This semester ended with a holiday at home where we could enjoy some of our local attractions. Tan took the boyz to the botanical gardens to enjoy the open spaces to run and play and feed the ducks. They even attempted to climb the big tree!
We even had a day when the twins tried their hand at WALL ART!!! don't you just love it. Mommy's heart did sink right to her toes!!! but thank goodness it was whiteboard markers and not permanent - I had a friend comment that I should have just bought a frame and frame the wallart right there on the wall! :)CAYLEE LODGE
We had a weekend off just before Easter and had a wonderful COLD WET weekend up on the Drakensberg mountains. We did a quick fishing visit to the local dam where the boyz enjoyed playing with their fishing rods. They all have the right look when it comes to fishing - don’t you these pics are just too cute!?
(Tryston, Treyson and Troyden - from the left)
Other than that outing which did end in rain our weekend was full of RAIN and COLD weather. The boyz played indoor cricket, hide and seek, building blanket tents. We had loads craft time making Easter bunnies, eggs and ears! Tan even got some of her scrapbooking done that now the twins are eventually featuring in picture form in our family scrapbook! Hooray!
We had one bit of outside time with a quick game of putt-putt and a jump on the trampoline. We took a drive out in the country to look around and enjoyed a muddy walk while the boyz climbed boulders.
It was a really restful weekend and we even got to see the top of the mountains in the distance when the clouds lifted early one morning and there was the first sprinkle of SNOW for the winter!
EASTER celebrations
We had a fantastic build up to Easter with the kids. Tan managed to source some “Resurrection Eggs” each morning the week before Easter you open an egg and find a symbol or object related to the Easter story and you tell that bit of the Easter story to the kids. They thoroughly enjoyed opening and learning and hearing all about Easter. We celebrated with an Easter Egg hunt with all the cousins and even playing tent in the garden.
Just had to add this pic - don't you love Troydies new "big boy shirt" Thanks Uncle Matt - love you loads and he thinks he's the bestest in it!! :)
School update
Troydie is so enjoying all the fun in learning at school and making a nice bunch of friends. They had several fun activities that he was a part of this semester so will mention just a few. Will and Kate of the Royal Family got married (national stop as we all watched her walk the isle) and Troydie’s school had a wedding dress up day – too cute he wanted to wear his outfit that he wore to Uncle T’s wedding. They had a fun day full of party food and wedding activities.
Mom’s sing-a-long tea to celebrate Mother’s day all the moms came to school for tea. We got to hear them sing and watch them play musical instruments (Troydie is playing the tambourine). Tan even got a handmade necklace that Troydie had made at school for her – very special.
Sports day was another highlight for Troydie he got to do a relay obsticle course race with climbing, wheelbarrows and bean bag throwing. He did a great job. Dad had a chance to join in the soccer race of all the dad's against eachother and managed to run with Treyson and Tryston in each arm. Mom even got to try her hand at a skipping race and what a laugh that was.His school even had an evening winter walk that was great fun were he could get sponsorship per lap - what a star he was, he managed to do 20 laps. It was a chilly evening with loads of laughter and fun!
Troydies school semester ended with a dress up day and he went as a Policeman – Quite smart don’t you think?Treyson & Tryston
The twins are chatting away all the time and so enjoying each other’s company they are great friends and we have had many a laugh at them and their first sayings.
TREYSON is the leader and strong in character, full of spunk and the most independent. He can be quite a “bully” at times and ready to pick a fight. We are training and teaching him to control himself and will say, that has been a challenge but hugely rewarding. He definitely loves a cuddle and thrives on encouragement. He has to keep up with Troyden and likes to be like his “big brother Troyd”!!
TRYSTON is quite different, laid back, funny and at times quite a “dough-ball”. He is a few steps behind the other two but quite okay with that. He loves a good tummy laugh and smiles his way through life. He also loves a cuddle and a love - so mom gets her special times with each of them. They play well together all three and love each other very much – being close in age has made them very close and protective of each other – this is very cute to watch.
We had a huge blessing happen this semester – a granny in our church has twin grandsons too and she asked to take our boys with her boys together for a play day once a week. This little play day has grown to a group of 4 grannies’ with their grandkids all coming together to play while the granny’s fellowship together. They have also asked a retired teacher to come and join with them to make it like a little school – they have story time, playtime inside and outside, sometime they bake, play play-dough, paint and color it has been a wonderful thing for the boys to get out, make their own friends and separate from mommy a little at a time. They even have printed shirts with thier names on! They love their outing with Granny Frances every week and can’t wait for her to come get them. Tan has enjoyed a morning to catch up on all her bible study prep. It has been a wonderful blessing for all of us. - "Thanks Granny Frances"
FAMILY
Baba (Tan’s dad) – the name that the boys call him as their grand-pa managed to get a harbor pass for the boat so the boys have enjoyed some fishing trips to the harbor that have been great fun especially to see the ships in the harbour.
