Happy-Birthday-Countdown

Monday was a quiet day with us doing chores and a few other things around the house.

Teacher Liesel fell ill on Tuesday so we didn’t go to music, but we went to visit Granny and take her to the doctor as her feet were sore. She treated me to the Wimpy after for being such a good boy and I played there with Mommy sending balls up and down the slide as we were the only ones there. I rediscovered my little ride on car recently and Mom has been trying to clean it but I won’t let her near it. I took it with to the doctor to show it off in all its muddy glory and when Mommy opened it, she found I had brought with emergency rations, in the form of a sweet potato and all my little dogs. I noticed she giggled when she saw this and promptly told Granny.

I fell asleep so Mommy headed home, we then played in the garden and arranged things around the house. When Daddy got home, Mommy went to the bake shop to see if she could get some goodies for my birthday which is quickly approaching. Daddy and I lit a fire in the fireplace for the approaching cold front and when Mommy came home we were ready in the lounge with tea for her. Daddy had to rush out for a meeting but Mommy did dinner and then after all that we sat together in the lounge chatting, watching the flames dancing about in the grill.

I had a good laugh at Mommy because when I didn’t want to do something, she reverted to her inner child and started shouting and stamping her feet. I begged her to do it again and again. I have never seen something so funny. The whole family had a rough night, I was scared, cats and dogs were scared, Mom and Dad were up and down trying to settle all of us. This was due to the huge thunderstorm we had at a very strange time of year.

Wednesday was freezing and we decided our playdate at Delta Park would have to be put on hold for a day or so for the cold front to pass. Mommy and I vegged out at home in front of books, the TV and computers/iPads. It took most people in Johannesburg hours to get to work as a truck caught fire on the M1 causing it to remained closed for a while. We were really glad that we were able to hold up at home.

Thursday and Friday, Daddy took leave to sort out Oma, and Opa’s house. I’ve never seen him so grumpy and in such a bad mood. We joined him there with emergency rations and snacks in order to keep him going. When we arrived he was wheeling junk out into a large skip – he was sopping wet from the unseasonal rain, and he shivered from the cold. He was very relieved to get hot coffee. Mom managed to do two rooms, but it was a mission as I ran in and out causing much grief between rushing upstairs and downstairs and in and out of the house. The rain made the whole exercise quite dangerous on the slippery tiles. Once we left, Mommy made Daddy IM her every hour to make sure he didn’t fall like while he was working on his own. Fortunately he didn’t which is good news for us.

What an incredibly busy day we had on Friday. I bid a very grumpy and sore Daddy farewell as he headed back to the house, using pretty colourful language which I’ve been forbid to repeat. First, I had a playdate with Hannah at her house, which was delightful. All the new toys – it was wonderful. I also got to taste real American brownies for the first time. Awesome. After we were home, I got the most wonderful surprise. Kyle arrived for a visit. I haven’t seen him in ages. We played up and down the passage and in my room. I brought him all my favourite toys to play with. Daddy came home late afternoon, but before he visited with us he had to shower, as he was filthy from the days’ cleaning up at Oma and Opa’s place. Just as Kyle and Helen were leaving, Bev and Claire arrived with a bunch of goodies and magazines for Daddy. They picked up that Daddy wasn’t having a good time at all clearing out Oma and Opa’s house, and that it was an immense strain on him. He was thrilled, and we all visited for a little while.

Later we all settled in to have dinner and some conversation, but Daddy and I were exhausted and fell asleep really early. Saturday Daddy had to leave us yet again to go the old house where there was more work to be done. I headed off to Chloe’s birthday with Mommy and was sad that Daddy wasn’t with us, as Saturdays and Sundays were my days with Daddy. It was awesome party though, held in their estate’s gardens. I ran up and down. Paul had to come rescue me from the junglegym every now and then. I was quite in my element. It was perfect weather for us littlies and we all got our bottom kit off to play in the water while the folks had a cup of tea. We left there well after lunch after a great day. Daddy even managed to stop by later to wish Chloe a happy birthday.

Sunday, Daddy again left early in the morning to run errands for the old house. Mommy did household errands and I spent time playing outside before the weather turned cold.

Well, that’s it for this week. I’m counting down the days to my happy-birthday-party-cake. I can barely contain myself, and every day I mark off another day on my count-down calendar in anticipation of my birthday and party.

Love,

Jarrod

Photo 1 Helping Mom prepare dinner

Photo 2 Some early morning play with Aaron

Photo 3 ooops, missed that one

Photo 4 Unpacking kitchen cupboards

Photo 5 Now what is this for?

Photo 6 Ah, I see!

Photo 7 One “hat” just isn’t enough

Photo 8 Maybe this is a better fit!

Photo 9 Perfecto!

Photo 10 Making Mickey Mouses for my happy-birthday-cake-party

Photo 11 Mmmm, that’s gonna stain!

Photo 12 But tastes great!

Photo 13 Black icing giggles!

Photo 14 Giving my friend Kyle a hug – we’ve spent so much time together we even dress the same!

Photo 15 Hugging a tree!

Photo 16 Amy and Chloe on the jumping castle

Photo 17 “Mmmm, that haircut I gave Amy doesn’t look too bad” thinks Chloe

Photo 18 Amy reciprocated by cutting Chloe’s hair, just in time for her birthday!

Photo 19 Loving the warmer weather after a horrendous week of cold and rain

Photo 20 Upside-down with Mom!

Photo 21 The birthday girl, Chloester!

Photo 22 Stealing a snack

Photo 23 Walking in the ‘river’

Photo 24 Running

Photo 25 Some Jarrod Art. I call it “Face in Red”