So we go on.....

Nathan - so cute

Both boys on the beach

Brotherly love(cannot get pic turned sorry)

Daniel at his 3rd birthday party

Our BIG BOY!!

Our small Gray family

My baby Nathan

It has surely been a very long time since I posted. I have been thinking about it lately, but am just wondering, what shall I say...a lot has been happening, and yeah...what to say....?

The last 2 months have been wonderful, just having my boys home, being with them, and reflecting on what our next steps are with the boys...Since Sofi left, Daniel was ill on and off, and being at Dannies little playschool has not been so good for him after all.Being ill to often, thus not going that much, then school holidays happening, and then him not settling into a steady routine, and mommy - well not being super duper encouraged to actually get him to school. So we stopped...end of story!

It has been something that I wanted to do for so long, but our situations have not allowed yet, but...now it has finally happened. Homeschooling. Our boys, for the next 2 and half years, that is Daniel and Nathan for the next 3 and a half years. I am so excited. Then when time comes, deciding if are going to continue through primary school or actually sending them to Grade R. But, my motto with this is, nothing is set in stone, and the school system is out there and always ready to receive my boys! Just not now.

I have been considering our main reasons for rather homeschooling the boys.
* They are so small, and being in school runs, rushing to school, and being in such a strict schedule is just to much at this age. I am able to be home with them, it is not easy and very tight financially, but I feel it is my responsibility to keep them home with me, where they can learn and play at their own pace.
* They are going to be in a school for about 12-13 years of their lives, and then University for anything from 3-7 years. Why force them into it already?
* I have qualifications as a Educare teacher. I have the skill, patience and love for my 2 boys, I dont feel many other people has, making me the best teacher for them. I understand them, know where they are at, and can lead them slowly but surely in the right direction.
* We know a lot of people in our town, so NO, our kids wont struggle to be social beings, and to learn how to interact on a social level. Going to Checkers and learning to speak properly with an elderly person, is learning to be a proper social human being, learning not to bite Nathan when he is mad, is learning to be a proper social human being, learning respect for his mother at home, will teach him to have respect for authority out there...

There are cons to this way of living, but at this point I believe there are more cons to it...so we are very happy! The boys are at peace, they are flourishing, and they love relaxing and enjoy learning through play!

What a privilege! Thank you Lord for this opportunity!

Joshua 24:15 "But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah"

Genesis 33:5 "And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are these with you? And he said, The children which God has graciously given your servant."



Hebrews 2:13: "And again, I will  trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God has given to me."


Ephesians 6:4: "And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger: but nurture them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord."

Deuteronomy 6:6-9: "And these words, which I command you today, shall be upon your heart: And you shall repeat them to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house, and when you journey on your way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall bind them on your hand as a sign, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the posts of your house, and on your gates."

Our dear Sofia...

Playing with Nathan, look all the toys!!

Always busy exploring

I love crawling to the front door now!!

Hi there everyone!

Arts and Crafts

So much fun!

Playing with my friends

So I decided to make this blog post about our beloved Sofia!!! She has been with us nearly 5 months, and it has been a great few months, of a lot of learning, playing, crawling, following the boys around, naps...and just enjoying being with her friends, especially Nathan.

Sofi usually arrives around 8:45 and then we have breakfast if she is hungry, then just play. If the weather allows we go out into the garden for a walk, and she always loves that...together with Nathan in the twin pram. We then come inside and play. Reading, or just chatting and singing or doing rhymes. Then just playing with all the toys, until she collapses in her campcot for a 2 hour nap. The usually wakes up pretty hungry, so she has a bottle, and then an hour later its lunch time...which she loves! Then we just play until mommy comes..what a great time we have every day!

We treasure every day with your little Sofi, and love having you with us. Time flies, and you are growing older...you just turned 9 months old. WOW! Big girl.

We love you Sofi!

All about ME!!!

I cannot believe it, I posted on the 2nd of May...and now it is the 14th of May already...where is time going...?

A lot has happened, and I must say, it has been a tough few weeks, but as I always say, by the Grace of God I am what I am! I have been enjoying His Grace much, esp when I am really ill and I have to walk to the doctor, after all His Grace is sufficient for us.

