This picture was taken at 5:30am on Wednesday morning...in traditional Thompson fashion, we wake up the birthday girl with Glen playing on the guitar, Amanda opening all doors for us and leading the way, and me holding the lit birthday cake ready for the blowing.

Looks like Amanda was helping Rachel a little...


I know it's really early to eat cake, but it's only on SPECIAL occassions...


Rachel just loved her little gifts and has been playing with them ever since...

And here, the picture to let you see that Glen also exists and was actually there as well...

Now for those of you who are concerned about the whole magic thing...we are aware about the dangers behind real magic, but the girls are well aware that these are simply tricks and not really magic at all. They have been entertaining us with magic shows to practise...and all I can say is that they need a lot more of it!

Twister of course is a real hit, and it's a game the whole family can play together...although Glen says that he is getting a little old - I hope not, especially if he still wants more kids...come on love, you're still a spring chicken!!!

A lovely birthday month, too much cake though, and not nearly enough exercise...Twister, here we come!

I just can't believe that it has been 8 years since Amanda was born. She really is getting so big, and she is definately going from little girl to young lady...

I think that as a parent it must be very difficult to finally let go of your children and to see them leave your home and start a new one. Thankfully I still have a few more years before that happens!! I just praise the Lord for the work that He has begun in her life, and am looking so forward to seeing her grow more and more in her faith. For now, I'll just enjoy every minute and hope that it doesn't fly by too quickly.

A couple of weeks ago, Rachel made this mask, which I thought was just sooo cool, especially her idea of keeping it on her face. She then did a whole bunch of Elvis songs, 'cause she thought that this looked just like him.

Just for fun I have a challenge for any Krugersdorp Baptist followers. 10 points for anyone who can identify the following people in our church. Please note: No points given to those who belong to the faces :-)

Once again I am full of excuses as to why I haven't added a post on my blog for I don't even know how long...well my excuse is very simple, I was having problems with my camera...not the actual camera, as taking pictures wasn't a problem, it was simply getting the pictures onto the computer...an error message kept coming up, and eventually I just gave up! I decided to just give it another go today...and surprise, surprise...NO PROBLEM - Computers...aaarrrggghhh...you can't live with them and you can't live without them hey? Oh well, I'll try and catch up what I have managed to catch on camera over the past few weeks to give you a brief catch up!

The Martins couldn't do a SA trip without going to Golf Reef City of course. Here the kids are being entertained by a magician clown...quite enthralled I must say...



The bumper cars are always a favourite...


Gold Reef has a new kiddies ride, a real roller coaster called the Shongololo...really cool!

Amanda couldn't go on all the kids rides as she is now officially over the kiddies limit, but was allowed on those where parents could accompany small children...she did however enjoy going on the Golden Loop and even the Tower of Terror...brave girl! I am sure that Craig will upload the Tower of Terror ride on his blog when he gets back...and you can have a good laugh at yours truly screaming my lungs out...what fun!!!

This peacock displayed his beautiful feathers to us on the way out...oh how we marvel at God's amazing creation!

Thank you Martin family for a wonderful holiday! Hope you come back again soon - we love you sooooooooo much!!!!!

One of the days...I don't remember which one, Craig and Glen and Aidan went on a boys day out with Craig's nephews to play lazer quest and ten-pin bowling...and so we decided to have a girls day where we gave the girls a spa treatment. We started out by going to Dischem to get some things, which was followed by a short stop at Lara's much loved 'Mugg & Bean'.

Then the treatment started - first a bath, to scrub those dirty fingers and toes...whatever we did to them they had to do to their babies...

Then Lara showed them how to gently exfoliate their faces...

Then we steamed them...

Then we masked them...haha, this has a silly story attached to it...we wanted to put a really healthy mask on them which had nothing in it to harm their delicate faces, we were recommended a very good one from Dischem, which we felt really confident to use on them. When we put it on the girls complained that it was stinging...and we just laughed it off and told them it felt weird because it was pulling their skin as it was drying...when I tried it on myself the next day however, I realized that it really did burn - what terrible mothers we are...anyway, you live and you learn hey? No permanent damage done!!!

Lara followed with a relaxing shoulder massage as they listened to delicate worship music....ahhhh...

Then it was time for the foot scrub and massage...

Followed by a hand massage and of course we had to paint all the nails...

Besides the terrible mask, it was a wonderful spa treatment...and actually a lot of fun for us all...although Lara and I were completely exhausted afterward and needed our own relax time!

We had the awesome priviledge as a family to have the Martins come and stay with us for two weeks while they were here in Johannesburg. As I am sure most of you know, they are truly some of our best friend in this world, and since they now live in Australia, this time with them was cherished - every minute!

Because of our focused time with them, taking pictures just wasn't on the priority list, even though I could have done with a few more memories of their time here...

Anyway, the first week we had a lot of tired guests as they were getting over their jet-lag, but it was very relaxing none the less and the kids enjoyed spending time with their friends, especially at the early hours of the morning - like 4:30 - HELP!!!

Lara, in all her splendour, taught Amanda and Rachel how to make a healthy fruit salad for breakfast, and so even now, a week after their departure, we are still eating fruit salad. I have even gotten Glen to eat fruits which he forgot he liked - well done Lara on being such a healthy influence!

Another highlight...or should I say 'lowlight' was that Rachel got chicknpox just before the Martins were to leave for Cape Town. After a lot of internet research we saw that there was hope that Aidan and Paige might only get it when they were back in Australia, and so at least they should be able to get on the plane back home.

Poor Rachel was very itchy, and very sad about the way she looked and was not allowed to enter into any public place, but we all went to the airport to say goodbye, but did so outside the doors...once again a very quick goodbye, where the crying was left for the ride home...oh how I am going to miss them - I can't wait for heaven where there will be no more goodbyes!