Anyway, here I am. I haven't sent any Christmas wishes to anyone, nor New Year messages (bar a few friends I managed to reach on Twitter yesterday), so Merry Christmas! I hope that you had a special time with your nearest and dearest and that you were all as spoilt as you deserve!! And Happy New Year! 2012! Wow, when did that happen? Feels like just yesterday it was 1992, a sure sign that age is setting in! I hope that it will be a year filled with the happiest memories for everyone.
So, time for me to play catch up. I'm sure you're not all that interested in everything that's gone down during my blogging absence, but since I do use my blog to sorta journal Jake's life, I need to go back and post photos from ages ago...
A few weeks back, we took a trip through to one of our favourite places in the world, Buitenverwachting. Jake's Auntie Tam had a friend visiting from France to make a music video and he wanted to get the kids involved in the video. Jake was more interested in checking out the new vines. It always makes me a little sad to think about what his life would've been like. He had the most wonderful, patient dad, who would've spent hours out in the fields with him explaining the hows and whys...
We spent a bit of time in the cellar and managed, with a bit of persuasion to get Jake into a tank. Little monkey...
There are lots of Spotted Eagle Owls on the farm and they've been busy breeding. We were fortunate to spot a few. This is mommy...
And these are the kids...
Another trip saw us visiting the Wings and Wheels air/car show at Ysterplaat with the cubs group that Jake joined at the end of last year. Here he is with his friend Jonathan, checking out some old war gear...
The boys were super cute and loved being able to hop onto the cars, etc. Jake was so proud to be able to go out in his uniform with his pack...
In the build up to Christmas, we also attended Uncle Paul's Christmas party again. It's such a lovely tradition for the kids and you can just feel their excitement. Connor joined us again this year, next time he'll be old enough to get his own invitation and Jake will be on his last...
He wasn't that keen on getting the straw down his top though...
Jake doesn't mind it at all, the more the better, bring it on...
Cousins sharing a moment...
As usual, the Salvation Army Band came for a bit and we all got to march behind them...
Jake, Connor & Jo enjoying the music. Jo actually looks more excited than the boys. Hahaha...
Noddy and the gang popped in too, with their wafer ice-creams for us all. Connor is into Noddy in a big way, it's very cute...
Next up was Father Christmas. Connor went up with Jake to fetch his gift. Father Christmas was so clever though - even though Connor wasn't officially invited to the party (you have to be 3) and wasn't eligible for a gift, he had one wrapped up inside Jake's present...
Jake getting stuck into his gift of magic putty, sticky wall-crawling bugs and a bunch of junk. At this point, he wasn't too impressed that he had to share his present with his little cousin. The fact that Connor's gift was physically bigger didn't help matters either. Needless to say, once the gifts were open, he was thrilled with his haul...
Connor's also very into Thomas the Train, so was also thrilled with his gift...
One last cuddle before the tractor ride back down to the car...
Jake's grandparents spend their Christmas holidays camping in Kommetjie. Those of you who know me well, know that I'm not the world' greatest camper, I think mostly because of ablution blocks, however, Jake loves it. He had a badge to work on, which entailed helping to put a tent up and spending a night in it, so that's what we did. He and his grandad put the tent up and Danie, Jake and I slept in it. He braai'ed meat and potatoes over the braai too, which was delicious...
The men, happy with the results of their tent building...
Danie's mom bought Jake roller blades for Christmas (they were on his wish list) and he barely took them off. I'm very surprised at how well he manages on them...
Other festivities included Christmas carols on the Marina. My folks joined us and we went to the carols by boat...
Residents and friends all meet together with picnics and drinks to relax and enjoy the singing either on the water or along the banks. It's something so different...
My baby and I...
It's a little blurred (like a few others), but just so you can get the feeling of what it was like after dark...
On Christmas Eve, Danie, Jake and I went to midnight church and came home very late and still had to put snacks and drinks out for Father Christmas and his reindeer. Unfortunately, I forgot to buy carrots, so the reindeer had to settle for apricots this year...
Christmas morning and Jake was up just before 7am (yes, he was exhausted)...
He was ecstatic with his gifts, especially his new wii game...
Just making sure there's nothing else hiding at the bottom of his sack...
Once we'd finished opening presents, we headed off to my folks to get ready for lunch, but first, more presents. Actually the gifts from my family were amongst the only gifts I got to opened on Christmas day (I did get a super cozzie from my in-laws before Christmas). Danie and I have started a holiday fund, so we decided before Christmas that we'd get small gifts, no more than R100.00 for each other. I spent hours baking meringues and fudge and little vouchers; Danie gave me R100 in an envelope. I'm saving it for a rainy day. He wasn't popular, but saved himself by giving me a huge bottle of my current favourite perfume - Vera Wang. Lucky (for him)...
Connor got a new bike from Father Christmas. He's not that keen on it though, he prefers his old black scooter...
These are some of the little characters that go with Jake's new wii game...
They're very cute. You load the character onto the game and it comes to life on the TV. They all have different strengths and powers, so he's loving it...
Cooking the peas he grew in the garden to go with our lunch...
Duracell got a bone, he was also stoked with his gift, which he has no doubt buried somewhere in my parent's garden to rot for a rainy day...
Popping crackers...
Connor got vampire teeth in his cracker...
Our gorgeous little Bianca...
After lunch, it was time for a dip in the pool. Christmas day was super hot, so we all enjoyed the pool...
Even little Bianca...
Corky got a new Woody (Toy Story) bathing costume from Danie, Jake and I. He looks super cute in it...
Hopefully I'll be back with more pictures on Monday. We were away for a few days and did some fun things, so a couple of snaps of all that to follow.
I hope that you're all well, looking forward to finding a moment to catch up on everyone else's news as soon as I get a free moment!!
Love Sue XXX
2 comments:
I'm so happy to read and see that life has been treating you well!
Everyone looks great but I cannot believe how Connor and even Bianca have grown.
Where has the time gone?
Hugs and Happy New Year!
;o)
- Lee
Nice to hear from you, have a wonderful 2012
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