...Not to be confused with actually cooking the kids themselves.

So myself and cooking don't really go hand in hand. In fact it almost never happens. Besides the random baked potatoe with tuna. And I'm not even sure if that counts as real cooking.

Anyway, in a fit of complete madness I offered to cook dinner last night. My biggest fear was that I may actually kill someone. Hehe. Okay. Only mildly kidding.

So I bought all the ingredients I needed and this was the end result:

*Pats self on back* It was DELICIOUS!

Even if I do say so myself. Hehe.

My dad, who is like a complete self-made master chef, kept poking his nose in and I had to threaten him with my mother. So cute. But even he was shocked impressed at how good it tasted. Now I may have to cook more often!

The Kids

You know I adore the Bugs in my life and I think they are the awesomeness. So here's your dose of kiddie-cuteness.

Amy looking gangster with her uncle Daniel's beanie on...

She is such a cutie...

And well she was doing this, Luke was in the bath... Brushing his teeth...

And look at his girly curls when they're wet... :)

So that's that. Looking at their pics has atleast made a lil less grumpy.

Thanks Aunt Flo >:|

Hope you're all having a fabbie day! xxx

Hiya. Just thought I'd show off with my adorable niece and nephew a lil.

Luke: 2 years and 5 months old

A boy and his moo

Luke loves this cow. There is just no denying it. He carries it around, shows it everyone and even chats with it. There's just one problem. That moo is mine. The reason it's at his house right now? He 'asked' if it could sleep over. And how could I say no? :)

Amy: 8 months old

The cutest face

I'm loving the stage that Amy is at now. She's laughs and 'talks' and loves to play. Soon enough she'll be crawling. I seem to be the 'favourite' at the moment. Even over Mommy sometimes. That makes Aunty Robyn very happy. :)

Hi all

Sorry I haven't been here much. Feels like it's been a really busy week. That coupled with my 2 days off sick on Tuesday and Wednesday and it's been very strange.

Do you like my header? Cute huh? :D Just had to change it again.

D.U.Fs

Downs

-  Besides being sick for a couple of days and at the same time making Daniel sick (sheepish), there haven't been many downs this week. Yay!

- My clicking finger is hurting. Have had to resolve to clicking with my middle finger. Ouch. :/

Ups

- The upside of being sick (but not out of my mind sick) was that I had to/got to stay in bed and chill. Was nice. Except for the sick part. :P

- Feeling much better now. And so is Daniel. Double Yay!

-  BIG NEWS: My cousin (the one with bi-polar) has been released from the hospital! After only 7 weeks. The doctors had first suspected it to be much longer! That's what prayer does. :D

Forwards

- Still feeling a bit drained and tired from being sick so I'm looking forward to sleeping this week.

Hope you all have a ROCKING weekend! xxx

Oh and here's my latest column: Addicted to texting :)

Hey everyone!

Just myself and Intern-Neena here today, so I'm rushed off my feet!

Downs:

- Been feeling sort of clingy the last few days. With people at work, Daniel, anyone really. Then I get all emo when I can't have the people I want around me with me.

- It's cold. Really really cold in this office! Brrrr... (Thank goodness for Adele's big warm blanket of doom.)

Ups:

- It's almost weekend. What could be better than that! :)

- Watched Shrek 3 on date night with Daniel last night. Was really nice ^_^

- Got my Blackberry this week - I'm addicted.

Forwards:

- I'm definitely looking forward to sleep. All I want to do is sleep.

- I think I'll have Mc Donald's for lunch. I'll treat myself seeing as I've been so good this whole week. :)

Have a great weekend everyone! xxx

Stole this off of one of the Women24 blogs. Looks like fun :D

Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle [I used my cell phone!]. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.  You must write that song title down no matter how silly it sounds!

1.  IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY? Art of love
 
2.  HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?  Wherever you will go
 
3.  WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?  The Agent of Chaos
 
4.  HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?  Should've when you could've
 
5.  WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?  Set down your glass
 
6.  WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO? He's a pirate
 
7.  WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?  Out of my league << Hahaha!
 
8.  WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?  Slaves to Rome
 
9.  WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?  I predict a riot
 
10.  WHAT IS 2 + 2?  Reach out

11.  WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?  I Got U
 
12.  WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?  I don't miss you at all

13.  WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?  Beautiful new world
 
14.  WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?  Mad World
 
15.  WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?  The Great Divide
 
16.  WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Make you feel my love

17.  WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?   Run
 
18.  WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?  The might of Rome
 
19.  WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?   Am I not merciful?
 
20.  WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?  Brick by boring brick
 
21.  WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? Spotlight Over You

Lol. Some of those are so strange!

Tears...

It's been quite a weekend.

If you remember my post about my cousin being diagnosed with bi-polar, well, it got bad. Really bad. Bad to the point where his mind reverted to being that of a 5-year-old. It was so sad. I was heart broken.

