AfRiCa!!!!

So this is one of the many sunsets that I got to witness in South Africa. It was amazing to say the least...I have a long story and a whole heck of a lot of pictures, but I shall try to edit and cut it short:

Here's Kris the night before we fly out in Salt Lake City at a yummy BBQ place that I forgot what it's called....but it's at Jordan Landing for your info. We then did our last minute shopping at Cabela's for the trip. I forgot some major important girlie face stuff (How could I???), in my luggage and so we then went to a Smith's grocery store...Can't look decent without that!!! This fellow was at the Salt Lake Airport taking a nap...I thought it was funny and an obvious Kodak moment. So, I took a picture.
This is us on the Plane from Georgia to Africa...it was the longest flight EVER. My feet swelled up and I felt very pregnant for a second because of the bubble feet affect. It was a 20 hour flight. Africa is eight hours ahead of Mountain time here. Time change didn't seem to affect me going there. Now that I am back. Yikes! The time change is rough. Kris has been falling asleep at like 6pm and waking up at 3am... I don't get to go to bed until I close the office and Goober is ready to go to bed...but today is the first day that I haven't felt too much jet-lag and I seem to be back into the "groove."
This is a poster thing at the Johan-Berg Airport. I am not sure if it was a warning to watchout for these things in the road or what...but, yet again, a Kodak moment for myself...not everyday you see a sign like this. We just have boring Deer and People signs :]We were on the road to the ranch; which by-the-way was another FIVE hour drive. We stopped at a gas station and I was cold...so I had to warm up somehow. It was Africa's winter and it was kind of chilly...OH! I almost forgot. They have these chips called "Simba" with a Lion on it and it had a flavour of Tomato/Ketchup!!! I was in Ketchup Heaven and gobbled them all up. I was bumbed that I got a little bag, because I wanted some more :]

On Sunday, first morning in Africa, we went to a Whit Lion Reserve....

Right when you walked in there were two white Lion cubs...very cute you got to let them nibble on ya and lick ya and touch them...Later on we found out that you weren't supposed to do that. There were no signs saying so...OOPS!!!Truck we rode in to go right up to the Lions... Big Daddy LionBig Momma Lion who looks mad and about to eat someone, no names, JON!!! Two cute baby cubs...To make a long story short when we landed in Africa at the Airport, we went to go get our luggage, and yes, all were lost!!! FIVE Bow cases and FIVE suit cases...So this is me from a long flight with the same clothes I've been wearing for THREE days...no hair or face stuff :] Anyways, the girlies went on a game drive on Monday on the Ranch, while the boys went and hunted Baboons...yep the blue and red butt kind of Monkeys. This is Kris in front of a big tree where they were hunting Baboons...It probably would have been hard to see him if he wasn't wearing a orange hat...Kalab ended up shooting two Baboons. They are very hated in Africa. They are known for taking human babies and killing them and they are just a pest. Their teeth are kind of scary...This is a typical water hole where are blinds were at while waiting for animals to come in...This is inside the blinds...where it usually had windows like this and little ones off to the side to watch for animals and to shoot out the big tall ones...Baby Pringles that they gave us in our lunch boxes...never seen them this small :]Kris and his trophy Eland. You would not believe how big this animal is...I do not have a clue where we are going to put it!!!! :] But very cool, perfect shot...Kris kept asking, "Should I shoot it? Should I shoot it?" I obviously said..."No"...just kidding I said, "Yes."Here are the workers. All were very friendly and helpful. As you can see the Eland was to big for the back of the truck...HUGE animal!Kris and his beautiful Zebra on the Second day of hunting. I never would have thought killing a Zebra would be neat, but it really was exciting. Perfect shot. Very smart animals and hard to hunt.Leopard Gecko that was hiding in our blind...Long story short.......it ATTACKED ME FROM OUT OF NO WHERE!!! Freaked me out...Kris's first Impala...on the Third day of hunting...perfect shot.Kris and his Black Wildebeest on the Fourth day. Not the best shot ever, but worked :] I wanted Kris to get one of these the most out of everything. He already has a Blue Wildebeest from his first trip; which we named Wilber. This was the coolest hunt I have ever seen. We tracked it forever. While I was getting a ride back to our room since they were still tracking it...Nick, the dad of the ranch saw the hurt Wildebeest in the trees. He jumped of the Wranger and didn't even put it in park and shot him...I hurried and jumped over and put it in park so it would not keep rolling... and then the dogs (Russell Terriers) caught up to it. They were barking and surrounding the Wildebeest. It finally caved and fell over and died. I didn't film him shooting it, but I got it running and the dog surrounding it...it was Animal Discovery Channel material :]Side profile of the Black Wildebeest...This one was a trophy too...Tombay, the smartest hunting dog taking a break. She was so fun to watch track and find the animals...Kris and Kalab were back in the truck and the truck and the driver forgot and ran Kris into a tree. He was stuck for a bit :] hee-heeGiraffe playing peek-a-boo from above the trees...Baby Giraffe...I LOVE THIS ANIMAL!!! My favorite... This is the only animal I really wanted to see before I left.Us in front of a big tree on the ranch...Jon, Rachel, Becky, Kris and myself...took a break from hunting this day because Kris was killing everything. Eland was $1500, Zebra $800, Black Wildebeest $800, Impala $290...Definitely needed to slow down :]Kris is a Tree hugger :]Skin of the Tree...
Us in front of a Termite Hill...Should we be standing next to it???Kris eating a banana like a Monkey in the BlindWarthogs lean on their knees to eat...they are very mean and chase off things way bigger then themselves...
Baby Warthogs are very cute in an ugly way :]
Waterbok...they have a white circle on their butts kind of like a target :]Zebra's drinking... :]Kris and his SECOND Impala...this one was bigger than the first one, that's why Kris shot it. Needed another trophy.On our last day of hunting. The day that I was actually going to shoot a Cow Blue Wildebeest if it came in; which it didn't...a family of Giraffes came into the water hole to drink at our blind...

