Polo

Anyone who knows me, knows how I have love to dress my boys. I love the preppy look, and love for them to have on their Polo's. Through tantrums and tears, we have narrowed our "dress up look" narrowed down to only church and only out to dinner. Well, when we heard that we would be going to a polo match- South Africa vs. Australia- we went all out on the way we dressed. We have never been to a polo match, but assumed that it would be quite the thing to do for the prestigious of SA. We planned our trip with two other families one of which, like us, decided to get all prepped up! How much fun, to try and decide what to wear to a polo match! We all tried to find our most preppy Polo's, I had polo jackets around the boys necks, those lasted all of 10 min! We also decided we were going to make sure that we had very "to do" food to take with us. We traveled almost three hours to get there, and paid by the car. We packed coolers, lots of food, tables and chairs, and one family even brought flowers for our table-these south Africans have no idea what it means to tailgate!!!!
The match began, how cool! This was much more exciting than the recent Cricket match that we had just been to, and I would go back again in a heart beat! The scenery was beautiful, the polo club was beautiful, it all looked like something out of a magazine! South Africa kicked butt! The day could not have been anymore perfect, another memory made in South Africa! Oh by the way, we saw about twenty baboons and their babies on the side of the road, literally on the side of the highway! Pat also saw something like a Bobcat, that is not what it is called here, run across the road while he was driving.

The Club House...

Helicopter flying overhead!

Before the match, are we happy or what?

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Hunter with his new polo hat......

Claire being silly!

Taylor, the prep that he is...

The Joys of Christmas!

It is amazing how Christmas makes you feel! I love Christmas and all that it represents. It brings out the child in me, and to watch our children......it does not get any better! I love that it is important to my kiddos that they have something for everybody else under the tree, and they truly take time to remember what is important to them and try to find the best gift.
What an awesome and wonderful time in our lives to have such little believers and memory makers! By the way, Hunter heard Santa's bells this year, what a lucky little boy!
Wow, what a whirl wind we have been in for the last few days! Our Christmas, although very different, turned out great! We started on Christmas Eve with our family's annual basketball game. Taylor and I vs. Pat and Hunter-they won. We say we gave it to them, we have won the last two years, and we felt bad. After the big win, the kids played outside for most of the day, while Pat finished errands and I started cooking. We decided to have a Braii for Christmas and invited some of the Americans over-almost 20 pple! So there was some(ok, lots) of prep work to be done the day before.
After all errands were completed, cooking was at a stand still, kids were bathed and dressed- we headed to the movies! We saw Madagascar II, Africa-how appropriate! After the movie, we went to a great steak restaurant, much like Superior Steak House in LA. Our new friends, The Bells, joined us for Christmas Eve festivities! They have two boys, Aidan 4 and Evan, 3! We ate ,drank and had lots of laughs-almost closed the place down-Both Claire and Hunter fell asleep! FYI, after four adult steak dinners, 5 kids meals, four ice creams, one coffee, and endless bottles of wine our bill arived....$110.00-Can you believe? The benefits of living here, eating out is a fraction of the cost than in the states!
It was a mad rush to get home, we had to get ready for Santa's arrival! The two little ones went back to sleep without a problem, Taylor took longer, he tossed and turned with much excitement! Finally, mom and dad went to bed around two!
Taylor started waking us up at 5:30, oh my! I kept him quiet until 6! And then the games began......... Santa had arrived!

Santa was very good to everyone this year, Taylor got a TV, Hunter got a set of Golf Clubs, and Claire's big item from Santa was a trike! The family got a Wii and a Wii Fit. The kids and Pat got me a hand carved zebra, a cross, hair rollers, a massage gift cert and some Africa books. We got Pat a brown leather safari hat, biking shirt, shoes, and nose clipper(exciting, but needed) Mimi and Poppa were prepared this year and sent our gifts when we moved. Claire got a Barbie jeep, and the boys a digital camera each-I know SPOILED! Among my favorite gifts were my parents gifts to Pat and I....We each got a box of food! I know, how weird, but when you are somewhere far away, sometimes the smallest of things can mean the world- a jar of Jiff, Cajun mixes!

Our party began at 3, and we were ready. We felt having people over would make the day less sad being away from the ones we love. And of course everyone else is feeling the same way! Pat did the Braii, we braiied two huge beef fillets, meant to feed 10 pple each-we got these at a local butcher for $20. for both! I made my moms broccoli and rice casserole and sweet potato casserole, I had much better luck cooking this go round. Everyone brought stuff, so we had plenty of good food. We had a great day- the people were fun, the food was great and the weather was awesome-All that could have made it better was to have a our family there!


