Merry Christmas to all!

Make your own greeting

September Update

We reached some pretty exciting milestones in September!
Married for 12 years and in Australia for 2 years.
Go Evans family!
3 countries and 3 kids later - I'd say we're doing pretty well considering the odds on marriages making it past the first year these days.

Now for the gushy bit. The song Paul and I danced to for our first dance was Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden. The words really ring true for our relationship over the last 12 years and all the things (both good and bad) that we've been through.


I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need.
I love you more with every breath
Truly madly deeply do..
I will be strong I will be faithful
'Cos I'm counting on a new beginning.
A reason for living.
A deeper meaning.

I want to stand with you on a mountain.
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever.
Until the sky falls down on me...

And when the stars are shining brightly
In the velvet sky,
I'll make a wish
Send it to heaven
Then make you want to cry..
The tears of joy
For all the pleasure and the certainty.
That we're surrounded
By the comfort and protection of..
The highest power.
In lonely hours.
The tears devour you..
I want to stand with you on a mountain,
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever,
Until the sky falls down on me...

Oh can't you see it baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
'Cos it's standing right before you.
All that you need will surely come...

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need.
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly madly deeply do...

Love you to the moon and back, Babs!
xxxx

Along came August with ..........

..... another special Birthday!

Our precious princess turned 5!

I love this little girl more than any words can describe but I'll give it a good go.

Number 1: I love that I have my very own shopping partner who seems to love shopping almost as much as I do!

Number 2: I love the fact that she loves to bake and has such a sweet tooth for cakes just like her Nanna Evans and Grandpa Irving.

Number 3: I love the way she's like a little sponge absorbing all the things her early years at school have to teach her!

Number 4: I love that she's a little Math's boffin - must take after her mom!

Number 5: I love her just because she's my little girl!

As you can see she had a lovely Birthday filled with lots of girly treats and special fun.

July was a .....

..... quiet month by the look of it with


winter cuddles,

lots of footy in the garden

and some retail therapy for the girls!

In June we ........

Started footy season.

Fought with hair bugs - yucky!

And enjoyed the winter sun!

World Cup Fever!

Since I am about to become a rugby widow for the next month or so, my husband kindly e-mailed this letter to me as a word of warning for the next few weeks!
I'm not sure who wrote it but they must have been spying in our house during rugby matches as he is virtually quoting word for word what goes on when Paul watches rugby!


IRB RUGBY WORLD CUP ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!!


**** Extremely important advice and recommendations to be passed on to wives, Girlfriends, fiancées, mothers, sisters, daughters, etc. (to all women in General) ****

These rules are to be communicated prior to the World Cup in September/October this year...

DEAR WOMEN

List of Rules (Read and print them)

1. From 9 Sep to October 2011, you should read the sports section of the newspaper so that you are aware of what is going on regarding the World Cup, and that way you will be able to join in the conversations. If you fail to do this, then you will be looked at in a bad way, or you will be totally ignored. DO NOT complain about not receiving any attention.

2. During the World Cup, the television is mine, the VCR and DVD are all mine, at all times, without any exceptions. If you even take a glimpse of the remote control, you will lose it (your eye).

3. If you have to pass by in front of the TV during a game, I don't mind, as long as you do it crawling on the floor and without distracting me. If you decide to stand nude in front of the TV, make sure you put clothes on right after because if you catch a cold, I won't have time to take you to the doctor or look after you during the World Cup month.

4. During the games I will be blind, deaf and mute, unless I require a refill of my drink or something to eat. You are out of your mind if you expect me to listen to you, open the door, answer the telephone, or pick up the baby that just fell from the second floor....it won't happen.

5. It would be a good idea for you to keep at least 2 six packs in the fridge at all times, as well as plenty of things to nibble on, and please do not make any funny faces to my friends when they come over to watch the games. In return, you will be allowed to use the TV between 12pmand 3pm, unless they replay a good game that I missed during the day.

6. Please, please, please!! If you see me upset because one of my teams is losing, DO NOT say "get over it, it's only a game", or "don't worry, they'll win next time". If you say these things, you will only make me angrier and I will love you less. Remember, you will never ever know more about rugby than me and your so called "words of encouragement" will only lead to a break up or divorce.

7. You are welcome to sit with me to watch one game and you can talk to me during halftime but only when the commercials are on, and only if the halftime score is pleasing me. In addition, please note I am saying "one" game, hence do not use the World Cup as a nice cheesy excuse to "spend time together".

8. The replays of the tries are very important. I don't care if I have seen them or I haven't seen them, I want to see them again. Many times, and record them.

9. Tell your friends NOT to have any babies, or any other child related parties or gatherings that requires my attendance because:
a) I will not go,
b)I will not go, and
c) I will not go.

10. But, if a friend of mine invites us to his house on a Sunday to watch a game, we will be there in a flash.

11. The daily World Cup highlights show on TV every night is just as important as the games themselves. Do not even think about saying "but you have already seen this...why don't you change the channel to something we can all watch??", the reply will be: "Refer to Rule #2 of this list".

