Back to old Routines...

We're back to it.  Life is hectic.  Jake has tons on and I try my best to give him the opportunities to play and enjoy life as much as any child should.  That said, he must be active and so long as he enjoys a sport, I'll encourage him all the way.  The young kids at school aren't forced to do sport, but Jake's been keen to take part and I think it's good to start off right from the beginning knowing that he must to at least one summer and one winter school sport.  So, this term, he's chosen to do cricket again.  Last year was fairly laidback, so it's been such fun for the boys to jump right in this year.  They might even have a match or two.  Jake's main reason for choosing cricket is that his teacher is one of their coaches.  He had the same reason last year.  I'd have liked him to have done swimming, becuase he does this for an outside swimming school and I'd rather he supported his school, but he tells me the school's water is too cold.  Whatever blows your hair back, my boy.  In the picture above, the group is having role call.  Jake's sitting in the middle with his cap on and his head down.  I think he was more interested in the grass.

Nothing like a sprint around the fields on a hot summer's day.  Jake actually came second (not that it counts for cricket and he didn't want to do athletics)... 

 And never forget to warm up properly, it's just not worth it.  That's Jake's teacher with the blonde hair.  She's cute and fun and she's really very nice.  They have such a beautiful classroom too, she's put a lot of effort into making it look great.  Jake's a lucky boy.  Seriously, though, the sun shines out of that classroom...

 Divided into "teams" and waiting for their instructions.  The wickets are mine...

 Jake and this little boy didn't see eye to eye last year.  there were a few kicking incidents, but that all seems to have blown over after Jake asked him if they can be friends...

 Bowling practise.  Oh how I wish I'd spent more time throwing a ball to my son...

 At least he looks good doing it, even if the ball went a mile off base...

 The next one was better, but still didn't reach the batsman...

 Time for fielding duty.  The comments that come out of these boys.  I can only imagine what the teachers go home with to share with their families.  It's either laugh or cry and I know, I'd battle to keep my composure.  But it's funny being a parent listening and being uninvolved.  Some want to stand in the shade; others are world cup champions, telling the rest how to bat and bowl (even though they don't have a clue themselves); none know what the heck they're doing, how to stand, bowl or field.  The ball literally rolls right past them and they just watch it go.  Too funny, I tell you...

 My little batsman.  By the way, he didn't get to hit the ball either, the ball was going all over the show, except directly at Jake's bat.  He wasn't impressed...

 See what I mean?

 Over the weekend, Jake's cub pack did a little drive at the local shopping center to try recruit more cubs.  Unfortunately, they weren't allowed inside the shopping center, so there weren't too many passers-by.  Infact, Jake probably had the most visitors and they were all family.  Besides anything though, Jake had a ball being dressed up in his uniform for all to see.  I love how confident he is becoming with the group, it's too cute...

 There was plenty of fire for the boys to play with, so they were all in their element.  In the below picture, Jake's using a crown bottle cap, a paperclip and a peanut to roast a marshmallow.  Neat, but it just goes to show you how much fat is hidden inside a tiny peanut...

 Jake's grandad popped past with his potentially new toy.  He was out on a test drive...

 In amongst the fire lighting activities, the kids challenged the neighbourhood guys to a tug of war...

 These are the neighbourhood watch guys.  They beat the cubs.  The cheated too.  They tied their anchor rope around the tree...

 What else can I share?  My mom's pomegranate tree is laden with nearly ripe pomegranates.  As kids we used to eat these in the bath, but we seem to always get bugs in them these days.  Jake likes to chuck the rotten ones around the garden, but I'm hoping that we can salvage just a few - I'll let you know...

 Since the weather's been so beautiful, we've spent a lot of time swimming.  Jake is a real waterbaby and once he's in, I just can't get him out.  I took these pictures last night at about 6pm.  My parent's pool is solar heated, so the water is warm and lovely.  I'm dying to get one put in at my house, but I'm also wanting to get my garden landscaped (I physically can't do all that needs doing.  They want to start at the end of Feb) and I have to pick between the two.  Mom & Dad aren't too far away for a swim.  I have two words to say about this picture - Mamma Mia.  If you don't know what I mean, watch the movie, he's a natural...

 When I look at these pictures of Jake running from the front gate, to the pool, they remind me of when Joanne and I were kids.  The run up makes the jump so much better.  I also can't believe how big Jake looks...

 He's learning and doing so well.  Oh, we were too lazy to take the whole safety net off.  It had to go on again before Connor and Bianca arrived this morning... 

 Getting ready to show off his butterfly wiggle...

 It's my favourite and I ask him to do it for me every day...

 That little bum popping out of the water is just too cute for words.  He can do the arms as well, which impresses me no end.  I couldn't do it if I tried...

