What to do...

Well, today I can relate to how Pia and Dave were feeling over the weekend - Jake has had a fever on and off all weekend and I've been treating him with paracetamol to keep his temperature under control and kept him off school yesterday. Before I got home from work yesterday though, my mom took his temperature again and it was over 40.5 deg C. I rushed home and made a doctor's appointment, but could only get one for 5pm. Needless to say, he was also running 20 mins late. Jake was very good at the doctor and, besides threatening to puke everywhere, let the doctor do all the checks he needed to. Turns out that my child who says he doesn't have a sore throat has tonsillitis. The solution - antibiotics. This is great in theory, but try getting a sick 3 1/2 year old to swallow some bitter tasting muti. It just isn't happening. I've tried everything - from gentle persuasion to forcing it down his throat with a syringe whilst holding him down with his nose blocked (he still managed to spit it all up). I've made up stories about the medicine being a monster and the paracetamol being spiderman (it's red) going to chase the monster down his throat into his tummy. I've even threatened taking him to the hospital and warned him how sick he's going to get if he doesn't take it. This morning I ended up in such a bad mood with him over it. Honestly, I'm in a complete panic, I don't know how to get him to swallow this vile tasting stuff. The doctor's warned about the dangers of rheumatic fever and I know that Jake just has to take the stuff, but won't. Every now and then he succumbs and has the paracetemol, which at least keeps his temperature under control, but the infection's not getting treated. He just will not listen to any reasoning though (must be the little bull in him) and I'm at a total loss over what to do. I'm going to have to bother the doctor again for an alternative. I wonder if you can teach a 3 1/2 year old to swallow tablets? Why don't they just make medicine taste better? It must be made by men. Without kids...

Hope everyone else's kids are behaving like little angels!

Love, A worried mum xxx

Tomatoes...

This is the last one, I promise. Just some photos of Jake enjoying his veggie garden. He picked his first tomato yesterday and was too excited to wait for it to ripen fully on the shelf before eating it. His strawberry plants seem to be finished bearing berries for now, but his beans have got flowers on and everything else seems to be growing really well. We found a watermelon seedling growing in the garden, so have potted that too. He's still loving every moment of it and can't wait to get digging and scratching when I get home from work. Anyway, with the price of tomatoes as they are at the moment, I think we're all looking forward to Jake's juicy, home-grown ones. Just a few more photos...

XXX Jake's first tomato... Grow tomatoes, GROW! Jake contemplating the meaning of life in his garden...

I'm on a roll...

Might as well get my life (and you) completely up-to-date while I'm about it...

Last weekend, we took Jake to the Cape Town Military Tattoo at the Castle. Although it was freezing cold and we had to snuggle under warm jackets, it was a really fabulous experience and Jake loved every second. It's a bit of a rip-off of the Edinburgh Tattoo (down to the lone piper at the end), but it was really great to have it in Cape Town and to see our men all dressed up and taking part. There were various bands, horses, skits, live gunfire & canons. Although it's got room for improvement, we'll definitely go again next year.

Just some photos to share of the evening. Unfortunately, it was pretty dark inside and my dad's digital camera (I don't own one)doesn't have a strong enough flash...

All the military men lining the entrance into the castle... Jake & I checking out one of the canons with the Serg. Sorry, my dad cut off the top of the mountain... Going in with my mom and Jake...

Congratulations!!!

To my super-duper-clever friend, Caroline: Congratulations on passing all of your exams!!! You have worked so hard throughout the last year and it's been a real challenge adding a tiny baby into the equation, but you've exceeded all our expectations and you are an inspiration to all who know you. I know that you will take the time that you need now, to relax and enjoy your gorgeous baby girl! Well done! I'm so proud to be your friend!! Love you lots xxx

