December 24th continued ...

Fr Christmas always drops off  one present for each child on Christmas Eve.

The children are always super delighted and have so much fun getting into the Christmas spirit.


After all the excitement died down, the cookies and carrots were put out for Santa, and the children went to sleep. It was time for the magic to begin.

Santa set up all the gifts around the living room. The children were so blessed. Each of them received a pile of gifts. By midnight all was peaceful!

Things started off quietly as most of the little ones were a little taken aback at the idea that all the gifts in their pile were actually "THEIRS".

BUT they soon got into swing of things and it didn't take long before the lounge was carpeted in gift wrapping and toy packaging :-)

Mbali was delighted with her giant hippo and it accompanied her all throughout the day

In the late morning we were joined by the Mainhouse kids (seen here receiving the gift vouchers brought by our generous friends). We had organised to have a braai which is something we haven't done for ages due to the high cost of meat nowadays.

We all had fun, there were smiles all round and the New Farm became a family retreat for the day.

It was the first time in over 2 years that we have been "just the family" and everyone felt the difference.

 Many of you will remember, Nadia was our first victim of the chicken pox and unbelievably our poor little Warren woke up Christmas morning covered in spots but as you can see he didn't let that dampen his Christmas spirit.

We were able to use the time to reconnect,

Play some ball

Have some farm fun

And  best of all

just put our feet up for a little bit!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our friends for their  support this year. Without you we would not be here, we have watched countless homes closing down under the strain this year and we can but thank God for our worldwide body of friends who always remember us.

We love you all
Pippa

HELLO FRIENDS

Please bear with me!
I have been trying to post a blog about Christmas for the whole day but my connection is so slow, my pictures would not load and my kids are all in overdrive so I've been upping and downing all day!

In the end I decided I am going to try do it in a few parts because of the bad connection. So keep checking back 'til you have the whole story!

Friday 23rd!

SINCE MY KIDS MISSED THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW WE HAD PLANNED BECAUSE OF JOSHUA'S ACCIDENT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO CATCH THE ONE AT THE JOHANNESBURG ZOO.

WE ALL DRESSED UP AND PACKED A PICNIC SUPPER AND HEADED OFF TO SEE THE ANIMALS AND THE LIGHTS!

We bought our tickets ... no small cost for 14 kiddies and 4 grown ups!                                                                   WE GOT TO THE ELLIES AND WE'RE WATCHING THEM SCRATCH AND SWAY WHEN ...

THE CLOUDS STARTED ROLLING IN THICK ...

DARK ...

AND HEAVY...


 WE GOT STRANDED UNDER THE LEAKY THATCH WEATHER SHELTER AND ENDED UP EATING OUR PICNIC WHILE THE THUNDER AND LIGHTNING SHOOK ALL THE TREES ON THE OUTSIDE.

HERE SIMILO AND CHRISTIAN SHOW OFF THE PEACOCK FEATHERS THEY FOUND ON THE GROUND.

AFTER 45MIN THE RAIN LET US ESCAPE BUT BY THEN THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF AND WE HAD TO JUST GO HOME.

SATURDAY 24TH

THE KIDS WERE IN CHARGE OF THE COOKIES AND BROWNIES, THEY HAD A BALL AND MANAGED TO CREATE SOME PRETTY AMAZING CHRISTMAS COOKIES AND OF COURSE GOT SUPER SUGARY IN THE PROCESS.

MORE TO FOLLOW AS SOON AS I CAN.

WE LOVE YOU ALL

Pippa

Hello Friends

Just a quickie.
On Sunday Mom and I were returning from a hospital visit to Joshua, who was hospitalised after a serious injury at a music concert. We stopped at a traffic light as we got off the highway and a man smashed the window on my side, grabbing the handbag from my lap and running off. In the struggle my right hand ring finger was snapped into two pieces and my left arm was cut by the brkon window glass.

I had an operation to insert two pins to help hold the finger together and was released from the hospital on Tuesday. I have a follow up operation in weeks.

I'm doing better but still a little groggy and more than just a little frustrated at having to use my left hand to do everything!

We still plan to move this coming Wednesday and Christmas still looms on the horizon despite having lost all my identfication cards, credit cards and cell phone! 

Thanks to all of you who found out via the grapevine and have sent little messages :-)

I will endevour to write again soon.

By the way we have TLC SA Christmas calenders for sale at R150each. One with  wildlife and one with TLC kids pictures. Drop us an email and we'll hold one for you :-)

We Love you all
Pippa