 And then to follow up on my Thursday night date.  Danie surprised me and totally spoilt me by taking me to the gorgeous Signal Restaurant at the Cape Grace Hotel in the V&A Waterfront.  We ate and ate and ate and it was so delicious, but we were so stuffed by the end of it.  I had the most delicious Dorado and Danie had fillet steak.  He had yummy pepermint crisp tart for dessert and I had a caramel peacan nut tartlet, which wasn't great.  We had beautiful rolls and butters and olives and roasted peppers before our meal and our post-dinner cappucinos came with little biscuits, sweets and nougat.  Better than divine.  And it was so nice to go out and to be able to talk, without Jake interrupting for a change.  On top of all of that, I was also spoilt with a huge bunch of red roses, which look pink in my pictures for some reason (I didn't check my ISO settings or pictures when I took them.  At least the pictures look OK, even if the colour's out a little).  I've been a spoilt girl lately and it's been GREAT! The way it should be :o)...   

Hope you have a good week, it feels like it should be Friday and it's only Tuesday...

Love Sue X

Hard work pays...

At ease, boys...

 I shared photos a few weeks back of Jake becoming a cub and during the holidays we worked pretty hard on getting his first few badges.  Last night, I was invited back to watch them handing out the badges.  It was a good excuse to take my camera with and snap a few of Jake in his uniform with all his friends.

He's in the red six...

 The group are battling to get their numbers up.  There aren't enough girls to have a group of Brownies, so they are a mixed group of cubs. On Saturday morning between 9 & 12, the group will be meeting on the lawns of our local shopping centre, to play games and hand out flyers in an attempt to get other kids interested.  In today,s world, it's so good for them to be able to go off and have some good clean fun...

 Time for the badge ceremony, they gather in a circle...

 Each cub who's worked on badges gets a special mention, with a list of what they've done.  Jake's the newst cub and we did 4 badges during the holidays - fishing, family camping, birds and aircraft.  His sleeve is going to be full one of these days...

 

 Going up to get his badges...

 A special handshake from Akela and a special smile for mom.  Man, he's proud of himself...

Other than that, it's been a mostly good week.  We don't have too much planned for the weekend, which is always nice.  It does me good to slow down sometimes, although Jake doesn't really give me much chance for that anyway.  He's got a friend coming over to play tomorrow afternoon and I'm thinking about baking with them.  And then we've got cubs early on Saturday morning.  I'm supposed to be going on a date tonight, but after a less-than-romantic phone call this morning, I'm not really feeling very date-ish.  Hopefully my headache clears and his mood improves before then...

Lots of love,
Sue XXX

A Mother's Stresses...

Yesterday, Jake left his homework bag with his diary and homework in it at school.  He was very upset when he realised what he'd done and begged for me to take him back to school, something the school doesn't allow.  We managed to get the homework from a friend and he has done everything, besides having his diary and test book signed.  He knows though, that for these, he will be in trouble this morning. 

They work on a demerit system as of grade 2.  The kids get 3 warnings in the form of  a green, yellow and red card followed by a demerit, which involves detention with writing out.  After 5 demerits, they have to go to the Principal's office and letters are signed by the Principal and teacher and are sent home to the parents.  The warnings are given for things such as forgetting reply slips, not having books signed, forgetting phys ed togs, bad behaviour in class, etc.  The kids are petrified of demerits, even a warning towards on is frightening, so the system obviously works.  Anyway, today Jake gets his first warning towards a demerit.  It's a tough lesson to learn and he really didn't want to go to school today, but lessons must be learnt.  It was very hard for me to give his sad little face a hug and a kiss goodbye this morning and to leave him to face up to his problems on his own, but he has to grow up and he has to learn that there are consequences.  I hope that the green card on his desk will remind him every day to check that he has everything packed.

As for me, I'll just sit quietly in my office until 1pm comes and I can go fetch my baby and give him lots of love this afternoon.  By then, it'll all be over and forgotten for him.  I can't wait till 1pm...

Sue X

The Pizza Hut...

 Paul and Joanne bought my dad this nifty ceramic pizza oven for his 60th birthday.  We used to braai a lot in summer time, now we make pizzas.  It's a little smaller than a Weber, but has a very similar concept, with a solid ceramic plate inside, instead of a grid.  You pop your pizza onto the ceramic plate and leave it to cook for a few minutes.  The pizzas literally take 6 or 7 minutes to cook and if the coals are really hot, it can be even quicker.  You have to watch your bases, as these cook fastest.  As soon as the bottoms are cooked, there's a little grid that fits on top of the ceramic plate and allows the top of the pizza to cook, without cooking the base much more.  All in all, it's super nifty and fun and easy and cheaper than ordering in.  Everyone gets to make their own pizzas with the toppings of their choice and can roll their bases as thinly or thickly as you prefer.  You can only cook one pizza at a time, but with the cooking happening so fast, it really doesn't matter.  You can cook and share, or each have your own, which is what we generally do.

Joanne and her kids spent the night with my folks, because Paul was away doing the half iron man over the weekend with his brother.  He did it in about 5 hours 30 mins, so we're all very proud of him!  Anyway, it was great for Jo to see their gift in action!

Making the pizzas.  This was Connor's one...

