Kersfees, Christmas and Xmas!

Christmas, by any other name means Family, Feasting and Fun! With the family spread all over the world this year we got to enjoy three Christmas Feasts on three continents! We also had much FUN!

Our first, was early December in Johannesburg with Sarah, Adrien and Oscar. As most of their stuff was boxed up and ready for moving! Sarah would not let this opportunity to celebrate our last Christmas in her flat pass by, so being resourceful she resorted to a full on "Woolies Christmas Feast!"

We cleared the table, set up our disposable plates etc. added a bit of decor with Oscar's help and voila it was time to celebrate!

Oscar did not know the story of Christmas so as the responsible adult I felt it my duty and pleasure to tell him the beautiful story of the nativity. He listened carefully and after a few 'Why's he seemed to get the drift. A few days later I received a message from his Dad saying "Oscar keeps wanting Baby Cheeses" do I have any idea what he is referring too? .....Mmmmmm only Adrien!

Our second Christmas feast took place in Kuala Lumpur at Moira's apartment the night before she and Joshua left for S.A. I wrote about that in my last post. BUT then Nick gave us a lovely treat, cooked all by himself...Chef Nick! It was his first attempt at roasting a leg of lamb. There is no need for cookbooks any more as everyone uses their ipads or I phones ! Wow, leg of lamb in Malaysia is such a treat. How shopping has changed over the twelve plus years we have been visiting there! Having to cater for the ex pats needs has pushed boundaries somewhat. Thanks Nick for the treat and the beautiful pressies! We are so spoilt!

On Christmas Day we were thrilled to enjoy Christmas in Eumundi in Chris and Diana's new home! It is so beautiful here!

T'was the night before Christmas, we thought the children would never go to sleep as we needed to finish wrapping gifts! Our suitcase, which weighed 26 kilos, consisted of 20 kilos of gifts from the Aunts and Uncles and us, of course.

As in most homes it was a race to see who would be up first in the morning! Hannah definitely heard Santa and crept out of bed and saw the over loaded sleigh! The reindeer even had a baby reindeer in training! As for the jingling of bells!

What fun it was to see the children's delight and surprise with all their pressis. Of course they got far too many gifts but hey, Christmas comes but once a year!

It was time to get the feast prepared for all the guests! Wow, what a feast indeed. Everyone brought a dish to add to what Diana had prepared and here was sufficient food to feed a small army!

We had a wonderful day and thank all concerned for the special treats. Three Christmases in three countries! How special!

 

 

Easter Weekend.

The road to JHB. Is lined with beautiful cosmos, in fact there are fields of cosmos wherever you looked.

While taking care of Oscar during his Easter Break I took him and his friend Afika to the Children's theatre to see "Gogos". This was a delightful production in a tiny theatre where little ones could feel secure and safe. All those little faces showed such concentration and pleasure.

Meeting the Princess Butterfly afterwards was very special.

It was soon time to pack up and join the Boden family at their lovely home on the Vaal River. As Colleen's house was overflowing she arranged for us to stay on a friends house two houses away.

The weather was lovely and it was special seeing "The Family".

Neil and Lisa, together with their children William and Meghan had come out from England. Grandpa Brian had flown in from Cape Town.

Oscar had loads of fun with Willyum! Meg just loved sitting and sketching.

Captain James and Captain Darryl took the family on a few joy rides along the Vaal. The littlees just loved it.

Aunty Glynne had her hands full with her charges.

The kitchen staff had their hands full catering for the masses.

It was great meeting Darryl and Denise's girls. What lovely grandaughters.

 

It was good to see Dom and Mark too. Mark is such an interesting person and is always good for a long chat.

 

A wonderful time was had by all. A great Boden get together! Thank you to the Mitchell's for hosting such a special weekend.

 

The fairest Cape.

We had come to the Cape for a family wedding. My middle brother Lester and wife Mandy live in Brisbane, Australia. Their eldest daughter Michele and fiancé Mark live in England and had decided to have South Africa as their wedding destination. Lanzerac was chosen as the wedding venue and they could not have chosen better.

Of course the South African family were thrilled and were making whatever arrangements they needed to get to C.T. For this auspicious occasion. Friends and family came from thirteen different countries!! Les and Mandy arrived a week before the Big day so we had time to get together and interact this was absolutely wonderful

Niece Emma flew in from New Zealand, the bride and the aunt.

Niece Gillian arrived without any of her boys all the way from Florida. USA.

Mother of the bride from Brizzie and niece Unity from Toti.

Marion got back to SA just in time after spending three months in the USA.

Jo and Unity had not seen each other for many years.

The bride to be had to have a little Crazy quilt from Aunty Pen!!

 

Farewells, fun and more family fun!

It is time to bid our lovely family, farewell. We tend to keep these goodbyes low key and to rather focus on the good times we have enjoyed and the good times ahead. Time flashes by when fun is being had and the month in the states is just one example of that. Christopher and Diana are enjoying living in the states and are seeing as much of the country as possible! We thank them for being so good to us and allowing us to share some special times while we were there. Their three lovely children are a tribute to them and also to the quality time they put into their parenting. We are so proud of you!