We have been without a car for 7 weeks now, as the person who was supposed to fix it, made a big mess up, and we are basically and the beginning again, which means everything has to be done again! And paid all over again....luckily for us money grows on trees, so NO PROBLEM!!! Hehe.

I have thus been enjoying a lot of walks, for shopping mainly and getting errands done, the library etc. The boys love it, and we use this opportunity to learn about cars, the trees, and just generally learning to greet everyone that passes us and being friendly. I really want my children to grow up learning that we greet everyone! Does not matter the race, financial standing or anything! Which means it mainly begins with me, and in the end our walks are great fun, and not depressing or sad at all.

I have been pretty ill this last 3 weeks. First we thought I might be pregnant, as nausea are one of the main signs I have, esp in the mornings...so I was already getting lame the thought of having 3 children to support and raise...once again thinking homeschooling would be wonderful! But after a visit to the doc, I had a bad Urinary tract infection, so on some meds thinking I would be better 48 hours later...HAHA...a week later back to the doc, and getting another stronger AB, thinking that should do it...then 3 days later, I am on the phone back to doc, and he suggest I come in again and have a urine test done for pregnancy. I just keep feeling ill and really nauseas....finally yesterday, he decided to read through my health history DUH, and he realized that I have a history of chronic UTI's and he is on the phone to the Urologist, whom I have seen twice and who saw to me when I had the kidney stones at 31 weeks pregnant with Nathan. They found what I understood that my right kidney is having slight failure in function properly, but then when we visit another doc today she said I just have a kidney infection, so we really are hoping that is what it is. I am currently on injections for 3 days and then a even stronger antibiotic. Will see how that goes, just hope it will get better soon!

In all this I feel that I do become stronger in myself, just coping with difficulty, and also learning to lean on my Beloved more and not so much on those around me. Everyone is very busy with their own lives, but our dear Lord is just there waiting to shepherd me, while I walk and do my daily things.

Praise Him for His sufficient supply!

DANIEL!!!! My precious big boy!

Daniel in OUPA se kar!

Daniel our big boy!!! I cannot believe he is already 2 years and 8 months old already. And I love him to bits, he is one of the best things that happened to me. I feel I want to give this day to him, he is sweet, happy, self confident and ready for life.

I was totally amazed by him this past weekend. We bought him 4 puzzles, 6, 8, 10 and 12 piece. He mastered it with a smile. I would mix all the pieces up and about 15 minutes later he will come and get me with a big smile "nannie, klaar" - mommy finish! He just loves to sit and do it until it is finished. I am so proud of him. His speaking is improving nearly daily, and he is starting to put sentences together more.

We decided to homeschool him for now. I might put him in a little playgroup 2 mornings a week, as I am working and cannot get him to any mommy or social groups in the mornings, he is always asking for friends, and esp when Arenda's white beast stops he thinks Carli arrived and he gets so sad if she is not there. My heart is just to raise him without all the influences of the world, he is in the world but I want to raise him not of the world. I know there is a lot of pressure to raise our kids from early on in schools etc, but we feel strongly that the home environment will be best for him. He already loves the things we do together, and it will only get much better!

He loves Nathan, and finally does not say Deda anymore, but calls him Nathan, they still share a room, and I actually had to move the beds apart, so that they dont make more nonsense than sleep, when I put them down.

Thank You Lord for giving us this little boy! Grace us that we may raise him in Your ways, and be our wisdom to know what they are!

Mommies get together in Somerset West

BN and San3's husbands chatting up a storm

BN and Jessica, J not feeling well.

Nathan sitting in his pram watching all the action.

Nathan sitting on Mientjies lap

Andre

Finally got J, but no smile..poor baby!

Andre with San3.....

Cerebus is still alive

On the 9th of April we had a get together in Somerset West, Western Cape for the mommies on www.mommies.co.za. It was a wonderful time, and we really enjoyed meeting up and see each other again, also seeing San3 and her husband who was visiting all the way from Gauteng. 

It was a coolish day, and we had Jessica, Andre and Nathan, Jessica was not feeling very well that day, so was mainly sitting with mommy, and Andre kept flirting with the camera! Nathan was happily watching all the action from his pram! 

We missed Mom2A though, as she had a baby shower that morning and could not attend!!! 


Thanks for coming through to Somerset West to accommodate us, the Grays, with no car. It was great to see all the moms again!


