Day 104

I have just come to the realization that I have not had a Starbucks since...the 17th? That's when I left for here right? ...That has to be some kind of a record for me. I have also come to the conclusion that that must be why I am eating so much here. Not because the food is SO delicious...but because I am not being filled up each day by the wonderfulness that Starbucks is. Yes...that's the reason.

So today...What did I do today? Well, I got up and ready for 9. Ate breakfast...checked my e-mails and said hi to my Mom. Then I thought I was being unsociable so I went outside, but no one was around. I laid by the pool and read...got bored - Not that my book isn't good, I just wanted to be out somewhere - I came back inside, and played some Nintendo DS while watching Pirates of the Caribbean with Zach.

Zach wanted to watch something else, so we started looking through the DVD's, and that's when Tim decided we would go out. We tried to go to Fairview first to see some goats, but it was too busy, so we moved on. We drove to the Afrikaans Language Monument. It was AMAZING! The scenery, just driving up was beautiful...but when you got out of the car...you weren't sure which way to look first. It was here that I used up all the battery in my camera. Oops! It made me mad later...but I'll explain that in a bit. We climbed onto some big rocks and took lots of pictures. Tim and Josh went to the store to get picnic food, as the cafe was closed...so Zach, Nathaniel and I walked around the monument snapping all the pics I could get. There had been a forest fire here last year, so some of the trees were black, which is sad, but also made for good pictures and added character. We later decided to rest on one of the big rocks while waiting for the other 2 to return. - Heloise was at home working -

When Tim and Josh walked up, I noticed Josh's face looked different. His nose had been bleeding. Turns out he walked into something at the end of an aisle in the grocery store, and it caused his nose to gush blood. He's fine, but he continued to hurt himself throughout the day, and he's not the strongest little boy, so we heard ALL about it haha. We walked to a picnic table, and made some sandwiches. They were really good. We used the spreading carrot for our butter, and had salami, cheese and cucumbers in cheese bread. There were chips, and apples for dessert. The view was amazing. I could have stayed there staring off over the side of the mountain for days. The boys played on the play structure for a little bit, and then we set off to the next location. Boulder mountain. This is the one that Paarl was named after. Now, this may sound ridiculous, but as we drove up...I was nearly in tears. The scenery was so beautiful I couldn't even begin to describe it to you. I had such appreciation for being able to experience it. It was now that I began cursing myself for letting my battery run out. At the same time though, I loved the pics I got on the other mountain, so I couldn't get too upset. I took everything in as we arrived. The little stream near the parking lot, the waterfall! Oh my Goodness. It was so hard to believe I was here, getting to experience it all.

We went on a little trek up the mountain. Most of the flowers had died off, but you could still tell that when they were in bloom it would have looked magnificent. Even colourless, the place was amazing. We walked up one way, and down another. Stopped at a little hut that had been built, and enjoyed the sound of the waterfall beside us. There was another little hut we saw on our way down. We didn't sit in it, but it looked so pretty in amongst all the trees etc. This may very well be my favourite spot. Somewhere I think I would spend most of my days if I lived here. A place you could really just go and relax. Letting your mind wander, releasing all the bad, and taking in the atmosphere. Yup, I loved it. I'm hoping we'll go back when my camera is fully charged...but I kind of doubt that will happen. Nathaniel and Zach were too afraid snakes were going to pop out of the bushes, and Nathaniel really didn't like the plants tickling his legs. So yeah, I may have to give up on a second visit to this mountain.

When we arrived back at the bottom, we got back in the car and drove home. Zach was first to jump in the pool. He had me watching his jumps while I was in the living room on my laptop. He kept yelling to me from the pool though, and eventually I had to tell him to stop as Heloise was trying to work. Tim and Josh joined him in the pool, and they all played some kind of game while Nathaniel sat in the same room as me playing his DSI, and I watched Big Bang Theory. He decided to join them in the pool, and after a while Josh came in. He wanted to watch Star Trek with me. I finished the conversation I was in the middle of, and he drew a picture. Then we went into the family room to put the movie on. Zach came to watch with us. We had to pause it while the boys had their bath, and I grabbed my laptop. When they came back down we scanned through my pictures while watching some more of the movie, and then had to pause again for dinner.

We ate and then the boys went up to bed. I sat and had a cup of tea, and let it all settle a bit while I logged into MSN for a bit. I then did my workout which didn't make me feel to good while I was doing it, but I pushed myself and felt great afterwards. I think if I keep it up, I'll be looking the way I want to soon enough. I had my shower and crawled into bed to write my blog, upload my pics and speak with some people. Now tomorrow is going to come way too fast, but it should be a good day, although I'm sure it will also be a long one. I'm gonna check a few more things and then fall asleep. Good Night xx