Bramley Famli

The girl’s school (Grayston Prep) has a reading drive this year. Simply trying to increase the amount of time all the children read and are read to. It’s linked to some convincing research, so you know that Leish and I are fully behind it.

One of the initiatives has been to invite parents, during school, to read to small groups of children. Yesterday was my second stint with Jordi’s class. I got to read 3 chapters of ‘ The Witches’ by Roald Dahl. I’m ashamed to say I’ve not read one of his books before. And wow, it’s a great read. (I know, a very very sad boy am I)

These opportunities for parents didn’t exist when I was at school. And they’re magical. I couldn’t imagine a better place to be, as Jordi snuggled up next to me while I read, with a smile on her face, that said at least, that she was happy that her dad was there.

Jordi competed in her school’s (Grayston Prep) Public Speaking Festival yesterday. Round one happened last week and 3 children from each class in Grade 4 and 5 were selected to go through to yesterday’s round.

Jordi put massive prep into her speech. She built it largely on her own. She wouldn’t take much, if any, advice from mom and dad. And she said it so many times in practice, that all of us at home know it off by heart : )

At yesterday’s festival three children were chosen for ‘speeches with potential’. Jordi was one of those three. She’s thrilled. We’re all thrilled. You’re amazing Jordi. Fantastically so.

Here’s her speech at the Festival. As you’ll see from the shakes in the clip, Leish was extremely nervous : )

I have some more pics and will upload, but this pic was taken this morning by a friend. It’s Carli, Emily and Jordi. The beauty of the pic is the poster in the background. Julie didn’t compose the pic knowing it was there, and only saw it afterwards. What a beautiful caption on an exciting day.

Jordi moved to Grade 4 and Carli started Grade 1. All sorts of emotions were flying around this morning. Mostly nervousness. Leish did an amazing job prepping all of us for today. It was a day that worked so smoothly, kept emotions in check, and included us having to jump-start Leish’s car after standing for 3 weeks while we’re away.

Click here to see the full image.

I spoke at the Grayston Prep Grade 7 Valedictory Dinner this year. Was a really beautiful evening.

Leish had the video camera and captured a tiny piece of my intro (admitting how badly I did at school) before she got tired and put it down.

Today is Jordi’s last gala as an under 9. It’s at Crawford Sandton, and as I sit here writting this I’m sure her nerves are building. This post is an evolving post, blow by blow account of the unfolding events:

• Carli and I are waiting for Jordi to finish school. We’re sitting in the shade on a hot Jozi summer day.
• Jordi’s out of school and we’re on our way.
• Carli and I have glue from a pine cone all over our hands. And it’s not coming off : )
• Big day for Jordi. One of her mates is injured so she’s excited to be swimming every event. First time she tells me.
• Jordi just swam backstroke. Gold. Yeah!
• Breaststroke equals another first. Woo Hoo!
• Freestyle was tight. I think a 2nd, but touch and go. A swimmer fer sure.
• U9 Mixed relay a big big win
• Ladder relay another first
• Carli’s over the moon because spectator children get an ice-cream : )

Great end to the season. Well done Jordi. Well done Bramley spectator team, I’m sure Jordi’s grateful.

On Saturday we went to the Grayston Prep Carnival. It’s always a very kewl day with the girls. Lots for them to do and plenty of fun to be had. Was a little different this year in that Jordi had a netball inter-house comp in the morning as part of the carnival. We’ve normally had the day to play with the girls.

Leish and I had 2 duties (bacon and avo roll stand as well as pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey). So we had to balance our duties with watching Jordi play netball. I never got to see her play as I drew the short straw and man-ed the stands (I guess that’s why you don’t hear women-ed the stand) and Leish jumped between netball and making rolls.

Twas a fun day never-the-less and I got the best compliment from Jordi. She said that pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey was the kewlest stand at the carnival cos it had the funnest dad on duty. So I discretely helped every child get the tail where the tail had to go (ensuring the best prizes) but outside of that I figured I was pretty darn fun : )

Only one photo to display, taken by Leish while I cooked.

Last week I was invited, with all the other dads, to a Father’s Day at Carli’s School. Was a super fun morning.

We had to draw a picture of each other. We built blocks. We started a puzzle. We went to ball skills. We went to music together. And we had juice and cake together.

Was a magical morning spent with Carli. I felt loved, and fully focused on. A wonderful Father’s Day treat.

On Sunday we headed off to Wits Uni for a Thrass Family Sing-A-Long that Jordi was a part of.

Carli tagged along as always. With Jordi’s weekend school schedule hotting up, we’re starting to feel a little for Carli. She doesn’t moan or resist or wish she could be somewhere else, but I imagine there is a time coming soon where she will. We made a special effort this time to get Jordi to thank Carli for coming and supporting her. Still we all had heaps of fun.

I wasn’t sure what we were going to, but it was a really well run event. Enjoyed the morning completely.

I’ve attached a truck load of pics of the event. I went up onto stage and all the kids from Jordi’s school wanted a photo taken, hence the volume that you see. Click here to see them.