He and the kids had a "secret" meeting during the week and planned my whole day....
Brunch at Moyo Zoo Lake - something I've been wanting to do for a LONG time.
A boat ride around Zoo Lake - not only pleasant but also rather amusing as CW and EW tried to row us around.
And some time to play on the best playground discovered in Johannesburg, thus far.
It would have been a PERFECT day, if only it hadn't ended with JW having to fly off to Australia!
For the last few days, when I notice the house is TOO quiet, I've hunted around and found Russell here, surrounded by "happy things" -- this time, it was his motorcyle and a good book.
These days, my "happy place" is snuggled between my new Woolies Winter Sheets. (Seriously the softest and non-balled-up flannel sheets I've ever experienced.) They add happiness to my life.
Where is your "happy place"?
Today was "Super-Hero" dress up day for Spirit Week at school. CW went as "Zorro" -- although he's not seen the movies, and I'm not even sure he knows who Zorro is. EW went as Snow White -- there is no doubt in her mind that Snow White is a super-hero.
But I have to say, CW and EW are MY super-heroes!! These two kids amaze me!!! No, they are not perfect, and Yes, I do see their faults. But I am often amazed by their goodness. CW is endlessly patient and loving to his little brother -- at 20 months, RDW has NEVER heard CW yell at him, or be angry with him, even though RDW has done things that might warrant frustration and anger from CW. CW is thoughtful of people around him, and intently listens when they speak. He is popular with his peers, and easily accepted by adults. He is always the first to express gratitude for dinner, a fun outing, or a "Zorro" costume. He is obedient and genuinely tries to be the best person he can.
EW adores both her brothers, and is kind to them. She shares her favorite doll with her little brother, and lets her older brother tell her how to play Star Wars (even though normally, EW is the one telling people how to play the games). EW is meticulous in her school work, and in her coloring-in, and in her choosing of clothing to wear. EW is confident and comfortable with herself and her own sense of fashion, and can therefore make any combination seem stylish. EW is sincere in all she does, so when she gives a compliment, there is no doubt that she means it with all her heart. EW is good at receiving gifts and kind acts, and responds with such enthusiastic gratitude, that the giver looks forward to the next opportunity to give EW something again.
I love these kids!! I am so glad to be their mom, and to be in the company of "Super-Heroes" everyday!
Hermanas in known for having the "best land based whale watching on earth". At one point we got a great view of a whale not far from shore. After watching for several minutes I looked over at Evee to share the joy and she wasn't even looking at the whale. She apparently thought that whale watching was far from exciting. When I thought about it I suppose watching a whale bob up and down in the water really isn't all that exciting. They did look a lot like big black rocks. The penguins were more exciting than the whales, but they also had their drawbacks.
Herding Ostrich!!!! No joke, this is an actual scene we witnessed while we were driving near St. John's Bay. I laughed nearly as hard as I laugh when I watch the herding cats commercial.
It really was quite a sight to see these men trying to get this group of Ostrich to not only go in the same direction, but also the direction intended by the men. A VERY amusing moment. Naturally, we pulled off to the side of the road and enjoyed the entertainment.
My first memory of Kristie is from the very first barbeque we attended on Groote Eylandt, Australia. Kristie had also recently arrived on the Eylandt and we had a short conversation about how we were finding things. She struck me as pleasant, and I was impressed that she had taken on the adventure of Groote Eylandt, as a single woman. Our paths didn't cross again for many months, but eventually, she started dating our good friend, Dan Bigney, and so she was dragged along on our weekend adventures and was at our house for dinners and picnics and such. It didn't take long for her to become part of our family! And when it was time for us to move from Groote Eylandt to S. Africa, we were all so sad to be leaving her behind.
FORTUNATELY.... she accepted a job in Johannesburg a few months after we had moved, and so once again we were dragging her along on weekend adventures and making her trial our new dinner recipes. We were so lucky to have her here and to share some great times in S. Africa with her.
Kristie was here for nearly two years but then she decided to go back to Australia and so, in September we had to say goodbye -- happy for her, that she was returning to be closer to her family, and moving on to a new adventure, but sad for us that one of our favorite people was leaving the continent.
WE MISS YOU, KRISTIE!!!!!
Well, despite the four hand-me-down halloween costumes that fit him perfectly, he went as a cute little boy in a cheeky halloween t-shirt because he wanted NOTHING to do with the hot, itchy, scratchy costumes! (and halloween dress-up is not a battle I'm willing to fight)
Being outside of the US can pose definite challenges to the traditional celebration of certain holidays. This year, the challenge presented itself in the form of pumpkin carving. (This is not a new challenge to us -- on Groote Eylandt, Australia the only pumpkins you could buy had a very tough, blue/green skin, and were 3 or 4 inches thick, which makes for EXTREMELY difficult carving!) But this year, although you can buy conveniently skinned and cubed pieces of pumpkin for cooking or roasting, it was COMEPLETELY impossible to purchase whole pumpkins. So we had to be creative......
Here's a hint!!
That's right, we went green and carved WATERMELONS!!! 
3. As Joe and Evee discovered, carving out the flesh of a watermelon is "Easy, Peasy"
4. Not a single person complained about having slimy, sticky pumpkin guts stuck to their hands. (Although I will admit the floor was MUCH stickier post watermelon carving, than post pumkin) So we had a GREAT time carving watermelons -- at least most of us carved.
One little person found other ways to amuse himself....
Nothing better than emptying out a full kitchen cupboard!
Watermelon carving or pumpkin carving -- based on our personal experience, it doesn't really matter what you use. As long as you have fun, and we sure did!!!