Szar-Treks: January 2011

Stadium Tour

Last week the Moms took all of the kids to tour the Moses Mabhida Stadium where the World Cup Finals took place. We were hoping to take the sky car up to the top of this arch to see the view but soon after we finished our tour they closed it due to high winds.

We had a tour guide who took us all around the stadium.

For an additional cost you could take the sky walk up to the top.

Libby and Anna

After the tour we were offered a free bungee "swing" jump from one of the arches. One of the Moms volunteered and we watched her on the tv hook up as she walked up the sky walk.

Then they let us back into the stadium to see her jump in person so we walked all around the stadium again to get back in. I think we can see her way up there on the arch!

Christmas in Appelsbosch

We had so many fun activities in the month of December but sadly I did not bring my camera to any of them! We had a wonderful Christmas program put on by the kids then we had craft nights where everyone gathered to make Christmas ornaments and to decorate the dining room. We had a gingerbread house night where the chef made up tons of gingerbread pieces and we all made up our own houses (I do have a picture of our house). Here is a post by my friend Deb about the gingerbread houses and here is a post about the night we made decorations. And while I am linking to my friend Deb's blog I will add this link of the kids' Christmas program. Thanks Deb for sharing your blogging with us!

Christmas Day was very special in that we all (as in about 84 of us) got to go to the ship to spend Christmas with all of the crew that could not leave the ship. We had a Christmas Day service with communion and then a wonderful dinner. We were able to visit our cabin up on deck 7 and then it was time to come back home. It was a full day but very nice.

Here is this year's Christmas picture of the girls next to our tree.

Friend Party

My friend Sally helped me set up for the party in our lounge upstairs.

Deborah chose this cake at the local grocery store (it is very difficult to do any individual baking here).

This is a tradition that Sally told us about. Apparently the birthday child cuts the cake and when they get to the bottom of the cake they scream and make a wish. So this is Deborah making a wish!

A very happy birthday girl

Deborah turns 9!

We celebrated Deborah's birthday as a family the day before her birthday because her Dad would be gone on the actual day. We went to Spurs, a wonderful family restaurant here in South Africa to celebrate.

They gave Deborah a free sundae with a sparkler in it.

And then the staff sang and clapped a birthday song for her.

It was a fun time for all of us.

A visitor

This little guy would show up in our different rooms via this little vent. We enjoyed watching him change color. He looked sick when he tried to blend into the wall color.

The Lion Park

In early December the girls and I visited a Lion Park with friends but before we saw any lions we saw this guy in the road!

Science Fair, Dress up like a holiday Day

We had a Science Fair in late November and I think my kids enjoyed the snake more than anything else!

And then on American Thanksgiving Day we had a Spirit Day where we all had to dress up like a holiday. I was Memorial Day, Deborah was Independence Day and Anna was Flag Day (we were trying to represent the American holidays). Then that evening we changed into our Sunday best for a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner prepared for us by the galley.