Got this Barney song in my head at the moment
“Clean up, Clean up
Everybody, everywhere
Clean up, clean up
Everybody do your share”
I got a bee in my bonnet this afternoon after coming home from a kids party, and decided to clean up the toys in the house. Once we’d got all the toy boxes outside and emptied them on the grass, I regretted that decision. And yes, we have a few - 3 boxes in Bradley’s room, one in Connor’s, one in the lounge and 1 in the study.
It took forever!
But, it’s finally done, and I have one full box of toys to donate to a childrens home, and 2 rubbish bags of broken toys that need to be trashed. And the toy boxes have been re-organised and now there’s space for Xmas 
(and Lance has got strict instructions to explain the organisation to Beauty because I’ll have a frothy if they’re messed up again!)
And I have 2 excited kids who are playing with long lost and re-connected toys
The donated toys are being done with a bit of a heavy heart though. I’ve given away all the baby clothes and big baby things, the baby toys were the last to go. It’s silly keeping them though, they’re just gathering dust in the house.
Next weekend, between photoshoots, I’m going to tackle the kids cupboards.
First, I have to say that following on from yesterday’s post… it’s not my photography or my bookings causing my angst… in fact that’s what’s keeping me sane right now 
Anyhoo, back to today’s story, Bradley lost his second tooth on Thursday at school. It came out while he was eating a burger at school So very glad he didn’t swallow this tooth like the first one
This was after going to the dentist on Wednesday and her telling me that the tooth was almost out… and she could see the big tooth already peeping through the gums. Oooh and he only needed his teeth cleaned and flouride applied at the dentist, I’m so very pleased that he’s brushing properly!
So, on Thursday night, the tooth fairy arrived… and gave him 2 R10 notes. OMW was he upset in the morning!! One of his friends had told him that she’d gotten R100 for her teeth! Oh the drama… but then he felt better when he got to school and another friend told him that she’d got more for her top teeth!
LOL! I think R100 is excessive… but anyhoo. Maybe we should chat to the tooth fairy and increase the amounts a little for the 2 front teeth that are loose at the moment.
I’ve seen this Friday Fragments meme on a few blogs recently, and it’s just perfect for today… so without further adieu, here are my fragmented thoughts for this cold and rainy Friday evening.
- The party I was going to go to tomorrow has been cancelled due to the crap weather… so I have a free day that I hadn’t planned and I’m already feeling at a bit of a loss.
- Think I’ll go shopping though for a new handbag
- I’m going to finish my nieces pressies to send to New Zealand and hopefully they get them before Xmas! I’ve been very slack for the last few years so I’m DETERMINED to get them nice gifts to make up a little!
- Oh heck, I suppose I’d also get the school teachers presents too, considering the schools break up soon.
- Lance finally found a car!! Woohoo!! So we’ll be a 2 car family again from next week Yay I have my freedom back!
- I’m eyeing out a new lens. I really really want to get a 70-200mm f2.8 IS, but… it’s freaking expensive… but I am doing quite a few weddings next years that’ll pay for the lens and I need the lens for the weddings… and I’ve had an offer from someone in Europe to bring it back for me so I’ve worked out I can save R5000 by buying it there, rather than in SA. But… it’s a LOT of money.
- Madi’s husband is doing some work at our house at the moment and breaking down the massive carport that we’ve never used and which is rotting. Now I have to redo part of the garden! Fun, but again expensive!
- I got asked today whether I was OK, and almost started crying. I can’t think about my feelings right now… I can’t handle it. So, I walked away and didn’t say anything, it’s better that way.
- I’m so very cold… I should really go to bed and sleep but the photos… they won’t edit themselves
I’m obsessed with money at the moment, can you tell?
I got this via email again today… just had to share it…
A baby asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,
but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”
God said, “Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”
The child further inquired, “But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have
to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.”
God said, “Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.
And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy.”
Again the small child asked, “And how am I going to be able to understand
when people talk to me if I don’t know the language?”
God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words
you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will
teach you how to speak.”
“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”
God said, “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach
you how to pray.”