I hope we can do this again soon!

So we are now just 3!!!

Things have changed here at Wriggly Worms daycare...hehe, we are back to being just the 3 of us, Daniel, Nathan and our super sweet girly, the only one...Sofia!! We will miss little Emma, but because she is still so small she will enjoy it more being at home with her nanny. Carli has also moved to another school, closer to home and easier for mommy to get to!

Things have been going very well here. Sofi is just such a cute little girl. She is practicing every day how to crawl, and moves like no tomorrow. She also had a very big milestone this week...her first TOOTHIE!!!! Congratulations big girl. I always joke and say that Sofia is like a piece of furniture in the house. She is so happy, and if she is fed, and cuddled, and clean, she just wants to play, and not to much cuddling please, it takes to much time from playing. She is already nearly 8 months old and in her 3rd month being with us. We love you Sofi! Or Fi as Daniel calls her, or Tanni Cole!

My boys have been ill most of this week, with us rushing to the doctor to see what was causing such a sudden temperature rise in Nathan, it went from normal to over 40 degrees over night. First doc thought he has bacterial Pneumonia which meant hospital with us, but luckily it is just Viral, so after 4 days on antibiotics, Nathan is still struggling with slight fevers and also coughing and runny nose, same with Daniel, Daniels fever is just higher for now. EISH...I dont know what to do...I am sure they will get better...that is for sure.

I want to start a more set schedule, as it is just the 3 kids and things have become pretty predictable. Lets try something like this:

8:30 to 8:45: Sofia arrives

9:00 to 9:20: breakfast with milk/water

9:30 to 10:00:(winter) In the garden, in the pram in sleeping bag

9:30 to 10:30:(summer) In the garden, on the grass on blanket

10:30 to 11:00: Stimulation - reading, singing, dancing, physical exercise

11:00 to 11:10: Get ready for naps and have milk

11:10 to 13:00: Nap and wake up(Sofi and Nathan) - activities with Daniel

13:15 to 13:30: Prepare for lunch(nappy change etc) - Daniel goes for nap

13:30 to 13:50: Lunch

13:50 to 14: 15: Prepare for Tannie Cole to pick up Sofi

We will try our best to keep to this schedule. It is important to have some form of routine, as then we can take care of all the needs of the 3 kids.

Things will be easier and more peaceful from now on. I am excited and believe we can only go from strength to strength!

Busy, busy!!!

I havent been writing the blog for a week or two as things have just been so busy! Last week our little Carli left us, and she is going for other pastures, hopefully greener!! With us, we have 4 little ones now, Daniel, Nathan, Sofia and Emma(in order of age) and they keep me busy! Plainly said. I have been wondering lately how to get myself more organized, but seems like things are just the way they are.

Daniel is starting with school today, Suikerbekkies, and we are all excited, yet mommy is feeling a bit nervous, perhaps a bit the fact that I cannot take him myself, no car, and little ones arriving, and then wondering how he will settle, not having been away from me or ouma very often. We will see, and I am sure he will prove himself!

Nathan is well, he is a busy little thing, trying everything to walk. He walks with the pram, the chair, a box, anything he can possibly hold on to, in order for him to be able to actually walk....I am sure he will be able to walk soon! He has a totally different temperament that his brother, and does get upset rather fast, leaving his mom and dad in a total state of shock, and mainly of not know what to do...the boy is just 13 months old, what is that all about?

Sofi has been the star of the show, she has settled, is happy, easy going, naps, eats and loves going for long walks in the garden. I have just been enjoying her, she loves rollling, and sitting - which she is a pro at already, and practicing the art of crawling every day! I am sure it wont be long, and she will be cruising after Nathan, she loves him to bits, and they can spend "hours" kissing! To cute!

Emma has been with us for about 3 weeks now, and she is still a bit nervous around the kids, but I am sure with time she will settle right in with us, she still loves sleeping, and going for a 4 hour nap is nothing out of the ordinary! She also loves her milk, and wonder if she might start on some real food soon!!!

Me myself and I often feel like I need a break...but enjoying them and seeing them develop makes it all worth it...enjoy every moment where they are, and being content in what we have, is one of the things I have learnt....not hoping and wishing for something else, but just enjoying what is infront of us!

I am still to sort out the picture posting...will come soon!