Category Archives: New Year’s

Holiday Wrap Up

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As we settle back into the normal pace of things, I look back over the holiday season with great joy in my heart. God has blessed with much more than we could ever ask for. Our first Christmas as a family was so wonderful, even if little Miss Ava didn’t like Santa Claus, it was still a wonderful time spent with family and friends. Loads of good food and even more laughs.

The Advent calendar was a nice addition to our Christmas decorations and we are really looking forward to using it again next year. Johan and I will then have memories of this year and the bible verses we read. Best of all, Ava will be able to enjoy the treats and activities along with us. Even though we plan on spending December in America, I plan on taking the calendar with us, minus the red board, of course. 
Christmas was spent in the Free States with Johan’s family. I really love going there and have spoken about it many times on the blog. Here, here and here. 
There were about 47 of us, aunts, uncles, oumas, oupas and cousins, lots and lots of cousins. We made the trip down with Johan’s brother Hennie and his family. 4 hours, 4 adults and 4 children under the age of 4. That was quite an adventure to say the least. 
I am very proud to announce that my Afrikaans has come along way and I can now actually enjoy and contribute to the conversations around me. Still only responding in English, but understanding much more. Singing Silent Night and the other carols in Afrikaans was a wonderful experience for me. Finally, I am starting to feel less as an outsider and more apart of the family. It’s a bit uncomfortable when everyone is relaxed, and then you see that they have to switch to another language just for you. 
These photos are from Christmas Eve at Johan’s cousin, Charl’s house. Not too many pictures of the food, as Johan and I were too busy stuffing our faces. The starter was mussels in a white wine and garlic butter sauce with fresh brown bread. I ate so many, Johan’s aunt came up to me and told me I needed to save room for the main course! Red faced, I had to admit I thought those were the main course. They were so good, I could have eaten the entire pot, and almost did! For the main course, we had beef and chicken shawarmas, in the States we would call them gyros. Yum. 
singing Christmas carols

part of the clan

I love this little person!

Me, Ava and Juan searching for Father Christmas (Santa)

Keira shouting for Father Christmas

Ava, not so happy with Father Christmas 

Santa gave Ava her first tea pot for Christmas!
Christmas Day was spent at Tannie Igna and Oom Hennie gorgeous farm house. There was so much food, I wouldn’t even know where to begin with what we ate. From beef fillet to chicken breast, a smoked tuna starter of some sort and so many salads and side dishes. Beautiful desserts brought by my mother in law. All of it was so delicious. 
love the ornaments in the weeping willow

all dressed in red. 

Ava with her Oupa, my father in law

Toasting those who had passed or were far away.
ps: That’s you, Charl and Lee

just chatting about our future… 
We spent New Year’s at Zebula, a game lodge / golf estate with three other couples. Again, way too much good food was consumed. A bit more alcohol and loads of laughter. Zebula was our first family trip away with our friends and their families. It made us feel like real grown-ups. With 8 adults and 6 children, we all got along surprisingly well. The house was perfect, the food was perfect and the company couldn’t have been better. Looking forward to our next holiday with these folks.

Can we get in the pool now, Mom?

The Girls!

loving my chalk board bunting!

Happy New Year every body!

Blair

Items to be Resolved in 2011

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I don’t think I have ever been successful with any of my New Year’s Resolutions. It is not that I set goals too high to reach, it’s that I have no sense of self control. Why would I want to stop smoking or drink less? And who wants to go running in the cold? I don’t even think I’ve made it past the 12th before I’ve forgotten about the resolutions I wanted resolved. But 2011 is a new year and I am about to become a New Me. The New Me, mostly because of this little person growing inside of me, not because it’s a new year.

Unbeknownst to her, she helped me complete one long outstanding resolution last year, smoking. The moment I found out I was pregnant, I quit. Who knew it could be so easy? My body thanked you then Ava, now it’s just ready for you to come out. Me and daddy are too!!

Seeing as I about to become a New Me I think I am going to make a list of New Year’s resolutions and try to actually accomplish at least some of the them this year. The New Me wants to:

  • Read 24 books this year – I have never actually counted the amount of books I have read in a particular month or year. This year I will start. At least 2 books a month can’t be too hard. Even with a new baby. The rule will be that the book is only counted in the month it was completed. So for January, I have one down and one to go. Just finished The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Amazing, even after watching the movie first. The search for the next book is on. Suggestions welcomed.
Front cover of the first edition
  •  Work out – This is so cliche I know. But honestly, the good Lord blessed me with a small frame and a fast metabolism so I never really had to work out to stay thin. Now that I am older, I understand working out isn’t just about being thin, it’s about being healthy. And I have a feeling it’s not going to back that way it was so easily. I am really looking forward to pushing Little Miss Ava around the neighborhood in hopes of getting my pre-baby body back. But, just in case that doesn’t work 100% I am going to invest in a Cherished Belly. I’ve read lots of reviews on products like this and the women say it really works. I’ll keep you posted.

  •  Make fresh pasta – I’ve read countless recipes on how to make fresh pasta but have never stepped up to the task. Now that Skip and I have been making pesto from our herb garden, I want to try and conquer making our own pasta as well. Some of the recipes are quite daunting, but I will start out simple. Just need to purchase a nice rolling machine and a drying rack…
Imperia Italian SP150 Double Cutter Pasta Machine
Kitchen Craft Italian Collection Pasta Drying Stand
  • Grow my garden – Growing up my parents always had a garden in our backyard with loads of flowers and vegetables. My grandmother as well. I want that for Ava. I want her to grow up outside helping me in the garden. I want her to walk out the back door on a summer’s day and pick a handful of strawberries like I did. Or learn how to make pesto from the ingredients right there in her own backyard. Thanks to my mother in law the flower beds are in order and looking beautiful. Thanks to my dad, my herb garden is steadily growing. All Skip and I need to do is enlarge it a bit and throw in a few more veggies and fruits and I will be happy.
Not me, but sure looks like me when I was small. 80’s outfit and all.
  •  Print pictures – The Skipper and I have been married for a year now. Well, unless you consider the little mishap with Home Affairs then it’s only been a month or two. But I won’t go into that. Anyway, in God’s eyes we have been married for over a year now and the only picture I have printed and framed is from my mother in law. An amazing woman, I must add. Oh, and the two I put on our refrigerator of our families. It’s mostly our fault because we took the cheap package and opted out of the book and the all the photos to save money on the wedding. So I spent most of last year talking about how I am going to make a book or even just get a few framed for the hall. Blah, blah, blah. Now, Ava is almost here and still no wedding photos printed. I can’t let this happen to her childhood. It can’t be stored away on some computer that can only be viewed when the power is on. Seeing that power is quite an issue here in SA, that’s not such a good idea. So my resolution is to make a little photo book for each month of her life. The rule is that all months must be complete before the end of February 2012. 
This one is definitely getting printed.
  •  Write/See our Grandparents more – One of Skippy’s grandmothers past away this year and it really made me sad that I didn’t get to know her better. It was quite hard due to the language barrier and the many miles between us. Plus she hasn’t been well for a long time, so visits were a bit tough. I say the many miles between us but a four hour drive isn’t actually that far when compared to the 18 hour plane flight that separates us from my grandmothers. My grandmother’s were such a big part of my life growing up and still are today. They are both amazing and inspiring women. It saddens me that I can’t see or speak to them more often. This year I want to change that. I want to go see Skip’s grandparents more often. Call and write mine more. Send them all photos. Not because it’s Easter, because we love them.

Now, let’s see if I can remember to resolve these resolutions.