It was so neat to watch them...I love this picture...

They Hung out for awhile until sunset...Kris took this picture...while I was watching in "Awe"... Very beautiful.Sunset and Giraffe to the right in the tree...Couldn't ask for a better way to end my last night in Africa watching my favorite Africa animal. Maids and Lydia, the mom/cook on the ranch. They were so fun and before we left the Maids sang to us, I think it was the Africa Athem, but either way it was beautifully sung.
Precious little Percy. He is FIVE months. Filled my hole a little for Declan. Such a big baby. He Belonged to Bette, one of the maids. The one on the very left on the other picture...
Kris and Myself pointing out to the Bushmen where to shoot :]

Kris and Me :] *Aww*

Us in front of the gate before we left to Fly back to America...Shannon and Mette are the young married couple that run the ranch with Shannon's parents. It was incredible, fun, and restful. I desperately needed a break, and this was just what I needed. Did not want to leave, only to go get Declan, but come straight back.

Here are some of the other animals that the rest of the family got:Larry and his Kudu. He also got a Blue Wildebeast...Duiker...TWO Impala...Zebra...SteinbokKalab and the Ugliest Warthog known to man. He also got TWO Baboons... Steinbok...TWO Impala... Blue Wildebeast...Zebra..Jon and his Impala
Rachel and her Cow Blue WildebeastJesse and his Gemsbok. He also got a Kudu...Four Impala...Blesbok...and a Baboon. I don't know if I'm missing anything, but that's just off the top of my head.Becky and her Impala. I would like to announce that she got the biggest out of all of the hunters total...SHE BEAT ALL THE BOYS!!! HAHAHAH...Take that!!!

Kris and I flew by ourselves on our way back, while the others went back the Georgia way. We flew from Jo-Berg to Paris; 10 hour flight. We had a FOUR hour lay-over in Paris, and then flew from Paris straight to SLC another 10 hours. I bought a shirt and a little Eiffle Tower. It was a nice airport. Kris and I got threw pretty smoothly. People were friendly. They would always talk to us in French at first and Kris would just smile and let them finish their sentence and then say, "English???" It was funny. Here are some vage Paris pictures:Inside the Airport at our Gate...Outside the Airport window...Paris from afarIn the Airport there was a Playstation 3 area...go figure
Paris in the Air...very pretty and green/spaciousParis in the Air again...

I am just very thankful for the opportunity that Heavenly Father allowed us to be able to go on this trip and be as sucessful as we were. We traveled safe. Everyone got along and had fun. Kris was a fantastic hunter. It was just something that I never thought, before I was married, that I would be able to go to Africa. It was also nice to see people so interested in the church and wanted to know what we were all about--and yes we got the, "What number wife are you?" :] We gave out Book of Mormon's to workers and the owners. I hope they read it and take it to heart. I know some of the things that were brought up about the church were confusing to them, but just as long as they have their hearts open and listen...they will not be confused. Such a blessing...

I missed my little Declan terribly. I cried when I went out the door to leave and could not wait to see him again. I can not believe how much he has changed in TWO WEEKS!!! He's such a big boy now.

I just want to thank my mom and dad for taking such great care of him. I did not have any worries at all. I knew he was in great hands, because I was raised by you and look at me :] I am sure it was special for both you and Declan to spend time together and with everyone. What great parents and grandparents you are... Love you Mom and Dad!!!

Kylee, do not get in a wreck ever when I am just leaving for a vacation or at all for that matter!!! Scared me to death, but Heavenly Father took care of you, that's for sure. Thanks for watching Declan also. Love you Kylee!!!

Dez and Geoff, thank you too. I am glad you are closer to home and you got to come out!! Thanks for coming out when mom got sick Dez--you are an amazing sister, daughter, and will be a great mom. I prayed for you Geoff when it was the day of the bar. I know you are a smarty-pants and did well. Love you Dez and Geoff!!!

Chase...you were in Seattle, but I Love you Anyway!!! :]

WHAT A GREAT TRIP!!!!!