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Christmas Party at a friend's house

Kate and Oma

james and the giant umbrella :) not really.

James reading to Kate while she sits in a plastic box

Kidlets and other interesting inanimate objects..

Our Christmas Tree

James with Santa hat. These were taken by a professional photographer and both James and Kate were very unsure.

Kate with tinsel

Very first 'South African' haircut - ie very short! :)

Kate on the duck at the hair salon

Kate and her watermelon

Christmas, New Year and everything in betwixt...

Happy New Year! 2007 - a year with no new babies for me. Hee hee...we hope!
I feel totally cooked-, cleaned-, washed- and entertained- out. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. I'm starting work at the office tomorrow morning. I will be going in for 4 hours for a few weeks to accustom myself to working procedures etc etc and then will be able to write from home after that. Sooo anxious - it's been 6 years + since I started work in an office environment. Anyway, do not feel particularly ready, since things have been so crazy here of late. I had a huge to do list with things like organizing Katie's old clothes, sort out James's toys after Christmas and I have done NOTHING! Anyway, have also been without darling Siza for past 3 weeks and realise how disgustingly spoilt we are here once again. Washing has piled up - because ironing is particularly detrimental to my health - (hee hee) and dust bunnies are running rampant.

Rein's birthday yesterday, so we have had guests or gone to guests for 3 full days now. Yesterday, we had guests arrive unexpectedly for breakfast, more for lunch with more unexpected hangers-on, more for tea and then Rein's folks arrived at 6pm for birthday cake and a ride to the airport! Crazy crazy!

Christmas was fun! We hosted it here for the first time and after all the food prep was over, it turned into a fabulously entertaining day. We played DDR (Dance dance revolution) on Xbox and everyone, including all the grannies and grandads got involved. James came out of his little shell and danced madly for everyone, even doing headstands and funny acrobatic movements. Me thinks he had a bit of the gin & tonic that was floating around. :) After kids were in bed, all the adults settled down to a respectable (ha!) game of poker. Both Rein and Ian (my brother) got a set for Christmas and were very excited to show their expertise. However, it's often the tortoise that wins - and yours truly took home a huge pile of chips by the end of the night. Pity we weren't playing for real money that night!

Things I'm looking forward to in 2007:

• Laura Rudman visiting from London for her sister's wedding in 3 weeks
  
• Kathy, Craig and kids visiting in Feb from Seattle for a MASSIVE catch-up feast of yakking. Not long now, hey Kath
• Karen - are you also coming in Feb? Would LOVE to squeeze in a visit too!
• Visiting SEATTLE in JULY!! Yippppeeee! Can't wait!
• And related to the visit to Seattle: I can't wait to meet
• Alex (Anna's brother)
• Anja (Heide and Maria's sister)
• Marie (Jake's sister)
• Rose and Pat Miller's new addition arriving in June
  
• Laura and Jeff's first little baby! (s0 excited to hear about this, Laura!)

You guys have been busy out there.

Will leave you with some piccies of the monsters.

Love to everyone. May your 2007 be beautiful, exciting, romantic, brilliant and especially happy!