For those of you who have been paying attention.  Here it is.  Laney’s new wheels.

 Pete

We look forward to many cocktails tonight and a good bash to be had by all…

We hope the year ahead brings you love, joy and all the success.  May life be peaceful, the girls be pretty, work be busy and happening and friends be true and many.

All the best

Pete, Lauren, Kyra and Kayden

So a month later to the day since Taryn’s bridal shower, Daryn was caught off guard and the guys got hold of him.  I don’t know all the details, since I opted not to join them later in the evening. 

But I’m told that after 5 pubs, Daryn was finally broken and it took him 2 days to recuperate, which meant he had to call in sick on the Monday morning.  Poor bugger…

Meet his friend he had attached to him for the night, by going to the photo album, Wedding Folder and then into the Daryn & Taryn Folder.

We’ve had a very busy 2 weeks, so we haven’t had time to update.  Pete has finally removed all the tiles from the floor and the walls in the kitchen, with help from Tristan and our friend Johan. 

Now last but certainly not least…

Pete and I would like to wish our friends Joe and Rudi a HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS, for getting married on Saturday the 5th.

Unfortunately none of us here in Durban could attend the wedding, but we thought of you all day! 

Pete and I truly hope that you have the rest of your lives together, blessed with only love, fulfillment and joy.

Till next time,

Lauren

We’ve finally posted the pics of Taryn’s bridal shower that took place on 29 February.

The evening started out at our house.  Taryn was under the impression she was coming over for a braai (barbecue for the non South African’s), to welcome Pete home – it just so happened that he arrived home the same day, so the excuse for Taryn & Daryn coming round fitted in perfectly!

Well Taryn soon realised once they pulled into our driveway that she’d been duped.  She entered the lounge all flushed and shocked, but was ushered into the bedroom for her ‘transformation’, before she had time to even touch sides.

Dressed in a little nurse number, gawdie make-up, flashing "Bride to Be" sash and questionable accessories; she re-entered the lounge looking like a self propelled gratification dispenser in a nurses outfit.  After many giggles and photos the party started.  I decided on jelly shots for Taryn, as a penalty for every wrong guess as to whom her gifts were from.  By 10pm and after many jelly shots, the girls gathered their things and went to a quaint bar up the road from our house and joined Daryn, Pete and Daryn’s dad.

This is where all the fun and games really started.  We had dare cards which Taryn had to read out and then act on.   It was one episode of hysterical laughter after the next!  Even Daryn’s Gran had a wail of a time and had everyone reeling in shock at how she was partying it up with all of us!

The fantastic night eventually ended with us crawling into the house just before 3am.   Everyone had a great time, especially Taryn and of course Daryn – which is what counted most!

Take a look at the pics in the Weddings album under Taryn & Daryn in the Bridal Shower folder.

Lauren

I say morning, as the time now is 06H56 & I have been up since 5am.

Today is a big day, as it is Father’s Day, the 82nd Comrades Marathon is being run today and it’s my good friend Lizette’s birthday today.

First & foremost

HAPPY FATHERS DAY to Pete! 

Unfortunately you’re not able to be with your girls today, but at least you had your first father’s day with us last year.  You’re a FANTASTIC dad Pete and I don’t want you to ever doubt  that.  Kyra has thrived under your guidance and in your love and you’ve been a wonderful inspiration to me to be the best parent I can possibly be.

Secondly as I’ve mentioned, we see the 82nd Comrades Marathon being run today.  The Comrades has been described, by some, as the best marathon in the world.  It attracts ultra marathon runners from all over the world and has even ensured that former Russian runner, Vladimir Kotov, emigrated to SA and I see the proud SA flag next his name on the tele when they bring up the runners log.

 The initial concept was brought about by a war veteran Vic Clapman, who was inspired by the hardships him and his comrades had to endure in the war between 1914 & 1918.  To commemorate the brave men, the first Comrades Marathon was run on 24 May 1921, with only 34 runners participating.  With the exception of the war years between 1941 – 1945, the Comrades has taken place every year.  It has grown in momentum, with thousands of people taking on the challenge of the 89km (56 mile) race.  For more information about the Comrades, go to www.comrades.com

Lastly, Happy Birthday to my friend Lizette.  I hope you have a fantastic day and that the year ahead brings you all the success and happiness you’re striving so hard for.

Pete would have my head if I did not mention the rugby game played yesterday.  After approximately 80 minutes of nail biting, heart thumping excitement,

SOUTH AFRICA BEAT THE AUSTRALIANS 22 – 19. 

At one stage it was looking rather grave for SA, but thanks to the tenacity of the Springbok team and winning drop kicks by Francois Steyn, SA celebrated a worthy win.

And there you have it.  A great weekend for all.

Love to all who know me

Lauren

Please join Lauren and I in wishing our friend Elaine a happy Birthday!! (on three… !)

1  …    2   …  3

Happy Birthday Laney!!

Lotsa Love

Pete and Lauren

It seems like forever since I have updated this site.  Looking at the date of the last entry I guess it has been.

So what has been happening… well a lot really.  We had a camping trip where it never stopped raining, a wedding, Kyra turned 1 year old, Christmas, Tristan paid us a visit and on top of all of that we undertook a major building project as well.   So let me piece together all that has happened and then I will start up loading all the photo’s.

