What can I say? My kids love the camera!

They're nothing like me I tell you, when I see someone with a camera I immediately turn the other way or find a big book or newspaper to hide my face behind. I get frustrated, no matter how much I try I always hate the way I look in photos.

Jasmine and Nicholas???? ALL.FOR.IT, Jasmine even poses LOL Is it a girl thing??? Cause I've noticed my nieces like posing too and it's so darn cute on them.




See what I mean???? Proof is in the pudding blog.

I haven't had much time to come around and visit anyone, I'm planning our trip to South Africa which is now only 4.MONTHS.AWAY. I am so excited, actually, we're ALL excited. But it does take a lot of planning and budgeting for, so that's what I've been busy with. I bet you thought I was going to say I wasn't around much cause I was off on some amazing retreat, off on a deserted island sipping margaritas with my bikini on (LOL yeah right) and my toes in the beach sand. Sounds great, but it's SO far off the truth it's not even funny hahaha

Anyway, I've started Redeeming Love, I think I told you that already, if not....I just couldn't say it enough how good and powerful a book this is. I'm just in awe and I'm amazed at what an outstanding writer Francine Rivers, WOW!
If you have yet to read this book, do yourself a favor and go and grab it from the library or the bookstore or a friend or whatever, just go get it!

Sold into prostitution in childhood, Angel is a bitter young woman who trusts no man. But when God tells Michael Hosea to marry her, she learns to love and hope---until fear overwhelms her and she returns to her former life. Can she be redeemed? A skillful retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea, set amid the California gold rush.

I think I'm going to go back and read Hosea in the Bible again.

Now onto other stuff, Jasmine is back at school and of course really enjoying it but she's also counting the days until the end of this year, she's one of those kids that absolutely loves being at school but the getting up in the morning ruins it all for her LOL
She would be perfectly happy going to school around noon.....poor kid. Nicholas on the other hand is just not interested AT ALL. It's going to be fun since he starts kindergarten this year, I'll probably be spending many hours volunteering in his classroom.....I'll do it as much for him as for me, I don't think I'm ready for my little baby to go to school.

I thought I would share a pic of my little nieces and nephews today, they are just adorable and I know I'm biased, but they're beautiful and they're mine and I am so excited to see them all soon. I think there will be lots of spoiling going on. I'm sure my brothers appreciate it LOL Right????

From the back, left to right: Dylan, Tiffany
Middle: Colby (he looks SO much like Nicholas)
Bottom from left to right: Alyssa and Taryn-Lee

I can NOT wait to hug these little human beings, it's amazing how much love you feel for someone you have never met personally....you do know that the only one I've ever met and actually used to babysit was Tiffany, I left South Africa when she was barely 2 years old and now she's 10. Goodness!

And now I have to get out of here so that I can get the kids ready for bed and be able to come back afterwards to blog hop.....I haven't done it in a while, I'm all happy it's like I'm getting ready to go bar hopping, but instead of johnny walkers I'm having hot tea and instead of drunk on booze people, I have drunk on love family......it's perfect :)

Btw before I leave, for dinner tonight I made Lulas de Caldeirada - Calamari Stew......it's SO SO good. I've posted the recipe already if anyone is interested :)

Have a great night,