Budding Ornithologists

Matt noticed an new bird at the feeder this morning.  Rare to spot this kingfisher in our area (at least we’ve never seen it before).  All the kids stopped what they were doing to go check it out.  What makes this so great is that this week is ‘Spirit Week’ at school and today is dress as your favorite character or famous person.  So here we have the Hulk, (Anderson is still in pajamas because today is not a school day for him), Fancy Nancy, Indiana Jones, and a ballerina all watching the kingfisher before school this morning. 

 

Pharaoh Cluck: Mummified

Here is Pharaoh Cluck after full mummification.  Weeks of waiting and he is finally wrapped and bedazzled (because of the ‘jewels of ancient Egypt’).  The hieroglyphics on the sign say ‘Pharaoh Cluck’.  Kudos for Kelly for coming up with this great project.  If the rest of the class liked it half as much as Tierney did, then it was a huge success. 

(Now I wonder what they do with a mummified chicken).

Rough week

Not only for us at the house, but throughout East Africa. 

Tanzania observed 3 days of mourning for the tragic ferry accident off the coast of Zanzibar earlier this week that has killed hundreds of people. 

There was also the pipeline explosion in the slums of Nairobi where desperate slum residents were coming with whatever canister they could find to fill with the gas that was leaking from the broken pipe. 

Closer to home we’ve had 5 days of just about every sickness possible slowly work it’s way through the kids…vomiting, diarrhea, crankiness, severe headaches, high fevers, rashes, and did I mention crankiness?  Matt was lucky to escape to Zambia and Botswana before it all hit, but we (maybe I just mean me) are very excited to have him come back home on Saturday night.  We’ve also had a very bad power week…a couple of days of at least 24 hour cuts, but usually around 18 hours a day without power.  I also got a tire puncture.  Yeah, it’s been that kind of week.  But despite my week, I’m feeling lucky and blessed.  Maybe it’s because all 3 kids made it to school today and I have power, but really it’s because I got to kiss my kids goodnight this week and talk to them in the dark about how lucky we are. 

Chai Time

Every morning Anderson has chai on the porch with Samuel, Mama Jackie and Elizabeth.  He has his own mug and chair that he uses every time.  I love this ritual.  His tea is really about 1/4 tea and the rest is really sugary milk.  He loves it.

Peponi for Labor Day

Even though it’s not a recognized holiday in Tanzania we decided to take it anyway.  Off to the beach (Peponi Resort) for a long weekend (and my birthday).  Beach, sun, pool, new friends, good food, reading, and, most importantly, family time.  We all also enjoyed waking up to the sound of vervet monkeys fighting and running over our thatched roof.  One way you can tell we’ve been here a while is that the kids were probably more excited about the cat and kitten that they found than the monkeys running all around.  Anderson also had a major milestone this weekend as he swam across the pool without his water wings. (Full disclosure:  he did take a quick rest and breath with daddy halfway across, but he really did it).  Go little man!

Beach time.  High tide swimming, low tide playing in the tide pools looking for hermit crabs, starfish, and shrimp, and walks to the mangroves. 

Hermit crab races:

How I spent my birthday.  Lovely.

 

This is how I entertain myself on long, Tanzanian car rides (~6 hours to the coast).

Bare flame/naked light…I can see how the translation happened.

This one’s for you Dad:

Motorola batwings?

I also now share my birthday with the three (surviving) baby bunnies that we got over the weekend.  10 in total for anyone that is keeping track.  Know any good rabbit stew recipes?