“Who will protect me?”
God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.”
“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”
God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach
you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.”
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth
could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, “God, if I am to leave
now, please tell me my angel’s name.”
God said, You will simply call her, “Mom.”
I saw this list on Jane’s blog… very cool idea and I know I’m not nearly as capable as she is, but it’s a fun thing to test…
While not totally comprehensive , here is a list of 50 things everyone should know how to do:
1. Build a Fire
2. Operate a Computer
3. Use Google Effectively
4. Perform CPR and the Heimlich maneuver
5. Drive a Manual Transmission Vehicle
6. Do Basic Cooking
7. Tell a Story that Captivates People’s Attention – not sure about this one
8. Win or Avoid a Fistfight
9. Deliver Bad News - now this I’m terrible at!
10. Change a Tyre
11. Handle a Job Interview
12. Manage Time
13. Speed Read
14. Remember Names - Nooo I’m notoriously shocking!
15. Relocate Living Spaces
16. Travel Light
17. Handle the Police
18. Give Driving Directions
19. Perform Basic First Aid
20. Swim
21. Parallel Park
22. Recognize Personal Alcohol Limits
23. Select Good Produce
24. Handle a Hammer, Axe or Handsaw
25. Make a Simple Budget
26. Speak at Least Two Common Languages
27. Do Push-Ups and Sit-Ups Properly
28. Give a Compliment
29. Negotiate - again I’m shocking at this
30. Listen Carefully to Others
31. Recite Basic Geography
32. Paint a Room
33. Make a Short, Informative Public Speech
34. Smile for the Camera
35. Flirt without Looking Ridiculous – doubt it
36. Take Useful Notes
37. Be a Respectful House Guest
38. Make a Good First Impression
39. Navigate with a Map and Compass
40. Sew a Button onto Clothing
41. Hook up a Basic Home Theater System
42. Type
43. Protect Personal Identity Information
44. Implement Basic Computer Security Best Practices
45. Detect a Lie – depends who you’re talking about here
46. End a Date Politely Without Making Promises
47. Remove a Stain
48. Keep a Clean House
49. Hold a Baby
50. Jump Start a Car
I really didn’t do as badly as I initially thought!
On top of everything else that happened this weekend (1 portrait shoot, The Kid’s party, Barmitzvah, and double shoot this morning) I had to take Bradley to a school party this afternoon.
I never cease to be amazed by some of the mothers… it’s this constant banter about whose kids are doing what extra murals. And OMW the extra swimming etc that the kids go to on weekends… and whatever else they do. Oh and not to forget the extra soccer and the special meals the kids eat etc etc
The kids are in grade 0. They’re 6 for pete sake! How many extra murals must they have? Who really cares if they can swim perfect laps in the pool using the perfect stroke yet… at least they’re not freaking drownable anymore!
It’s exhausting to listen to them truly… my conclusion though… it was only the SAHM’s with nothing else to do other than cart kids around that were speaking like that… oh and the one mom who has a full-time au-pair for her kids!
Do you remember the Childrens home that we threw a Christmas party for a few years ago? The stories written at the time, about meeting the kids and the resulting party are here, here, here and here:
Here’s an update on the St Janes de Chantal Haven and how the kids are doing.
Remember Arthur? He’s been adopted and is apparently very happy in his new home.
And Kia and her bad skin which we thought was excema? It was actually shingles, and apparently eventually they couldn’t even put clothes on her little body because it got so sore. She was 2 years old at the time this photo was taken.
Hannah has lost 5 of the children that were at the home 2 years ago.
At the moment, there are 25 children at the haven, and a few of them are in hospital receiving treatment. Not all the children she gets have HIV, some of them come from abused homes, and most of them need medical treatment. She’s still getting children from Child Welfare, but more and more of them are being dropped off at the gate to the home.
A month ago, 5 armed men climbed over the walls of the haven and held her and the children up, demanding money. Apparently, she just told them that she didn’t have money, and they should all look very carefully at the children because one of them might in fact be one of their own! She eventually had them changing nappies and feeding the babies J She’s one amazing woman!
