The Frog Prince

(posted by Elizma)

We went to a birthday party this morning to which Liam needed to be dressed as a frog.

I don't usually make much effort for things like this, but I was tired of always being the only one who doesn't.

Leon and I spent quite a few hours last night preparing the outfit, only for Liam to cry every time we put the hat on him to measure for the elastic band. Needless to say I didn't have much hope of him wearing it to the party - or getting a photo of him with it.

But, some clever distraction techniques did it. By the time we got to the party, he was dressed in the whole outfit and didn't even notice.

Apart from the birthday girl of course, he was the star of the show!





Birthday girl, Alika and her mom Liani
If only he still had his hat on - this would have been the perfect frog picture!
After the kiss the prince made it to the castle
The castle Liani build out of cardboard boxes - impressive, isn't it?
(Thank you to my sister Annalize for most of the ideas. And to Leon for his help in making the hat.)

KFC, barbeque and rugby

(posted by Elizma)

On top of the swimming and shopping today, we had an early lunch at KFC and then a late afternoon barbeque at Leon's parents. We also watched the South Africa / All Blacks game.

Liam enjoyed it all immensely. Especially the corn-on-the-cob at KFC and the ride in the wheelbarrow at Grandma and Grandpa's. He also road-tested his new shoes very successfully.

First Shoes

(posted by Elizma)

Liam got his first pair of shoes today. As he's getting more active and wants to walk around outside, we thought it was time - even if it's just to protect his socks!

We went to the Clarks shop in Woking where they measured his feet, fitted the shoes properly and even gave him a photo and certificate to commemorate the occasion.

He took to them immediately and it doesn't seem to have affected his walking at all.

Measuring
Fitting
Admiring

Swimming

(posted by Elizma)

Today was Liam's last swimming lesson before the summer break. He absolutely loves it.

He is however so interested in what's going on around him, that he forgets to kick.

Most of the time it isn't a big problem, but when he is dunked under and left to swim to the surface, it does take him a looooooooooooooong time to get there ;-) Leon usually has to help him after a while or he'll just drown... But he always breaks the surface smiling.

Here are some pictures they took this time.

Kitchen Diaries - Part 3

(posted by Elizma)

I know it's been a long time since we've posted some news and photos of our current extension works, but too be honest I was covered so deep in dust, that I barely breathed - never mind blogged!

And I was experiencing that true build syndrome after the initial euphoria of work starting fades and you are left with the despair of dust, inconvenience, frustration (not because of our builders - they're brilliant - but because of the process) and everything else. That time when you can't imagine why you've been so stupid to have such big building work done whilst living at home and how on earth you thought you would cope without a kitchen for 7 or 8 weeks.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Most of the messy work is done and some of the decorating bits and pieces have been arriving, bringing with it a good old dose of excitement.

The floor is being screeded tomorrow and the plasterers will start on Monday.

Oh, and we bought our kitchen yesterday!

Here are some photos of how it currently looks. Over the next few weeks we will transform the rooms into our new family space. It WILL be worth it...

The dining room - viewed from the living area
The dining room and a bit of the kitchen - viewed from the living area
More of the dining room - viewed from the living area
The living area - viewed from the dining space
The kitchen and living area - viewed from the dining space
The kitchen - viewed from the dining space

The most beautiful sound in the world

(posted by Elizma)

When I said...

(posted by Elizma)

... I had no kitchen, I meant: I HAVE NO KITCHEN!

Preparing the food - in the living room
Storing the food - in the entrance hall


Doing the washing up - in the upstairs bathroom
I have to say I've reached a point today where I've had enough. But I know tomorrow I will feel better again and be able to focus on the end result. It WILL be worth it...

Liam's June Photos

(posted by Elizma)

Here is some photos taken of Liam in June. For more, click here.

Enjoying the best of summer - strawberries!

Reading my Bible story before bed

I love reading - it's the first thing I do every morning

The other thing I love is climbing up my slip-and-slide (a present from Tannas)

Cooling off

Reading with Aunt Joan and Savannah

My first 'proper' meal

(posted by Elizma)

Liam has been struggling with food that's not pureed or at least very finely mashed. Since starting nursery, he's grown so much in confidence - on every level.

Watching the other babies eat, has motivated him to give it a go.

Yesterday he had his first - what I would call 'proper' - meal. Fishfingers, bread and peas. He almost polished the lot. It might sound trivial, but it's a huge milestone for us!

Cause I'm cute

(posted by Elizma)

Liam cools down a bit...

(posted by Leon)

It's hot here at the moment. Very hot. 32 Celsius hot. Even early evening it's still in the upper twenties. So when Liam spotted Elizma watering the plants, he didn't hesitate to get in on some cooling-down action: