South Africa comes out tops!!!!

We are all so proud to be South Africans at the moment.... what a wonderful soccer world cup we managed to pull off!! Ayoba South Africa Ayoba.

On this high the children have all returned to school and the third term has begun. My children (especially the oldest) alway get butterflies in their tummies the night before school starts. It is wonderful to be able to see friends again, but lots of hard work comes along with that excitement. I am sure the teachers feel pretty much the same way.

Out school term started off with a bang this time... My nearly five year old had a very heavy hay bale land on top of her accidentally. We live on a dairy farm just outside Plettenberg Bay and she happened to be with her dad, as I was taking the oldest to his soccer practice. In the end she had to stay that night in the hospital so the nurses could watch her for signs of concussion. This is not a good way to get into the term. But we are back on track now and have slotted into our routines.

I have done a certain amount of blog reading this holiday and would like to share a couple of interesting things with you all:

1. What do you do with all your children's work and art? Click here is a well know blogger Gabrielle Blair's solutions and also an article from The Savvy Source.

2. Look at these fun party ideas: Young Einsteins from DesignMom and have a look at this yoga party by honeyflake!!

Have a great week...

Mini world cup soccer

It was a cold and windy day yesterday as we all gathered around the soccer field at Greenwood. The hype about the Soccer World Cup is huge with just 3 days to go!! Greenwood decided to get in on all the action and hosted a mini world cup of their own. Each class was divided into two teams who played against each other and then the winners then played against the different grades. It was such fun!! The parents provided food from each of the represented countries... the kids had a ball!! The children even did the diksi dance for everyone!!! Another fun day at Greenwood...

Have a look at the other photos on our Greenwood facebook page!!

*How cool would it be to have a natural playground at school like this one.... click here

Lunch boxes!!!

I don't know about you but I find lunch boxes really difficult. My children are so used to their peanut butter bread sandwiches that if they don't get find it in the lunchbox their day is completely thrown!! Also the mad rush in the mornings does not help the chaos of trying to do a healthy beautiful delicious nutricious yummy box of food....

I now try and do luchboxes the evening before. I have just come across this wonderful blog full of great ideas for our little ones.... it is called The Healthy lunch box.

But I do think I will still have to add in the ever favourite peanut butter sandwich!

Our amazing advernture racer...

We have such amazing teachers at Greenwood...

Jeannette Walder, our Toddler class teacher, is also a super duper Advernture Racer and is part of the Pennypinchers Adventure Racing Team. Jeannette and her racing partner James Stewart have just completed the Villiersdorp Tri Challenge held in Theewaterskloof on the 22 May. This is a slog of a race and includes a 10km canoe or 800 meter swim, followed by a 25km mountain bike and an 8km trail run!!! We are so proud to be able to boast that the duo achieved a double in winning the mixed pairs catergory and in doing so beating the winners of the male pairs category!! Wow... well done Jeannette.

Transports of Delight

Yesterday was an epic soccer and hockey match against Oakhill. I was one of the designated lifts to transport players to the venue in Knysna. I arrived at the appointed hour and my daughter emerged out of a teeming mass of children and hockey sticks, with three others in tow. They piled into my car. Immediately there were cries of outrage - where was the nice car we drove in the last time? I pointed out that the current state of the road did not do much for the health of the 'nice' car so this was as good as it gets. They graciously agreed that we could continue. We roared off happily. They all shouted back at the GPS and found it very lacking in its responses. Two kilometres down the road I activated the window lock button. More howls of dismay. My daughter Kaela glared at me as I was clearly being uncool. I handed round Zoo biscuits as compensation, figuring that if sugar made them bounce off the walls, this could only be good for the game. They then conducted conversations with each other, clearly believing that the person who shouts the loudest is the one who is right. I was interested to learn that 30km is the distance from South Africa to the Equator and that a Private Hospital is one where you have curtains round your bed. A normal hospital has no curtains and no privacy. When the conversation turned to farting, I threatened to stop the car and not go to the match (I have prevously discovered that they know you are not capable of carrying out your threat of leaving them on the highway).

We arrived at Oakhill after a couple of circular tours. The GPS did not agree with some of the road names and there was a lot of muttering of 'recalculating' and commands to do a u turn, much to the delight of my passengers. We finally staggered into the school - on the wrong side of course. I limped into the parking lot and my car choked and died. The children dashed out of the car towards the far distant fields. 'Don't worry', I shouted, 'I'll shut the doors'. They waved their hockey sticks at me happily - totally impervious to sarcasm.

My car was now dead and was blocking at least 6 Oakhill teachers' cars. I did the only thing I could - phoned my husband and went off to watch the match.

Thankfully, our trip was not a wasted one. Greenwood really surpassed themselves and won most of the games and I was there to watch my daughter score her first goal. My husband had in the meantime performed some magic with jumper leads and gave me back the keys to the car. I declined and seized my own car keys back from him, informing my passengers that we were going in the 'nice' car after all. We sailed off towards Plett, after a bit of shouting and beating people away from the sun roof. Victory in hand, an operational car, all children belted in - we were on a home run. As we left the town of Knysna behind, a voice came from the back - "I have to go to the toilet NOW................."

I Wonder...............................

I wonder how many parents take time out of their busy schedules to actually view our website or read a blog?

I wonder why we have chosen to send our beautiful children to a school, far from the madding crowds of a big city, set in a beautiful part of Plettenberg Bay with mountains and sea at our fingertips?

My name is Melissa Mann and I am a proud mum to Sienna (5) - pre-school, Robyn's class.

Every morning I wake up with the amazing feeling that my child is able to attend a school like Greenwood, with the loving, nurturing care that is offered by wonderful teaching staff and the wide open spaces with clean air!

Yes, it is an Independent School with higher fees than a state school, but this is what I have chosen and so do not begrudge the little bit extra that is asked of us - after all, does "fundraising" not take place at every school?

My child is happy and that makes me happy so it is important that I make the effort to be involved for the greater good of her education, which incidentally, is the greatest gift we can give our children.

So I am offering you all a challenge - take the time to be involved, attend workdays, give graciously and smile now, you might actually enjoy it!

The end!

ps: Of course, I wonder how many parents will actually read this and give it a try....................

at the end of the day.........

My name is Willemijn Murray, mother of pre-schooler Femke and wife of Glenn. And this is my first entry!! Being a busy mum, (with my own business and a traveling husband), I sometimes feel that the world and the childhood of my gorgeous daughter is passing me by!! Time is flying and I sometimes wish that I could make her stop growing and enjoy the past day for a little longer. But every day bedtime comes so soon, and another day has rushed by!!

A Dutch friend started this tradition, almost every night after bath, brushing teeth and pj's he sit his daughters and wife down and asks the following questions: 'what was the best thing this day?' and 'what was the worst thing this day?' Everyone gets a turn, and everyone needs to listen to what the other tells. We have started doing it a couple of months ago, and it is amazing what answers you get! Sometimes very little, seemingly insignificant things that have happened during the day, are 'the best things' according to my girl. It is also a great opportunity to 'clear the air' and discuss very briefly what went wrong during the day. When we have guests, they even have to join in!!

Give it a try, just two simple questions, and do it with the whole family. When Gran is staying for dinner, get her involved. When your child has a sleepover friend, ask him or her. You'll be surprised what the answers are and it is a lovely way to close of the day! Have fun, and I would love to hear your reactions.

Have a lovely Greenwood day xx