Summer Holidays Part 3...

 Christmas morning finally arrived and despite Jake's change in views about the magic of Christmas, he was still very excited to wake up to open his presents.

 Nini and Pa were there to watch - Jake just loves to have an audience for his present opening...

Paper jets...

 Jake's sack was really very full this year, but mostly because what he got came in big boxes...

 Like this one...

 Oh my gosh, oh my gosh...

 Those of you who know Jake will know that he absolutely loves fire.  We don't have a braai at our house and he is very excited to have one of his own now.  Father Christmas knows this kid so well...

I think Jake had begun to doubt that this would be in his sack - he's been asking for it since June...

 And a new, waterproof swatch watch...

 All Jake's gifts - incl some from friends and family...

Lunch, as usual, was at my parent's house.  Corky and Bi were there to join us.  Unfortunately (for us), Rosie and Gareth were away with Gareth's family and we all missed them terribly.  The bonus is that they'll be with us next year - with their baby!  Santa Bi...

 Jake's really turned a corner with his little cousins.  He tries so hard to make it all fun for them and he managed to keep Christmas magical and exciting for them too.  He's such a good sport...

 A family snap...

 Another one of Jake and Bi-bi...

 Corky wanted to be in the pictures too, but he's at that silly stage Jake was at when Corky was born...

 OK, I give up...

 I can't blame the kids for not really wanting to sit still - there were more presents to be opened...

 Hi Jake.  Nice watch!!

 Paul's brother TJ was here from the UK for Christmas and he brought Corky this super cool Play Mobile Pirate boat...

 But the best gift of all for him was the Ninja Turtle from Nini and Pa...

 Jake's been dying for a t-shirt with a shark on it.  This one's surfing, so even better...

 Jake got braai goodies to complete his braai set from Rosie and Gareth...

 Bi was really into it - she loved Christmas this year and looked too sweet in her pretty pink dress...

 Once presents were unwrapped, it was time to get the bubbly going...

 Bi got a new bike and helmet for Christmas...

 So did Corky...

 Boxing day is my mom's birthday, so we were all back for left overs the next day.  Bi celebrated by using her potty for the first time - what a big girl, we're so proud of you!!

Phew... I'm getting there.  More next week, hope you all enjoyed these catch up posts.

I hope you have a happy weekend!

Love

Sue XXX

Summer Holiday Part 2...

 The weekend before Christmas saw us heading off to Clanwilliam.  It's a tiny little farming village up the West Coast, about 3 hours outside of Cape Town.  The massive Clanwilliam dam is the main attraction - it's apparently about 22km long dam and it was about 95% full while we were there.  With all the rain we've had just lately, I'm surprised it hasn't burst it's banks yet.  Needless to say, Jake was fishing while we were there.  And fish he did.  Unfortunately, he didn't catch a thing...

 Marius' sister and her husband were also in Clanwilliam while we were there.  They've got a boat, so it meant we could see a bit more of the dam then above.  Marius and his boys have been to the dam quite a few times and this spot is a favourite cliff jumping spot for his boys.  Michael is really fearless...

 So is Cameron for that matter...

 Love this shot of Cam running on Water...

 The thing with boys is... they never grow up...

 Jake went with me for a swim - the water was so warm, it was unbelievable.  We walked up to the top of the cliff, but we were both too chicken to jump.  Maybe next time...

 Back at the house that Marius had rented, the kids spent hours in the swimming pool.  As I mentioned in my previous post, the temperature hovered around the 40 deg C mark the whole time we were there - swimming was essential...

 Jake was happier being thrown around the swimming pool then jumping off a cliff...

 Cam ready to be chucked...

 The boys had fun and Marius got a workout...

Our first night in Clanwilliam had been a late one and we'd spent the entire day of our second day in the sun and water.  The boys were exhausted and had an early night.  Not before boerrie rolls and ice-creams for dessert.

 As a side, have you guys ever tried these?  Maries with ice-cream between.  They're absolutely divine!!  The trick is to gently press the Maries together, without cracking them and lick the ice-cream out the middle before it all runs down your arm.  Try it!  You'll love me forever for this one...

 Hahaha - look how exhausted Jake and Cameron are!  Hahahaha...Oh, that little cutie is Ella.  Her dad is Marius' business partner...

 The next morning was more of the same - lots of swimming and sunshine...

 And more fishing.  The brand that Marius was in Clanwilliam to promote, is called Fusion.  It's a marine and car audio product and their branding is little green aliens...

 The boys had tons of fun with the aliens.  They tied their hands together and made a big float out of them...

 Hahaha... Jake's my little green man, look at him glow...

 All our kids having fun with the little green men...

 Marius working very hard (on his tan), while the rest of us chillax in the warm water...

 Michael...

 Cameron...

 And Jake.  Thank you boys for the most wonderful weekend away!  I hope it is the first of many for us...

 We got home from Clanwilliam on the 22nd.  Just in time to finish wrapping Christmas presents and get ourselves all sorted for Christmas day.  Despite this being Jake's first non-believing Christmas, he was still very excited to get to bed on Christmas Eve...

Our little holiday was really just what I needed before Christmas.  It was a happy break and we came home so rested.  Thanks for letting us tag along with you Marius, we loved it!!

More Christmas photos to follow soon.

Love

Sue XXX

Summer Holidays Part 1...

Hi!  Well, it's been a while... I wonder if anyone still pops past here to see if I've posted anything?  You still there?  Sorry for those of you who do and have had to wait for me to come back from holiday to get back to blogging... it's been a long, wonderful break!  Work finished up for me on 13 December and I only came back to the office on the 6th.  Jake goes back to school next Wednesday, after nearly 6 weeks off. It's been a great break and we've spent almost all our time in Blaauwberg at Marius' house with him and his boys.  He's been lucky to have them for most of the holidays too, which was great for Jake.  You wouldn't believe how much he misses Michael and Cameron on the weekends that they're with their mom.  Marius was off most of the time I was on leave too, so we really had a lot of time to enjoy being on the beach with our boys.

One of their favourite things to do at the moment is to go boating.  Jake and Cameron are still a little nervous, but Michael loves to go wave ramping and he seems to spend more time falling out of the boat then staying in it.  Marius has lived in Blaauwberg since he was 4 and after his dad died, he bought over the family home.  He knows the sea as if it were his own personal pool in his back yard and its great for him to be able to pass on his knowledge and love of the water on to the kids...

 Wave ramping...

Blaauwberg's waters are known to be cold - 9 deg C is warm, so I use the excuse that I don't have a wet suit, to stay on dry ground.  Besides that, some one's got to take the photos...

 In between, Michael's learnt how to mow the lawn.  He's still learning, but at least he's keen to help...

 This year we had 2 trees to get up.  Jake and Michael weren't that keen to help us at Marius' house, but Cameron was a great help and full of beans for the camera...

 The Little Christmas Elf...

 Peace out for Christmas... 

 We got the tree up at our house the next morning.  It was just Jake and I...

Stay posted for pictures of our mini-break in 42 deg C Clanwilliam!

Love,

Sue XXX