Good Night Africa!

This was our view last night around 7pm..There was a rainbow and everything had a red glow!

It's Only Going To Get Busier!

(I love this pic of Hunter, I found him reading without being asked!)
These past two weeks have been crazy! Claire was at the doctors twice in the last week and a half. Once for swollen lymph nodes that were hopefully caused by a viral infection(fortunately have already started to go down), and second because she twisted her ankle and could not walk! After all of this she almost cut off the tip of her finger with my sewing scissors, good thing we did not have to go back to the doctors...I was afraid they would start to think something! Hunter also was at the doctors last week; he had a case of tonsillitis. And last, but certainly not least Pat (after too much wine) had to go to the ER and get stitches in his elbow. Let's just say "What happens in South Africa , stays in South Africa".
Luckily, I have actually found the medical facilities and doctors here quite competent. Whenever my kids go to the doctors they are given a full and thorough evaluation and you are actually listened to! The pharmacies are also incredible. Our local "chemist" knows us by name and is extremely helpful, if you do not have time to wait they will deliver medicine to your house after it is filled(no extra cost)!
Everyone seems to be back to themselves, and the craziness of the holiday season begins! Let's hope we stay injury and germ free!
I remember last year thinking the holiday season here was so less hectic than in the states; I wasn't buying or making a thousand gifts and I had little shopping to do! I think the difference is that I was new here last year and I had brought all of my gifts overseas; so I was prepared. Not the case this year! We now have three teachers, an OT, a Speech Therapist, a PT, 8 tutors from Claire's school; and believe it or not..friends to buy or make stuff for! And of course I have three kiddos to shop for!
In South Africa holidays are less marketed, which makes you enjoy the season with family more! They are just not as commercialized here, there is not as much pressure to have the newest and the greatest! This is great with children, they have no idea what is new in the toy world!
With that said, we do have the next two crazy weeks to get through before the kids are out for "summer"!
Taylor is finishing up end of the year exams this week, so sadly the actual Thanksgiving Day will be a school day. We will celebrate a "real" Thanksgiving this weekend, with all of the trimmings! Sunday, Pat and I are going to a cricket match for a work function. Next week we have two school "prize givings" (similar to honor roll assembly) to go to, a tour of Christmas homes and a cookie exchange party to attend.
Oh, and company to prepare for!
For now; I will take one day at a time because life is only getting busier!

Here is a sneak peak at a craft I have been working on, an Advent Calender handsewn out of felt...

Just Mom!

That's my only job title. I was writing our Christmas letter and it led me to some personal revelations...I'm just the mom. I started the letter with hellos, and then moved to what everyone has been up to. Taylor, Hunter and Claire had a paragraph full of what they have been doing, and what they have accomplished this year. Even Pat got a paragraph, I had one line...I have taken up tennis this year. Gosh is that all I have done, how pitiful!
Wait! Hold on! The reason my children have three very long and fulfilling paragraphs is because I have been there to allow those things to happen. I have forfeited the role of Megan for the role of Mom. I have given it all up for them! But... whoever sees the man behind the scenes, whoever gives credit to the middle man...Not many!
It is enough to have three happy children...To know in my heart that I created them, and I have given all of my self for them. They are my year. They are my accomplishments. They are who I am. For now that is enough for me, I just hope it is enough for them. So when you see my card(it will surely be late) know that in all actuality all of the first three paragraphs are what I have been doing...I would not want it any other way!

Hold On, Here Is Our Halloween....

I realize Halloween is way over, but I have just had time to show you a little bit of ours! Because we are in a far away land, South Africa, and they are just getting the jest of Halloween; we celebrated a little differently! One of my other American friends, Kim, and I decided to throw a big kid party! I provided the location and we split the food, the guest list(close to 40 kids), and we all had a ball!
It was a gorgeous day and night... perfect party weather! We set up outside for a grand Halloween party...

The games were a blast; mummy wrapping, donuts on a string, ghost bowling, bobbing for apples, and even some crafting(thanks to a very crafty friend)! Food was easy; hot dogs on the braii, chips, drinks and way too many yummy desserts!