And Jake's without the tomato base.  He does like tomato, but just wanted a garlic pizza and then I managed to convince him to add a few extra toppings...

Getting the pizza into the oven.  To do this, you need to use lots of flour.  Unfortunately, we didn't use enough and the kids pizzas were made first, so left to stand a little too long, so they stuck a little...

 Showing off his present...

 A finished product.  The oven was really hot last night and we were running a little late with getting Jake home and to bed on time, so the pizzas actually needed a little longer in the oven to make them a little more golden, but they were cooked through and we were too hungry to wait much longer...

 Connor enjoying his pizza...

 And giving me a "thumbs up"...

 Hahaha - he enjoyed his so much, he doubled the pieces up.  He's busy trying to cool down a piece of salami that he stole of Danie's pizza...

 Jake enjoying his too.  He had some left over and will be going to my mom for lunch after school to finish it off.  He was cold from swimming, hence the top...

 Ooohhh... this was mine.  Heavenly!  I had Feta (supposed to be blue cheese, but I don't eat mould), caramelised onion, pecan nuts, preserved figs, bacon and garlic with a sprinkling of cheddar on top. And yes, I did finish the whole thing. Total, total deliciousness...

 Mom and dad...

 And the little punks...

Sue XXX

I'm so glad that Friday's finally here!!  After my long holiday and a short week last week (I only came back to work on Wednesday), this week has just dragged by.  It's been a good week though and I've got a lot of things sorted out.  I even managed to get my tax stuff done so that Jo can get my return in (thanks!!).  Fingers crossed for a little something back, but I'm mostly happy not to have to pay anything in.

Besides that, my cleaning lady seems to have gone AWOL, so getting back into routine of doing all the housework again on my own.  It was a total spoil to have someone to help me, but so worth the money spent.  I just don't get to the big jobs, like washing windows.  And don't get me started on the pile of ironing that seems to be growing by the moment.

Jake's going home with a friend for a bit after school today, so I'm going to go home and get supper cooked, so we can have a nice, relaxed evening.  The other half's on standby again this weekend, so not sure when we'll see him.  He's had a tough week and hasn't been feeling great - I hope whatever bug he has disappears before we see him. 

Other than that, looking forward to a mostly quiet weekend, wishing you all the same!

Sue X

HOT!

As most of you know, I count the days down until summer arrives.  I love waking up to blue, cloudless skies, the longer days.  I love sitting with our doors and windows open till late in the evening.  I love being outside and going for a swim in my parent's pool with Jake (although their pump is broken at the moment!!).  I have longed for it to warm up and it has felt like a really long, cold, wet winter for me.  But this?  This is killing us!  It's extreme.  It's been well into the 30's this whole week and yesterday was just so humid.  I have a headache, I'm lethargic and I want to sleep.  Thank goodness I have my fan back, otherwise I don't know how I would've slept last night.  And, despite knowing that it's going to be slightly cooler today (just 31), it was wonderful to wake up this morning to the cool mist that has descended on our city.  I even got goosebumps when I took Jake to school, it was that cool.

I took these pics of Duracell yesterday.  He had been at my parent's house for the night on Tuesday, so we picked him up yesterday after school.  I try keep his basin filled with water for him and he was so happy to be able to hop in and cool off when we got home.  He kept turning in circles, trying to lie down, but he's too fat to get his whole body submerged.  He was even to hot to get out of the water to bark at a passing horse 'n cart, just sat there barking away.  Needless to say, he spent most of yesterday wallowing in the water.  And right now I'm leaning more towards getting a pool of our own put in rather than landscaping my garden...

 

Love Sue X



Big day for a little guy...

Connor started school today!  He's going to be going to the same playgroup that Jake went to a few years back (2008).  It feels like yesterday though and I can't quite get my head around the fact that my baby is this big child in these photos.  Where did the time go?  How did he get so tall?  Without shoes on, he takes me virtually up to my shoulder

Anyway, Corky has been super excited about starting school.  He's had to learn how to use the potty, so that he can go in undies instead of nappies and he's feeling so grown up.  He really is a lovely little boy and I'm sure his mum and dad are very proud of the beautiful little boy they have.  He does have a lot of energy, so I'm sure he's going to enjoy the new challenges and adventures school with bring him.  He's is very talkative and picks up everything.  He comes out with the funniest things, like "will you listen to me?".  He has come out with a few unsavoury four-letter words recently, but we'll just blame his dad for those and keep our fingers crossed that he never uses them at school. 

So, with his bags packed and excitement mounting, I snapped a few precious moments before he headed off for his first school day (he actually only left 45 mins after these pictures, but Jake had to get to school)

Paul & Jo both took Connor to school this morning and Jo has the day off so that she can pick him up too.  Like all mommies, she was a bit sad leaving her baby behind, I guess it's never nice admitting that they're growing up and becoming independent of us, but that's what it's all about.  We have to set ourselves aside and do what is best for our kids.  The time we have with them just goes too quickly.

Lots of love,
Sue X