What a sport...

 Yesterday was the school's foundation phase athletics day.  Talk about excitement!  Jake couldn't sleep the night before and was up at the crack of dawn.  In the lead up to the day, they'd done some practising at school and Jake was convinced he was the best kid in grade 1.  Time would tell.

Jake's in yellow house.  Thank goodness he looks better in yellow than I do.  He's sitting dead in the middle, 2 rows behind the picnic basket, in between the two mommies...

Connor came with my dad to cheer on his big cousin...

 As the time drew near for Jake's race to start, the boys all had to line up and get themselves in their little groups and rows.  Father Christmas stopped by to chuck some sweets out to the kids.  Jake's under his armpit...

Jake with some friends, Nicholas and Umveli...

Cheese...

Taking a serious moment to think about his big run (60m sprint)...

Actually, I recognise that guy!  Duncan?  Father Christmas was also the trigger guy...

On your marks (Jake's 2nd from the left)...

Get set...

Go?  I didn't post the go photo, it was terrible.  Jake was pulling a horrendous face and I was cheering too much to get anything sharply in focus.  Jake came first in his heat though and I am super proud of him.  Next time he tries to blow his own trumpet, by telling me there are only 3 kids faster than him, I'll believe him!

Connor took part in the toddler's race.  That kid loves to run.  He can run and run and run around the swimming pool like you've never seen before.  Needless to say, he was one of the youngest to take part and to finish the run...

All lined up and ready to go, just having a quick chat with the teacher...

The whistle goes and Corky is still chatting up a storm, while the other kids gun it to the finish line...

The most important thing about running in a race is to have fun and boy, oh boy, did he have fun...

He was looking for Jake in this pic...

Jake's time qualified him for the final, so there was another race - thank goodness the last one for the day.  I don't think my poor heart could've coped with more.  Jake wants the lady in white to be his grade 2 teacher, he finds out on Thursday...

All talk at the start line.  I think he was trying to wind up his buddies, telling them he was going to win...

I love this picture, he looks so proud of himself and a lot like his dad.  Where did those shoulders come from?  He looks so grown up.  Maybe it's the long hair that he wants me to shave off on Friday after school...

And since I was closer this time around, I'll bore you with some more starting pics...

GO!  At least I got a shot this time, but it's the only "running" shot I got on the day...

Jake was pretty disappointed when he returned to his group, that he hadn't come first again, but he took it well and didn't say anything bad to anyone.  He tells me he was swearing in his head though (saying 'idiot' about the guys that beat him).  He did really well and the competition was tough.  All the kids he told me were faster than him were in the race.  And at least he didn't come stone last (I think he was 5th or 6th out of 8 boys)...

Jake's cousin Becky is in Grade 3, so it's her last year in the Foundation Phase.  I took this picture as I was leave, I had to get to work. Jake tells me that they spent the rest of the day together.  Becky sat on the edge of her house and Jake sat on the edge of his.  So sweet, when they want to be...

Other than the excitement of sports day yesterday, life is just too hectic and the festive season is well and truly here.  I feel as though we should only be starting the 3rd school term and the fourth one finishes on Friday.  This year has just flown by, perhaps because it's been such a full, busy one for Jake.  He is totally excited about starting grade 2 now and is looking forward to the holidays.  We used to have a wonderful 6 week break over Christmas, but this year the holiday is just 4 weeks, so feels a lot shorter for us all.

I am finally starting to feel human again after our very busy weekend.  I had my year end book club dinner on Friday night, which was divine and Jake had 3 birthday parties.  In between was very little time to sleep, especially since Danie was on standby.  Tomorrow night is our dinner club party and we're off to Bombay Bicycle Club for dinner - I can't wait.  I have heard such good things about the restaurant.  Jake's also going to be invested as a cub tomorrow night, so running around today to get his uniform sorted (they only let me know today where to go and what to buy) and to help him learn his promise and law.  He is very excited, pictures will follow on Thursday (if I survive dinner club's party!).

Lots of love to you all,

Sue X