Good-Bye South Africa

I can't believe just like that three months have passed by, and we are heading home.

It has been such a wonderful time, spending time with my parents, family, old friends, and in general just being home.

Our last few days in South Africa was spent at home with my parents - packing, running to the store for last minute items, and relaxing around the pool.

I am sure going to miss the sunshine, and pool life, and my mom's beautiful garden.

My father-in-law dislikes this - it is my all time favouite!! Pap :)

  We celebrated my mom's birthday a few days early.  We always seem to miss her birthday - it just close enough to Christmas to make a huge difference in plane tickets, and we wanted to be home in time for Christmas - to be with Nate.  So we improvised, and wala!

  My grandma visited us for the week.  I just love her so much.  My kids are so blessed to have four great grandmothers.

We were just home, hanging out in the same room - she knitted and I just watched her, taking it all in.  She has inspired me so much, without even knowing.

I am so grateful for the time that I have with here every time I go home, we are also in the time that every good bye is so emotional, the reality is - it could very likely be the last time that I see her, and it makes me sad.

I love you ouma, thank you for spending the week with us, loving on my kids, spoiling them, and just being around!  It meant the world to us.

four generations.

  A last little lunch meal at the kids favourite restaurant before our long flight home.

he is so sad that we are leaving - lol! 

hands down the best parents in the world.

sharing one last waffle with my dad - I wanted ice cream, he didn't ;) 

  We really has such a fabulous time in South Africa - the kids got to see and experience so much.  As they are getting older, it is so special to me to share some of my childhood experiences with them.

My parents made it such a fun and memorable visit, I do have the best parents in the wold - hands down.  I am so thankful for them.

Thank you for a wonderful visit mom and dad - we love you so much!

*******

It was an extremely long and stressful travel home.  The first part of the trip went pretty smoothly... the kids are such awesome little travelers - I could not have asked for better travel companions.
- traveling photos taken with phone - excuse the terrible quality!

The rock the airport lifestyle....

 and have mastered sleeping on a plane - in the most uncomfortable positions, at that.

  We made it to Germany no problem.... got our morning fix, and watched some planes.

  We boarded our flight - and boom two hour delay - while already seated.  We had to sit on the stupid plane for two hours before we took off for an eleven hour flight.  Which caused my stress levels to rise - due to the fact that we had to catch another flight home - and it would most likely screw up our whole going home plan.

Thank you Elzabe for these little lifesavers.

  After some tears of exhausted, running through the Houston airport, and freaking out a little bit - we made it onto our last flight with literally seconds to spare...

We made it to Midland - and Nate was waiting for us - flowers in tow!! I am the luckiest!

The kids reaction - the were just so excited!!

I''ll just leave this right here ;)

It feels so good to be home - even though we were greeted with cold weather, and a light dusting of snow.

Jet lag is consuming us - we are lazy and tired - but we are all together again.

Happy December!