Lauren and I actually woke up early and got to church on time, for a change. She was dressed in a winter dress, because when I looked out the window it was overcast and when I stuck my finger out, it seemed like a cool breeze. Well, with all the children in the Cradle-roll classroom, it was fairly warm with some humid weather outside – typical, EL has 4 seasons in 1 day. When everyone kneels to pray, I seem to battle to get Lauren to kneel. This week she was sitting next to a little girl half her age, so she was going to show her how it is done. Lauren’s friend Kayla was the special birthday girl of the day and she turned 4 and blew out candles. Granny and grandpa R arrived for big church, as granny R did not have to nurse this weekend. During the sermon, after the children’s story, Lauren coloured in and sat quietly making faces at the Elder (Uncle Pat) behind us.
Dean travelled back from Port Elizabeth and when we arrived home from church there was a BIG SURPRISE waiting for Lauren. Lauren received a 2 wheeler bicycle from Dean’s friend – Brian P. She was really keen to hop on and get going immediately. So for the rest of the afternoon Lauren and Dean were busy with the bike. When we were young, my brother and I received second-hand bikes, which were in good condition and really sturdy. The bikes lasted for years and we rode those bikes EVERYDAY. We went riding for ‘miles’ and sometimes came home at sunset. The exercise we got was something else and the exciting characters we re-enacted from TV were such fun. I am hoping Lauren will be just as enthusiastic about riding her sturdy bike. Brian said it comes from Germany. A colleague of his returned home to Germany and gave it to Brian for his daughters some years back.
Saturday night, we headed for Hemingways Casino and Entertainment complex. Lauren enjoyed travelling in the shuttle bus. (They are building a mall next to the casino and have a parking lot further away with shuttles running 24/7) We had supper at Panarottis: Dean = pizza, Lauren = chicken drumsticks & chips, Charlene = roasted veg on spaghetti – Yum!
After supper, Lauren and I headed for the Children’s game area and Dean decided to have a bi-annual ‘look’ at the machines. There was much noise and chaos (which is absolutely normal) in the Games room. Lauren rode on her favourite horse and elephant and then tried netball, jumping on flashing lights, riding a motorbike at high speed, shooting cowboys, racing F1 cars and shooting ducks. – Oh how enriching for a child of 4yrs! Believe me, I gave her about 2 minutes at anything I thought was just over the top! Dean arrived back shortly, looking somewhat unimpressed, as the regular gamblers hog the machines, go and have a chat somewhere and those just popping in for a few turns, don’t stand a chance. So we had our night out at the amusement centre.
We visited my parents and had a Sunday roast for lunch – very good. Lance and Allison were there too. Dean says that his late mom’s cooking was really the best and now my mom is a runner-up. He claims I give him watery veg and tasteless pasta. If he lives to be a healthy old man, he will have to thank me for all the healthy food I cook without spices, MSG, fat and frying! I cook with olive oil & sea salt and we have veggies every night. I also have to cater for madam Lauren and that is not easy, as she is allergic (eczema) to egg white, margarine, sunflower oil, all dairy, colourants & spices. Lauren eats all her food and I make sure it is nutritious as her menu is fairly limited.
Sunday afternoon, we visited Bryan, Terri & Caleb - much to Lauren’s delight. She hugs and squeezes and hugs and squeezes and pays so much attention to the dear child. I think he gets quite flustered with her around. He is smiling and interacting – they grow so quickly.
Well, when we were not out and about this weekend, I started Spring cleaning. Lauren’s room was first! She was very worried because I started sorting and throwing out broken and old toys. But she has plenty more!.... so our domestic worker has a big packet of toys to take home to her grand-child. Eventually Lauren came with suggestions about toys to give to Elizabeth’s child – not sure if she was being sarcastic, because she thought I had got rid of too much? She was very happy to go to sleep with mom still titivating in her room. By midnight on Sunday, Lauren’s room was sorted. Now for the rest of the house!!