I hope everyone's Christmas was magical and I hope you have a wonderful New Year!
The McCarty's

Enjoy some of our new memories.......................................
Taylor helping with Pumpkin Bread!

On our way to see Santa....

Christmas morning, no matching pjs, could not find in SA!

Notice Lilly peeping through window.....

Claire's new wheels, Thanks Mimi & Poppa


What Christmas is all about........

New Camera....

I got one too!

A Day in Bliss..............

The roots are gone! For those of you that share dark roots, grey or the love of blonde; you will understand the fear of going to a new hair salon! I have been blessed to have had a great girl do my hair for eight years, Holly Johnson at Cloud Nine Hair Studios; but now that I am in a new country it was time to change. I have been putting this off for quite some time, and I could not wait any longer! (I was reverting back to my original color)
While on safari, I met a lady who suggested a place called Bliss. The story begins, I call and get an appointment with a girl named Janine. I ask lots of questions; Has she ever done hair? Has she ever done hair? Has she ever done hair before? The answer is yes, for many years. I succumb, because I have no other choice! I go in Monday for a 11:00 apt, they whisk me right to a chair in the "color bar", and I am flanked by people-What can I get you to drink? What do you want us to do? Well should I answer-Maybe get me drunk first if I am going to leave looking any worse, but I decide to ask(like a dumb ass) What do you think? Janine(who is now The Bomb!) suggests keeping everything pretty much the same, but adding a glaze to help the color! The race begins, Color and Foils are put in (While having my toes done) by Janine, and then one of her many assistants steps in to help out. By the way, I asked for a Blissful coffee, I was then feeling comfortable that it may all go my way! After sitting and sipping, my hair gets washed and head massaged for the first time, sit again for some more sipping and peace (cherubs are with hubby)....And then I am escorted to the Quiet Room, where inside there is water flowing down a stream and a line of massage chairs in front of the sinks(Way to go Bliss), my hair is shampooed for the second time, and again my head is massaged! I am then led to the "Cut" bar, and wonder woman herself aka Janine proceeds to turn me into a beauty, my hair that is! After paying, not the cheapest-but worth it, I head home! I told everyone that I was "in Bliss" and not to disturb, yeah right! Pat and Taylor loved it, other two could have cared less! I must say, my hair looks the best it has in a long time, no more brassiness-Again, Go Bliss!
So if you come visit, and need some pampering we can go to Bliss. What a Blissful day!!!!!!!!

When will it feel like Christmas..................

(I love this pic of Claire, she looks so much older! Our precious princess!)

This week has been pretty uneventful, except for a few beach days! Pat was off on Tuesday, so we packed up and went to a local beach, Sardinia Beach. It is beautiful and has sand dunes that are taller than most two story houses! The kids loved the dunes, they rolled down them and played king of the mountain; but they were a little weary of the water -it was very cold and we had just read a local story about a shark attack-so they kept their distance. Although the highs reached 90, the breeze was wonderful and we never got hot. We forgot balls, so they just played in the sand. Later that week, I braved the beach on my own, and we did great. Remind you, you have to be very aware of your surroundings and always be aware there could be danger lurking. This is a very safe beach, and did not have too many locals! The kids and I hung out and played in the sand, threw balls, and they finally braved the water-to their knees! I took some fun group and individual shots!

The other American family arrived this week and we had their boys(10 & &) over Saturday, everyone got along and I am glad for someone else for my boys to be with because the brotherly fighting has got to stop!

Where are our buddies when we need them, I think Hunter would die to see Cyrus, or even Elizabeth(truth be told, I think there was a little bit of a crush before we left)! Taylor, I know could also probably need a familiar buddy or two or three..how many awesome kids do we know in 5th grade in Bossier?