And the doctor's told my aunt to only expect positive results in September. They also said that he will never be the same person.

I have good news though...

It's only the 10th of August and C is so much better. Better to the point where he got to spend the long weekend at home!! That is HUGE! He's sounds like the old C and his 22-year-old mind is back. Exactly where it should be.

His medication has already been reduced to 1 tablet. He still has a long way to go, but it's so much better already.

The doctor's are stumped. Amazed.

And so are we. But happily so! :)

I was in tears yesterday after speaking to him for the first time since all of this happened. He wanted me to phone him because he didn't reply to the SMS I sent him and he felt bad.

Hearing my closest, dear darling of a cousin say 'I miss you... And I love you, cuz. Very much.'

It was good tears though.

...And pierced ears

So this is the situation:

* Sean wants Luke's hair cut. Kim doesn't.

* Kim wants Amy's ears pierced. Sean doesn't.

* I say - For goodness sakes, you snipped the tip of Luke's penis off - Let Amy get her ears pierced.

Eventually it was decided that Luke will be having his hair cut next month and now Amy can have her ears done. Oh the politics! :P

Anyway, I volunteered to take Amy when she can have her ears done and I'll get my 3rd holes pierced at the same time! :D

My dilemna is this: I don't want to take Amy anywhere that they'll use the gun. I'm not a believer in the gun. And now Wild Fire (the piercing and tattoo parlour in Canal Walk) has said that they will only needle-pierce her ears from the age of 4. Seriously?! 4? That over 3 years away.

So what am I to do? Do you guys have any advice?

Edit: Why I don't like gun-piercing...

At one stage I worked at a "beauty bar" where they did ear piercing too, and the lady who did it was really good.

I don't like the gun (personally) because, it gives the babies such a fright that they scream from fright more than anything else. It looks so traumatic for the poor lil things.

I've witnessed babies have their ears pierced with the needle and it's almost painless. Especially because they actually deaden the ear first. PLUS, they can insert a sleeper earring straight away instead of a stud. It's easier to clean and less prone to infection.

All in all - If I'm the one taking Amy I would much prefer her to have it done with a needle. I have nothing against the gun-piercing for older kids and adults but for babies it's different.

So it's just a personal preference. :)

I found this here: UCB Parents Jokes & Quotes and I just laughed and laughed. As a non-parent I appreciated these. I'm sure you mommies will too.

amnesia:
        A condition that enables a woman who has gone through labor to
        have sex again.

bottle feeding:
        An opportunity for Daddy to get up at 2AM, too.

defense:
        What you'd better have around de yard if you're going to let de
        children play outside.

drooling:
        How teething babies wash their chins.

dumbwaiter:
        One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

family planning:
        The art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep
        you on the edge of financial disaster.

feedback:
        The inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the
        strained carrots.

full name:
        What you call your child when you're mad at him.

grandparents:
        The people who think your children are wonderful even though
        they're sure you're not raising them right.

hearsay:
        What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

impregnable:
        A woman whose memory of labor is still vivid.

independent:
        How we want our children to be as long as they do everything we
        say.

look out!:
        What it's too late for your child to do by the time you scream
        it.

prenatal:
        When your life was still somewhat your own.

prepared childbirth:
        A contradiction in terms.

puddle:
        A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry
        shoes into it.

show off:
        A child who is more talented than yours.

sterilize:
        What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and to
        your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it.

storeroom:
        The distance required between the supermarket aisles so that
        children in shopping carts can't quite reach anything.

temper tantrums:
        What you should keep to a minimum so as to not upset the children.

top bunk:
        Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.

two-minute warning:
        When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those
        familiar grunting noises.

verbal: 
        Able to whine in words

weaker sex:
        The kind you have after the kids have worn you out.

whodunit:
        None of the kids that live in your house.

whoops:
        An exclamation that translates roughly into "get a sponge."

So funny! 

Hope you all have a great long weekend. ^_^

I just got the sweetest SMS from my Dad...

"I love my wok. Thank you for not just giving me money. I love the person you are becoming. I love and appreciate you."

Aww man. *Sniff* I love my Daddy.

Here he is on his birthday yesterday. :)

Hi there

I've seen a few of you asking about posting YouTube videos to your blogs.

Here's how.

1) Go to the YouTube video you want to use

Like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9FmqVZ-0V8

2) Find the Embed button

It looks like this:

3) Click the button and get the code

Once you've clicked the button you can customise the size, colour of the border and other options.

The code looks something like this:

object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W9FmqVZ-0V8&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;fs=1?color1=0x234900&amp;color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W9FmqVZ-0V8&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;fs=1?color1=0x234900&amp;color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object

4) And paste

On this bar... click the Edit HTML source button.

Paste your code in and it should show up in your blog.

Hopefully it has shown up like mine has above. :)

So we're in the new building! Yay!

