Sunday, February 14, 2016

Dr. Jane Goodall

T's birthday sleepover was great.  
The girls were tasked with decorating a "golden birthday" cake.
I think they did a great job.
 

Watching The Martian on the big screen
The next day Jane Goodall was coming to ISM (kids' school) to speak.  The girls were very excited and spent a long time drawing pictures for/about her.


The kids were right up front for the talk and were close enough that when she dropped her notes Anderson handed them back to her.  They loved it.

Jane Goodall at ISM
Ash getting her autograph
Anderson's turn
Jane wishing T a happy birthday

She even signed the chimp picture that the girls drew for her that morning
How cool is that?

Talking shop.
Matt works with the Jane Goodall Institute around Mahale

My favorite

It was an amazing afternoon and a memorable finish to Tierney's birthday celebration.






Friday, February 12, 2016

Tierney's "Golden" Birthday

The day she turns 12 on the 12th. I remember the (very long) night like it was yesterday, from Chuck asking if he had time to stop and get a coffee after we needed to leave the restaurant when my contractions started to Matt trying to record contractions while driving us to the hospital in a snowstorm. Tierney finally made her entrance at 5:30 am the next morning and that was just the start of 4 years of sleepless nights (that girl did NOT sleep!).  I can't believe it was 12 years ago.

She constantly amazes me and has taught me so much about what is truly important.  I love her with all my heart and can't wait to watch her conquer the world.


This morning she unwittingly became the beginning of a new ISM swim birthday tradition of getting thrown into the pool (fully clothed).  This was after her nice warm shower after 6:30 am training on a cool and drizzly morning, yet she's still smiling.  


At least they got her shoes off first

Still smiling

I think she forgives him

Happy 12th Birthday, TCB!



Monday, February 8, 2016

Primary Sports Weekend and OP Trip

The Browns had a very busy weekend.

From all reports, Tierney had a great time on her 2 night backpacking OP trip to the South Pare Mountains.  A bit of a drive, but it sounded like it was worth it; it sure looks beautiful.






The rest of us were in Moshi on Saturday swimming and playing soccer (or helping).  We came home with a few more swim medals and some very tired kids (15 hour day!).  Not only did ISMAC come in 2nd, but I think Anderson must have been the youngest 8 year old racing that category, and Ashlyn did her part and did many of the 11 year old races. Ashlyn and Anderson were both selected as Team Captains for their respective soccer teams for the weekend, too!  So proud of their stamina and sportsmanship!
U9 Boys Football

U12 Swimmers

A-Bro in goal (earned a new bruise on his ribs)

Girls U12 Football

Relay Winners

Relay Winners
And since Ash got the video last time, here's Anderson swimming breaststroke (he's in closest lane).




Monday, February 1, 2016

Anderson Turned Eight

Eight!!  That means he's spent 3/4 of his life living in Tanzania.  I can't believe it either.

8 years ago this silly boy entered our world and completed our family. 
Happy 8th Birthday, A-Bro!!
And he really does bring so much joy and silliness to our lives.  This is what every day is like with him: 



Tie-dye cupcakes for school
Chocolate cake for home
Matt promised to take Anderson camping for the weekend while the girls and I went to Dar Es Salaam for a swim competition.  Per Anderson it was THE BEST way to spend his birthday weekend. He came home tired, muddy, covered in tsetse fly bites, and all smiles.  Success!



Camping with dad is cool

Elephant Tracking

Bath time safari style

Rock Climbing

And seeing 13 wild dogs while out on a walk
And this is why they were late picking us up from the airport

Friday, the girls left school early and we flew to Dar Es Salaam for the TALISS Invitational Swim Championships "Don't fear the competition, make the competition fear you" was this year's motto. Well, ISM did their best to do just that.  We had 13 swimmers from the Arusha campus (plus 13 from Moshi) representing ISM.  

Overall from ISMAC we had:
13 swimmers
72 races
53 new personal best times
13 new course records
26 medals: 18 1st, 4 2nd, and 4 3rd
1 best overall swimmer

3rd place overall (with Moshi)

Tierney and Ashlyn did a total of 10 races and they got 9 new personal best times between them! Very impressive and great to see all the hard work pay off.  It was fun to be there and feel the camaraderie of  being part of a team.  And the girls and I had fun staying in a hotel and going out to dinner together.
Traveling with friends is awesome

This is easy

Morning pep talk from new coach, Spike

Arusha and Moshi coaches strategize 

"Don't fear the competition, make the competition fear you"

210 swimmers trying to warm-up

Ash is ready

T pulling ahead for the W in her heat

Ash looking smooth in the breaststroke

Happy girls in taxi on the way to the airport.
Not bad after 13 hours at IST the day before and not enough sleep.
 

10 of our 13 swimmers with Spike (3 left the night before) at the airport on the way home.  

Right back into it this morning for Spirit Week.  Today was Rock Star Day.  Made for a bit of an insane morning, but all smiles by the time they found their friends at school. (Grandma Sue - these wigs and accessories are already getting their money's worth!)



And I had a special encounter this morning.  This beautiful, orphaned caracal was being taken for a walk by her caretaker when I happened to be running by, so I stopped to say hi.  Lucky me.  He said she likes to chase the butterflies when she's out.  Very sweet.  Judging by the size of her paws, I don't think it'll be too long before she wants something more than butterflies.