So first to the Camping…  This was the LAS KZN end of year piss up.  Instead of throwing a party we all headed down to Illovo Beach to a spot called Natalia.  It is an ATKV (Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuur Vereenigin) resort.  A Lovely spot but just as luck would have it the rain never stopped once that weekend.  It did however give us a chance to proof test our new tent which showed up a few minor leaks.  The campsite area was more of a Caravan type camping area and it is amazing to see what people take with them camping.  It seems nowadays that unless you have a satellite dish, automatic washing machine, tumble drier and at least one  form of ATV you are a nobody in the camping world.  Oh and any car with an engine smaller than 3.0 litres is just for sissy’s.

So rain stopped a lot of the play on that weekend but we had a great time nonetheless.  Kyra was a dream as usual.

The week after that we had our friends wedding.  Alana and Andrew were married at the Methodist Church in Manning Road in Durban.  A brilliant wedding with the Padre cracking a few jokes about the Groom’s choice of wardrobe.  Unfortunately my video camera had a critical failure as a result of being dropped on the way into the church.  So I don’t have any video.  I do however have a very grainy video of the couples first dance which I shall put into the weddings folder in the photo album. 

As with any fantastic day there always has to be that little bit of nuisance that comes with it.  After the reception had ended, a bunch of us headed out to a bar to play a bit of pool.  As luck would have it, I locked the keys into the car and had to wait until a locksmith came out and opened up for me.  Of course all this time our poor babysitters are waiting at home for us to arrive… never rains it pours!  To Tammy and her boyfriend thank you for your patience and understanding.

The next big day for us was strangely enough a Thursday.  Kyra had her First Birthday party at her day care school.  All the kids were coralled around her centre table and the cake was brought out.  Lauren made a cake shaped like a number 1 and we shoved a candle into it.  Then came present opening time and man alive did she get a good haul.  Thank you to all the parents for the wonderful gifts you gave to our little Kyra.

 The 19th of December 2006:  Kyra turned one year old and the day started like most others.  Kyra woke up at sparrows and then cried till we went to get her in her room.  She then came into the bedroom with us and all her presents were laid out on the bed.  Unfortunately at this age shiny wrapping paper is just another thing to put into the mouth and swallow so we had to help her out with the opening of her gifts.  Once again she got another good haul of presents.  Thank you so much to all the family and friends who gave her something.  She loves playing with her toys and is slowly getting the hang of matching the square blocks to the squares holes puzzle.

The pics are in her Album in the December folder.

The big thing to happen next was the outside room.  We needed to renovate the room to get it ready for living.  This involved bashing a hole in the wall, bricking up another opening, running new plumbing into the bathroom, shower, and kitchen.  Then building a new kitchen cupboard, pantry and laying new floor tiles.  Also the walls needed repainting and we had to run new electrics to all the rooms.

The pics are in the blood, sweat and tears album.

 Christmas…  that was a good day.  Lauren’s Mom came through and we had a lovely day with everyone opening presents and talking crap and stuff.  Kyra had her first real christmas.  We didn’t have a big christmas last year as she had just come from the hospital.  Thank you to everyone who gaves presents to Lauren, Kyra and Myself.   They are greatly appreciated.  We then had a big sitdown meal that night.  A Roast leg of lamb with all the trimmings.  Daryn and Taryn also popped round and it was then that we discovered that the christmas crackers we bought were indestructable.

Work then carried on in the outside room and on the 28th of December Tristan came down to visit us.  We had a second christmas when we dished out all his presents and the next thing we knew it was New Year.  We spent New Years Eve up on Jason’s Farm in Hammerdale.  Tristan brought his quad down and the farm was the perfect spot to ride around. Check out the Video in Tristans’s Folder.  There are also a lot of pics of Kyra and Tristan together.  I have split them between the Kyra and Tristan Folder.

 And that is pretty much all I have for now.  The room is now finished… well sort of, I still have the kitchen cupboard doors to put up but all the carpets are in and the room is now livable.

Hopefully it won’t be another month before I update again.

Cheers

Pete

A very busy weekend has past us by.  It started on the Friday, friends of ours Jo and Rudi invited us down to a spot called Rocky Bay in the Pennington/ Park Rynie Area.  We thought we were heading down for a quiet braai (ja right, me quiet at a braai).  As things turned out, the two of them had gotten engaged and this was a little celebration.  So the quiet braai really flew out of the window.

I have setup a small photo album, listed in the Day Trips folder called Pennington.  The photo’s from Friday night are all going to put in there.

We then packed up all our gear and headed back to Durban.  The Saturday night, we had a 21st to attend up in Hillcrest at the Camelot Estate.

Our friend Susan was finally becoming legal.  Camelot is a theme sort of place so everyone is expected to get dressed up and look the part.  Lauren and I both donned our costumes and then felt like little Kyra was missing out.  This is how we got this Precious little picture.  The rest of the night was a medievel party and was a huge blast.

The Saturday up at Camelot is recorded in a small photo album listed in Theme Nights.

Talk more later

Cheers

Pete

Pete and I were very happy to have our little Kyra home again, but we were still concerned about how Elaine was doing in hospital.

Well the wonderful news is that she’s out of hospital and all comfy back at home.  I don’t have all the details yet, but will get it soon enough from her and update everyone.

Pete has some video clips he’ll be putting onto the site soon so watch this space. 

We’ll also be adding a new category about the months that lie ahead for our good friends Taryn and Daryn as they plan their wedding and all the events (engagement, bachelor & bathelorette parites, etc.).  Pete will have a fit when he sees I’ved used the so called sexist word "bachelorette".    Let’s wait an see…

Love to all who know me

Lauren

Once again Jo is the Shy sort and doesn’t want to appear on the web so we had to improvise.