Day 22: A day of rest :)

Nicolas had told us that today we would stay in our pajamas until 9 o'clock at night.  We were up at 7AM :)  This morning we had breakfast and then he jumped in our bed to read his devotional.  We lounged around for a bit playing and even had a small tickle fight.  We asked Nicolas if he would like to play soccer or baseball and he said "I thought we were going to stay in our pajamas until 9 o'clock at night?  We are supposed to be resting today."  What???  Coming from the child who spent the last two days sitting in the car.  Um no......there will be no resting all day.  Using an analogy I am borrowing from my mom, he would be like a shaken can of Coke, ready to explode.  So....we convinced him that we should play soccer and headed out into the garden.  It was very warm again today with very few clouds in the sky.  Typically, when we play soccer, one of us plays on a team with Nicolas and the other is the goalie.  This means that Kevin and I do the bulk of the running, chasing after the ball down the hill.  It's good, given that I haven't actually worked out in over a month (man is THAT going to be painful when we get home!).  Nicolas ran for the ball a couple times, then looked at Kevin and said "Why don't you get it.  I'm tired."  He has lots of energy, but it seems we may need to work on endurance.  After a bit, we switched to catch, then headed in for lunch.

After lunch, we went in the pool.  Despite some warm days, the pool is still pretty chilly from the heavy rains we had last week.  Kevin and Nicolas worked on treading water in the deep end, which is a work in progress.  He knows the motions, but stops doing them as soon as Kevin stops holding on to him. :)  We also had a jump contest.  First, it was Nicolas and I, then Nicolas and Kevin.  Kevin chose to do back flops and belly flops, which - no surprise - were painful.  I stuck with cannonballs and twists. :)  I also spent a little time this afternoon attempting to get a tan.  Pause for roaring laughter......and moving on. :)  While I don't tan, I do have a lot more freckles that I did when we got here.  Baby steps...... :)

While Kevin and Nicolas were in the pool, another guest arrived.  Kevin reminded Nicolas that we have to use good manners (specifically that he should not act like he needs help unless he really does and that he should refrain from burping, if possible since he likes to inhale pool water) and he responded with a serious face "I have been trying, but it's just not working".  Ha ha ha!  If only I wrote down all the funny things he says.

This afternoon Kevin and I also were invited to a very special one-time-only concert.  It was a tribute to all things Michael Jackson with a little Toby Mac in the finale.  He took a blanket and draped it over our counter to make his backstage area.  It was quite spectacular.

Our evening was comprised of dinner, homework, ice cream, and Despicable Me.  While Nicolas favors Vector for his direction and magnitude - OH YEAH! - I am partial to Agnes and her affinity for unicorns.  Unicorns I love them. Unicorns I love them.  Unicorns, unicorns, I looooooooove them! :)

Tomorrow, we are going to Soweto with Auntie Bev to see Nelson Mandela's home, the Oppenheimer Tower, and to have lunch at a traditional South African restaurant.  We are excited not only to see it all, but also that Nicolas hasn't been there either.  It should be a very fun day!

Here are a few more videos of our adventures at Pilanesberg:

This is an up close and personal look at the rhinos.

And this was our lion encounter.

Goodnight from South Africa!

Laura, Kevin, and Nicolas