Girls Trip

This past weekend, Kirsty, Ness, Michaela and I went up to Blue Ridge, GA to stay in a cabin for a couple of days. We managed to get ALL our luggage, Kirsty's mountain bike, groceries AND Miss M in the little RAV (due to K's ingenious packing skills!).



K's mountain biking led to several adventures including a run in with a racoon (luckily no bears!), a long drive down a never-ending dirt road, which we believe was actually part of the Appalachian Trail, and a little detour to a waterfall...




...Miss M loved the hike, although the aunties worked their muscles hauling her up there!








We ended our days enjoying the outdoor fireplace, playing pool (or at least learning to!), being goofy...











And enjoying the hot tub and a glass of wine. Fun times!

Girls just wanna have fun

Mum's Birthday Tea

Kirsty arrived on Wednesday (after a very LONG trip from Australia, poor thing!) and it's WONDERFUL to have her here! Yesterday Ness put on a little birthday tea at her house for some of Mum's Atlanta friends, so here are a few photos. 

A must see

Lots of things to look forward to!

Just a quick update. We received a letter today in the mail, welcoming Andre as a permanent resident of the United States!!! It said that his Greencard was now officially approved and he will get it within three weeks. We're so relieved and grateful to the Lord that this long wait has ended.

In other news, Mum and Dad will be visiting us this week and weekend and Mum's birthday is on Saturday. It'll be fun to spend it with her.

And Kirsty arrives on Wednesday to stay for three weeks...can't WAIT to see her again!!! We'll be doing lots of this:

And this:

And hopefully this:


We've also just found out that my Grampa (my Mum's dad, who lives in Cape Town) is coming to visit in September, along with my Aunty Marie (Mum's oldest sister who lives in Zimbabwe). Can't wait!

Jesus is risen...

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Happy Easter 2009

Week Away Part 2: Nashville

During the second part of my week away, I went up to Nashville with Vanessa & Michaela and Mum drove down from Illinois to meet us. We spent a really fun three days in Tennessee, just the girls:

Mum with M before we tried to take her for a swim in the pool...she wasn't a fan!

We ate at Cracker Barrel ALOT! Here's M in her own baby sized Cracker Barrel rocking chair:

Week Away Part 1: Barnsley Gardens

Last week was such fun, as Andre and I took some time off work and went away! We spent three days at Barnsley Gardens, a beautiful little resort not too far from home. The Gardens are built around the ruins of a mansion built in the 1840s which fell into disrepair after a storm ruined the roof in the early 1900s.

Instead of a main hotel full of rooms, the accommodations are all spread out in these little cottages.



And then there were the swans, who also have a fascinating story...which we will save for another post, when I have nothing more interesting to share!

Approved!

Praise the Lord!

Andre's green card was approved this morning and will arrive in the mail in 2-4 weeks!

As most of you know, we've been waiting for this for 4 years and can't quite believe what we were told this morning: everything is finally in order. Thank you Lord!

Afternoon Tea

Two weeks ago, my friend Liesl came to stay for a couple of days, with her little cutie, Ian. Vanessa & Michaela came over for tea one afternoon and the kiddos had fun playing. It was so funny watching Michaela trying to keep up with Ian, who is a year older than her!

Liesl and I had a really good time together, and stayed up far too late each night chatting. Good friends are such a tonic for the soul!