Ouma Day with Martelize

Last Friday was Ouma and Oupa Day at Martelizes school.  Martelize was happpy to see me, but expected to see her mother there as well.  When she realized that her mom was not coming, she was happily sat and my lap, but did not want to dance and sing with the other children.  (Usually she is very fond of dancing.)  She showed me all there toys though.  In the afternoon I took her to a small zoo in Simon Vermooten Ave. 

Here she is all ready to go!

Feeding the cock from the safety of her push chair. At first she was a bit hesitant to walk about herself.

"

 Gradually she became more confident and the many tortoises walking about were no longer so very frightening.... as long as they did not come to close.  Here she makes a Hansel and Gretl path of labbage leaves for this tortoise to follow.... which he very obligingly did.

She loved the Dassies and called them "Dassie" very audibly.  The jackals were other favourites.... "She tried very hard to say "jakkals".

Afterwards we went to the L's and were just in time to see Franco swim.  After school, he walked around and around the netted pool and kept on saying "swem, swem", until his Dad opened up the pool for a quick splash, but the water was a bit cold after the earlier rain.  Their pool is solar heated, but of course not really warm, warm. 

Franco feeding his new doll.  He was willing to let Martelize play with his new pram and doll, while he mowed the lawn, but then he too wanted a turn with his pram....! 
When Janita woke up, he showed off his sister to Martelize: both of them stood on the poof next to the cot and patted her very excitedly.  (I'm not so sure she enjoyed all the enthusiastic attention, but she did not really complain either. Poor 2nd children have to take a lot of "rough" from the older siblilngs, but then older siblings are so much more interesting than adults!)

And now we are four!  The happy L family. 

Janita was still quite jaundiced then.  When I wanted to hold her, Martelize got very jealous and would have nothing of that - after all it was her Ouma day!  

Die Groot Trek

The L's lived in a very comfortable townhouse, but decided that it was time to move on. The had bought a lovely house with a lovely garden - much closer to Dorette's work than the townhouse. During the days preceding the trek, they had 36 hours without electricity, so they could do little packing. And then the day before, Franco had tonsillitis again... but on the 10th we all pitched up to help them move. Here are the last kitchen "gemorsies" waiting to be packed. I'm sure they left this kitchen with mixed feelings - Gert and his father had remodelled it themselves about 18 months ago... It was a HUGE job, but also a HUGE success. I hope they have before and after pics of this kitchen...and the baby room that Ouma Elna and Dorette had painted... and the garage cabinets that Gert and Oupa Lappies had installed... and the water feature in the garden ... and ... and. They had lived there for three years, and had made significant improvements.

Boxes, and more boxes....

Franco climbed onto the nursery rocking chair while no-one was looking and proudly sat there clapping his hands! (My swak hart! Hou vas kind!)

At last everything was packed and the bakkies were on their way. Here Gert and Frans are still smiling...!

The carrying of all the furniture and all the bits and pieces had begun! Jan on one of a zillion trips between horse trailer (the "van") and the house!

Franco was, despite his tonsillitis and all the upheaval, as good as gold! But with so many willing hands to pick him up, it was no wonder. He is at the stage where he needs CONSTANT supervision, what with all the new stairs and things. Here he is with his Ouma Elna, wearing one of the many jerseys she has knitted for him. (It was just before his nap - he doesn't usually walk about with his dummy, but it is such a comfort for a tired little man!)

Ouma Sarah did a great job organising the new kitchen. Jy is 'n yster Ouma Sarah!

The sitting room is beginning to look like something...

..But there is still tons of work to be done in the family room.

Oupa Lappies was glad to have an excuse to sit: someone had to hold Franco! (Franco got his name and initials from him...and his blue, blue eyes!)