She told the story of the one baby she’s got in her care at the moment, and this is heartbreaking…
She got the baby girl a few weeks ago when the baby was 2 weeks old. The mother had left the baby on the floor of her shack while she went off drinking. When she returned, or when someone came to answer the screams (no sure which one), a rat was eating the baby’s face. By the time the baby got rescued, the nose had been chewed off as well as part of the cheek, and the baby is currently being prepared for her second round of plastic surgery.
I can’t actually get that out of my head… that poor poor baby 
my heart breaks for her. Never mind the anger I feel towards any mother that can just leave their 2 week old on the floor to go drinking?!!
Leanne, who went to visit the home over the weekend, said that the kids are happy as usual and the carers only too grateful for an extra set of hands to help with bottle feeding and nappy changing and story reading. And as you can imagine, they need a constant supply of nappies and formula for the babies and food, clothes, and school supplies for the older kids in her care.
I’m going to try and get there in the next few weeks, so if you have anything you want to donate, let me know.
This one car story is the pits.
We’ve been a one car household for 2 weeks now, and none of us are coping very well. Thankfully Lance is able to get another car next week, so this pain is nearly over… but still it’s a problem for the next few days.
It’s not that it’s an inconvenience for me, that doesn’t really phase me, but I realised this afternoon why I’m struggling with it so much.
The time in the traffic on my own to work and back is my time. It’s in fact the only time I get to spend by myself these days without working or cooking or doing something. I need the break between work and home to recoup my thoughts before the onslaught of the kids (not Lance because he’s not an onslaught ), and I’m not getting it at the moment.
I get into the car, and the kids are in the back… whining because they’ve been in the car for about 40 minutes already and by now they realise it takes an hour to get back home. Then they’re fighting, and Connor is trying to climb out of his car seat (I’m assuming because his body gets sore from the chair)… and the music is going and Lance and I are chatting… and it’s noisy.
It’s much more chaotic than my usual quiet slow trip home listening to the radio.
OK, I do actually realise that this is sad. I should get more time to myself… but seriously when would you like me to do that? The only other time to my own thoughts is when I’m blogging, or showering or sleeping…. the rest of my life is working, editing, and mothering.
I spent some time showing Bradley some blogs and Twitter and Facebook yesterday afternoon.
It started when I commented aloud about a post by My Little Drummer Boys showing photos of drought in Australia. I was telling Lance about it, and Bradley was standing next to me at the time said “In Australia? You get around!”
LOL, then i showed him photos on other bloggers I follow from across the world, and he was fascinated. He’s played games on the internet and knows you can get info but I’m not sure he realised the social aspect before now. Oh I lie, he must know, because he knows all the friends that we meet up with that I’ve met via the internet… but I think the Australia thing caught his imagination.
Then we moved onto Facebook, and wrote wall posts to Granny and his friends Thomas and Sonja who moved to New Zealand. Thankfully, they both replied by this morning, and he had a BIG smile on his face when he read the replies.
Then we went onto Twitter, and I posted a photo of him saying hello – by taking a photo on my phone and sending it, and he was thrilled to get the immediate responses from across the country (I explained who each person was, and where they lived as they replied) and the virtual cupcakes from Angel
And then I started thinking… his experience of communication is so very different to all generations before him. It’s just so much faster. I remember sitting with my mom learning how to write letters to my Granny who at the time was living in Zimbabwe. We used to wait weeks for a reply. And OMW the pain of a letter! Can you remember how long-winded they had to be because you hardly ever sent them?! What agony!
I mean it was fun getting letters back… but it’s so much better to get a reply instantly or a few hours later!
My nieces in New Zealand still send snail mail letters to my MIL, who can barely use her cell, let alone a PC… and I take my hat off to them, I really do!
I wonder whether the schools have started changing the syllabus yet, and incorporated the best way to communicate online… and not just via snail mail… they really should… our kids will hardly use the old methods in their lifetimes.
Anyway, something to ponder over… I can see this post getting very long if I don’t cut the ramble here.