12. And finally, please save your expressions such as "Thank goodness the World Cup is only every 4 years".

I am immune to these words, because after this comes the 20 Twenty World Cup, etc etc.



Because I value my friends and by default their relationships please distribute this advice as you see fit. Even if it saves one relationship it was worth while…

A long, long time ago in the month of May we .......

celebrated this special boy's 8th Birthday!

I love him 8 times over (and more) because:


1) He's my firstborn.

2) He's such a well-mannered boy who I'm proud to call my "son"!

3) He just adores playing sport (which I'm so glad of because I think thats important for boys).
Plus he's quite good at it!

4) He keeps me on my toes in the mornings with his very calm, laid back approach to getting ready for school!

5) He loves reading (another of my silly quirks which I happen to think is very important).

6) Sometimes when he's talking to me he comes out with the most amazingly mature words.

7) His favourite saying is "We're Evans' - we don't quit!"

8) He can now tie his shoe laces - hooray!

xxx

BREAKING NEWS!!!

I'm feeling just a tad bit excited tonight and here's why - http://www.kleenexmums.com.au/me-time/motherhood/apologies-for-carrying-on-like-a-mad-woman/

On a whim, I recently entered one of my blog posts into a blogging competition and guess what? I actually won something! I received a prize for being selected to have my post published on the Kleenex Mums website and I'm also in the running now to win an ipad. However, I did just recently treat myself to an ipad 2 so I was wondering what I would do with another one if I did (by some great miracle) win. I think the next pic answers that question!



Yes I might actually get a turn on "my toy" if we had another one in the house!

Anyway, ipads aside! It really was quite nice to see my post on another website along with the little write up and photo. So please, have a wander over there and click on the like button if you don't mind. I don't think it will make any difference to my chances of winning but it'll just be nice to know I have friends and family who cared to take a look!

xxxxx

Geth is 3!

Nearly 3 months ago now, this precious boy turned 3!
Here's a quick photo recap of his special day and 3 very special things I love about him!



1) I just love that dimpled smile you have! Its very hard to resist even when you are
being a little monster.




2) I love the way you role play with your cars and trains when you're playing on your own. I really must try and capture these moments on camera without you catching me!




3) I love the way you adore your brother and sister (most of the time anyway)! You're always up for whatever game they're playing!





Love you to the moon and back, Gethy boy!
xxx

Confessions of a bad "daughter in law".......

Dear Desdemona (aka "Mother in law". Please note that this is a term of endearment!)

I hope you can find it in your very kind heart to forgive me. I have to confess my terrible wrongdoing. You see, it all started in April 2011. Its the same thing every year. About half way through that month I start to realise that Mother's day is looming and that I should get my act together if I hope to be a good daughter/daughter in law.

I always have grand ideas of home-made gifts with lovely cards and flowers being delivered. Something, I would one day hope,to be receiving from my own precious children when they are old enough.

BUT ALAS! Its not always so....

In fact, by the time it gets to May the 1st (theoretically by now I should have sorted all gifts and they should be on a plane to Africa)I am mid Birthday madness.See pictures for proof!



EXCUSES EXCUSES!! I can hear the crowds chanting! Cue next birthday picture!



Add to these dilemmas the fact that both my Mothers live in deepest, darkest Africa where postage costs more than the "said" gift and takes a month of Sundays to get there. Feeling sorry for me yet?

NO!

And I'm yet to make the actual confession. Here goes - so this year, once again, I was terribly unorganised and left things to the last minute. I had purchased the gifts and since I now have a small card business - I had plenty of those to choose from. There was just one problem: Mother's Day weekend passed and I was still no closer to posting those gifts. So I had nothing left to do, but LIE to my poor MIL to cover my badly unorganised ways and said I had posted her gift. But, after her phone call a few weeks later, to say the gift had still not arrived and me blaming the poor defenceless mail service the guilt started to set in.

RIGHTLY SO!

So here I am publicly confessing my sin in an attempt to make it right.
I do now solemnly declare that on Tuesday, 6th of June, I posted your gift with Ross as my witness! And in a desperate attempt to atone for my sins I have included in some extra goodies along with...

WAIT FOR IT......

a Father's Day gift for FIL!!!!!! How organised am I? HOORAY!

I would love to promise that from now on all your gifts will be on time but that would be futile. I am sure this will happen once again unless of course, you move in next door and then I'm sure I could get my act together. But know this one thing - the lateness of your gift is in no way a representation of what I think and feel for you.

Your ever-loving daughter in law
Michelle
xxxx

Yearly Post!

I'm still alive and well considering its been about 3 months since my last post. I always have such good intentions at the beginning of the year when work is quiet and the kids head back to school. Alas, my good intentions are obviously not good enough!

And now I sit - trying to think how I'm going to try and cram 3 months into one interesting post. Not happening!

Instead I shall talk about what I talk about best. No, not shopping - the kids!




This is Ross: firstborn son and heir. Quiet and calm boy, very rarely in trouble except where siblings are involved.
Whenever my mom and I speak on the phone she always asks (like any good grandmother) how the children are. When she gets to asking about Ross I never have any hair-raising stories to tell. I sometimes try and imagine what life would be like with Ross as an only child and I'm thinking it would be a very calm, laid-back kind of life. Don't get me wrong, he's no angel but compared to the other two he's pretty easy going! I love the fact that he is so into his sport! He's mad about footy , cricket, tennis and pretty much anything that requires a ball!

