One Day at a Time: Are we their yet?

Saying GoodBye To Madagascar!

11/22-24/2013

Dar was sad about leaving him friend Ruta, but we love her!

Our Wonderful Missonaries! At our last meal!

These two wonderful people in the photo below gave us these very cool keep sakes. A rickshaw and a Baobab tree. Very nice all hand made. Only 3inches or less.


GOOD BYE WE LOVE YOU! (Bishops son and his wife)

Good-Bye Bishop(right) and Micheal (right) Micheal also gave our wonderful little puppy a home!


It was summer when we left, even though it was Nov.

NOW ON TO THE TRIP!

On our way to the Airport the Bishop and his wife stopped to get us some leeches fruit. Here they are.

Oh Ya, our entire life is right here in these 7 bags and 3 carry-ons!


We are ready!

Now we are in Africa

Leaving Johannesburg South Africa

Our trip to Shafter was a long one. It was a 2 day trip with 4 planes. We left Antananarivo and flew to Johannesburg South Africa. Where we has a short layover before flying on to London.

In London we stayed for several hours. They has a good play area for the kids and we spent 6 hours hanging out. The area around the play area was nice and has big couches and chairs to sleep in.

The play land has a small area with little soft toys for young ones and a larger area for older ones. The larger area has 3 slides, and few obstacle areas. The rules were simple. Must ware socks, and If you parents thought you were old enough you would play in the entire area. ADULTS who were playing with their kids were aloud to play in the area also. So Blue and I took turns running and playing along side of the boys. Allistir loved the slides and getting to be with the big kids. Dar thought it was great fun too! He enjoyed the soft mats and pounding he took from runny and bumping in to everything.

THAT is our plane mommy!

After we got on our plane from London we flew to Atlanta, Ga. We also had a long layover here 15 hours. By the time we got the get our bags and made it from the international terminal to the Domestic area and finished with customs we had about an hour until the USO closed. Dar had fallen asleep on the bus from the Domestic terminal so after unloading the bus and getting 2 carts to hold our 7 bags and 3 carry-one we put Dar on top of one of the suitcases and let him sleep.

He laid there with out moving, for almost 2 hours. We got several smiles and comments about "Now that is jet lagged" and "Must be traveling a long way" It was nice that he finally got some good sleep.

After getting the ALL CLEAR and exchanging our money we went and had a snack at the USO. The nice lady there gave us 2 brand new neck pillows and a new blanket for the boys to cover up with. Then we packed a midnight snack for us and breakfast for the boys. Since we would be getting on the plane before they opened again. Then we hunkered down on the floor on the 3rd floor outside of the USO. It was quiet, and carpeted! We were joined by a group of Marines and a few random passengers. But for the most part it was a quiet place to rest!

Around 6 Am we leaded to check in again, got our bags loaded and off we were to find out next gate. The United States's TSA is more in tune with metals then the other airports we had gone though. Blue has on his Over Alls and up to that point had not set off any of the metal detectors. However. Atlanta was different. He sent them off a few times, and then it was time to take him out of line and wand him over. this left me with 2 kids, a lap top, kindle, sleep app machine and 3 pairs of shoes to try to put away while I did not back up the line or let any of the items go out of my sight. talk about a moment or two of stress.. After about 7 Min's they were satisfied that Blue was not a threat and we were aloud to proceed to our gate. A few more hours went by and we were boarded again and in the air. This was the shortest flight and seemed to be the longest. We got into LA fine and waiting at baggage claim was Blue's brother Evion. Who loaded us in this truck and took us home.

It was nice to see some Birds of Paradise Flower Just outside the airport. I was missing Madagascar, and these are in many places.

We made it!

SHAFTER!

Almost there...

ALLMOST THERE!!!!

THERE!!! awww. Tammy(Aunt Sis, Blue's eldest sister) Kenna and Allistir!


Cant forget Blue's Birthday! 39 now!(thank you Dixie (Blue's mom for making a cake!)

Now for Sunday! This is Erin, almost 13, Allistir!

Kenna 16 and Allistir 15 months

Momma and Erin!


Dar thought playing in the leaves was more fun then sitting in church!

Dont think they were tired do you?

Tammy and Dar.

Since we have been back in Shafter, we have had a few interested moments. Thought we were buying a RV but it was an Internet scam, Blue thought he had gotten a GOOD job, turns out it was an Internet scam and money laundering. YUCK. However we have managed to buy a truck. 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 Lariat 3200. With a 7 in Lift kit and 30 in Mudder tires in it.. BUT it has 4 doors and run goods!

We have had some playtime too!

Blue, Evion (youngest and only brother) Eli (Evion's son) Ein and Dar playing ball at night..

PLayground fun!!

Oh ya, long leggs Erin and Dar.. GO ABC!

look at that face. you know he is having fun!

My Mother and Sister were able to come done and bring me a few things that they were going to send to Madagascar for Christmas along with a few things from my Grandmother. It was great to see them and My sister's little boy. They are doing well it seems.

Shery and Erin (yep Erin is taller)

Sherry and Kenna

Erin, My mom, Torin (sisters son) Kenn and Sherry!

The girls are good. It is taking some getting used to having parents around who don't run the house and don't tell you what to do. That's the Grandparents Job now. However it seems that it might be more a good thing then I first thought. The girls can come to us and visit, talk.. and walk away when they want. They don't have to fight with us about cloths being to small, or boys or time limits on baths, phone calls and Internet time. We get the good and not so much of the bad. BUT we will see.

Just Erin, glad to see us. Been a long long time!

Let see what else we have done. Oh yes, we bought a home.. not a house a home.. It is a 1995 Fleetwood Flair! and it is a great tiny house!

Christmas in our new home was great! Santa even came, Drank all the milk and eat almost all the 12 cookies!! (He did not even share with Mrs Claus)

Then we went inside to have Christmas with the rest of the family.. talk about explosion of gifts. With Evion, Amber, Eli, Tammy, Mattie, Mike, Kenna, Erin, Mom and Dad. Then Blue, myself, Dar and Allistir there was alot to do!!