the Northern Hemisphere trip

** Sorry for the technical difficulties- YouTube didn't approve of my original musical accompaniment. It should work now!**

We got back from our epic Northern Hemisphere whirlwind trip about a week and a half ago and we are still glowing from all the fun...and finally not jet-lagged. I had just over three weeks of family time, friend time, birthday time (hello 30!) and treat time with some favorite American delicacies (hush puppies! Carolina BBQ! Reese's peanut butter cups! bagels!). Big B was gone a bit longer what with his trip to Brown University (a total success by the way). Our return wasn't the smoothest- more in a later post- but it is great to back home in Cape Town, enjoying the beautiful weather, catching up with friends and family, and setting our sights on spring.

There was just too much goodness to share conventional blog style so instead here is the under four minute highlight reel! Enjoy!!

happy days

Four years ago today I went on a date with a really handsome guy I met on the first night of tango class. It was an icy sub-zero day in New Haven. We had Thai food. Later that evening we drank rooibos tea and I was introduced to Johnny Clegg. We saw each other the next day, and the next day, and the day after that. It was bliss then and it still is.


Our days of late have been very full and happy in other ways too. We've spent a few glorious days on the beach, my new favorite of which is Llandudno though we've spent a fair bit of time in Fish Hoek too.


We went for a sunset walk along Hout Bay beach, watching the mountain change colors and the clouds roll in.


Afterward we had a drink at a bar on the beach and watched the full moon rise. Our chairs were in the sand and we could kick our feet up and relax.


There has been loads of family time as well. We've had more time with this little cutie and his brother. I have a great video of James and Brendan that I will figure out how to post and get up here soon.



There was a gathering of all the M-B sibs, their partners, and their kiddies (I'm glad Ant & Kate have two so I could have someone to hold!).


And now we have B's cousin Kate and her husband James here. On Sunday we packed a picnic and parked off at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for one of their summer concerts.



Sadly the Nepal training has been a bit back-burnered because of my broken toe. I think it is nearly better enough to start hiking and we will hopefully recommence soon. In the mean time, Brendan has been harassing me (I think he would say he is strongly encouraging me) to do wall squats to increase leg strength. I decided that I would do them when Parker did.


While his form leaves something to be desired, I guess this means I need to start doing wall squats. Dang.

cuties

Not only were we lucky enough to have my entire family here for the holidays, but Ant, Kate, James & Matt also came to Cape Town for a visit. We were thrilled to get quite a bit of catch up time with them. It was particularly fantastic to see our newest nephew Matt again. He was only 7 weeks old when we first met, and was largely sleeping/feeding/pooping in those fresh-out-of-the-oven days. Now he is a proper little boy full of smiles and hugs (although he is still known to sleep, eat, and poop).

We went out for milkshakes on one of the swelteringly hot days last week and James seemed to particularly enjoy his.

On another of the hot evenings during last week's heat wave we took a picnic dinner to Camps Bay beach. It was our first sunset on the beach for 2011 and it was lovely. Matt had a particularly good time with his carob rice cake.

Can you handle the cuteness? I can't. I love these boys.

african shirts

Before Bluebell came into my life and freed me to roam the streets of Cape Town, I spent some of my free time making shirts of a whole bunch of people I love. Spoiler alert for my aunt Cathi: don't show this to the kiddos because their shirts are still en route.

I made one for Brendan

One for Hannah

One for Wyatt and one for Cassidy (in their favorite color schemes)

And a matching set for each of my favorite little meerkittens, James and Matthew

I also made one ages ago for my cousin Nolan, but I forget to get a picture of it...doh!

They are made using this stuff called fusible webbing, which crafty people like my friend Krissy use for making appliques and the like. It irons on for a permanent transfer and is machine washable and dry-able. I am clearly embracing my new homeland, at least when it comes to attire!