Playball awards

I was invited to go to Jake's school this morning to his playball awards ceremony during which he was presented with a certificate and report card. Needless to say, as a first timer, I had my camera with to capture the moment. I don't often get the opportunity to see Jake playing with his friends and it was a real treat to just sit on the sidelines and watch him interact. While most of the kids either burst into tears or hid their faces when their names were called to collect their certificates, Jake jumped up and was all smiles for the camera. I could've eaten right up! What is playball? I have no idea. I know I pay someone for an extra class given during Jake's time at school and I know that it involves all kinds of ball skills and I guess motor coordination, but it also teaches them life-skills such as sharing and taking turns. His report was good and I'm very proud of his progress - he scored all 2s and 3s, meaning that he either attained the desired level or attained it well (they were only scored out of 3). Some real highlights were 3s were for Enthusiasm, Participation, Independence, Discipline, Perseverance and Social Interaction. Although he didn't get any 1s, he got 2s for all the ball skills, aside from rolling, hitting and stopping, which were 3s as well. So, looks like I need to try spend more time kicking a ball about with him. Men's work. His playball teacher's comment at the end of his report read: "Jake seems to really enjoy all Playball activities and is always eager to learn new skills. It's been a pleasure coaching Jake!" What more could I ask for??

Enjoy the weekend XXX

Jake with his class, two teachers and his playball coach... Jake getting his playball certificate from his coach...

Christmas traditions

After reading Wendy's blog, I've decided to follow on with my family's Christmas traditions as well…

Our tree goes up on 16 December and it always marks the real count-down to Christmas. Putting it up is always a very festive occasion and we listen to Christmas carols while we "trim the tree". We decorate and my dad fights with the tangled lights, which he always has to put on last. There's always something yummy to snack on and drink (either champagne or coffee). In the days that our tree's up, the lights are on every night and we often just sit around and enjoy the colour and beauty it adds to our home. We have an artificial tree, which is only 2 years old now - the previous one my parents bought when they got married and it was looking really tired. We have a fairy that goes up on top of the tree, unlike most people who have stars. My dad always has to put this on – a tradition that started because we couldn’t reach the top of the tree as kids. She’s also looking tired (actually, she looks like an alcoholic on a bad hair day), but she’s so much part of our Christmas tree that nobody's got the heart to chuck her out!

This year will be Jake’s first Rotary Christmas Party experience. As kids we always went to Uncle Paul's party in Constantia and, needless to say, I’ve managed to get us in at the same one!! It’s on Groot Constantia and the excitement and magic of it is indescribable! From tractor rides, to straw fights, to the marching band, Noddy and his gang, naughty goblins, singing Christmas carols and Father Christmas and his fairy arriving - it's just so magical. There are 7 adults going with my one child and I'm pretty sure we're all way more excited about it then he is about. I think it’s more about sharing it with him and seeing him experience it for the first time. I CANNOT WAIT!! Apparently, the show hasn't changed in all the years since we went, it’s going to be a real trip down memory lane. We haven't received our invitation yet, but I have been told that we are going on the 17th, which is the day after putting our tree up, making it a very exciting weekend for us!

Before bed time on Christmas Eve, it’s vital to remember to put out something for Father Christmas and his reindeer to snack on when they visit our house, which does not have a chimney, but remember Father Christmas is magic – he can get in anywhere! So, it’s always carrots and water for the reindeer and mince pies or shortbread, chocolates (used to be Quality Street, but they’re not as nice as they used to be) and a glass of sherry or Amarula. There were always photos taken of us (and now of Jake) putting out our Christmas Sacks under the Christmas tree. Then it’s off to bed, to try and sleep. When morning eventually arrives (sometimes as early as 4:30am), my dad always has to go through to the lounge to check that the big man in red’s not still there. And then it’s complete mayhem as everyone dives for their individual sacks and begins ripping open wrapping. Coffee’s served, normally with scones and we exchange gifts with one another. In the old days, we used to go to church on Christmas morning, more recently, we’ve been going on Christmas Eve. Not sure what this year holds.

Because we share so much of Christmas with my family, since we live with them, and they really get to enjoy so much with Jake, I always give Jacques’ family first option on whether they want us to have Christmas lunch with them. This year, we’re having Christmas Eve with them and lunch with my folks (Jacques’ sister is with her in-laws for Christmas lunch). Joanne’s new family-to-be will be joining us as well, so there’ll be a nice little group. My mother always spends hours shopping and pouring over recipe books to put together the greatest feast ever and each year we swear we’ll never eat so much again, but by the time the following Christmas arrives, we do it all over again.