Hunter wrapped up...

Notice the ghost rider...

All in all, I do not think my kids ever missed "real" trick or treating! I think for these three it was a HUGE success...

Dracula Hunter!

Princess Claire!

The Joker, Taylor!

Oh, and after all kiddos had fallen asleep, the real party began and did not end until about 3am! Hee, Hee, Hee...The kid party was just a front!

It's Going To Be A BOOtiful Day!

The sun is shining, the costumes are made, the decorations are done....It's going to be a BOOtiful day! A very friendly Witch stayed up late into the night to make sure that three little Goblins did not wake to a fright!

We are having a party today to celebrate Halloween, American style! A little apple bobbing , costume contests, and of course some scary food! We are ready, we only now need to wait about 12 hours for the guests... I am not sure the kids can hold their excitement! Here is a sneak peak at our costumes, can you guess who we will be(there is one missing, mom is always last)?

The McScary's and this little blue feathery creature wish you all a Happy Halloween and hope you have a BOOtiful day!

Who Said You Need Electricity to Survive...

Well, I know we need it to survive; but we sure did a heck of a lot without it! We lost power 3 times this weekend, twice for over 6 hours. It did not stop us from doing a little picture taking, a little crafting, and even some Halloween decorating. I had a photographer come to the house on Saturday and take some pics of the kids, everything went well except for the kids insisted that our small zoo be included! So needless to say, we have quite a photogenic cat... I was hoping it would be one of my kids, but I will take what I can get!
Here is a sneak peak of some of our pics...



I also spent some time getting ready for Halloween. We scaled down quite a bit from what we would do in the States, but we had to add a little spook!

And last, but not least...a little crafting! I have been making some gifts, clipboards, and embellishing them as best I can without my monogram machine. They actually have turned out really cute and have been well received! I only need to whip up about 6-8 more! I am also going to be making some of our costumes, as it is very hard to find costumes here . Luckily Claire has hers all ready, a birthday present from Mimi and Poppa!

Back Online...

We have had a lot of things happening around here! I would have blogged earlier with everything, but our Internet service was out for almost 5 days....very frustrating! Being so far away, the Internet is our ONLY connection with home. It serves as our line of communication via email and via our Vonage phone. Our Vonage phone is amazing...it allows for us to have a Louisiana telephone number all the way in South Africa, no international fees!
Well, back to the good stuff! We have a new "country club" member, Taylor. I got him a membership to our local golf club, and he played nine holes with his friend this past Friday(without parents). He also went to a game farm this weekend with some kids from school, for a camp out birthday party. More firsts for Taylor, he played in his first cricket match this week and really did good. You know you love your children when you find the most boring sport in the world exciting, because your kiddo is playing it! Taylor continues to make us proud, he really has embraced this new life and has welcomed all of his new adventures.
The rest of us had a little less action packed week. Claire has perfected her bike riding, and can be found most days pedaling away on the tennis courts(remember our house is surrounded by walls, and tennis courts serve as a huge concrete playground)! Pat and I snuck away for our new Saturday morning ritual..coffee and shopping adult style! We are trying to explore some of the older antique stores, we found a gorgeous oil painting that is now hanging in my dining room(dirt cheap)! Hunter also had a good time playing and hanging out, the weather has been gorgeous. Only problem is ..it is making the angels really hard to keep from kissing him, and making all of these new freckles.
We unfortunately have been also perfecting our "Goodbye" skills, we bid farewell to Pat's boss and his family this week. They are headed home to The States after being here for two years. They have been instrumental in showing us the ropes here in Port Elizabeth, South Africa; and made a scary move a little easier! Farewell Rick, Diane, Brendan, Austin and Delilah.....Port Elizabeth will never be the same!
We luckily were able to welcome some new guests in our home, two girls from Finland! They were here with their traveling choir, and we were their hosts(scary)! I am sooo glad we did this, it was so fun to have them in our home!
Looking forward to this weekend... Christmas card picture taking(leaving this to the professionals), celebrating one year of being foreigners(not sure what's best...one year closer to going home or one year full of adventures), and Taylor is helping with his classmates First Communion Mass.