OK, Christmas, it has been so weird this year trying to get in the spirit. First off, I am away from home and family for the first time in my life, and we are in a foreign country where things are done a little differently! To start with, you do not see any Christmas lights, wreaths or trees on the outside of homes, my favorite thing to do during Christmas is to look at lights- I have yet to find any! It has also been in the 80's, so that makes it hard(PS, No one has air conditioning, what is going on here?)! We are the only ones dressed in Christmas reds and smocked Christmas clothes-no special Christmas clothes seen for miles, Bah Humbug! The malls are packed and do have Christmas decorations, but who wants to spend the holidays stuck in a mall to get your Christmas spirit going! I did find a church that a had a "carol by candlelight" thing tonight, so we went. We dressed everyone in red, smocked outfit for Claire, and we were on our way(we did have several stares, does anyone here go all out like we do in the south, I even had Claire's Christmas bag with me). We met another family for dinner, sushi, and then headed for the church! OK, I have lived in the bible belt for 11 years, and have seen some holy rollers, but the churches here still seem a little off! Of course the program is supposed to be an hour and only carols, and 1/2 way into it we are still listening to preaching-finally we heard three songs and the preacher almost ruined it for all, by leading the song singing and not knowing which verse he was on!!!! So at the end of that we only heard three songs, but still we left with a little more spirit!

This is when I seem to be the saddest, remembering Christmas's past! For example, I know all of you were worn out by your many class parties, we had none(we finished end of Nov-I would have died for the chaos of three parties.)! What about last year's Christmas party with my dearest group of friends, no Christmas parties yet(still waiting for invites to come flooding in)! I even miss making my endless loaves of pumpkin bread, and then being able to deliver to all of my closest friends! And of course the family get togethers, Adam's Christmas eve after church (would love some yummy food), and mom and dads after Santa comes Christmas morning. There is nothing better than being at my parents for Christmas, it looks like Santa explodes and the food....Mom is the best cook! How I will miss all of it. Pat and I are going to try and make Christmas all that it can be for our three little cherubs, but it is hard to feel that giddy feeling! This is supposed to be my favorite time of the year! Maybe things will look up, we do have four more days! The kids are what makes Christmas, I keep reminding myself!

****I will have my vonage phone at the end of this month, I have been dying to call all of you and chat, but I have been unable! This will allow me to have a Bossier number and will be free for all of my buddies in Louisiana! It will work just like a regular phone - Technology is amazing!!!!!

OK, I leave you with this.....Remember to relish in the little things this Christmas season for we are all blessed in so many ways and for so many different reasons! I think about you all often, sometimes too much, and I miss you all terribly! Have a wonderful holiday week!

The Amazing Parts of Africa..............

What an amazing weekend! We traveled one hour east of Port Elizabeth to The Lalibela Lodge. Once you arrive you are directed to the welcoming lodge, were you are greeted by two workers who escort you out of your car and take your luggage. We assumed that we were at our lodge, but realized that we had to go on a 25 min. open jeep ride to get to our lodge in the bush! The bush is what the wilderness is called in Africa! After driving past hippos and giraffe we arrived - Amazing, something out of a magazine! http://www.lalibela.co.za/

Upon arrival at our lodge we are greeted once again and given a tour of our surroundings. You enter into a bar, and then go downstairs into the public areas. There is an outdoor eating area with a fire pit, and an indoor eating area with a lounge and fireplace. There are two pools, one is close to the lodge and the other is surrounded by decking that is next to the watering hole for any wild animals, mostly the elephants.

Our room was an individual lodge with a king size bed, three small beds, and a bathroom. No TVs or cell reception in the bush! Our deck overlooked the bush.

Now for the best part, after arriving and settling in we had high tea at 3:30, and our first game drive started at 4 and lasted until 8pm. We drove in an open jeep like vehicle that had three rows of open seating in the back and we were driven by our game ranger, Geoff. He was extremely knowledgeable about all of the animals. This reserve has all of the "Big Five" and all animals roam freely and are not separated from their predators. The first animals we saw were the elephants and their babies. We were so close you could see the wrinkles in their skin. We saw so many different animals on this game drive: rhinos, giraffe (they stayed closest to the entrance of the lodge), hippos, impala, spring buck, zebra, meerkats,buffalo,warthogs, and many more. I will say the zebras are my favorite, they are so amazing-we even saw one of their babies! Half way through the game drive, we stopped and had drinks and snacks, wine and beer provided. The rhinos were pretty cool and came so close we could have touched them.There was a 1 year old rhino named JJ that the boys liked! After the game drive is over you are taken back to the lodge were a full course meal is served. The next day started with a wake up call at 5am, and a light breakfast was served and we were off for our second four hour game drive. This time we saw the cheetah and her three cubs that were 1 yr old. We saw more of the same, we kept trying to find the lion, but they were hiding from us. After that game drive, we again were welcomed back for a full course brunch, the food was amazing. This was by far one of my most favorite things that I have ever done, and I can say my boys were in shock. This is the part of my new life that I am enjoying, being able to experience things that you only read about or see on TV, and to be able to give this gift to my children, Amazing! This alone is why you should come visit us!

