The Second First day at school

Although the first day of school was yesterday, Lucy was in class for the first time today. Saturday was just an orientation day and so her official first day in Kindergarten was today. Andre went to Yanbu this morning so it was big sister Aimee's job to walk her sister to her classroom for the first time. On the way up, of course it was lecture time .... "Now Lucy, once we drop off your backpack, you're going to come to the playground with me. You can play with ....." and on it went :)
Both girls had a great day at school - in Lucy's words.....

"it was FANTASTIC !"

Of course Lucy never loooks at the camera when you ask her to so thats the reason behind the multiple photos hehehehehe

The long awaited update

Okay so its been an age but I have a seriously good excuse - "I've been really busy!".
The last few weeks of our holiday home were hectic. Tried to get the girls out to do and see some stuff and Andre and I were still busy tying up loose ends with finances and house etc.
So as far as home goes .... photos you're looking at show Super Lucy (can't really explain how this came about, just Lucy decided her underwear worn on the outside one night made her a superhero and she pranced around like this for half the night hehehe), Andre relaxing, us at Mitchell Park with the girls - meerkats were a huge hit so they get a photo all of their own :), our last night at home with family (Andre doing 'magic' for the kids) and lastly Alison and my Mom seeing us off at the airport.

Super Lucy

Andrè sitting on his behind :)
mmm does he have something to smile about hey !?Aimee and Lucy saying hello to a VERY friendly meerkatWhere's Daddy ?

Oh, there you are ! wow do I have an odd look on my face :)Just hanging around !What you see is an ordinary dishcloth - do you agree ?
Now watch this ....Alison (my sister) and Llewelyn (her husband)
enjoying "the show"More magic, Andre tries to catch Keagan (Alison's youngest son)
while Aimee, Lucy and Jordyn (Kim & Malcolm's daughter) look onKim (my sister - the eldest) and Malcolm (her husband)
also watching "the show"The day has come all too quickly, back to Saudi,
Alison and my mom come along with us to the airport.

Which brings us to getting back to Saudi. Left Durban at 2pm, arrived in Joburg to a temperature of 7C - down to 2C with windchill. Now you must realise going back to Saudi, I had dressed the girls in light clothing and taken along light jackets - Andre didn't even have a jacket. Needless to say we were a light shade of blue once we had walked from the arrivals terminal to the International departures one brrrr.

And then - arriving in Dubai at 5am (3am RSA time) the temperature was 38C shew ! By 10am in Saudi - its already 47C ! Who knows what it is physically with the humidity factored in, here we just say HOT, FLIPPING HOT ! If anyone knows where I can personally thank the creator/inventor of the AC, send his/her contact details along hehehehe Well with getting back and getting used to sleeping with AC on etc. we have all - except Lucy, had our turn at having a cough and cold but that seems to be sorted now thankfully. First week home we stayed in, me trying to get prepared for school.

Mira (Lucy's friend from school) came over for a playdate. Snowbell finally got her annual haircut - nobody better laugh at my sweetgirl !

Kiwi got neutered finally, so once again Andre is the only real boy in the house although theoretically he's also been 'neutered' so I guess we don't have any REAL boys in our house hehehe

Then it was back to school for the girls and I, trying to prepare before the teachers all came back in. Last week was their work week and it was hectic trying to get the new teachers, teachers that had moved rooms and schedules all sorted ! We have 11 new staff members and almost 100 new students. To give a better idea, 2 years ago we started the school year with less than 100 students because of so many companies pulling families out of Saudi with all the terrorist problems. This is for a school from Preschool to Grade Eight. Last year we celebrated when we finally hit 200 students ! We started today with just over 270 on the roll. I was at school this weekend (Thursday and Friday) still trying to finalise shedules etc. with Jana (my friend and VP). Andre has been an absolute darling putting up with all the hours afterschool I've been doing too, thankyou my sweetheart xxx
So the year started today, Aimee going into second grade and Lucy into Kindergarten.

