Cape Town Christmas

The Christmas morning actually came a little earlier than expected.  I figured the Anseth girls would sleep till at least 9.  It was the first day since we arrived without a 5 AM wake up call.  I was wrong Gracie's internal clock is wired for 7:30 AM regardless of time zone.  Santa was able to find all of us here in Cape Town.  The blessing of Gummi Bears, chocolate and gift cards are easy to fit in his sack.

The Christmas morning selfie.

I think most of these people are crazy.

Luckily, they are my kind of crazy.

Merry Christmas from the Anseths

Merry Christmas from the Butners

We enjoyed a great Christmas brunch.  Grace ate more ham at brunch then she has in the entire rest of her life.  The weather was beautiful.  You really couldn't have ask for a better day.

The family at brunch 

Kari and Lara 

After a brief afternoon rest, we ventured out for an evening activity.  We travelled to Stellenbosh, SA wine country, for a hike.  4.5 km up the hill to watch the sunset and the full moonrise.  There will not be another Christmas full moon for something like 20-30 years.  Troy organized it and checked out the details  but again we had a driver that needed TBSwiss iPhone magic to get us to the hike on time.

The family and the hill we needed to conquer.  I tried using remote controls for my new 35 mm camera to take this picture.  If you look closely I am looking down at my phone to see if it fired.  Kind of felt like Clooney in Oceans Eleven when they are trying to blow the vault.  You lose focus on this game for one second and this is what happens.

Ashley and Abby solving the worlds problems

Kari and Lara discussing the easy route up.

Wines lands

The Von Tramp family at the top enjoying the snacks.

Sunset and Table mountain 

The hills are alive with the Sound of Music

2 thrill seakers enjoying the sunset

#selfienation

Full Moon Rising

The hike down.  Check out my sweet headlamp.

We were the last family of the hill and it was pretty dark when we finished.  I was quite relieved to get to the pick up point without a serious wrong turn or fall.  We pile into 2 separate trucks to shuttle down the last bit of hill.

 On our way down, my truck encountered another hiker who was injured.  Ashley reminded me that I was a doctor and should go help.  I hopped out to take a look.  He had a pretty big cut and it was bleeding pretty significantly, but it was stopping.  One of the staff gave him a shirt and I helped/instructed him to hold direct pressure on it.  We got him down to the office.  I changed his dressing and basically just talked with the family who were on vacation and a little shook up.  The fire department showed up and gave him some oxygen, pain medicine and got some proper dressings. The downside of staying is that 9 other people had to wait for me.  I do know the family of the injuried hiker appreciated me sticking around.  Made the day a lot longer for everyone.

Christmas is a day to count your blessings.  The blessings of Jesus birth and gods love.  The blessings of friends and family that love us unconditionally.  We are on a great adventure.  My family is with me to enjoy this.  We are here because along the way many people took time to give me the right advice, encouragement and love when I needed it.  I hope I can do it as well for my children, family and friends as they have for me.

Merry Christmas.  God Bless us everyone!