It was such a lovely day yesterday.

After doing Bradley’s party in the morning (photos on my photoblog), we dashed home to have a quick cuppa tea and change and get picnic bags and blankets.

Then we dashed to Walter Sisulu gardens for the Mothers Day concert in the park.  Because we got there so late we had to park MILES away from the entrance and it seemed like we’d walked forever before we eventually got into the gardens and joined my parents and my sister, her boyfriend and his family for a picnic.

We did enjoy the half an hour that we spent there

Yip, after all that, only half an hour before the rain started and we had to pack up and trek back to the car.  LOL! It was a nice idea though, and I got some awesome ideas for my picnic birthday that I’m going to be holding at the same park next month

Oh well… it was a nice idea

So after that, and with tired and grumpy kids, we decided to go to my parent’s house and have some tea and cake… and then after that we opened more wine and had the rest of the picnic… in the lounge

It was an awesome day filled with family and friends and loads of fun. Just perfect.

One of the things I do like about the school is the way they get ALL the kids involved in Mothers Day events.  But what it does mean is that I have to work from home generally on the Friday before Mothers Day… because it’s just a logistical nightmare to get to all the events and to work in between.  And the things is, I do NOT want to miss it… I know how much it means for the kids to have me there, and I see how sad the other kids are that don’t have moms there.

On Friday, there was a Mother’s Day assembly at the primary school… and I left my damn tissues in the car again… I never learn!! Those songs make me cry every year!  Then after rushing home for an hour’s work break, I went back to the school for the pre-primary picnic.

And then they came home with gifts that they’d made… awww… just LOVE the bracelet that Connor made me (yes he chose the beads and threaded it)… and love the clever flower pot thing from Bradley (and the fact that it’s written in cursive)

I’ve been on a local moms forum a few times this week and had a good chuckle at some of the moms and their recounts of their youngest childrens antics.
Of course I was smug in my knowledge that with Connor being 5 that he should have outgrown some of those things that little kids do.

Well, that smugness came back to bite me tonight.

The kids were in the bathroom tonight. Connor was in the bath and Bradley undressing for a shower. Lance and I were in the lounge and we heard a giggle and then an almighty scream and then Bradley crying.

So I go sauntering down the passage not really concerned cos this type of squealing and fighting is normal.
Only to lose my cool when I get there and see what he’s done.

Beauty must’ve left the bathroom cleaner in the bathroom.

Connor thought it would be fun to squirt the bathroom cleaner… into Bradley’s eye.

Seriously?!!! He should know better by now… Surely?!!

He says he didn’t know it was poison.

Think we’re going to do some educating this weekend.

Bradley’s 9th birthday was yesterday, can you believe it? I can barely believe he’s 9 already.  And do you know how difficult it is to buy a present for a 9yo?!! He’s on the cusp of not wanting toys… and whatever he gets he barely plays with.  So, instead we decided to buy him a Nintendo DS Lite… and we quickly became the coolest parents ever yesterday

As for the day, we spent it quietly… we took the boys to the movies to see The Avengers…AWESOME movie!! Connor got a bit bored in the middle of it, but Bradley was enthralled!

Then my parents and Elaine (and her friend Natalie) came over for tea and a braai, and my mom baked one of her famous cakes So clever!! She fashioned the cricket bat out of ice cream sticks and used Lego men for cricketers … and Kimo just LOVED all the attention

It was a good day… hopefully his party next weekend will be successful

I dashed off to the the first Fat Olive Market this morning to support my friends Laura and Nicci who have undertaken this new project.  It’s an organic and craft market that’s going to be held monthly at the Fat Olive restaurant close to Lanseria airport.  Granted, I didn’t stay all that long and didn’t try the food at the restaurant because the family was wanting to go the movies to celebrate Bradley’s birthday.

But I did shop I couldn’t help myself… there were such stunning things on offer.  It’s still small as markets go, but there’s seriously quality stuff on offer.

I bought this awesome brownie jar from Laura’s Journey2Joy stall.  She had these things on offer too…

And then I stopped at this stall selling chain mail jewellery but decided against buying cos my skin is sensitive and doesn’t agree with a lot of jewellery

Oh and then I was seriously tempted by this little table.  I just couldn’t think where I’d use it!!  This couple have just started a furniture restoring business in Pretoria called Before and After… such awesome little sidetables!!

and I bought some lip balm from this stall selling Balm Balm (it’s 100% organic and comes from the UK)

Oh and the bread!! Wow!! I bought a pumpernickel bread from this stall selling from Nonno’s Village Baker – it was just outstanding!  We had it for lunch after the movies!

Ooh and I finally got to meet Sharon IRL!!!

