What a busy week...

 This week has been crazy to say the least and lots and lots of fun at the same time.  Jake's had a fantastic week at school, starting with a whole day of group project work on Monday.  They had to build a tower using paperclips and straws and masking tape.  Jake was very chuffed that their tower was chosen to be used for display later in the year. 

Tuesday was interhouse gala day and Jake was chosen to swim freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and the relay.  He was very excited - it was his first real gala, so he was also very nervous.  Needless to say, I took the day off work, so that I could be there to cheer!  It's always nice to see Jake having some fun with his friends too - be that little fly on the wall for a moment...

 The school has cheer leading committees for the various houses and they each get a turn to put on a little show for the kids.  They love it...

 Getting ready for the relay...

 Jake was the last swimmer for his team and they came 1st!!

 Swim Jake, swimmmm...

 This boy is getting too tall and look how lanky he is now too...

 Getting ready for his freestyle race...

 Just about ready to go - you can see how nervous Jake is.  That's his rugby coach with him...

 Starting blocks and all...

 Jake was doing well at the start, but slowed down on the second lap and came in 4th.  He wasn't too phased by it and I was so full of pride that he'd made it this far.  He did so well...

 Jake's cousin Becky is in grade 7, so still at Primary School with Jake - she's in the far lane...

 Becky and Jake - he's very proud of the fact that his cousin's a prefect...

 The Grade 5 fun race...

 It was a relay race and the whole class had to get back and sit down to win.  That's Jake's teacher too...

 Jake's class came first - they were thrilled.  Not sure what's going on with Jake's ribs in this pic, it looks like he hasn't eaten in months...

 Next up was back stroke.  Jake's backstroke is very cute.  He's very worried about getting his hands moving properly.  Again, he was doing super well, but a bad turn at the end of the first length saw him shift from 2nd to 4th spot...  Better luck next time...

 The rest of the senior primary (the non-swimmers) cheering...  Yellow house won the spirit cup and came in second overall...

 Hahaha... you can see how nervous Jake is here...

 I can't do butterfly to save my life and so it always amazes me how Jake can get it fairly well done at his age...

 And breathe...

 Hahaha... love the bubble frozen in the water in his nostril...

 Becky's really the golden girl of the moment.  She's doing unbelievably well with her swimming at the and managed to break all 4 of the school records at the gala!  She doesn't like us to brag about her swimming and prefers to be quiet in her successes.  She is phenomenal though and gets medals for every event she takes part in, usually all of them.  At the tender age of 12, she's been given a sponsorship through Speedo and it's clear to all of us that she's going places with her swimming We are already saving for our tickets to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics to cheer her on...

 She's so used to being on the pool deck, she doesn't seem nervous at all...

 After the gala, Jake was exhausted, but still had his usual swimming training to go to, but we'd planned to come home and make jaffles on the fire - Jake was thrilled...

 OK, so we haven't done this in a while and I'm guessing that a hotter fire would've been better.  We waited a while for those toasties, but filled with bolognese, they were worth the wait.  Boy were they good!

 Jake loves cooking over an open fire... he gets that from his dad...

 Checking to see if the toasty's getting toasty yet...

 Wednesday saw Jake heading off to S.O.S. for his first school camp.  He's done a couple of cubs camps now, so he was actually more than OK to go this time, especially since all his friends were going.  I was genuinely very excited for him.  We went S.O.S. too as kids (we were 10) and I can still remember it so clearly. 

 Getting in their class lines...

 Oh my, I've missed this beautiful face...

 Waiting to be allowed onto the bus...

 Jake was apparently very keen to get going...

 But had to wait a few more moments while the teachers gave their instructions.  The mommies all stood back for a bit, but as soon as it was time for the kids to leave, rushed forward for one more kiss (not me - my eyes were leaking and I didn't want Jake to see)...

 All loaded and ready to go!  The kids were chanting "S.O.S" already - my heart went out to the teachers and driver...

 I struggled to find Jake, but eventually found my little facie looking at me through the window, from in the shadows ...

 With a toot-toot and lots of cheering, it was time to go...

 As the mom who's done the camp thing before this with cubs, I think I probably cried more than any other parent there!!  It's different though, when you're a single mom with an only child.  Jake is almost my whole world and everything kind of slows down when he's not around.  My house is cleaner than it's been in a while and I've really had to keep busy.  I had an awesome evening with my mom and dad on Wednesday night - we did some shopping and had dinner out.  Last night I went out with Marius, which is also always good.  But it's the inbetween time that's so quiet and lonely.

Anyway, the bus left S.O.S (in Villiersdorp) about and hour ago and they are due back at school at 1pm.  Our school ommunicator has been down due to a virus on the server and so we have no idea what the kids have been getting up to.  It's super exciting knowing they're on their way home and I cannot wait to get my arms around Jake again!  hahaha... just the thought of makes my eyes well up! Absence really does make the heart grow fonder!  Even just 2 days...

We have an even busier weekend coming up and so I'm already looking forward to Monday morning.

Wishing you all a happy safe weekend!

Love,

Sue XXX