Diana uses her gardening skills to grow tomatoes and other herbs in their small back garden. The children have been watching the progress of the tomato laden bushes just itching to pick them. Ben in particular could not wait to pull them off the bush. At last a few turned red and without any more waiting, were harvested for us to enjoy with our meal.

In the kitchen, the children often help with baking. I made a special apron and hat for Molly's last birthday and there is always a rush to see who can don the hat first and then the apron. I will add that I have made all the children African aprons but this pink set is the favorite. Maybe it is time to make Ben his own set then Ben need not be "Molly".

Benjamin Nelson turning three has given us lots and lots of laughs! He is a small packet of dynamite and does everything to keep up with his two sisters. Poor guy even tries to dress like them!

He and Dad have lots of fun together.

Hannah is the "Fashionista" of the family and spends much time choosing her outfit every day, brushing her hair and donning her tiara or her band. I referred to her hair band as an "Alice" band which is the term we used to use and she was curious why I would call it an Alice band. I too have learnt new words such as "rashies" (long sleeved swimming tops), "floaties" (swimming tubes) and sunnies. I guess we are never too old to learn!

Molly is the sweetest and kindest little girl ever and loves to play with her friends. She never sits still for long and loves to swing on the jungle gym, jump on the trampoline and do turns in the air!

She has a sweet tooth and just loves a treat or two.

They all have inherited good entrepreneurial skills like their father. He used to borrow capital to buy sweets and other necessities to sell at boarding school but somehow all the profits were eaten! The "beds" they are selling are actually beads!

Diana and I had loads of fun finding new quilting shops and buying just a little of this and that!

Times have changed and bring up children has taken on another dimension with all the techno things available. Ben, not yet three, has worked an I pad for some time and now and has his own. Molly and Hannh each have their own too which is necessary for the sake of peace in the home. They watch movies, do puzzles and games and other interesting things. Like it or not, this is the way the world is gong and instead of fighting it we go with the flow. The children have lots of books read to them and hopefully will be readers some day even if it is using a Kindle. They play lots, love their friends and go off with their parents on many wonderful excursions. What more can you wish for.

Thank you to our great family and also to their kind neighbors who made us so welcome. We loved our time with you and take away wonderful memories.xxxx

Arriving in the states !!

 

It was so strange leaving Malaysia on the 4th July at 9:30 a.m. Flying via Hong Kong, and arriving 20 hours later at 11:30 a.m. On the 4th. It has taken a few days to get over jet lag but the joy at seeing Christopher, Diana and the children makes it all worthwhile.

I have to keep pinching myself to believe that I really am in the States, in San Francisco and with our precious family. What beautiful grand children we have. They have all settled down really well and thriving on living in this community. Diana loves living here too and is amazed at how friendly and kind the neighbors are. Their home in Piedmont is totally child oriented and allows for lots of creative play. Hannah had set up a tea party to welcome us and we had many hours of enjoying "tea parties" and eating and drinking all sorts of delicious delights. We are going to have lots and lots of fun together.

Molly is the energetic and creative child who loves loves to draw and cut and paste. She loves jumping on the trampoline in the back yard.

 

Hannah wants to work in Target when she is big or she says will work as a fashion designer. I will put my money on the fact that she is going to be creating the fashions to be sold at Target and elsewhere. Hannah loves dressing up in her hat, beads, beautiful dresses and bag. She is such a dear little girl just waiting for her birthday next week!!

 

Benjamin Nelson has become a little boy since we last saw him and is a VERY skillful hitter of the ball and is going to keep his Poppie on his toes! He is a delightful little fellow and tries to keep up with his sisters.

Of our two suitcases we brought, one was filled with toys and gifts and with our clothes!! It was such fun seeing the children open some of their gifts. We have decided to stagger the gift giving otherwise it is all too much. I had made each of the children quilts and they are delighted with them.

 

Our first full day here Christopher loaded us all up in the family car and we set off through the city centre towards the The Golden Gate Bridge. WOW....what a wonderful sight.

 

I was curious to know why it was called the Golden Gate and evidently o. July 1, 1846, two years before gold was discovered in California, U.S. Army Captain John Fremont looked at the narrow strait that separates the Bay from the Pacific Ocean and said "It is a golden gate to trade with the Orient," thus the name stuck.

 

The bridge claims to be the Most photographed "span" on the planet!!

This is a beautiful statue called the Lone Sailor and is dedicated to the thousands of American sea farers who have sailed past this spot near the bridge in peace and war, to defend their country and it's frontiers. This monument is dedicated to the ordinary sailors and marines who did not return from their duty.

It is summer holidays here and the place was buzzing with lots of tourists and visitors. Some looked a little strange.

We ended up having lunch at a super fish restaurant in Tiburon. My word, we were amazed at the huge generous servings of food!! After our visit to Korea where one orders one meal and it is enough for two, our meal here would have fed many Koreans!!

On our way home, we drove through the lovely suburb of Sausalito. We were also able to see Alcatraz Island in the distance.

What a wonderful day we had and I know a great start to our month in the USA.