so much for the mama.

 

And then, when Emily was 2 - she got clouted with a tennis racquet by big brother, and had stitches just near her eye.

 

 And then - when she was 4, she fell and had stitches just near her eye... again.

 

And then on Sunday, little Lukey ( not yet 4).. fell and had 5 stitches in his forehead.

 
So it would appear - that in order to be a Weaver child,  some facial scarring is a must ;0)

I am hoping there WILL BE NO MORE!!!! My heart can't take any more of this.

Little Lukey was SUCH a brave little dude having his stitches - he kept the whole ER amused with his constant questioning. Such a cutie-pie.

 Please pray for no ugly scars x.

A PRINCESS ROUND-UP

This is a post dedicated entirely to my princess! It was the big boys birthday month in September and it's the small boys birthday month in october, so they are having lots of attention... so I thought I'd give the girl type a shout out.

She has been a busy little madam.... with ballet concerts, and graduation rehearsals and gymnastics displays and then there is always her own little performing antics at home! This video was shot last week. What can I say... the girl loves to sing. Watching this feels like I am indeed looking into the future.... eeek! Heaven help us all.

 

You've got to love it... the huge confidence, the lack of inhibitions...oooh man! Too cute.

That is what my little girl is like most of the time - a little fireball of energy and vibe. And then this week she got sick. Very sick, and my outgoing, confident little girl became clingy and hysterical if I wasn't around... I didn't know what was going on, but she was brewing something. And then it all came to a very ugly head on Thursday. She had such a violent tummy bug that I thought she was going to land up in the Sandton clinic, never mind having to do 4 performances for her ballet show!

But my little trooper, with a bum bullet and some tummy cement, she managed to get through the charity performance on Friday night. She had a good nights sleep, and then woke up a different child on Saturday! It amazes me how resilient little children are. She did all 3 performances yesterday and was just the cutest little ballet mouse :0).

 
This ballet business is very serious, and therefore a serious face is needed. ;)  

 

 
All the little mice. We are NOT happy about being the smallest mouse

 
Emily and her "clock" Karina. (Each mouse danced with a "big girl" clock) The clocks were sooo sweet with the little mice and really looked after them x.

And today - she is doing just fine. SUCH a relief, I hate having sick kids. It's a rainy sunday in Joburg and the husbank is still away, so I have declared it a duvet day for me and the 3 mini's .... looking forward to just relaxing and cudling and doing not much at all x x x