The end of an amazing holiday - South Africa Part 4

After 4 great weekends with all our family and friends it was time to say goodbye.

Very bitter sweet for us. This trip started off a bit topsy turvy with the theft of my wedding rings but there were so many great memories that made this trip as special as it was. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays with family & Friends... such awesome memories. The very simple fact that our boy got to spend time in the place we were born and raised, where our love story began... that was so special to us.

Here are just some randoms from the holiday:

Playing at the Game centre, Fantasy Forest at Gateway 

With Angela-mummy, Cameron's dad's cousin who used to be Cameron & Bradley's nanny and more importantly like another mother to them. It was very emotional for her to hold Darian, in her words "she held Camy as a baby now she's holding his baby".

Me and my darling nephew, Brandon, who is now almost taller than me! I can't believe it, 14 years old already. I remember the first time I saw him when he was only 5 days old and he was so tiny we could bath him in the bathroom sink. Time sure does fly.

And this cutie is my niece Shannon, already 8 years old. My Shanna-Banana was only 2 years old when we left South Africa and can barely remember me, except for the last South African trip. 

Darian with my brother Quentin. I just loved how Darian just took to him, from the first moment at the airport. It's like he looked at this face and said, he's alright, he looks like mum!

Thank you to everyone who made time to see us over this holiday. Those who we couldn't see or spend time with, there's always next time. We seem to visit South Africa every 2 years so I'm sure we'll be back... 2016??? Who knows.

South Africa - Part 3

April 22nd marked Cameron's 36th birthday. After such a busy weekend, we just relaxed at home and that evening we went out for dinner with a few friends while Darian stayed home with his grandparents! So good having babysitters! It was an interesting evening. Dinner at Bar Ba Coa Argentinean Grill and drinks at News Cafe in Umhlanga with Imraan and Manisha, and Adrian (Big Pun) as well. Needless to say we had a great night catching up with these guys. I'm so glad that we got to celebrate Cameron's birthday with them. And Sorry, I didn't take any pics of the night... I know, really bad!

The next few days were just an opportunity for us to recoup and catch our breath. We visited Gateway and did some shopping (just like old times) and spent some quality time with my mum and Cam's parents.

That Friday we headed down the South Coast of KZN for a family holiday. It was so good catching up with everyone and relaxing in one of the most picturesque destinations in the world. And swimming in the warm, amazing Indian ocean! Oh how I miss that!

Here are a few pics from that weekend...

The view from our chalet

Darian just enjoyed all the attention from everyone. It was a good weekend.

We then got back to Durban and the next day headed back to the South Coast to spend a few days away with friends. A trip we had been planning for so long and it was so good to catch up with our friends after so long. We were the only ones (with children) who brought our kid along, but everyone was really good with Darian and again, showered him with attention and gifts. Thanks guys for an awesome time away.

Here are some pics of the time away:

The last few days of our holiday we took the time to spend as much time as we could with our families. Being with my niece & nephew and sharing time with my brother, Quentin, my sister-in-law, Carol, my cousin Rafiek, his wife and one of my best friends, Angie and their cutie Eva was so special to me. Having time with my parents and watching Darian develop relationships with everyone are memories I will cherish forever. Being away from family is the hardest part of being overseas so the moments we share with them mean so much to me. I love and miss you all already!

South Africa 2014 - Part 2

The weekend of Darian's party was quite full on. With all the family over from Cape Town and all the birthday's in April, we were quite busy. The Sunday after the party we decided to go to uShaka Marine World. It was so nice watching Darian's first experience at such an awesome place. He was in awe of all the sea animals and absolutely loved the Seal & Dolphin shows. He was super excited and was the loudest child at each show. With Uncle Allan giving him all the attention he craved he was just in his element.

We went for lunch at our favourite Restaurant, Ocean Basket and had out usual order, Seafood Platter... best seafood platter in the world! Love it! The food at Ocean Basket at uShaka is just awesome. We were not disappointed at all. But our little mr didn't want to eat food, no instead he ate bread rolls - go figure!

After lunch we headed towards Sea World but while we waited in line uncle Allan and Frankie took Darian for a play in the sand, much to his delight.

We then headed to the Aquarium and Darian was afraid of some of the tanks, especially the sharks (Fathers child) and the big fish like the giant groupers and even the jellyfish.

After the Aquarium, we walked around and made a stop for ice-cream. Mine was hijacked by a little 2 year old.

It was a good walk around the park, and we got to see some interesting things (stingrays, the ocean walk, shark dive, etc).

We stopped at the Penguins but had missed the show. Darian just loves penguins so I was disappointed we had missed that. We did manage to see them huddled together and basking in the sunshine though, so he was happy with that.

We then made our way to the Seal show, Darian was so excited and screamed at the man, every time the Seal would come out (part of the play is that you have to warn the actor when the seal shows up). We couldn't contain his excitement. It was so worthwhile.

He was very unhappy that we had to leave the Seals but got him interested again when he realised there was still dolphins to see. This time he sat with uncle Allan and for some reason, thought uncle Allan controlled when and where the Dolphins would jump out the water so didn't want to leave him alone!

After uShaka, we headed back home as we had dinner reservations for Pam's 50th birthday. It was a lovely family dinner at the Blue Waters Hotel. Darian had such a full day that he fell asleep before we could even get to the hotel.

The birthday girl

As Monday was a public holiday we were invited to Uncle Selvan & Aunty Bernie's place for a braai. A real South African braai... yum! The boys did their thing on the braai stand and Aunty Bernie taught me how to make Soji, let's just say with all the butter and sugar in that, we won't be making it anytime soon... but so glad I know how to make it cos it's one of my top fave desserts.

April is a month full of birthdays in the Pillay family, not only did the twins (in the above picture) turn 18 in April, Pam turned 50, Darian turned 2, and Cameron turned 36. So as this was the last opportunity for the family to celebrate together this holiday, uncle Allan and his family were heading back to Cape Town the next day, which happened to be Cameron's birthday, we had a very impromptu thanksgiving before dinner. We also took this opportunity to honour my in laws (Cam's parents) as the head of the family and give thanks to God for his protection over my father in law after his health issues over the last year. Needless to say it was a tear fest but it was a good way for us as a family to give honour where honour was due. Also to acknowledge the next generation of the family and for our generation to begin to take the reigns as the next leaders. With Darian the first of the next generation in this family and with Nicole (Cam's cousin) and Randall's baby due in May, & Bradley & Shamini's little one due in August, it was quite fitting to acknowledge the next generation of this amazing family.

I'm so blessed to be a part of this amazing family. Thank you Lord for the blessing which is this family. I'm so honoured that my son will grow up with such a supportive, loving family in his corner.

The time we spent with everyone was undoubtedly the best part of our whole holiday... thank you to the Subban and Pillay family for making it so special.

Corrinne