A Crazy Time...

I have been separated from the outside world, so to say, since I dropped my precious Blackberry into the loo a few weeks ago.  The joys of keeping your phone in your back pocket - we live and learn.  Anyway, it happened just before Christmas and so I have only recently been brave enough to return to the shops to drop it off for repairs.

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

Chapter one is closed...

Well, today was the last day of grade 1 for my little man.  I did have quite a lump in my throat as I waited in the playground for the bell to ring, signalling the end of his first school year.  Where did the time go?  It feels like only yesterday that Jake was starting Grade 1 and now the year is through and he's ready to move onto new challenges in Grade 2.He's had a wonderful year and he has learnt so much.  Perhaps that's part of the reason why this year feels like it should only be half way done, not over entirely...

Besides the obvious lessons he's learnt, like maths and reading (both which he loves) and writing (which he's not so good at), he's learnt so many other life skills.  Like learning to play barefoot.  Before the year began, he wouldn't take his shoes off for anything and now I can barely get him to put them on.  He's lost a whole bunch of teeth, which has changed his face so much (especially where he still has half teeth growing). And he's gotten so tall, he's nearly up to my shoulder already.  He's learnt how to be part of a formal education system, what it means to line up when the bell rings, how to sit quietly through assembly and how to sit at a desk and get his work done.  He's learnt how to use a urinal.  He's learnt how to put his school costume (black speedo) on underneath his school clothes, so that he doesn't have to get nekked in front of his friends.  He's learnt how to climb into an icy cold swimming pool at 8:30am for PT and enjoy it.  He's done athletics and played tennis and been exposed to sports he's never heard about.  He's taken part in athletics day and won his first ever sprint.  He's loved learning how to be part of a team as he signed up for cricket and then rugby.  He's been part of a winning team and part of a losing team.  He's learnt how to steal his way into his teachers heart by spoiling her with biscuits and chocolates (suction).  He's learnt to call our good family friend and his school principal, Mr instead of Uncle.  He's learnt the F word.  He's learnt where to buy Chip 'n Dip after school on the big kids playground.  He's learnt that you don't get on with everyone and that some kids are just more annoying than others.  He's learnt that it's not very nice to be bullied.  He's got lots of lovely new friends and hopefully has many more to come in the years ahead.  He's learnt what it's like to have family at school with him.  Becky is in Grade 3 and Abi in Grade 5 and he's loved seeing them in the mornings before the bell rings.  I think he feels very proud to get hugs and kisses from the bigger girls.  He's also learnt how to melt his mother's heart in a thousand new ways.  Gosh, the more he grows, the more I love this boy...

Jake met his new teacher yesterday and he is thrilled with who he's getting.  Aptly, he's going to be in the Bugs classroom (like the movie), so he's super stoked about that.  His teacher is 5 or 6 years younger than me and has a baby of 1.  She taught Jake's cousin and Jake's Auntie Josette taught her in her first year of teaching.  I am confident that it's going to be a happy new year for him.  But for now, I'm looking forward to the holidays.  Maybe even more than Jake...

Enjoy the weekend everyone!!

Sue X

5 Minutes of anonymous fame...

A friend of ours, Justin, works for New Balance.  He's a brand manager and one of Danie's closest friends.  New Balance recently launched a new limited edition range of shoes and as part of their launch had a little movie made.  Justin asked Danie to help out as they planned their secret launch.  Danie was recruited as the biker, which gave him a good excuse to hop into the seat again and ride like a maniac through Cape Town's city streets.  It also meant buying a pretty new helmet.  Click here to watch the video.  The introduction is done by Justin and besides the photo above the video, you won't see Danie's face in the movie.

Unfortunately, I was only told about the launch 10 days before the event (last Friday) and being the very busy girl that I am, I missed out on the evening's fun.  I think the guys were all there sans partners, so it was probably a good thing that I was out with the girls for the evening.  I've been dying to see the video and it didn't disappoint. Well done to all involved!

Now go buy some New Balance shoes, OK?

