Our Holiday Part 5: Sun Time is Fun Time...

 Despite life being hectic between Christmas, New Year and Birthdays, I managed to get a few days off work to enjoy some of the school holidays with Jake.  Unfortunately, Christmas isn't a great time to be in Cape Town, everything is so insanely busy, that I'd rather have my leave in June, when you don't have to queue up for hours to do anything.  That said, the weather's been really good and Jake and I did manage to do a few fun things in between.  High on Jake's list was to do the dry land toboggan run again.  I decided I'd brave it too and was left shaking like a leaf - it's fast, but I'd do it again.  We bought a 20 ride ticket to share and while I only went once and Jake twice, the ticket is open ended and we can go again any time.  Jake hurt his hand on his second trip and was a little shaken.

The ride to the top is slow and takes a long time...

 Jake's the tiny little bump going under the first tent on the way up there.  You can see the zig-zag pipe for the downward trip...

 Here's Jake coming in to slow down for the finish...

 Another outing saw us fishing at the old quary dam on Hillcrest, which is just up the road from home.  Unfortunately, you have to pay to get in and for any fish you catch, so it's not always a cheap outing... 

  The dam is filled with bass, trout, carp and babel (catfish).  Jake desperately wants to catch a carp, which is why we picked this spot...

 Check out the excitement - all ready to start...

 His new tackle box was packed and ready for its first fishing trip...

 Jake is incredibly patient.  He can sit and fish for hours.  I imagine that, for him, it's a little like the thrill of gambling.  While his line's in the water, there's always a chance of catching something.  Unfortunately, it wasn't his day (again) and we went home empty handed...

 I found a thistle!  In South Africa - I had no idea!!

 I looked after Jo & Paul's kids for New Year's Eve.  Jo dropped them off really early, so it was a long stretch, but fun.  I love spending time with the kids. They had supper and ice lollies in the garden and Jake entertained them with his remote control truck.  Bi was particularly taken with the truck, Corky was a little scared of it running into him (accidentally on purpose, knowing Jake), so sat with me instead...

 Corky with his blankie and his bear...

 Cute pictures, just for their mommy...

 TV helps to pass the time sometimes.  Bi is particularly enthralled with Barney at the moment.  She just can't get close enough to the TV...

 Once Bi had gone to bed, Jake and Corky opened the glow sticks that his mom had packed for them to share.  It kept them both very happy for ages...

 Corky got to bed at about 9pm, Jake and I around 2am.  Corky & Bi were up and ready to go at 6ish, so there was a long day ahead.  Jake and I spent most of the 1st slobbing on the couch.  Sometimes you need it.  Even Duracell was tired out...

 Somewhere shortly after New Year, we went with friends to visit Jake's grandparents at their campsite for the day.  The kids had a ball playing on the beach, while us ladies tried to catch some sun...

 It's so great to see all the kids playing nicely and having fun together.  With Jake are his cousins, Abi & Becky and my friend Jacki's son, Steven.  Steven's starting high school next week - I can't get over that...

 Back at the campsite, the kids played ball...

 Abi's going into grade 7 this year.  She's also a prefect, so we're all super proud of her.  She's really grown up in the last year or so.  Look at those long, skinny legs; what I wouldn't give for a pair of those...

 She's beautiful on the inside and out and she doesn't even know it...

 This is Jake's grandparent's campsite.  They've got a permanent site, so their caravan stays there all year round.  At the back, they've got the extra tents to accommodate their visitors.  It's all very organised inside, they've got 2 fridges and a chest freezer, electricity and even an ice maker...

The campsite has been named "Louis Ville", after Jake's great grandpa.  Papa Louis used to love visiting the campsite and just chilling under the trees.  Jake loves it, because his middle name is Louis too...

 Amongst other things, Jake was able to harvest his very first pumpkin.  Unfortunately, he was so eager, that he picked it a little early and it was still green...

 We've eaten sushi.  Lots of sushi.  Jake is particularly fond of caviar, something I mentally just can't bring myself to eat...

 He has his father's big mouth.  In it goes...

 That's half the fun for Jake, to see how much he can actually stuff into his mouth in one go...

 We've spent some time in the garden.  Just titivating, really.  Everything's filled out so nicely and both Jake and I are loving our special outdoor space...

  Our second pumpkin was harvested too.  We've since learnt that they need to dry out a little before we cut them open...

 The veggie patch is growing like mad - spinach, pumpkin, and sweetcorn all in this snap...

 The tree wisteria that I thought was dying has done an amazing recovery and is full of leaves again.  I can't wait for it to be full of purple flowers!  I've been trying to find another one for my front yard, but they're difficult to come by...

 Jake loves pottering around the garden...

 While I'm showin gthe garden, here are my new burglar bars.  Probably a bit of an overkill and not very pretty, but they make me feel safe in my home and that's worth so much more than anything else!

 I'm filling my garden with love.  I got this grorgeous mobile from Rosie & Gareth for Christmas...

 We've bought some little solar lights too.  They're not madly bright, just give a little twinkle in the dark, really.  I absolutely love looking out into the garden at night and seeing them glowing.  We still need a few more...

 Jake and I finished his 1500 piece puzzle that he got for Christmas.  Father Christmas is nuts 1500 pieces!!  It was VERY difficult and Jake won't let me break it up to put back in the box, so it's still sitting on our diningroom table...

 We've braaied with friends and family - here's Jake and his second cousin Dylan, who was visiting from Johannesburg...

 We met Boris, who is a HUGE 4-month old Dogue de Bordeaux.  He is a very good puppy and I nearly stole him for my own, until he pooped on the lawn and I decided I can't deal with so much poop...

 Jake with his second cousins: Dylan, Jake, Angus, Eve and Larissa.  Dylan and Larissa are brother & sister as are Eve and Angus.  Jake, Dylan and Eve were all born within 6 weeks of each other...

 I got some pretty flowers from a secret admirer (my mom, silly!!).  Yellow is my favourite colour, it just feels warm and sunny and summery and happy...

 I like these creamy ones too...

 More love for the garden, but too pretty to stay outside...

 And that brings me up-to-date on all our holiday news.  Jake goes back to school on Wednesday, so I've taken the last two days of his holiday off work and have a lovely long weekend ahead.  We're going off to the campsite again today, just for one night and we're braai'ing with friends tomorrow afternoon.  Jake wants to go fishing again one last time, so I'll try do that on either Monday or Tuesday.  Can't wait to have fun with Jake before all the hard work of the new term begins!

Hope you all have a happy, safe weekend.

Love,

Sue XXX