Common Directions

One of the kids was invited to a birthday party this week.  Here are the directions that we were given (specific name markers were removed).  These are fairly typical of the types of directions that we are given to get places.  These are great directions.

Fundi – swahili term that refers to any type of workman…electrician, carpenter, mechanic, plumber….this is a term that will come back to America with us.  Even my swahili teacher uses it as English (i.e. she asked me to translate this sentence: This is the fundi who is building my house.)

Duka la Dawa is a pharmacy (duka means store and dawa is medicine).  They are everywhere (almost every block in town).

Every day is an adventure. 

Tarangire for Eid Holiday

Eid marks the end of Ramadan, so the kids had off of school on Monday.  Matt and I both worked some over the weekend, so that we could take the kids to Tarangire National Park for the morning.  It’s always nice to get back into the wild to see the animals that we don’t get to see in the US.  Monday did not disappoint. 

Ostrich video:

Ostrich on display from Lisa Coyle on Vimeo.

Tarangire is known for it’s elephant population

Matt’s and my reward on the trip home

Ashy’s 7th (Rainbow) Birthday

Happy 7th Birthday to our beautiful, brown-eyed girl.  The birthday girl wanted a rainbow birthday, so that’s what she got!

Rainbow cupcakes to bring to school:

My taste-testers

The finished product.  Ashlyn declared it a success!

Actual birthday day.  Rainbow pancakes for the birthday girl’s breakfast.

And that night…tacos followed by a rainbow cake (which actually turned out more tie-dye, but she loved it).  Unfortunately, she came down with a fever that night and wasn’t really too excited about blowing out her candle when it was time.  Somehow she rallied to eat the cake though.

Happy 7th Birthday, Ashlyn!

Anderson’s finally got it!

Looks like we all get to ride bikes to school this year.

Anderson riding from Lisa Coyle on Vimeo.

 

Thank you, Cole!

Bunny Count

15 bigger + 8 babies = 23 total (1 less than yesterday ).  Plus two that are now living at the neighbor’s house. 

And meet one of our albino babies that was born with only one ear.

They are all so adorably cute.

Final Stop: Boston

We spent the last few days of our whirlwind US trip in Boston.  We had a fun urban day where we took the train to the aquarium and walked through Faneuil Hall and watched the street performers. 

We stayed cool in the heat at Belmont Hill Club

We are now back in Tanzania after an uneventful trip.  We were greeted very excitedly by the dogs.  We came home to an immaculately cleaned house, Mama Jackie’s curried meatballs with rice and homemade bread, plus baskets full of fresh veggies and fruit.  It’s good to be home.  We’re deep into the jetlag phase, but school starts on Monday, so that should straighten us all out.  Now we just need to plan our next African adventure. 

Cape Cod

We had a great family week with Webb, Jeff and Elizabeth on Cape Cod.  A bit too much work for me and Matt, but that gave the kids a lot of time with with Webb, Jeff and Elizabeth.   Great time playing games at the house, walks on the beach, and a nice boat ride with friends. 

Silly girls

Boxy – box turtle that Matt found.  She was missing a rear leg.

Time with the Dowds at their house and on their boat.  (Thanks Carol and John!)

Beach time!

T and Z trying to finish the second Harry Potter book, so that they can watch the movie (family rule that T needs to read the Harry Potter book before she can watch the movie).

Matt at the “office” Cape Cod style.

Our gorgeous brown eyed girl.  I can’t believe she’s about to turn 7.

Last night at the Cape

Love