Noah and I hang out together on Fridays, and in May, we started going to this South African thing called Clamber Club. It was started by an occupational therapist in Johannesburg in the early '90s for kids with special needs and has since expanded into a sensory and motor-skills program for toddlers with franchises around the country. (Read more.) Like a lot of South African businesses, the one we go to is in a room added on to the side of someone's house. My favorite part is that it's all local people -- I'm the only foreigner. (Well, I recruited my friend Roel, from Holland, but his daughter now goes to "creche" (daycare) so it's back to just me.) We do exercises and songs with the kids, then they play outside on various obstacle courses, and (the kicker!), it ends with tea and biscuits (cookies). Picture me and the South African moms catching up over cups of Roobios, talking about where to get the best fish.
Each week is a theme. This week was a special one... Carnival!
(The teacher doesn't usually dress up. Noah wanted that horn big time.)
(The teacher doesn't usually dress up. Noah wanted that horn big time.)
Noah grabbed someone's keys and is off and running.
("Noah, we could play with keys at home. Look at the [damn] clown!")
("Noah, we could play with keys at home. Look at the [damn] clown!")
The backyard has different obstacle courses each week. Even though Noah climbs everything at home (see Noah Climbs %^$&# Everything), he's still fairly tentative on these.
Noah hangs out in the ball tower.
Busy guy.
Tea time! Noah focuses on the task at hand.
South African Cowboy
(He could have sat on that thing all day.)
Eat up!
One Sunday afternoon, our friends Dafydd and Renaud (who have since moved back to the States... such is the ex-pat life, but it's sad to see folks go) had us all over for lunch.
At one point, I came back out to the patio to find just Noah and Kovas still at the table.
They had polished off a bottle of Pinot Grigio and were discussing rugby.
Sibs, hanging out back at the ranch.
Rock on!
Another weekend in May we decided to explore the Pretoria Botanical Gardens. (We needed to report back to Uncle Josh.) Lo and behold, they were holding an afternoon concert. Noah rocked out.
What kind of music? Here's a 40 second video clip. (Watch for Noah at the end.)
Noah takes a breather and enjoys some of Adam's ice cream.
The kids jump around at a play area in the back.
Wrestle Fest. I forgot that Lucy managed to find the face-painting booth. (Never misses it!)
Everything but The (other) Dad.
We had a good time at the show and then walked around the gardens for a bit (A "Garden Safari"!) before heading home. Happy Monday. xo,
Glenn
You and the other moms at Clamber Club? It's official: your new name is Cameron. Embrace it.
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