Camels and cousins...

Josh's school had a dress-up day on Friday and the theme was "Children from other countries".
We decided to be resourceful (and avoid me having to try to sew a new outfit etc!) and dressed him as Ahmed from Dubai... The pet camel is from our Watford days when Nath and I used to support Saracens every Saturday at Vicarage Road :)

"Bye Mom, I'm off to check on the oil reserves ..."

The boys are getting so big and I can't actually believe how grown-up they look in this photo. What our parents always used to say is so true - the years really do pass by so quickly.

Cinds, Darryn and Ava spent a night with us recently, and the boys and I babysat Ava for an afternoon whilst her mom and dad went to sign the paperwork for their new home :) The boys loved it and Joshy said to me "Mommy, this is what it would be like if we had a baby sister!"

(I think he's been indoctrinated by both his grannies a little too much lately!)

Dan-Dan with his brand-new no. 4 haircut

Kisses for my cousin

Ava @ 18 months

"Come and play with me, Josh"

The week-end that was...

We've just had an awesome week-end with Cindy and Darryn at Shamwari. Nath is in Grahamstown again for the last MBA block for the year, so he joined us for Saturday afternoon and today - looking very tired after a stringent week of exams and lectures (and the odd pint at the Rat...)! The weather didn't co-operate very well, but we really do need rain in the Eastern Cape, so we can't complain.

Josh feeding "Debra" the 11-week-old zebra

This elephant dung SMELLS!!!

Feeding Themba the baby elephant

For a little bushbaby, Ava was terrified of Themba!

Albert the sheep gives Dan a sniff

That's better - I'm not so keen on elephants!

Cinds and Ava

Dan and his NBF, Albert

Josh also found a new best friend - Cinds and Darryn's neighbours'

son, Alan :)

Our own little monkey :)

Round up - 6 August

The Carr Consultancy - working from the home office.

Fun in the bath.

Watching the Springboks beat the All Blacks.

Enjoying the win.

Josh's birthday at Busy Bees - his pre-school.

With the Weber's at Gonubie.

Brothers in arms

Josh turns 4

Josh turned 4 on Thursday. I can't actually believe that four years have gone by since his arrival at 3.46 a.m. in the labour ward at St Georges Hospital, Tooting in London! How much has changed in the Carr House since that day (the "Carr House" itself as a physical dwelling has changed 4 times and moved between 3 continents to be precise!)
We had a "Space Party" on Thursday morning which was a great success and a good time was had by all.

Dan sporting a rather ginger 'tache for the party :)

So lovely to have both Grannies with us to share in the fun.
Here the boys are with Granny Pie

Shrieks of delight and a lot of bewildered little faces as an alien

descended upon us, adorned in an Elvis-type suit and bearing

party packs galore...

The birthday boy with those proclaiming to be his parents

Jumping Castle in our front yard.

Tucking in. 26 degrees, hence shorts and t-shirts for some.

You really can't beat the East London winter days :)

And last but not least, the space rocket cake! Thanks again Granny Pie for another brilliant effort. That's it for birthday parties in the Carr House for 2009. Over and out :)

Maverick, Mpekweni and the Moerse Pineapple

Its been a hectic few weeks in the Carr house with MBA lecture blocks in Grahamstown and exam time at Selborne but in between all the craziness we have fitted in a week-end away at Mpekweni beach Resort, a visit to the "moerse Pineapple" at Bathurst and welcoming our new Rhodesian Ridge Back pup. Meet Maverick - 8 weeks old - he is going to be a big 'un:

Mpekweni
Confederations Cup:

Moerse Pineapple, outside Bathurst:

Ava's first birthday

Our little nice, Ava, turned one on 2 June and we had a little party for her at Granny Pie's house in Stutterheim. The boys adore their little cousin and were only too happy to help with the opening of her gifts. She really is an adorable little girl :)
It's a busy time work-wise in the Carr household at the moment. Nath is in Grahamstown for two weeks doing the next block of MBA lectures and exams, and although he is being kept very busy, he seems to be enjoying it. I am also busy with exams, but am marking them and not actually taking them myself, thank goodness! The end of term is in sight now (26 June) and I am really looking forward to a three-week break with the boys.

Helping aunty Cinds open the gifts

Darryn and Ava