Shabbat and New Year's Eve

During the mini-family reunion, we celebrated Shabbat together, as well as New Year's Eve.

Aviva and Seamus tied their babies on their backs.

For New Year's Eve, our friend Antz brought over some fabulous paper lanterns. They were essentially small hot air balloons.

We also celebrated, a few days early, Seamus' fourth birthday!  Happy birthday, Seamus!

Cousins in matching pajamas

Grandma Ellen brought two sets of matching pajamas for the four cousins.  Here's our attempted photo shoot.  

At first, Franklin doesn't really know what's going on.

Then he realizes that he is no longer in one of the only two acceptable places (Mom's arms, or Welile's arms.)

Aviva, Seamus, and Grandma Ellen are having a good time.  Franklin is outraged.  Rory looks like he is listening intently to...something.

Thanks, Grandma Ellen, for the pajamas!

Kruger with the Ehrenkranzes: More Pics

In between all the game drives, there was lots of time for hanging out and messing around. Uncle 

Peter read to the older three kids. 

We're practicing "cobra"

You scream...

...we scream

we all scream for ice cream!

Later, I think Aviva threw up from eating too much ice cream.

FFF#27: On safari

This week we were at Kruger National Park, with Aviva and Franklin's cousins, Seamus and Rory, and their parents, (Uncle) Jeff and (Aunt) Brianne.  These photos were taken while Franklin sat in the back of a borrowed Prado (a Toyota SUV.)

The back of the car was littered with biltong and other food wrappers. 

 

Check out those dirty feet!

 

Happy Friday!

Kruger: animals, animals, and Ehrenkranzes

Though we spent many hours in the car, we saw many, many animals during our few days at Kruger.  

Not far from the entrance, we saw a group of lionesses resting in the shade.  You can see how close our car was to them.

We were close enough to see the saliva on her mouth.

Humans...tasty...

Yes, we loved sitting on our parents' laps inside the park!

We saw baby hippos on a riverbank.

Grandma Ellen may not know how sleepy I am

We saw dozens of elephants, sometimes very close to our cars on the road.

I'm dreaming of elephants

Our rental house had a lovely pool and deck.

We had a great time at Kruger.  Embarrassingly, it was my (Callista's) first visit, even though we've been in Swaziland for four years!

Cousins! Grandma Ellen! Family!

Over the Christmas break, Aviva and Franklin's cousins and Grandma Ellen came to visit!  Uncle Jeff, Aunt Brianne, and cousins Seamus and Rory arrived on the 21st of December from London, and Grandma Ellen flew in on the 24th.

The cousins had a grand time together.

Seamus and Aviva sing their hearts out

Number twos unite!

On Christmas Day we headed up to Marloth Park, a little town just outside of Kruger National Park in South Africa.  We stopped for lunch at the border, where we bought peanut butter, bread, and yogurt at a little shop.

Aviva's shirt serves as a mini-skirt (sort of)

Aviva explores the grounds

PB&J at the South African border 

Merry Christmas from South Africa!

FFF# 26: Go Cardinal!

It's been rainy/ foggy for almost a week straight.  Today, finally we have some sunshine, and Franklin is celebrating by wearing short sleeves.  And wearing a shirt from my alma mater, no less.  Go Cardinal!

Photobombing by our cat, Mao.  She really wanted to be part of the action this morning.

Franklin likes to watch her.

 

Happy Friday!

Christmas 2013, Swazi-style

Occasionally, people ask how Christmas is celebrated in Swaziland.  The American Embassy  sponsors terrific celebrations of major American holidays, including Christmas.  This year, there was a party, complete with a visit from Santa Claus.  These were Aviva's first photos with Santa (and may very well be her last.)

The Mbabane Club (think old school, colonial golf / tennis / squash country club-isn) also held a caroling event for families, which we enjoyed.

Merry (almost) Christmas!

FFF#24: Watermelon stripes

Franklin was dressed in a watermelon-colored onesie.  Aviva's pink shirt was right in line with the theme.  Franklin's uncle Henry says this next photo is of Franklin's "tough guy face."  Doesn't he look threatening?

 

Happy Friday!