We Wish You...

A Merry Christmas!!

(Finally)

Unfortunately, I'm working this morning (which is so awful, I swear I'll never do it again; especially not when Christmas Eve falls on a Monday!), but my leave starts as of this afternoon.  I'll be off until the 7th and I am really looking forward to spending my time with Jake.  I have lots planned!  

We are having Christmas lunch with my family tomorrow and spent the past weekend camping with Jacques' family.  We had the most wonderful time and it was so relaxing.  Besides poor old me, everybody else is on holiday already and Jake is spending the morning helping my mom make pudding for tomorrow and set the table.  Jake is so super excited about Christmas, so I'm really looking forward to enjoying the day with him!  I think this might be his last magical one, so I plan to make it an extra special one for him!!

So, on that note, sending you all the biggest Christmas blessings possible!  May all your wishes and dreams come true and I hope you have the most wonderful day with your family and friends.

With love,

Sue XXX

PS.  Our burglar bars were installed on Friday and so Jake and I will be having Christmas in our own little home.  We are thrilled!

A Perfect Evening...

Sunday was the most gorgeous day ever.  The sun shone and for a change, there was not a breath of wind in sight.  Sunday, was also our annual trip to Uncle Paul's Party at Groot Constantia.  While it was the first year for Connor to be officially invited, it was sadly the last year for Jake.  I was feeling very emotional about it all - I hate how quickly Jake seems to be growing up these days, but once we were there, we had as much of a fabulous time as we always do at Uncle Paul's.

Above is Jake waiting for the tractor to take us up the hill to the Uncle Paul's magic castle.  Below, the Duncan family enjoying their first tractor ride with both their kids...

Bianca really had an absolute ball.  From beginning to end and it was so wonderful to share it with her...

As usual, there were straw fights for all.  My mom (in blue) is a huge fan and Jo & the kids loved joining in.  Jake loves throwing huge heaps at straw at all of us and we all go home with straw in places where there shouldn't be straw...

Bianca was squealing with excitement...

Corky still isn't a huge straw fan, but he had fun this year...

These are just some of my favourites of Bi enjoying the straw...

A little giggle...

And throwing with all her might...

Jake tends to get a little carried away and forgets that his cousins are quite a bit smaller than him.  Poor Corky is oblivious as to what he's about to be hit with...

Corky getting ready for a return assault...

Jake doesn't care though - the more the better.  He loves every moment...

It was quite fun having Jo join in the fun with us.  She got lots of straw in her hair this year...

And Bi was very concerned about getting her mommy's hair clean again...

Who can I get next??

My mom managed to get some snaps of Jake and I playing too.  I must remember next time to wear my hair a) straight and b) tied up.  It was a mass of straw by the time I got home...

Sometimes I'm successful in getting nice pics of all 3 of the kids.  Providing Jake and Corky aren't too close to each other...

Uh-oh, I think I'm in trouble...

Yes, they got me.  And my camera...

An excited little guy.  I love this photo, such a happy little face...

Bi loved having everyone (Jo & my mom) running after her and having to catch her.  It was a huge game...

Hi Jake...  Smile for me?

Thank you, Jake.  You're cute and I love you, but you REALLY need a hair cut now. Please...

Jake was very protective of his mammoth heap of straw, which made him an easy target, because he wasn't moving.  He did eventually leave it when we went marching with the band...

What you doing Corky?

I'll show you, Auntie Sue.  I grab a big heap of straw and then I throw it up into the air, so that it lands on my head (mind your head, Jake)...

The straw fighting stopped once the Salvation Army Band arrived...

My mother loves joining in the fun...

The band was another highlight for Bi - she loved clapping and dancing along with their music...

She even got involved in trying out the drums...

Happy family...

After the band, Noddy (or Nobby as Bi calls him) and his friends arrive with ice-creams for everyone.  Jake is a lucky boy to have all his grandparents join him for the fun and yes dad, we see you enjoying that ice-cream...

