Lightning

We had an uncharacteristic thunder storm yesterday morning. I wish I could take credit for these photos, but definitely can't. Aren't they beautiful!

Primary

I was called as the second counsellor in the Primary presidency last week. I haven't been released as Primary music leader, and for the foreseeable future I will do both.

I'm excited to be properly back into helping to run Primary. I'm hoping that I'll be able to translate all of my wishes and intentions into me being a solid support to Debbie, the president.

So the beginning of another chapter. Some people might think this weird, but I like change, and I get excited when I get to start something new (most of the time...)

Joshua moments - April 2009

Well, I seem to have settled into a pattern... I can't blog all that often, so I save up all the nice Joshua photos, and then do a month at a time...

So here is April:

One of Joshua's favourite toys is my parent's globe. It's inflatable, so it's really like a beach ball - but Joshua loves throwing it, and lying on it, and everything else that someone his size can do with it...Oh, and this isn't quite Joshua, but in amongst everything else in the month it was my birthday. Cindy couldn't find enough candles, so she thought it would be amusing to use the two 5's that were used for my dad's 55th birthday to represent 5+5, and then she found another 16 normal candles... So I guess it's clever, but it did make me feel old...Joshua was discovered that he can stand up just about anywhere... This has made shopping a lot more challenging! But I just can't be cross with that face!We bought a swing for our back garden...We often have Joshua shower instead of bath, just because it's quicker to get him into the water. He loves catching the water, and I was amazed at how the water drops came out in the photo. Quite beautiful!At church a few weeks ago, when we arrived in the Primary room, we found that a podium had magically appeared. It's really nice for the Primary kids to be able to use it, and feel extra special, but my little boy also found this very intriguing...He just wanted to be tall enough to see over the top (and it won't be long!) but I think he knew that this was something kind of special... He'll get many opportunities in the future to stand here.And, as all parents know, there is the unpacking stage... Joshua loves our plastics cupboard, but we don't have any food in the bottom cupboards at home. So when he got my parent's cereal cupboard open he had a field day!We have this corner in our lounge, which is behind the TV screen, so it would be a perfect "corner" when Joshua is old enough to need punishment... Only problem is that he loves this corner. He goes and sits there, and puts his back right up against the bookshelf or wall. He really likes having the flat surface against his back, it seems.So we'll have to find another corner when the time comes... (And just look at those curls he's developing!)We bought Joshua a beach ball because of how much he loves balls in general, but especially my parent's globe. I wish I'd had my camera on hand when we actually showed him for the first time. He had this look of complete awe and wonderment. It was so cool! And it is definitely one of his favourite toys now!On the long weekend because of Workers Day we went out on the Saturday morning for breakfast, and we also bought a few books. Well, Joshua was just in a really cute mood!

Here he is at the Mugg & Bean looking at me through the bread basket. We were playing peek-a-boo, but then he noticed that he could see me through the basket, and this then became his new favourite.And then when we got into the car I gave Joshua one of the new books - a touch and feel numbers book. So first he paged through the whole thing, and then he went back and felt each page. He's so clever! (but then I am biased, I know... so I'm allowed to make these outrageous claims ;o) ) But I just loved this intellectual look, and the dummy just somehow completes the picture.The other stage that we're at is the box climbing stage. Right now Joshua just wants to climb into every box he can find. We have a drawer that we keep in the lounge with toys, and he now just wants to climb in, no matter how many toys are inside!So that's my beautiful and clever boy... I can't help but love him so, so much!

Finally - Joshua walking

I was finally able to get a video of Joshua walking on Saturday. He's been very lazy about this whole thing - much preferring to crawl because it's so easy... But over the weekend things really got going...

On Sunday Joshua then walked 15 consecutive steps - twice! So big improvements! But then the last few days he hasn't been getting enough sleep, so he hasn't wanted to be walking... But this evening looked good again.

So give us just a few days and there really won't be anything stopping him!

Joshua's first day at UCT

Joshua, at the tender age of 1, has made his academic debut!

He was sick the other day, so he came to work with me... Well, I didn't get much work done that day! But thankfully I didn't have to be there very long.

Isn't that just such a serious face?
My office was supposed to be a temporary one, so I actually have two desks and computers. They've now decided that I'm going to stay in this office, so I'm getting all new furniture and I can make it a bit more hospitable. But Joshua enjoyed having his own computer!

Thankfully he didn't end up being very sick, so he was able to go back to Debbie the next day.

A Handful of Keys

For my birthday Andrew took me to see A Handful of Keys. For those who may remember my theatre post from before will remember that we've seen this show already. But when I saw that it was on again I wanted to go! It really is that amazing!

It was on at Theatre on the Bay, and it's the first time I've been there. A really quaint little theatre in Camps Bay.

It's a really small theatre. We were right in the front row, and this was our view back. We worked out that it seats about 250 people, as opposed to the Artscape which seats about 1300. So it feels really intimate (even more so with being in the front row!)
The set consists of just two pianos and these columns at the back of the stage. So really nothing spectacular there, but they don't need a set when the show is so amazing. The entire show is a two-man piano show. It consists entirely of these two guys playing the piano (with incredible skill) and singing (with amazing voices), but it is just so funny! It is really a comedy behind the mask of a musical show, and I think you have to use the word "extravaganza" when describing it - show just doesn't do it...And to make it all the more rich - remember I was commenting on the guy who played Gaston in Beauty and the Beast? Well his talents are even more amazing than we thought... You must see him play the piano! And his voice... And he's only 22!!! Watch out for the name Jonothan Roxmouth!

Inter-ward soccer match

A few weeks ago Bellville and Panorama wards had a soccer match, which Andrew was very keen to be a part of. In the end it wasn't Bellville vs Panorama, but mixed teams, but lots of fun was had by those on the field. It was a bit chilly for us on the sides, but it was fun anyway.

Now, I've been accused of always ending up speaking about Joshua, no matter what I start on... So lets turn things around this time and start with Joshua ;o)

He was absolutely fascinated by Chris - who was enjoying playing up for a little body. He's a recent uncle, and I think he enjoys all this clowning around!
Joshua is really enjoying climbing over anything that he can - even little girls who think they can have a sleep!
Some of the action on the field. That's Andrew in the far distance...
All of the players. They did well!