This is us leaving for school this morning. The Second GraderThe KindergartenerMmmm those backpacks do look a little large - especially on Lucy hehehe

We had to leave the camera outside so it wouldn't mist up when we tried to take the photo like last year hehehe. Lucy only had orientation today so her official first day is tomorrow. It seemed to go off ok but I am sure you'll be hearing and seeing more about their year as it carries on.

Thats it for now, got work to do so we'll sign off and say enjoy your day - weekend for most of you :) Til the next post which will hopefully be Friday as usual again :)

Bosch Family goes to KINGS PARK (aka Absa Stadium Durban)

Okay so after our fabulous trip and wonderful score in Pretoria last weekend, as a family we headed for Kings Park yesterday to see the Sharks play the Cheetahs. It wasn't going to be as spectacular as last weekend - afterall we weren't staying in the same hotel as our boys this week hehehe but its been ages since the girls were at the stadium so ....
Great afternoon/evening together. Kim, Malcolm and Jordyn joined us, unfortunately Alison, Llewelyn and Keagan had a braai in Toti so they couldn't. Girls had a ball shouting for their team - The Sharks naturally :)
But they must be a curse or something cos our boys didn't quite shine as brightly as last weekend against the Bulls :(
We lost against the Cheetahs which effectively pushed us from the number two slot on the log down to four :(
Was great to catch up with Larry, Niki and the boys who we hadn't seen for years too :)

So anyway, enjoy the photos of our day together ....

Girls flying their Sharks flags proudly !

Now many would consider these ladies an EXCELLENT reason to attend a game at Kings Park :(

Aimee, Jordyn and Lucy getting with the spirit of things :)

The game is done, the Sharks have lost and we're kindof smiling ???

And the festivities on the outer fields begin !

Couldn't blame this very happy Cheetah's supporter posing for a photo with us now could you hehehe

And then he was off to go and celebrate and we headed home to lick our wounds :(

Our big weekend away !

Andre and I headed to Pretoria for the weekend. The Sharks were facing The Bulls at Loftus. This gave us the opportunity to meet some of the friends we have gotten to know online at Ruggaworld . The Sharks versus The Bull ? Rob, Aldo and Andrè

The early-birds in our Ruggaworld shirts (Andrè, Tracy, Deon, Mia, Rob, Aldo & Kowie - not sure on the spelling sorry)

THE SCOREBOARD SAYS IT ALL !!!!

First the game together which ended on a VERY positive note :)

Sharks 37 Bulls 28 !
Aldo still smiling after his team has lost - now that's good sportmanship !
Don't know if we'd be feeling the same !Fabulous evening together !
Afterwards we all went out for a few drinks and a bite to eat. Aldo of course being the token Bulls supporter among us was forced to don a Sharks tattoo as penalty for his team losing.
Doesn't he look fabulous with that little addition to his forehead - look at that smile hehehe :)
Even Gambrinus had to take his turn at consoling him heheheOops the waitress taking the photo was a little shaky ???
"Murph", Gambrinus and the infamous Afrikaans CD which the management at DROS 'could not' play for the Ruggaworld group :)

Saturday we spent with Aldo and his family on his farm outside Pretoria central to watch The Springboks face The All Blacks. Sadly the game did not end as positively as The Sharks game the previous night. Aldo has a beautiful family - seen below are some photos of his adorable daughters and some of the many photos Andre took of the Sharpei puppies that they breed.
Thanks for your hospitality Aldo !

Saturday night - dinner with Rob and friends - thanks for a great evening everyone !
Sunday, Andre and I spent a relaxing day together, just the two of us - very nice :)
Monday was our travel day, of which we spent more than an hour stuck in traffic trying to leave Pretoria/Johannesburg. Andre said " THIS (the traffic) is a very good reason why we would NEVER live in Gauteng !" hehehe
Anyway home to good old Durban and to two very happy little girls :)
Thanks to all those who contributed to a great weekend away - not least of all Mommy for having Aimee and Lucy for the weekend.
'Til the next one ?

(those of you who are in the photos : if you click the image, it has been saved full size/resolution and you can then save it a best quality if you choose)