2010

We decided to get our Blog going again after an invitation from Amber to view her twins blog. Thanks Amber - could you give us the necessary permissions as I think we tried to comment after your closed down the public access. If necessary post your contact details on our blog (via a comment) so we can give you our login name. We won't publish your details.

Well it is 2010 - the excitement of a new year - especially one in which we host the World Cup. Quite exciting as all the construction work is beginning to look like something.

We had a great summer holiday, spending the first few days down in Durban with the Fullers for Xmas. The weather was a little off (in opinion) as we only got to go to the beach one very hot morning. It rained or was overcast the rest of the time. Anyhow, the twins had a fantastic time as they were the recipients of many presents, and they got to swim in a pool for the first time in about two years. Took a bit of getting used to but they were soon floating across the whole pool and demanding to be caught when they jumped in. A really enjoyable day for all.

We bought them each a peddle bike which they seem to need time to get into as they are largely ignored. They need to learn how to peddle a full360 degrees (Emma does little 180 pushes before stopping her feet from going forward). We're not pushing them too hard as they will hit the bikes on our driveway when they are ready and then we'll battle to get them off.

On our return to Johannesburg, we then have spent a few days with them in our own pool which they have enjoyed enormously. Emma has really taken to the water but Daniel is a little more hesitant as our Joburg pool is a little colder than the Durban pool as it is shaded by a few trees (which we need to cut down but cannot yet as the local Weaver bird has several nests in the tow big shade ones). The Jungle Gym that they got for their birthday in September is still being used a lot - mostly the slide although Daniel loves swining on the swing - but only if it is at it's maximum swing - which will scare everyone watching!

Joburg has alternated between being really hot and humid, and rainy (currently more rain than sun). Today is the first day this week that has been hot enough to swim. On sunny days, the twins played a a lot with tubs of water and the sand from their recently filled-up sandpit (the last sand was redistributed throughout the garden). We put up an umbrella (over the sandpit) and a big Gazebo over the lawn to protect them from the sun as it is so fierce (they do wear sunblock, hats and costumes that cover most of their bodies).

Rainy days are taken up playing puzzles, the game snap (with a set of cards), jumping on the couches and our bed, and playing various mother-child games throughout the house. We also play wrestle a bit to get them used to a bit of rough and tumble. We've also gone to see the Barney Show at Sandton City (they seemed quite intimidated) by the massive crowd of people and Barney and Father Christmas), the zoo, and at Lifestyle they rode on the train and the other rides.

Fiona went back to work on Wednesday and I go back on Monday next week. So I've had them for the last three working days of my leave. Yesterday we went to the Brightwater Commons Shopping Centre to draw money to pay the gardener. They had a ride on the merry-go-round and had a milkshake at the local wimpy before chasing around the large waterway complex after the massive goldfish that live in the ponds. Every fish that was reddish was called "Nemo" and excitingly pointed out to the many people passing by. Eventually Emma needed to go to the toilet (she is experiencing a runny tummy at the moment) so I decided to hit off home as I had no change of clothes and did not feel like doing a public toilet with two kids who don't understand where not to put their hands. What a mistake, Daniel decided that he wanted to watch fish and eventually had to be carried out screaming to the car followed by his sister whose tummy was getting very sore and was moaning too. An interesting sight but most people gave me knowing glances. anyhow, it then took her a hour to deliver the so-called "poo" but that is another story.
Daniel then undid all his great work in learning to wee in the toilet and proceeded to wee in his pants five times in the next few hours. In the end, I ran out of underpants for him! So it was back to nappies for the rest of the day. He knows how to use the toilet but seems to get so engrossed in things that he just doesn't get there in time. So after trying stickers to reward toilet visits (which worked initially) we are now "parking" his most treasured toys and books. At first he pretended not to miss the toys but after a day or two was doing the toilet visits each time. So he got everything back and now we're back to "parking" everything.
Grrrrrrr! Emma has mastered the art of going to the toilet as she is very extrinsically motivated and loves getting stickers on her star chart. She is now beginning to sleep without a nappy at night.

We've also had the cricket (SA vs England) on every day (to give us a break from CBeebies). Wasn't the Third test exciting. Sad that SA could not get the last wicket. The Australia vs Pakistan gam this week was also really exciting - good advertisments for test cricket.

Well, the traffic volumes are beginning to increase again (after the quiet of the holidays), and it looks like next week everything is back to normal again.

The Roberts family are looking forward to some new additions soon: Twins expected by Gavin and Sam in London at the end of the month, and a girl for Craig and Alison in Durban in March. Always such a priviledge to have children.

Happy New Year!