Thursday, January 4, 2024

New Year’s Eve

Our friends the Langleys invited us to their home for Nee Years Eve for their traditional Root Bear floats and pretzel making. We had a blast celebrating and looking forward to what 2024 holds. 

Everyone selected a Word of the Year for 2024:

Brent-Thankful

Amanda -Intentional

Taylor-Creativity

Bradyn—Adventure

Ellie-Grateful 









Christmas in Botswana

We love Christmas time in Botswana. It is a time filled with quiet, lots of baking, Lego building, and of course remembering the reason we celebrate Christmas. 

Baking helper

Taste tester

Bradyn learned to make molasses cookies which is his and his daddy’s favorite

Yummy Molasses cookies

Sugar cookies via Taylor

Milk and cookies for Santa and Carrots for the reindeer 

Stockings were hung from the window with care





Lego building


Jeffrey’s Bay and Tsitsikamma

We drove from Mossel Bay to Jeffreys Bay for a few more nights and on our way stopped at Tsitsikamma National park. We were able to hike (saw 2 snakes, 1 Amanda almost stepped on) and cross a beautiful suspension bridge. 

Jeffreys Bay is well know for its amazing surfing and hosts an annual surf competition.  Such a beautiful area and so thankful for this wonderful time away to rest and refresh.









Loads of great white sharks so these are found on most beaches 😬


Windmills of the Karoo desert



Mossel Bay, South Africa

Things at Christmas are very quiet as most people travel to their home villages, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to take some vacation time and travel.  We began our trip by traveling to Mossel Bay, South Africa and staying with our dear friends Abram and Nanette Knoetze at the Garden Route Safari Camp. It was such a lovely and refreshing time and although the weather was cooler it was a much welcomed break from the heat of Botswana. 

Mossel Bay Lighthouse and cave




Abram and Nanette and their son Stephan and Unelle run the Garden Route Safari Camp


Giraffe eat from this tree, so sharp



Horseback Safari

The best hot chocolate around 

Luxury sundowner on safari



Mossel Bay lighthouse

The cave 



Christmas in Johannesburg

We had to travel to Johannesburg, South Africa for some medical appointments and also included some fun around the appointments. 


‘A Christmas Carol’ play at Montecasino

Visiting with Santa 

Ice Skating ⛸️