The holidays are OVER *pout, sniff* but being on holiday taught me so many little important things. Connecting with the boys doesn't just mean being around and hanging out with the boys. Sometimes I get so tied up in everything going on and I miss out on Noah's big little personality. This holiday I had time to listen to him, really really listen. Not just "You want more milk in your cereal, okay - next task" but his little quirks like asking where pink oatees come from and why some are pink and others are chocolate and others are plain. My rushed answer would be "because Pick n Pay said so" and by doing that I'm missing out on growing his imagination and killing his curiosity with the mundane, ordinary and predictable. A better answer would be to say that Oatees maybe change color depending on their mood, or that that there were lots of strawberry patches in the oat fields that day, or that it rained chocolate that week so all the oatees came out like that. You know? I feel like such a bad mother for being so... normal. Sure I have questionable parenting tactics (once threw a balloon out of a moving vehicle because the boys were arguing about it - broke the law, I know) but one thing I am so hardcore about is creativity, imagination and play.
We took the boys to Newlands forest last week, and as we walked through the trails, I tried to convince Noah that Dinosaurs live there. I kept going on and on about how we must be quiet for the dinosaurs and fairies, but I couldn't convince him. I so badly want to fill his head with nonsense and dreams and fairy tales, and I need to make more time for it, I do. He is at such a precious age, and almost starting school. I am TERRIFIED that he's going to ask for anything Spiderman / Ben Ten / Spongebob as he doesn't own any of those things now - I'm trying to keep him out of the mainstream for as long as I can. I don't even know why I do it, maybe because Graeme and I work in advertising and media and we know too many details.
We went for such a nice walk at Newlands Forest with the Smals (and Banjoe too) which the boys loved. I did have a mini "this is going to end up like the Blair Witch Project moment" but we found our way back to the main trail. In my mind, we almost never made it home. Obviously.
On Saturday I was invited on to Susana Kennedy's radio show, on 2OceansVibe. It was so nice to catch up with her and to discuss our plans and projects for the new year. While I was there, we basically decided to do a winter blanket drive together, which we're starting on next month. We also chatted about the creche in Gugulethu that we assisted, and again a big high five to my sponsors. Pampers donated ONE HUNDRED packs of nappies, Avent donated bottles and sippy cups and Spar Freshline donated snacks, stationery and fruit. Really, so amazing. I'll post pictures really soon. Thanks again for having me Sus.
On Saturday we also made our way to the beach, and met some really nice people. I've got my radar on to meeting more fun, young parents, and it's been detecting really cool people lately. I'm really set in my ways and I need to be more confident when it comes to meeting new friends.
We were Xmas-gifted tickets for the Cable Car - all the way from Graeme's brother Timothy in the UK. Such a lovely gesture, thanks so much Tim! It is seriously beautiful up there, and I hadn't been on the cable car since I was a kid. You should follow @TableMountainCA as they always tweet on visibility, opening times, temperature etc. However. I will not be taking the boys again until they are at least 30. My nerves with two toddlers on top of a mountain were shattered. All they wanted to do was look and CLIMB over the edge all day. There were loads of queues and tourists, but it would be expected in the first week of January, so it was a bit silly of us. The boys, however energetic they were, had an absolute blast. Thank you so so much Tim & Kate!
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| This image was politely stolen from http://tablemountain.net/ |
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| This image, also politely stolen from http://tablemountain.net/ |
On Sunday we went to De Waal Park for their epic free concerts. We packed snacks, toys, blankets and a cooler bag and headed out at 4ish. It was so much fun, I LOVE Karen Zoid. She was so great on stage and her voice is so beautiful. We met with other rabbits and friends and made more promises for dinners and things at our hutch. I'm totally picking up friends everywhere we go. Go look at this link to see the line up for the rest of the free concerts in the park.
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| Image politely stolen from http://www.dewaalpark.co.za/events-in-de-waal-park/ |
I hope that all my readers had a good and happy holiday with everyone that you love. I'm happy to be back at work, I love this place. I'm so excited to see what this year has in store, and to push myself even harder to accomplish and achieve more. Have you set goals for yourself? We haven't made ANY new year's resolutions. I just want to get out of my comfort zone and attract more spontaneity. More excitement and adventure and imagination. This year, I really just want to have fun.