The Royal Wedding

I was three when Prince Charles married Diana so a little too young to remember that big event though I am sure I watched it! When Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson I was 8 and I remember my teacher bringing her tv into our classroom so we could all watch the wedding that day. She made us popcorn and we sat glued to that little tv. It was beautiful!

I've always loved everything about the royal family and have 'followed' them for a long, long time. So, this morning was pretty exciting. I couldn't help but wake early to watch the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I just love all the traditions of the royal family and the pomp and circumstance of any event. This wedding was no exception. Kate looked so elegant and regal. Her gown was so classy and Grace Kelly-like and Prince William was so dashing and handsome. I have to admit, I got all giddy when he got out the car at the Abbey. And that Harry ... what a little hottie he is!!! Here's a few pics that I liked from the day...

 their official portrait

 gorgeous

 and her evening reception gown ... just as classy as her day gown. what a gorgeous princess!

 

and lastly, what in the world was princess beatrice thinking? not only does she need to lay of the eyeliner, but she desperately needs a new hat designer.

~V

April Storms

Yesterday was not a pretty day weather wise .. multiple hail and thunder storms, crazy lightening showers and to top it off tornadoes. We drove around this morning and Cleveland took a pretty bad hit. We live on the North end so thankfully it wasn't as bad. The South end of the city wasn't so lucky.

watching it hail

 taking cover .... in my closet. gotta love that J snapped this pic and then went right outside to watch the storm

 3 houses down from ours

 most of these are from the south end of the city

You know it was bad when all morning you can hear helicopters circling the neighbourhoods (presumably surveying damage) and when my aunt from South Africa calls to make sure we are ok. Thanks for checking on us Aunty Jess! We are good and just so thankful for the Lord's hand of protection on us.
~V

Freedom Day

26 April 1994 .... At one minute to midnight all around South Africa our old flag was lowered .... a flag that was symbolic of apartheid

27 April 1994 ... At one minute after midnight a new flag was hoisted all around South Africa ... a flag that would represent our new democracy and symbolize a unity that was more than ready to surface.

That day our nation went to the poll booths voting in the first democratic elections while this new flag waved around the country. It was definitely a long road to this freedom.

As a kid it didn't matter that we lived in an Indian only neighbourhood or that I went to an Indian only school (due to the Group Areas Act), had to swim in beaches that were designated for Indians only or had park benches that were marked 'whites' or 'non-whites' ... but that's only because I was young and never really understood politics and the apartheid era we were living in (I still don't care for politics!)

What many don't know is if it weren't for our former President FW De Klerk, the wheels of democracy would not have started moving. De Klerk repealed all discriminatory laws and made sure of Nelson Mandela's release from prison. I was 12 when Mandela was released from prison and I vividly remember watching him walk to freedom as he exited the Victor Verster Prison. Madiba is a great man and commands much respect from South Africans and many around the world. If it weren't for both De Klerk and Mandela working as a team help bring about change in the country, there is no telling what the plight of South Africa would be like right now.

We've come a long way and the journey toward freedom still continues .... but we get to celebrate what we have accomplished thus far so Happy Freedom Day to all my family and friends celebrating today. And Happy birthday to my Dad and to Unca Bhans ... hope its been a fun day!

~V

A Week of Celebrating

We're counting down to Ria's birthday this Sunday and every day this week we are doing something a little special for her ... nothing crazy and out of this world but just little stuff like a meal she loves or a trip to the park or just something to make it all about her.

Yesterday Jermaine surprised her with lunch from Chik-fil-a (she also got promoted to the big table!)

Today she got to wear her bangles most of the day and we had a fun dinner (turkey burgers with mushroom and peppers, mac n cheese and cucumber sticks)

We started teaching her the happy birthday song about two weeks ago and one of my fave things to hear randomly throughout the day is 'happy day to ria' in the sweetest little voice ever!

Video from two weeks ago .... she practiced blowing out a candle too!

from lunch yesterday  ... she loves to sing happy day!

~V

Easter (part 4): Javan and Ria Easter Pics

We didn't do professional pics for Easter ... actually I think we only did them for Javan's first Easter ... but we did dress the kids up and did our own little photo shoot in our yard. They were pretty cooperative so we got a few fun pics:)

{and once again the pics look fuzzy ...ugh}

~V