Sue X

What a sport...

 Yesterday was the school's foundation phase athletics day.  Talk about excitement!  Jake couldn't sleep the night before and was up at the crack of dawn.  In the lead up to the day, they'd done some practising at school and Jake was convinced he was the best kid in grade 1.  Time would tell.

Jake's in yellow house.  Thank goodness he looks better in yellow than I do.  He's sitting dead in the middle, 2 rows behind the picnic basket, in between the two mommies...

Connor came with my dad to cheer on his big cousin...

 As the time drew near for Jake's race to start, the boys all had to line up and get themselves in their little groups and rows.  Father Christmas stopped by to chuck some sweets out to the kids.  Jake's under his armpit...

Jake with some friends, Nicholas and Umveli...

Cheese...

Taking a serious moment to think about his big run (60m sprint)...

Actually, I recognise that guy!  Duncan?  Father Christmas was also the trigger guy...

On your marks (Jake's 2nd from the left)...

Get set...

Go?  I didn't post the go photo, it was terrible.  Jake was pulling a horrendous face and I was cheering too much to get anything sharply in focus.  Jake came first in his heat though and I am super proud of him.  Next time he tries to blow his own trumpet, by telling me there are only 3 kids faster than him, I'll believe him!

Connor took part in the toddler's race.  That kid loves to run.  He can run and run and run around the swimming pool like you've never seen before.  Needless to say, he was one of the youngest to take part and to finish the run...

All lined up and ready to go, just having a quick chat with the teacher...

The whistle goes and Corky is still chatting up a storm, while the other kids gun it to the finish line...

The most important thing about running in a race is to have fun and boy, oh boy, did he have fun...

He was looking for Jake in this pic...

Jake's time qualified him for the final, so there was another race - thank goodness the last one for the day.  I don't think my poor heart could've coped with more.  Jake wants the lady in white to be his grade 2 teacher, he finds out on Thursday...

All talk at the start line.  I think he was trying to wind up his buddies, telling them he was going to win...

I love this picture, he looks so proud of himself and a lot like his dad.  Where did those shoulders come from?  He looks so grown up.  Maybe it's the long hair that he wants me to shave off on Friday after school...

And since I was closer this time around, I'll bore you with some more starting pics...

GO!  At least I got a shot this time, but it's the only "running" shot I got on the day...

Jake was pretty disappointed when he returned to his group, that he hadn't come first again, but he took it well and didn't say anything bad to anyone.  He tells me he was swearing in his head though (saying 'idiot' about the guys that beat him).  He did really well and the competition was tough.  All the kids he told me were faster than him were in the race.  And at least he didn't come stone last (I think he was 5th or 6th out of 8 boys)...

Jake's cousin Becky is in Grade 3, so it's her last year in the Foundation Phase.  I took this picture as I was leave, I had to get to work. Jake tells me that they spent the rest of the day together.  Becky sat on the edge of her house and Jake sat on the edge of his.  So sweet, when they want to be...

Other than the excitement of sports day yesterday, life is just too hectic and the festive season is well and truly here.  I feel as though we should only be starting the 3rd school term and the fourth one finishes on Friday.  This year has just flown by, perhaps because it's been such a full, busy one for Jake.  He is totally excited about starting grade 2 now and is looking forward to the holidays.  We used to have a wonderful 6 week break over Christmas, but this year the holiday is just 4 weeks, so feels a lot shorter for us all.

I am finally starting to feel human again after our very busy weekend.  I had my year end book club dinner on Friday night, which was divine and Jake had 3 birthday parties.  In between was very little time to sleep, especially since Danie was on standby.  Tomorrow night is our dinner club party and we're off to Bombay Bicycle Club for dinner - I can't wait.  I have heard such good things about the restaurant.  Jake's also going to be invested as a cub tomorrow night, so running around today to get his uniform sorted (they only let me know today where to go and what to buy) and to help him learn his promise and law.  He is very excited, pictures will follow on Thursday (if I survive dinner club's party!).

Lots of love to you all,

Sue X