Other family traditions include driving through town (and Bothasig) to see the Christmas lights; a Christmas dinner with Jo and Paul during the week before Christmas; picnics and Christmas carols by candlelight at Kirstenbosch; looking for fairies’ lights in the garden, which are really glow worms, but the tradition is sticking and Jake loves hunting them down; being warned that the fairies are listening and reporting back to Father Christmas on our good/bad behaviour; eating too much; napping between lunch and dessert on Christmas day; drinking too much; spending time together; trifle for breakfast on Boxing Day (also my mom’s birthday); left-overs for days; the list is endless…

And not forgetting that, while Christmas time is always a time of excitement, tradition, special memories and magic, it's also an incredibly sad time of year for many people. We will always miss having Jacques with us, but I will do my best, as always, to make this a happy time of year for Jake...

I know that it’s a very early wish, but the festive season is just around the corner now - I hope that you all have the most wonderfully happy, peaceful and safest and festive season this year! For those of you with young children, remember how important your own family traditions are and enjoy making special memories that your children will look back on fondly one day when they have children of their own.

Lots of love to you all,

Sue xxx

Some Christmassy photos taken over the last few years...

Christmas Day 2004... 16 December 2005 - Decorating the "tree" (note the tired tree)... Christmas Eve 2005 - putting food out for Father Christmas & the reindeer... Christmas Eve 2005 - Testing the reindeer's food... Christmas 2005 - Jake's stuffed sack (I made the sack)... Christmas morning 2005 - Jake and his Aunty Jo... 16 December 2006 - Decorating the "tree" ... 16 December 2006 - My dad putting the alcoholic fairy on top of our new Christmas tree... Christmas Eve 2006 - note the Christmas fare... Christmas morning 2006... Testing out one of his presents - Christmas morning 2006...

Message from Jake...

Hello!

My mommy (mom, as I like to call her) has this blog-thing and I know she keeps putting pictures of me up on it, but I never get a chance to say anything. Last night was a very special evening and I want to be the one to share it with you. As you all know, my daddy was a winemaker at Buitenverwachting. It's one of my favourite places to visit and I love being inside the cellar and running around on the grass outside. It's just so beautiful and peaceful there. My daddy's last harvest was in 2004, the year that I was born, and he made the red wines that year. The farm's flagship red wine is called Christine and my daddy decided that he would make an extra special bottle of it for me to keep for my 21st. He didn't get to make up the bottle, but my mom spoke to the other winemaker, Hermann, and arranged for him to make it up for me in any case. On Friday, my mom finished work early and picked me up and we went through to the farm to fetch the wine.It's a 15L bottle, which is HUGE! My mom says that you call a 15L bottle a Nebu...Nebu...Nebuchadnezzar and it's so heavy that I can't lift it; I hope I'm strong enough to pour it for everyone at my 21st... It's full of my dad's 2004 Christine too, which is very special wine. I helped my mom open a normal-size bottle last night, so we could taste it. I got my very own little glass, filled right up to half way, to drink. I said cheers to everyone and remembered to look in their eyes when I did it. It was SOOOO delicious, I don't understand why I wasn't allowed more. Mom took lots of photos of me drinking the wine and of me with the big Nebuchadnezzar bottle. I'm so glad that I have this wine to keep for when I'm a big man. In a funny way, it's a gift from my dad and I like to think it means that a part of him will be with me on my 21st! I will have to remember to spill some for my special angel... Enjoy the photos!

Love Jake xxx

This was exciting stuff - my very own glass of wine!

Posing with my mom...

My first sip...

Look at my tongue

Licking my glass clean - can I have some more please??

Me and my Nebuchadnezzar...

I can just get my arms around it...

Me hiding behind my bottle...

Mom says I'm naughty some times - do I look naughty to you?