In January 2010 we moved to Arusha, Tanzania for Matt's job with the Nature Conservancy. This is my attempt to keep family updated on what we're doing (and document it for the kids to re-read when they are older).
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.
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).
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!
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"
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.
