Wordless Friday (why be a conformist)

Because it's a long weekend, my brain has temporarily shut down and I don't feel like writing, so here are some photos from the last three days: (Click on pictures for bigger versions)

One of my little neighbours showing who's boss

A Grade 2 takes exception to my camera in his face

My favourite -lyn sister (princess of the playground)

A typical Tana landscape complete with people fishing for their supper

2nd-eldest Midgley playing a computer game, with the eldest giving advice

"Ah, dad, who let the vazaha in again?"

Dubley-do-right turns 10

The battle rages in a perfect spot for an ambush

Justin Dubs Skinnymalinks Midgley will be turning 10 tomorrow, but yesterday he celebrated with a “water fight party”. Seven boys and one boisterous girl joined him and his brothers and they played non-stop and noisily for two hours. His mother exceeded her cake-creating reputation with a custom “Clone Wars” R2D2. 

And then in the afternoon we headed off to an ear numbing, heart-stopping, stomach churning, yet Spirit-filled worship time at church. 

Along with cake design, the children also get to choose what they want for supper on their birthdays, which (yesterday) was Mommy’s special all-in farmer-style breakfast. Yes, breakfast for supper. And it was probably the best supper-breakfast I’ve ever tasted!

Okay, whose birthday is next?

(Click on pictures for bigger, better versions)

The famous cake

The waterfight begins. And no, none of this was choreographed...

Avast me mateys

Arrr, Blistering barnacles. It be birthday time. Aye. And me parrot concurs.

Jeremy turned eight, and, as usual, Sue created an appropriate cake - a scuttled pirate ship - which was ripped apart and devoured by all the hungry little sea monkeys. And they were all most proud of their skull tattoos too! 

I tried to surrender my booty, like the sign said I should, but no-one wanted it. Argh!
(Be clickin on pictures for bigger versions ...)

The toothless wonder

The Mad Merry Midgley Minors

My sister tells me I shouldn't get too serious - I guess it's bad for my health and everyone's around me. And so I thought I'd write about a visit to the Midgleys, which is (mostly) anything but serious - boys climbing all over me and calling me names;  gentle wrestling, wild wrestling; oohing and aahing over the latest Lego creation; tears (mostly mine); being begged to watch funny "You Tube" videos; Kim, Sue and I taking out any frustrations we may have built up in the day by blowing each other away in Call of Duty (it is worrying that all the boys know the maps and weapons better than we do, especially because they never play the confounded game! But somehow our friendship has managed to prevail despite the regular violence against each other!) ...

Today I heard that the lads have now cast me in the role of Pooh Bear (each family member has been given a character, and as honorary uncle they couldn't leave me out). I'm assured it has nothing to do with "the bear of little brain" part, but rather because of my "ever-so-slightly round tummy". Mmmmph! While wrestling with numbers 3 and 4 the other day number 4 did call my stomach revolting, so I guess Pooh makes sense. Which all reminded me of my first stint on stage in a PACT Playwork production of Winnie the Pooh, when I was six. My mother was Rabbit, Laurika Rauch (of Kinders van die Wind fame) played Kanga and I was little Roo who dizzily careered around the stage shouting, "look at me jump, look at me jump," or "look at me swim, look at me swim." I still have nightmares about forgetting my lines and of my grandmother wildly waving and screaching, "yoo hoo, Robbie," from the audience.

Midgley son number 1, 11-year-old Andy, has been churning out some rather remarkable poetry the last few days - about random things like angles ("angry anglers' angles could really twist you up"), eels ("eels, eels, water mobiles, where, oh where are they from"), and manta ray pets called Nimbus ... Sounds like fun, homeschooling ... I'm attaching his poem about Jesus at the bottom of this blog.

So, enjoy the pics of these mad, merry, mercurial Midgley minors. (As ever, click on the pics for larger versions).

Number 1

Number 2

Number 3

Number 4

Number 5

JESUS

Jesus, known as son of David,
Was the Son of God.
Jesus had no sin in Him,
But His life was hard.

As all the world was registered,
The Son of God was born,
Born in a stable dry,
amongst the animal's corn.

And wise men came to visit Him,
And shepherds the news heard
And gifts were given unto Him,
While the angels stirred.

And Jesus wasn't evil
And Jesus wasn't vile,
And Jesus could not stand with Satan,
Not even for a while.

The people call Him meek
The people call Him mild
Though Jesus was more likely
To be a Godly wild.

And as His life went by,
He did a lot of teaching
Healed many people,
He even did some preaching.

As His time of death drew near
Jesus was betrayed -
Betrayed by His own disciple
Who a "fortune" made.

And on the cross at Calvary
as Jesus was crucified,
Many people mocked Him
Though many people cried.

And Jesus, known as son of David
Is known as the risen Son
And Jesus is in Heaven
For God's great will was done.