It's the most wonderful time of the year.

I've been on leave since Tuesday and things have been... Quite un-holiday like. It's been busy, and exciting. The boys' nanny went on leave as I did, which is... well, GUYS: I am not the domestic sort. I know that I post pictures of pretty food and sometimes clean rooms, and I did get the 'Martha Stewart' award at work, but really - I'm really bad. Ask my long-suffering husband. I'm that person that doesn't put the milk back in the fridge, make a sandwich and leave everything on the counter. It takes a lot for me to admit this. 

On day one (Tuesday) I did five loads of laundry, two sinks of dishes, changed all the bedding, organized the kitchen a little and spring cleaned bits of the boys' room. We're in the middle of painting the house and we've just got the garden sorted, and things are chaos at home right now. It was so hot on Tuesday, I would like hang up one load of laundry then sit down for half an hour. Repeat. The boys were cranky and Noah would not sleep. No nap times when mommy is at home. He was literally at my feet all day, which is adorable, it was so nice for him to have me at home. It made me feel SO guilty. 

Laundry day at the Raising Men home

Our sweet little garden

The house is finally coming together. The rest of the week was just as chaotic - Graeme is not on leave, but he managed a half day on Thursday so we took the boys to Bakoven (beach) and had a great afternoon in the water. We've had friends over, had an outside light installed, had plumbers in. Our geyser's thermostat was faulty, so the water was reaching beyond boiling point from the tap. So dangerous. At one point boiling water was pouring out the valve at the back of the house and the courtyard was flooded. The boys have been quite intrigued by all these different men climbing in to our ceiling this week. Not so much fun for me, but I'm glad everything is coming together. We've been doing our regular visits with our close friends and neighbors, the Smals. It's so nice having such amazing, kind, fun, GOOD people living next to you. I just know that people meet for a reason. I love them so much. Read Nikki's blog for everything on the home, DIY, fashion, food, lifestyle and bulldogs.

Now this week has also been incredibly special for all the good news we got at the Raising Men home. I can't tell you everything just yet, but there are BIG things on the way. What I can tell you right now is that Graeme.... *DRUMROLL* has been invited to have a stand for the Sitting Lamp at Design Indaba 2013 as an Emerging Creative (!!!!!!!!!!!!). The Sitting Lamp? What's that?

He is so talented. Graeme designed these sweet things, we sell them privately and via 5Rooms.com if you're keen. Hey, it's my blog and I'll punt my husband all I want to. Shameless husband promotion. Really, he is beyond giddy and is planning big things for his stand, and getting loads of stock ready. I am so proud of him. He works in advertising by day, and he's won awards and Loeries this year and he even made Between 10 and 5's list for Best Ads of 2012. This was for the Kalahari Olympics ads, you might have seen the one with Bella Swan doing the dive, or just view it here. We went to El Burro to celebrate last night, and when we got there, they were like "Oh here's a bottle of champagne from Ravi Naidoo ---> WHAT? So special. 

So Graeme is on leave from today, and we're going to finish up the house, go to the beach, visit Franschoek, explore the West Coast and make absolutely no plans. Whatever we feel like doing, we'll do. Taking it super easy this year and focusing on the boys. Noah starts school next month and I booked that plane ticket for Up the Creek with my dad. 2012 has been an amazing year full of hard work and rewards and celebrations and I really just need to thank every single Raising Men reader for being a part of our family's journey and adventures. My blog has grown in buckets and rabbit hops this year and I'm so grateful. 

Can everyone please just travel super safely and hug the daylights out of your friends and family every day? Christmas is the season of consumerism and it's so easy to lose track of what really matters. Whatever that is to you, embrace it. May your Christmas be filled with jingles, laughter, kisses, gratitude and good times.