Baba’s birthday – we planned a surprise visit from Trent and Amber to celebrate his birthday. We had a nice quick visit for the family together and had pancakes out on the midlands meander and took the boat for a ride on Midmar dam – FREEZING!
Camping at St Lucia
YEY!!! The Wilby’s had their first camping trip as a family. What a load of fun choosing and setting up our site at St Lucia only to find some of the poles for the one tent missing? Too funny!! We made do and met with Marks folks the next day on their way by to get our missing poles! 
Our weekend was full of action. We walked the board walk to see the Hippo’s o
n the Estuary, visited the beach to dig and play in the sand and did a little fishing on the estuary bank. We so enjoyed the cooking on the braai (barbecue) and the boys loved the sleeping out in the tent.
On one of the days we went into Empangeni to celebrate a birthday with one of the cousins. A highlight for our weekend away was taking Troydies bicycle and teaching him to ride without fairy wheels. YEY YEY YEY!!!He got it! Mark had to spend one day running behind him catching if he had a wobbly fall. With all the space and time to practice before long he was riding and so enjoying it. 
MINISTRY
The ladies ministry had a Ladies breakfast this semester and it was a wonderful time for all of them to get together to be encouraged from God’s Word. Our focus was on the CROSS and we had 15 ladies represent and read the character’s part in the crucifixion. We had a Mary, a roman soldier, the centurion, the 2 thieves on the cross etc. what a blessing to spend time reflecting on the cross and what Christ did for us there.
Following the breakfast the Ladies craft group met to make wooden crosses that were painted with a paint technique and decorated with rope, ribbon, beads etc. This was a great way to rap up our day of focus on the cross.
To end our semester for the mom’s group we planned a “Mom’s night out” to watch the movie of the story of Esther – it was a wonderful way to end our study through the book of Esther and view the story as a whole. The mom’s so enjoyed the night out while the dad’s did all the babysitting – definitely an outing we will plan again!
MJ’s Ministry
This semester has been another busy one for Mark with all his responsibilities at the church. The youth group has had a change with new leadership and a new team of youth planning the events for each Friday evening. They have had a good number of kids come along and are encouraged by the friendships that have started to form. They have also started a youth bible study that is held right before youth starts each Friday and many of the kids are joining with to be encouraged in God’s Word. Mark has been asked to speak on several Fridays and goes along each week just to pop in an encourage where he can.
The family ministry of the church has been growing in leaps and bounds we now have 10 couples that attend our evening family bible study and between us we have 18 children so when all are together it is a bumper LOUD crowd. The moms and kids planned a Father’s day outing for the dads with a twist. The dad’s did an “Amazing Race” with activities all around town wearing bandana’s that the kids had hand painted. Their activities included a go-cart ride, looking for info at a pet store, they had to buy a water pistol from the party shop, have an ice cream at MacDonald’s, look for clues along the beachfront using GPS etc. We ended the race at one of the families homes with a bring and share supper where the moms and kids waited for them all to arrive. It was a really fun afternoon had by all with many laughs!!
Mark’s preaching ministry has been going well and he is learning and growing with each opportunity in the pulpit – what a blessing. He has also been leading worship on several Sunday mornings and evenings this has added to his load but has been a blessing.
Mission has always and will always be one of his passions and he was able to make a trip up to Mozambique this semester to encourage and help the local churches in the surrounding areas of Ponto d’Oura. He so enjoyed this opportunity to share the love of God cross culturally. Pray that we have more opportunities to spread God’s word in this way.
Mark’s studies have unfortunately taken a back seat this semester with such a load he is carrying at the church – please pray for time management and discipline in this area – we are excited to continue the studies as best we can this would be a huge achievement for
Mark to complete and add to his ministry experience.
That’s the end of our news for the second semester of 2011 – thank you for your prayer support of us as a family in ministry for Jesus. We are encouraged daily from his word and through his provision of us – we have been totally blessed to be in His will for our lives.
Lots of love and prayers for you all
Mark, Tan, Troyden, Treyson and Tryston
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