We're all trying to get settled and the poor IT men are running around like headless chickens. Shampies.

The entire Parent team (all 4 of us) had a "mini meeting" in one of these....

Hehe. Really we just wanted to all get in there. There are a lot of them scattered around the office.

And this is where we sit. There are windows! Yay!

In other news...

It's my Daddy's birthday today!!! ^_^

He's 60 today. It's so crazy to think that my Daddy is 60. We both celebrated/celebrating big birthdays this year. My 21st and tomorrow we'll celebrate his 60th. We're taking him to Schoongezicht. A really nice place that he loves.

Here's wishing my Daddy a lovely birthday. Love you lots. Dad! :)

For Good Measure...

Here's a cutie pic of Amy with a porrige mustache that I took while feeding her yesterday.

Hope you're all having as good a Monday as I am! :)

The Babies

I thought I'd share some pics of the beautiful little kiddies in my life.

Luke having a nap. And looking like a big boy :) So cute!

Hehe. He is so spaced out.

Luke snuggling on Amy and not so much with her.

She's a lazy bug but she's slowly getting this whole 'sitting on your own' thing.

Amy and her Dad having a snuggle.

If you look closely, you can see the 2 little teeth at the bottom ^_^

The Weekend

On the whole it was a good weekend which started with Zayaan and I heading off to the Baba Indaba on Friday. They wouldn't let us in at first because there was a mix up with our press passes, but we got in eventually and saw some cute things.

Did any of you go?

I looked after the Bugs on Saturday morning (who both have a cold - poor things) and then visited Daniel at his work and did a lil shopping. All on my own. Just the way I like it. (Undies FTW!) We got to visit friends on Saturday evening and had a braai. I love being around the fire with friends. Good times :)

Sunday I woke up feeling MEH and spent most of the church meeting laying down. I slept almost all of Sunday sleeping and now (thanks to the Bugs) I have a cold too x_x. Thankfully it's not too bad.

The Move

So this is 24.com's last week in the Greenpoint building before we move to Adderley Street! YAY! I'm so excited. All I want to do is pack my box ^_^

Hope you all had a great weekend and have a good week too xxx

So I'm sure I've done one like this before. But hey, here it is again.

To make your own blog badge you will need to create or edit the picture you want in something like paint or photoshop.

Make sure your image is 250pixels (or smaller) wide otherwise you'll have a scrolly bar.

After that, you can need to upload your picture to a site something like Photobucket (which is what I use), because you need a code like this:

<a href="http://blogs.parent24.com/Sumanda"><img src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt259/RobynAddinall/Parent24/gauteng-mob.jpg" border="0" alt="gauteng mob"></a>

After that this is how you get that code onto your blog.

When you're in your blog... Click Settings.

When you're in settings... Click the Badges tab.

When you're in badges... Click Add Badge.

Now fill in... The badges name: Gauteng MOB or whatever your badge is and the HTML code:

Copy and paste only the code (like the blue above) and paste it into the Badge Html section.

Press save, go back to your blog and voila!

As always, if you need any help, give me a shout :)

It's Kayleigh's birthday tomorrow. Little miss Kayleigh will be a whole year tomorow and she's walking around like she's owns the world.

She's too cute.

Here's one of myself and her probably about 6months ago.

So, due to their being a birthday, I'll be shopping for little one clothing after work :D

Oh, here are a few pics of Luke on the drums - just coz it's cute :)

Yup, he's a rockstar :]

My dad and I have never had the typical father-daughter relationship.

I was never 'Daddy's girl' - I left that to my sister. ;)

But it's never felt like I've had less of a relationship with my dad. Or either of my parents for that matter.

My dad brags about all of his kids (and now his grandchildren) and shows all us the most love he can.

Like last night...

I'm doing the Weight Watcher's point system and trying to lose some weight. So last night my dad (who is the resident chef) couldn't decide what to make for supper. He's running through all his options:

"Fried chicken and roast potatoes. No, chicken and fried wedges. No, curry."

All through I'm just thinking 'there go my points'.

So my mom says that my dad can't make chips because it'll cost me too many points so he can just make a jacket potatoe for me.

In the end he decides to make a chicken and potatoe curry, which was just oh-so-saucy and rich and smelled great! I had a tiny taste and it tasted great too!

Anyway, I was working out my (lack of) points in my head that I would have left after that saucy supper when my dad says, "There's your supper, girl. In the microwave."

And there was my plate, grilled chicken and jacket potatoes all nicely done. Healthily cooked and prepared especially for me.

He looks at me and says, "Mom told me you were doing the points thing and so I made your food seperately"

My heart just melted.

I gave my dad a great big hug and said thanks.

It brought tears to my eyes that he was so considerate of me.

I have the most awesome parents, ever.

I found this pic on my mom's phone last night and just had to share it...

Amy was about 1 week old here.

Awwww...

Definitely Grandpa's girl :)