November: Family time!!!

November brought a visit from Oupa & Ouma, my parents. The boys could literally not keep their hands of their grandparents, almost as if they could not believe they were here in person. We spent our last weekend of their visit at Troutbeck, Nyanga. So special.

George took this amazing photo on the way there. Only God can paint such a perfect sunbeam through overcast skies.


The timeshare chalets from a golfing tee on the opposite bank.

We are here.......... note the golf course in the background :)

The hotel complex, chalets, golf course & stables - this photo was taken as we came back from World's View.

In the blink of an eye the mist would start rolling in........awesome.

The Saturday morning we went to World's View - a lookout point in the Eastern Highlands mountain range. The view is spectacular!!!! God's country for sure.

Shopping is never far........ soap stone sculptures are very popular in Zimbabwe.

Unfortunately the mist had rolled in by the time we got back to the chalets and George & Ellen had to postpone their golf game. However we had booked the boys for pony rides which turned out to be full grown horses used for the mountain trails :) Have to say I was more than apprehensive about the whole experience.

Samuel with his riding helmet........ success only until he saw the horse, then wanted nothing more to do with "safety first".

Because of no helmet, size of horse and initially frantic actions, Samuel was not alone on his ride.

He enjoyed it so much we had trouble getting him down and away from the horse.

Michael looking serious and ready for business.

After his ride with the trainer, Michael wanted to do it alone. Be still my heart!


Sunday morning was bright, clear, no rolling mist, so out came the golf clubs. I did mention George's favourite part :) the 9 hole course......actually Ellen was pretty excited about it too. Do love their passion for the game :)

Marina & Yvonne walked with the boys to meet George & Ellen. All taken from the comfort of my recliner on the chalet patio :)

It was truly a special weekend and we would have loved to stay the week. It is an amazing part of a very beautiful country, we have been blessed to have been able to live here the past 3 years.

Marina is so in love with the place she is still telling one & all that its the perfect wedding venue :) Yep, George is having heart palpitations at the thought of them having a special friend........and then we're not even close to talking leaving the nest & all that :)

Again so blessed at having a gap year with the older two - although they have lots of plans regarding volunteer work, some which includes travelling.

October: All in Pink

October was all pink as we took part in a Breast Cancer awareness campaign. All the children wore pink......easy for Yvonne as she loves pink, not to bad for Ellen as she has a collection of cancer awareness bandannas which included pink ones..... but Marina who only loves / wears black, purple and her jeans.... a different story :) But she did it like a trooper and even painted her nails pink!

Have to say the boys look very handsome in pink. On the other hand it doesn't matter what they wear we think they are the 2 cutest boys around.

October was also the beginning of our journey for 2012 as we knew George's contract in Zimbabwe was coming to an end. Various options were placed on the table and we were in a "waiting period". Never easy to be there as we knew we would only know for sure by the end of December.

September: 1 st Day of School for the boys

On advice of Samuel's occupational therapist we placed the boys in a small play school from September to December. So after an emotional visit to Jean & Annie, our play school teachers, the marking of clothes, bottles and lunchboxes began.......


Day one saw both boys being very excited at having their "nappy bags" converted to school bags and being able to go to school.

Bags on their back, hats on their heads and both thought it very funny trying to run away rather than get into the car.

Even big sisters were excited but definitely found the house too quiet as the morning progressed.

Have to say I was way too emotional on that day, Jean & Annie were amazing - they even called during the morning to give me an update.

Day two, three, four and all those following saw the boys super excited each day.

They can't wait to wave the lot of women in the house good-bye..............

Have to say it has been amazing for Samuel's speech and both of them loved the Monkeynastixs which did wonders for their balance, gross motor development.

We will miss these 2 amazing ladies when we leave........the have loved our sons as much as we do.