I love you Ross (even when you dawdle in the morning)!

Time to spice things up!!!!




Add to the mix: Madam Maddy
Oh boy - she is the complete opposite of the above. Never a dull moment with her around. She's been giving me a hard time this year and I'm sure I've more than earned my Mother's Day present this year!
Some of it is not her fault and then the rest, shall we say, is just Maddy! She decided at the beginning of this year that daycare was not for her - too boring and really just for babies. She's a big Kindy girl now and has no need for daycare! Big problem! Since Kindy is only 2 days a week we still have 3 days spare for daycare if I work and she did not like this!!! Day after day, I would have to drag her off me, kicking and screaming! Believe me, it was enough to give anyone high blood pressure.

This behaviour then spilled over to swimming lessons and dancing until everything just became too much! I've never been so close to wanting to just give up all my good mother ideals and let her have her merry way, just for peace and quiet. Anyway we persevered through the tough times and after many tears (hers and mine), stickers and rewards we are making progress and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

In my darling princess' defence, she does probably have the most disrupted schedule this year and its just taken her a little while to settle into a routine.

I love the way she's so eager to learn and has started reading on her own without any "pushing" from her teacher mom.

I love you Madison (even when you're throwing a wobbly)!





Last but not least, we have Gethy boy! My little baby who seems to be a combination of the above mentioned. He's a little less feisty than Maddy with some of Ross' calmness mixed in! As long as its doesn't involve lego men!
For those who know me well, you will also know that potty training is not my parenting forte! So I've been putting off this task with Geth for as long as possible until daycare recently took the situation out of my hands. To cut a long story short - they basically did the hard part for me in the first 2 weeks and I'd say he's pretty much sorted with very little hassle for me. Phew! I really don't like that job!
So my precious baby will turn 3 on Friday and really be a big boy in all senses of the word "big".
His new favourite activity is talking on the phone - regardless of who it is! He recently insisted on talking to the telesales guy who was ringing from India! I thought it would be a good way of getting rid of the annoying telesales man but he was more than happy to chat with Geth if it meant I stayed on the line for a few minutes more.

I love you Geth (even when you're screaming over little tiny lego men)!

And that folks, is the 3 little personalities that make up my world!
xxx

Lego Men

Lego has been causing some serious issues in our house recently. Its not actually the little blocks but the lego men in particular. You see, Gethin is completely and utterly obsessed with them! He doesn't put them in his mouth or ears or up his nose - he just spends ages playing with them!
Given that he is only two and a half years old he doesn't actually possess his own stash of lego men, wherein the problem lies. In order to get his lego fix he has to sneak into Ross' room and sift through the big box of lego for all the little men. Unfortunately this does not go down too well with the "big brother" of the house! And then we have much crying and fighting and gnashing of teeth!
Gethin does not understand the concept of age-appropriate toys! Why should he play with those big, clumsy duplo blocks when he can have little men who you can pull apart into a million little pieces and then put back together again. It really does test his patience as he struggles for ages trying to get the visor back onto the man's helmet. I'm sure he must have the mostly finely tuned fine motor skills ever!
Due to the increasing tension which has subsequently resulted between "big brother" and "little brother", we have now resorted to buying Gethin his own little stash of lego men!

Kindy Girl!!!

This day could not have come quick enough for Maddy!
She's been waiting ages to go to "Big School"!
There was great excitement in the Evans household this morning and for once it wasn't the usual morning madness.



It was all smiles as we ate, dressed AND she even sat perfectly still for the brushing, plaiting and clipping of the hair. Oh boy, I wish it was that easy every morning!



And so, off we all set for "BIG SCHOOL".



I think thats when the nerves set in and she crept a little closer to me and mentioned that her tummy was sore. Once we were in her classroom, she settled down and was quite happy for me to leave.



At hometime we were greeted by a very happy little girl! She'd had a ball and proudly presented us with her pasta necklace and regaled us with tales of her day.



I pray all her days of school are as joyful and happy as this one!

Look what the stork brought!

Tyler Dean Irving - isn't he cute?

I'm his very proud aunty and the children are very excited about their new cousin. There's just one problem - he lives in London!
So if there's any rich airline company directors out there who happen to accidently land on this insignificant blog - here's one lady who could do with a few freebie tickets so she can cuddle her precious "nephew" before he gets too big.

With my parents return to South Africa and this latest addition to the family, it makes me sad that we don't live in the age where everyone stayed in the same town all their lives and never ventured much further than the next suburb, let alone a whole country away.

Be warned Ross, Maddy and Geth! You may not live more than 5km. away from your mother at all times. There will be no exceptions!

Merry Christmas and a happy 2011!!!!

Sorry - no time for stories because we're TOOOOOOOO BUSY, BUSY, BUSY..........

Opening presents.....





Eating......



Celebrating birthdays.....




and the New Year.......



Sightseeing.......







and relaxing!