A house made out of bricks

For those of you who keep up with our blog, you'll remember a post about the kids building and playing house in Malawi. Well, in South Africa their opa let them build a house too... but it was out of his left over, perfectly formed, cream-coloured bricks. That gives you a good idea of the contrast! This past week they had some friends come over and they all tried to squeeze into the house of bricks which they have made a couple of times in the backyard.

Friends, Fun, Food

We have been able to spend some time with many friends of ours, who we have missed since moving to Malawi. We've also been eating far too much, but it's so hard to resist all the excellent food down here. The prices have gone up, but of course for us, it still seems 'sort of' inexpensive, because we pay double or more for most things. The kids haven't eaten so much ice-cream in all their lives. We don't buy it in Malawi because it costs so much! R75 for 2 litres or $7.50 for a half gallon. Benjamin has never had it until now and even says the word. Bradley, after guzzling down McDonalds' ice-cream, asked pointing to the cone, "Dad, do I also eat this thing?"

When we were kids...

My dad made us a little wooden wagon which we loved pulling each other in. Well, our kids had a fun time pulling each other in the same wagon. I wish my mom were able to find the photo with my brother, sister and me in it, just to compare. Anyway, you'll just have to enjoy the ones with the three Biedebach kiddies.

Zoo

Ami, Bradley, Benjamin and aunty Judy at the statue of Max the Gorilla.

Enjoying picnic time.

Brian, the kids and I were joined by aunty Judy (she is a dear friend of ours who is just the greatest with kids-she looked after them for two weeks in Malawi while we were in Israel) and Tassie (also known as the kids second ouma and my mom's friend) for an outing to the Jo'burg zoo. We went early in the morning and managed to book one of the buggy golf carts which was a huge help, especially when you have smaller kids and a tired pregnant mom who can't keep up with the walking.

The kids loved the animals and we enjoyed it too. We had a lovely picnic in a grassy area and then headed home with very tired babies ready for naps! Actually, we all needed naps :)

Christmas in South Africa

Christmas morning- they were waiting so patiently and were spoiled rotten!

Christmas Eve dinner at my folks' home. The food was delicious!

Benjamin, Ami, Daniel, Christopher, Connor and Bradley (who you can barely see).
Second cousins.

We arrived in Johannesburg on Dec 21st and have had a delightful time of rest and relaxation. The kids have thrived on attention from their opa and nanny. The first couple of days we shopped and although we were crowded by many other late Christmas shoppers, we enjoyed it nonetheless. Brian preached at the Christmas eve service at Grace Christian Church in Primrose and afterwards we shared in an outstanding mom-made Christmas eve dinner. On Christmas day we had a braai and invited my aunt around. We also spent afternoon tea with my cousins and their families. What a blessing to be able to share the joy of knowing the Greatest Gift to us in Christ with our family and dear friends here in South Africa.

White Christmas in Malawi?

We had a Northern Hemisphere Christmas celebration with our homeschooling friends here in Lilongwe and had a ball. We had to dress up in winter woollies and take a treat that we usually enjoy over Christmas. I made shortbread. I grew up in South Africa and so our Christmases were always in the middle of our summer holidays. I am used to it being sunny, with braais (barbeques) and swimming being much of what happens on the day. It was fun though to 'experience' what many of the other missionary families and Brian are so accustomed to.

Ami cut out a snowflake too.

All the snowflakes hanging from an unfinished ceiling. Perfect for getting them to stay up there:)

Bradley decorating a Snowman sugar cookie.

One of the mom's organised some pretend snow which the kids, in shorts and t-shirts, thoroughly enjoyed.

Playing House

Ami and Bradley called me the other day to show me the house they had made and were playing in. It was so fun to see the kids use their imagination and find old things to build their play house with. We still have quite a bit of trash from the building of our own house lying around and so there was a 'great' selection for them to choose from.