I'll start with the sad and move to the good....
Jeff's Mom passed away suddenly and unexpectedly 2 weeks ago. Fortunately Jeff was able to be by her side and the kids and I were able to get to NJ for the funeral. It was a long very sad 2 weeks. To lighten up the trip we broke the return up and spent 36 hours in Paris. Just long enough to climb the Eiffel Tower, take a boat ride on the Seine, eat some amazing bread and cheese, and to confirm my feelings about the friendly Parisians.
We arrived back in SA to one of the busiest weeks I have had since arriving. Teddy phoned me from school on Tuesday to inform me he was going to be Atmosphere in a school play on Wednesday and needed a costume. Atmosphere, WTF? I quickly grabbed a white tee shirt, double stick tape, and a foam filled pillow! I am very grateful that Teddy is such a happy go lucky child.
Halloween was Friday and Henry finally decided on Tuesday he would go as a girl. After taking him to the local Woolworths, we found a holiday dress that was perfect. He won most funny costume! Anna went as a cupcake and Teddy as Willy Wonka. Trick or Treating was a total different gig - all the offices in the Embassy decorate and the kids go from office to office and collect their loot. Kind of like NYC kids but only one building! Anna said that is was ok but she preferred San Francisco Halloween. My other husband and his family had a Halloween party at their house which was a lot of fun, tons of decorations, flashlight tag , spooky movies, and a South African neighbor stopped by with her kids in costume to see what this was all about. Of course my husband tried to give all 3 kids eggs and tell them it is also a tradition to egg the house. Fortunately my MOH intervened. Some things never change!
Anna and Teddy have decided to follow in my footsteps and have begun horseback riding lessons. Anna was petrified but by the end of the lesson she was riding without saddle (apparently a good balance exercise) and was all smiles. Teddy got right into it and thinks this might be his "sport".
Prior to all of the above we took a family vacation to Cape Town. What a fabulous spot. We stayed in an amazing hotel that actually had a candy bar each day starting at 2:00. (candy apples, homemade marshmallows, bowls of smarties, cookies, smores, brownies....) The kids weren't really into it but I was. We at a ton of seafood stayed out late and walked around without much concern and just felt one of the many layers of fear/paranoia strip away. I have already told Jeff that we will be on the Cape Town every 6 week plan.
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