If you’re keen, the next one is on 26 May 2012 from 9-1pm.  Just follow them on Facebook or Twitter to keep up to date with dates etc

So, you all know by now that I’m close to my 40th birthday… yeah I know… by the time it actually gets here you’ll be sick of me saying it

After my annual trip to the gynae yesterday and a discussion this morning about my bucket list project and big birthdays on Twitter with @samanthaperry @MamaZombieZA @NocturnalWenchy@kambabe and @ShazPhoto I started thinking about how I’m approaching this birthday.

40 doesn’t frighten me.  At all.

In fact, 30 didn’t either.  At the time the only thing I hadn’t achieved that I’d wanted to by then, was having my first child.  I was more concerned about the trip we took to London at the time LOL!

It’s not that I’m not aware of my age.  I know I’m not getting younger.  The only thing that frightens me is not having money to retire.  And the fact that there are very very few aging female photographer who are actually making money… LOL! One of the reasons I can’t stop working full-time.

It’s all about control and independence to me… always has been.  LOL!

I think milestone birthdays make you think about what you’ve actually achieved since the last one.  Or at least, they make me think about it.  And I also think that that’s where some of the angst comes from.  But if you sit and actually think about it, and not just about negatives which are always easier to think about… you do realise how much you’ve done.  I’m not going to actually blog about that today though, because I still have almost 2 months to achieve more

40 is not the same as other birthdays though, because the milestone is not only in your head.  The medical fraternity has decided that when you turn 40 you need tests… and that became more real to me when I visited the gynae yesterday.

Now I have to book for mammograms.  Really not looking forward to that, but I’d rather know than not know.  She also scared me a little with thoughts of turning 46!! My oath! 40 I can handle, but 46 is a BIG number.  LOL! That came up because we were discussing contraceptives and what to do before I won’t need them again.  That’s quite a thought that!!

And then, I also know that I need to have my eyes tested from this year.  There’s glaucoma in the family, and I need tests from now on to make sure I don’t get it.

I’m determined that my 40′s will be amazing and incredible… I’m going to ensure that they are.

But actually, after all that… my birthday will just be that… another birthday and in fact… just another day.  This milestone business is really all in our heads and not really real.

What do milestone birthdays mean to you?  Are you looking forward to, or dreading your next one?

I was trying to take photos of Bradley on his own… my idea was to get a moody portrait… and Connor would have none of it!! So he encroached on our plans and chaos ensued.  I normally post these on my photoblog but I have something else for that blog tonight.

Taking photos of them is not easy anymore

I should learn, but clearly I never do! I brought the boys to work today, thinking that it would be quiet at the office because tomorrow is a holiday.  And it is… but they are far from quiet.

So far, Connor and Bradley have played nicely with Pokemon cards, and Bakugans and the Leappad… but they have also fought, shouted, whined incessantly for drinks or chocolates or chips… oh and the best part… I ended up buying new undies for Connor.

I took them to Sandton City just now to collect a photobook that was ready… and while I was there showed them the Mandela statue.  And of course, they had to run across the water fountain… which of course meant that Connor slipped… a few times.  He was completely drenched!! So then the quick trip turned into a shopping trip to buy new undies, and T-shirt… the shorts had to stay wet cos I couldn’t find any.

Right now, they’re quiet… eating chips from the devil machine that caused all the whining… who knew that the vending machine would be such a treat!

And I’ve had enough… so I think I’m going to call it an early day and take them home to run off the sugar

The kids bubble-bath from Tranquil Body Treats is simply the best bubble bath we’ve used… I’m not sure I’ve blogged about it before… but I feel I need to share… and because Connor looked so damn cute in the bath tonight

It smells great, the kids love how much it foams… and the best part of all… it has no sulphur! It’s the only one on the market that is sulphur free, so Bradley can safely use it.

 Disclaimer:  I was not asked to review the product or to blog about it

I still haven’t organised my birthday, and it’s now 2 months away!!

I actually need help though.  I want a gathering.  It needs to be a lunch function because of the kids and it’ll be in the middle of winter.  So it’ll be an afternoon really.  So here’s the dilemma… where to have it…

1.  At home with a spit or some catering (I refuse to cook for it)

2.  At Higher Ground… I love that place and there’s plenty of space for the kids to run around.

3.  At Casalinga… same as above with loads of space, except this is R300+ per person for food… and I can’t afford that so everyone will have to pay for their own food, and I think it’s a cheek to expect people to fork out that much to be honest.

4. ?

? is where you come in… please give me ideas.  Maybe a picnic?

Aaargh I actually don’t have the time for this either, maybe I should just skip it entirely.