The Life of Izzie Part One

Hello everyone, my name is Izzie.  I'm an adorable Jack Russell Terrier who came to live with my new mommy and her family on Monday.  I travelled up to Elandskraal, Knysna, from Cape Town with my Mommy's granny.  When we stopped in Sedgefield before arriving at Charis Farm, Great-Grandma tied a pink bow around my neck and bought me a sweet blanket with cats on it.

I was a little nervous to meet my new pet and ALL her sisters (not to mention cows, guinea pigs, cats, etc.).  However, they all loved me from the start!

This is Sofia, my youngest aunt...I'm not too sure of her - yet.

Everyone cuddled and gave me yummy treats such as chewy bones for my sharp little teeth.  They always yell when I (accidently) give them a playful chew or a wet puppy kiss.  I ended up sleeping in my mommy's bed the first night...

I turned two months old on the 15th of March and today they took me to the beach for the first time!!

Wow!  There was so much sand everywhere!  I got a little scared when Mommy took me into the water.  I tugged on the lead and ran back quickly to our spot on the beach.

I love my aunt Nancy and my granny...

Two of my naughtiest aunties...

This is Rebekah.  This aunty and I have such fun together - we're like two peas in a pod.

And you know what?  Someone actually stopped Mom and asked her about ME! They said "cute" which I most certainly am:)

Afterwards, the family had ice cream but I wasn't allowed any cause Mom said it wasn't good for dogs:(

Give all your pets a pup kissy from me ~

Izzie

Note from Kelly:

Hello friends!  As you must have guessed already, Izzie is my new dog.  'The Life of Izzie' is a monthly article featured on Beautiful  Girlhood.  

Be sure to let us know about your pet in the comment box below.  If you miss a couple of parts, don't worry, Izzie's Blog can be visited here:)  Smiles, Kelly

Photographs from the Last Few Weeks

December is such a busy time of year for us!  Here are a few photographs of the last few outings we have done and I hope to back and blogging regularly soon!!

We celebrated Christmas as a family and the little ones were delighted with their gifts...so were Nancy and I!  Read more on Nancy’s blog here. 

This is my Christmas present from my mom and dad which I just adore! A beautiful sewing kit in beautiful boxes which I’ve already started using!

We went to visit friends of ours who were on holiday from Cape Town the other day and spent the whole time in the swimming pool! We had a lovely afternoon and were so sad when the day ended!

Mommy and her adorable baby enjoying some sunshine.

Sweet Gabrielle in her tube.

 I took Rebekah for a swim in the ‘deep water’ and she loved it!

Rebekah and Gabrielle sharing a moment together.

Beth...relaxing! 

Nancy’s blue eyes...aren’t they beautiful?

On one particular morning this week we headed down to Myoli Beach in Sedgefield to go for a swim.  When we arrived it started pouring with rain, so Dad asked God to let it clear so we could play at the beach, and guess what?  It did!  Nancy and I were able to have a fantastic time in the waves!  Dad took all these stunning photographs...I think he did a pretty good job!

Gabrielle at Myoli Beach

Little miss Rebekah

My dad took this photograph of me ducking under the waves at Myoli Beach...isn’t it interesting?

I love this one of Gabrielle lying on the beach. Look at her reflection in the sand...beautiful!

Beth going boogie boarding!

A sunflower plant came up in our garden a few months ago, and now we are enjoying yellow sunflowers which never seem to stop blooming!

P.S. Sensational Sewing Challenge is open for another month (till end of January 2012) so please enter all your Christmas makes HERE. Remember, I’m offering a PRIZE, so don’t miss it!!

Blessings,

Kelly-Anne

Homeschool Outing - the Drift 2011

 On Monday the Sedgefield/Knysna homeschoolers got together for a fun outing to the Drift.  I took my camera along and had some fun taking photographs of all the little children playing.  I also got to see a few of my friends that I haven't seen for ages!

{me, a self-porait}

We had lots of fun swimming (getting sunburnt..) and talking:)

With love, Kelly-Anne

A Beautiful Day at the Beach and Forest

On Thursday dear friends of ours called and asked us if we would like to take a trip to the beach and then head to the forest for a picnic lunch the next day? Of course we said yes! As Dad was at work, it was just us girls who went on this outing and, to bless Mommy, Nancy and I looked after the younger ones so she could stay home and rest. Only 25 sleeps or so till Baby is born and as you can imagine, Mom is very tired and in desperate need of a rest!

We were ready by 9:30am on Wednesday morning – chores all done (we try NEVER to leave chores undone!) and animals fed. Although it rained a little during the night, the morning dawned bright and clear, which we were very thankful for.

We first went to Buffalo Bay, near Knysna for an hour or so as it was low tide. The girls discovered amazing things hidden inbetween the rocks and enjoyed running around on the nearly empty beach!

Gabrielle and Beth love looking for shells in the beautiful rock pools.

I took some pictures of the waves crashing on the rocks – I love this one and I'm entering it into Livin' My Life 4 Jesus Photo Challenge for 'Anything'.

We saw seagulls (lots of them :) and even a little octopus!

The girls were very brave, swimming and playing in the rock pools!

Gabrielle splashed...

...And Rebekah just went for a walk...

I love taking pictures of footprints in the sand and this one is amazing with the sea in the background!

On the way to the forest, I asked to stop the car at a bridge where I wanted to get a few photos.

We lunched at Jubilee Creek which is the sweetest creek in the middle of the forest!  We went there years ago when we first lived in Knysna and Gabrielle was a baby...nothing much has changed since and it is still beautiful!

The explorers – Beth and Nancy.

Lunch was soup and yummy rolls!

Beth (trying:) to cross the stream.

While the other girls explored, I went on a walk which was so beautiful!

There are some really beautiful plants growing along the path I walked on...

When I got back, they had been swimming and by then were very cold!

...So, it was time to go home!

Kelly-Anne

An Afternoon at the Beach

Last week we went to the beach as it was a very warm and beautiful day.  That morning I was feeling I needed to get out and take photos of something other than flowers:)  I had a wonderful time taking photos of the waves, spray and sand to my heart’s content till my camera’s battery died because it isn’t used to being on for so long:D  The girls enjoyed playing in the sand and waves even though the water was cold!  I can’t wait for summer!

I love Gabrielle’s reflection in the sand! 

...A typical Rebekah face full of emotion!  She didn’t want her picture taken!

Beth throwing sand into the air – don’t you love her facial expression?

All the Gray Girls together at the sea...this picture was difficult to get together because not everyone was pleased at having to have their dreaded picture taken! (Rebekah)

When we got home Dad was browsing through my pictures and asked why I took so many scenery photos and so little of the girls...my answer was that scenery is easier to photograph than uncooperative sisters!

This is my favourite photo...I love the reflection of the rocks in the water and the foam!

The beach we went to was so clean and there were hardly any footprints in the sand because the water washed them away as quickly as they were made...of course by the time we left there were lots and lots!

I don’t know why I like this photo so much.  I guess it is the glitter of the sunshine on the water!

This is a stunning picture!  It turned out so well! 

This rock looks like a castle and although I wanted to wait for the water to crash and make a big spray, it never did being too close to the shore.  The picture worked anyway and the reflection is pretty interesting!

...I know...too cute! At least I got a picture of little Madam’s feet which are so adorable!

Here are a few of my other favourite pictures:

The Lord knows exactly when and how we need encouragement or something to uplift us. We had been very miserable lately, being sick with head colds and having the sneezes and sniffles, so an outing to the beach did us the world of good and got rid of those cobwebs for sure!

Enjoy your week ahead!

Kelly-Anne