Corky's always been a huge Noddy fan, but things are changing.  This was the closest he'd come to a smile with Noddy for me though.  Noddy is definitely NOT as cool as Spider man...

As the sun sets, the magic fairy lights come on and it's time for carols...

Corky wanted a picture of himself smiling, beautiful boy...

The singing is closed off with Silent Night, which is Father Christmas' favourite carol.  The magic lights are blown out and Father Christmas arrives quite literally with a bang.  The kids wait in anticipation for their names to be called out and hurry to claim their gifts...

Out of all the kids there, Corky's name was called out immediately after Jake's, so they went up to fetch their gifts together - special...

Father Christmas' fairy comes too.  She brings magic sweets, which don't rot your teeth...

The gifts are opened, with great excitement.  Jake got a magic crystal growing tree, go-gos, chocolate popping candy and a box of jelly beans...

Corky got a yo-yo, a Frisbee and a new Spongebob DVD...

Bi got a Teletubbies DVD inside Corky's present too...

I have hundreds of photos and it was a real challenge to narrow them down to these "few".  It was such a special evening and we all have happy memories to carry with us forever.

Wishing you all a very happy weekend!

Love,

Sue XXX

Christmas Time...

On Wednesday evening, we took Jake into town on our traditional outing to see the Christmas lights up Adderley Street.  It was a lovely evening and we thoroughly enjoyed the lights, once again.  There weren't too many changes from last year, but the lights were gorgeous never-the-less.  We had our traditional McDonald's burgers (yes, you read right, McDonald's!) for supper in the car, while we waited for the lights to come on.  Such fun when you're an 8-year old boy!!  Above is a picture of the lights up in the Golden Acre.

Reindeer crossing...

A seaside scene of fishing boats and little fish......

 Looking down Adderley...

 The Christmas tree has been upgraded this year and now includes a sleigh with presents...

 My favourite set of lights is the nativity; it's what it's all about, really.  I love how baby Jesus wiggles his arms about in his crib...

 Jake slept in a bit on Thursday morning - it's what you do when you're on holiday.  I woke him up before I left work. Hilux has been visiting during the mornings, while Rosie & Gareth have some building work done at their house.  He was quick to jump on Jake to wake him up...

 He was keen to have another snooze too, but once boys are awake, there's no going back to sleep...

 I love this photo of Jake.  The way his eyes crinkle on the sides - he looks just like Jacques...

 Hilux is always keen to dish out free cuddles.  He just kinda flops into any willing arms...

 He can sometimes behave himself and look all proper like too.  Only sometimes though.  And, yes, he is on the bed...

 Yesterday also saw Jake & I putting up our Christmas tree at home.  Since we're hoping to be back in by Christmas, we need a tree for presents to be left under.  Below, Jake's busy setting up all the loose table decorations.  I have a lot of Christmas clutter and  love it.  I will never grow up about Christmas...

 Our beautiful tree...

 Jake remembered as we were about to leave the house, that he hadn't done his letter to Santa yet and quickly scribbled a note for him, making sure he put all his wishes down properly.  Unfortunately, Santa was obviously very busy last night, because Jake's letter was still under the tree this morning.  Fingers are crossed that he collects it sometime during the day, but Duracell is a bit of a concern...

Hope you're all getting into the spirit of Christmas and that your shopping's finished.  We have our work Christmas party tomorrow night.  We're a smallish group this year, but we all get on really well, so it should be fun.  We have a taxi service, so we don't have to worry about drinking and driving!  On Sunday night, we're going to Uncle Paul's Christmas Party at Groot Constantia and we're all super excited about that.  This is Jake's last time, where he actually gets a letter posted to him by Father Christmas and gets his name called out to get a gift.  I'm sure we'll go again with Jo & Paul's family, but I am REALLY sad that this is Jake's last time.  My baby's getting too big too fast!  We have a public holiday on Monday, so a nice long weekend ahead for us.  I was hoping to take Jake sand boarding, but they're fully booked, so we might find a quiet spot to fish the day away.

With Love,

Sue X