Who Builds US.....

"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others...for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.” Albert Einstein

This quote speaks to me in so many ways! Mostly tells me to show appreciation for who has helped mold me! Mostly there are my parents, my mom! They guided me in the right directions, I swayed off path many times but eventually got on the right path!! My mom showed me how to be a mom, and taught me what true unconditional love is! Pat, has always made me laugh and has showed me what it means to be a provider and a best friend! My friends, especially my ones here in South Africa, have showed me what TRUE friendship is! They have helped me come out of my bubble and enjoy a brand new world, and LOVE it! My parents, Pat and my friends have given me the opportunity to be myself, and love me anyways(or most days!) Thanks to all of you for molding me on the inside and out! Without you, I would be lost! I hope that I am able to give back as well, if only through my children I am able to use my knowledge!

To My Mom....

Mom
I love you so much and am so proud to call you mine! I am who I am because of you, Thank You! Happy Birthday!
Megan

Hunter is 9!

Hunter's birthday was last week, I can not believe he is 9! Hunter is still very sensitive, very focused on whatever sport he is playing, independent with his school work, good big and little brother, and is still a cuddler!

Love those sweet freckles!

Hunter is ALWAYS dirty, this after eating ribs!

In his school uniform!

Holding his sweet cousin!

Swimming, jumping...a favorite!

Loved being the goalie on the soccer team!


Two cuties!

Little brother!

Big brother!
We started celebrating his birthday long before August 2nd; while in the States my mom and dad had a birthday party for him at Shogun. All the family attended; and we enjoyed watching our food being cooked, sang Happy Birthday and ate cake!

Getting ready to watch our food being cooked with cousins, Cameron & Caleb!

Auntie Jess, new baby Cailyn, Poppa & Mimi celebrate Hunter's BDay!
We surprised Hunter the weekend before his birthday with High School Musical play tickets. We invited our close friends, the Bells, and we all went out to dinner and then to the show! The kids loved the play, and Claire is still telling everyone we went to see HSM!

The opera house!

High School Musical with Aiden & Evan! Notice Hunter's hat, he insisted on wearing this as this was his "new" look!

Claire ready for the show!
The day of his birthday, I cooked 30 cupcakes to take to school and he was allowed to wear anything he wanted. He chose his new Yankees jersey and his new Under Armour shirt, two of his presents! Hunter decided he wanted to go out to dinner just as family, instead of our usual family party(In SA, close friends)!

His birthday outfit!

Getting sung to!
I hope that sweet freckled face boy enjoyed his birthday as much as I did, I am so lucky to get to watch this guy grow up!

Blanco Guest Farms!

This weekend we joined three other families and went to Blanco! About three hours away from Port Elizabeth in the middle of nowhere, there lies the most awesome family vacation spot! We had heard lots of stories of how much fun Blanco can be, but until we experienced for ourselves did we understand! Nothing fancy; rooms are definitely not 4 or 5 star, maybe more like 2! It's the stuff that happens that makes Blanco so much fun!

View from our 4x4 ride, Blanco Guest farms to the right of the third mountain!

Cabins!

View outside of our cabin, owners house on far right!

The best part of Blanco for most everyone, the horses!

This is a zebra that comes everyday to stay with the horses, they say it thinks it is a horse!
We arrived on Friday night, and met up with our nanny for the weekend, Portia! She immediately whisked Claire away for dinner in the Kid's Dining Room! Portia brought Claire back for an hour, only to return again so that the adults could go for drinks and then to the Adults Dining Room! Bells ring to let you know dinner is served! Dinner(every meal) is a wonderful home cooked meal, and there is a set menu for every meal. After dinner the adults make their way to the bar to dance and party the night away!
Taylor and Hunter where free to do whatever the entire weekend; we maybe saw them all of one hour a day, literally!
A typical day at Blanco goes like this:
7am Hunter and Taylor race away on their bikes to milk the cows and let the horses out of the stables
7:30 am Portia comes to get Claire to take her to breakfast
8:15 am We meet up with our buddies; Paula & Clayton, Tami & Scott, and Bruce for breakfast
9:30 am Taylor, Hunter, and I ride horses
10 am Portia brings Claire to us so that she can eat breakfast
10:30 am Portia comes back to get Claire (they can ride horses, play on a playground, ride bikes, visit the cows, pigs, bunnies, horses and zebra)
One day girls and I went hiking, one day read or watched guys play sport; or guys went mountain biking!
12:30 am kiddies go to lunch with nannies
1 pm adult lunch
2pm Portia takes lunch, we play with Claire
2:30 pm tractor ride with nannies and kids
Adults napping, playing sport, played tennis with boys

Adults chilling!
5:30 pm Claire has dinner
6pm Portia brings Claire to us, so she can eat dinner
7 pm Portia back, adults to dinner and bar for party
1-2 am arrive home!
The whole day for boys:
WHATEVER they want; bikes, horses, tennis, golf, squash, soccer, and much more! Mostly freedom to do whatever they want to do, all they had to do was run to the dining room when the bell rang!

Claire smiled the entire trip!

Taylor ready to ride!

Fearless Hunter saddled up!

Taylor was VERY fearful on the first ride, and then loved it!



Off they go!

Hunter

Our friend, Matthew!

The twins, James and Matthew!

James and Taylor falling off the mountain!

Our friend, Evan(Claire's age)!

Our new friend, Ashley!
Claire crashed by 7:30 pm, boys usually by 9pm!
This is why this is a true vacation, we (adults) truly get a break!

You can see your children, you can not see your children! The best part, they are happy no matter what!