Winter beach day....

You have got to love our winter - this was a perfect winters day at the beach!

Charley fell asleep on the way to the beach so we all just waited a bit for her to get her rest in... Ollie was such a cute little monkey and kept us entertained. He really is such a beautiful big brother!

We met our besties there and Ollie was in his element.... hanging with the big boys.

 Charley loved the beach and dipping her feet in the water - he had a lovely mouth full of sand which I was just too slow to stop...

 We also bumped into Ollies favorite friend from school....

On the way home Ollie said to me "mom, I want to stay at the beach forever!!".... 

Shopping!

I am enjoying shopping again!! BUT I have to hold myself back because I still have a bit of weight to lose before I can stock up on a new wardrobe.... can't wait!

Take me back....

Take me back to this...

Today has been MANIC - I want my bed and a coffee please!

My kids

Our life has changed so much since Mike and I met 13 years ago... we fell in love, got married and lived in a selfish bubble for just over 7 years! It was heaven!! We then decided it was time to make our family of 2 a family and three and the process of starting a family - or more like extending our family because we were already a family - began. I was grateful for the 7 year foundation we have built but also it made us set in our ways and when Ollie finally arrived earth side it made our world turn upside down. I knew I loved him from the second he was conceived but I did struggle with the life change that happened when the was born.... it took me a while to adjust and excel in the motherhood role but as the time wore on, as I got to know my boy more and understand him and more importantly enjoy him! Our life changed the day Ollie was born and for that I am so thankful!
When Charley arrived I was wiser, calmer and the exception of motherhood was a realistic one and I got to enjoy her from the second she was born.
I am forever thankful for my family and the joy having kids has brought to our life....

Life is truly sweet - even in the tiring, hard times - it is sweet!!

Puppet show

Every Friday is baker day at school - one child from the class brings something delicious and every child pays R5 for the treat. The money funds things like puppet shows and other exciting little extras for the kiddies to enjoy.

Ollie didn't always like such events and would always be found on his teachers lap but this year he has matured so much and now LOVES these things... he is stilling next to his two besties.

Cutest Jeans ever!!

My child finally fits into the cutest pair of jeans ever! I wish I was as trendy as her!

And then as the day wore on her cuteness wore her out and she had to nap...

Oh man, this child has captured my heart!!!

Feeling more me!

The last two months and a bit have been a good (and at times hard) time for me weight and health wise, I am officially down to the weight I was before I fell pregnant with Charley which is a HUGE milestone for me.... I honestly didn’t think it was possible! My next goal is to get to the same weight I was before I feel pregnant with Ollie – I never got there after he was born and carried that weight until I fell pregnant with Charley. I think because I knew I wanted another baby I wasn’t too worried about the weight because I would put it all back on again... But we have decided that two kiddies are enough and we are done (I reserve the right to change my mind later) so I am on a mission to feel like ME again. It’s amazing to me how weight  can affect so much of who I am.... I didn’t feel like myself, I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin and I didn’t feel like I knew how to dress at all – my style changed considerably after Ollie and Charley and I found myself feeling frumpy and not quite knowing how to change that. I HATED shopping and would end up in tears after trying something on that I was sure would look amazing that ended up looking horrible.

Already, 13kgs down I feel like me again and I am starting to itch for a good old shopping spree – I want to get to my second goal before then BUT I am enjoying pulling out my pre-preggy clothes and trying them on.

This top was my absolute favorite top before Ollie was born and I wore it yesterday!! Happy heart!

(can you spot the photo bomber?)

This is another outfit that I missed - my jean fit beautifully and I tended to steer away from jeans after the kiddies because they were uncomfortable. Before kids I LIVED in jeans....

Mike has been such a major roll in this journey and although we still have a way to go I feel like is possible!