This past weekend was one that dreams are made of – crisp mountain air, chilly days in the sunshine, unlimited family time, quality time with best friends and photos and memories to last a lifetime. My heart is full. Shan and I met through our Marketing/PR careers in 2010 – the year that we both married our uni sweethearts. We clicked instantly, joking that our lives shared so many similarities that we could be sisters. Our friendship blossomed, our husbands became good friends and then we managed to have not one, not two but three children at the same time. Her eldest Jackson, is 5 months younger than SJ. Her middle Jordan, is 3 months younger than EN and her latest baby girl Brooklyn is 10days older than Zoe. Instant family besties.

Shan and Justin were kind enough to invite us to share a special weekend away with them at Cayley Lodge in the Drakensberg mountains. We had our own 3 bedroom, self-catering chalet just a quick walk away from theirs.

We arrived on Friday lunchtime to a chilly 13’C in the sunshine and we spent the afternoon having a late lunch, drinking tea and coffee n the sunshine and watching the kids bounce around the jumping pillow, sandpit and jungle gym. We had an early evening putting our respective kiddies to bed and cuddling up next to the fire.

We woke on Saturday morning to more sunshine but chilly temperatures – and we headed off to Valley Bakery for a delicious breakfast, mini zip lines for the kids and more playground fun. We all had an amazing afternoon nap and then an early evening of non stop play time with the kids at Champagne Sports Resort. This resort has the most amazing Kids Club with table games, toys, big screen, dance classes and a huge outside play area and jungle gym. The kids had a blast! We treated ourselves to their delicious buffet dinner and then headed home to a chalet warmed by fires and heaters.

Sunday was another chilled and relaxing morning with the tastiest egg and bacon croissants from Shan & Justin, lego battles for the kids and then drinks and lunch under the trees. The babies enjoyed the fresh air and outdoors and the older kids went crazy on the jumping pillow, making leaf angels in the Winter leaves and collecting lady birds. We enjoyed a yummy Sunday roast and then another afternoon in the Kids Club watching trolls and an early dinner snack.

We left yesterday morning with heavy hearts and a serious case of the Monday blues, but a memories to last a lifetime and our love tanks full after special quality time together.

How was your weekend?

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