Some funnys...... We went to a Braii the other night with GM people, and we were talking cars(imagine) and the Cadillac Srx got brought up. Well, this is the car I drove before we moved and has become my alltime favorite. Some ladies were currently driving one and I said Oh, I wish I still had mine, and they said "Take It!"-ofcourse I wondered why one could not like that kind of luxury, well they look JUST like the hurses do here! They say that people give them the worst looks!!!!!!
A common saying amoung south africans is "shame" meaning "thats too bad" or "Im sorry". Well, we laugh because every conversation I have with someone here that phrase is brought up-is this good?
On the way home from a wonderful safari, we wandered into a local town nearby and ended up in a not so great place(shame!), well we looked on the side of the road and there were two cows just hanging out. There is always something to keep you on your toes!

Happy Holidays from Our Home to Yours!

This may be our Christmas card, as I can not figure out how I will send 100 cards from here! If you think we do not have your email address, please forward to patrickmccarty3@aol.com!

Bring Back the Under Armour!!!!!

OK, so I should have kept my mouth shut over the Under Armour that my boys lived in for the past years, because dear lord, you should see what they wear to Cricket practice! I thought we were introducing sports to our children to make them sportsmen and not goof balls! We show up to the first practice and everyone has these teeny tiny white shorts on, just meet top of thigh, and these horrible white sun hats on! My boys have not had shorts on that have been above their knees in forever, and I refuse to begin now!!! It just makes me want to live at the ball fields or football fields, moms do not complain,because your only option could be a "Cricket Mom"- Will we ever survive!!!!! Pat explains that it is because it is a gentleman's game, again dear lord! If anybody knows an Under Armour rep, let them know they have yet to be discovered in no mans land!
While kiddos were at Cricket practice, I discovered a new mall! Well, the shopping is not near as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact the full rainbow of polka dot Puddle Jumpers, in 2 sizes and every color mary jane in two sizes was maybe not necessary! At least now Claire Bear has more options, when has she not!
Christmas in Africa, stay tuned, I know there is a Santa Clause, will he be Roley Poley southerner or a skinny little SA Santa Clause? Only time will tell!

It is Sunday night here, Sunday morning there. (8 hrs difference from home) Well, we had our first party, it was just apps and drinks. I chickened out of making dinner, I hate cooking! It was fun we had 4 American families, one's wife and kids are due to arrive in SA next week. It was pretty uneventful until everyone had finished off a couple bottles of wine and lots of beer, and then the fun began! We did alot of laughing, and talking (some of which I hope no one remembers!) I hope we still have friends today!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The last people left at 2:00, and the last car left and ran off the side of our driveway and got his car stuck! We have a large driveway inside of our gate, but as you leave the driveway, it is narrow and is surrounded by a ditch of some sort! Everyone survived and a tow truck came this am and pulled it out! Remember there is no Onstar to call when in trouble, Hell there really isn't anybody to call when you need help, especially at 2am! That's the one and only thing our security company does not do!
We did make it to church this am, we needed to do a little begging! I have been looking into churches for us, and have been quite scared of trying different ones, I guess I think I might find one that deals with snakes or may never let us leave- we are in Africa!! Last week we were not impressed, but my property mgr told me of her church and it sounded a little more of what we are used to! So we went, It definitely was more like the ones we were used to but a little different, one song was completely in Afrikaans- will we ever survive!?!
After church we went to a restaurant along the coast. It was the most beautiful drive, the water looked fake! We sat outside overlooking the ocean, we were told you see whales and dolphins! OK, we did not but I think our problem was we have three kids that needed our undivided attention. We probably missed hundreds!
The kids just got done watching Karate Kid, the TV is awful but you can catch up on old movies, or watch Gm on TV-we try and watch the old movies, a little more uplifting! Tomorrow, the boys will start the Cricket Academy! We shall see, anything with a ball and action pleases them!
Off to my new life, I told my parents today, I still have no concept of time or what the date is.
Way to go GATORS! Several people emailed and told my devoted Gator fan of a son about the game on Saturday- oh, to be at home and watch football. By the way, we still want to grow up and be Tim Tebow, nothing in SA will ever change our love for football!
I have added some pics of our house. They are of the lounge/kitchen area and of the dining room/bar area. Enjoy!!!!!