Some Random photos from our time here . . . .

So, I can only upload a few b/c I have a slow connection, but here is a taste of the sights we have been taking in.

My childhood school: Rosslyn Academy

Corban's "superman" (see previous post)

Family Sandcastle Project

The children of Africa

We are in Africa

Of course there is so much to say about being in Africa. I thought I would start with some of Corban's statements:


When he saw a Muslim woman who was dressed in a full bui bui sitting out of the top of a Safari vehicle, "Mom, is that superman?" I said, "you think you saw superman?" And he said, "Yes, with the cape and the mask."

"Mom, when you are in Babu and Shosho's (grandpa and grandma's) swimming pool you have privacy when you pee!"

"I see a gecko! It's on the wall! It's moving! I saw one catch a bug!" (or some variation of gecko excitement every day several times. Gecko's and lizards are his favorite thing about being in Africa.
In the same vein, "And then there was one lizard that was an aggressive lizard!"

To Mukonyo, our long time family friend, "Mukonyo, why are you black?"

There is much more, but I can't think of them for now. Here's a list of some things we have done:

1. Visited our old school, Rosslyn Academy. We stayed in some of the house staffing and were hosted by our very good friend and former teacher Kathy Beck. It was wonderful walking the grounds, seeing the things that weren't there when I was (a gymn, swimming pool, new library), and catching up with Kathy. I was particularly struck by how beautiful it is on campus. I remember it being beautiful---but the brightness of the flowers, greenness of the lush and plentiful vegetation, crispness of the air, and backdrop of songbirds was freshly amazing to me.

2. In Nairobi, we also went out for some delicious Indian food. On the way there my dad's side mirror got stolen while we were slowed down in a roundabout. A guy just ran up, yanked it off, and ran away with it. The next day he had to replace the mirror with safety clips added so they can't get pulled off.

3. The girls and grandkids flew to Malindi while the guys traveled in the car. We enjoyed the flight and saw Mt. Kilimanjaro out the window. Then we arrived in Malindi, stepping off the plane into the thick, salt air of the Kenyan coast. We drove along beach-lined streets and then through the town of Malindi to arrive at my parent's beautiful apartment complex. We have been living in luxury here with our own three bedroom apartment we are sharing with the Browns complete with our own bathroom, king sized bed, and gorgeous swimming pool.

4. Much of our time has been spent visiting as a family, walks down to the beach, swimming in the pool, and generally having lazy family vacation time. We have also been working alongside mom and dad with the daily grind of making life work in a third world country----EVERTHING takes longer in Africa. Because this is a coastal climate, nothing keeps long. So we have been busy getting groceries almost every day (whatever produce we need for supper that night or fruits for the next breakfast . . . .not to mention there are ten of us here so we have been averaging three cartons of milk and three loaves of bread a day!!! So we have endless trips to the store). Then all vegetables have to be washed and sterilized before they can be used. I haven't even started on the laundry. There is not enough electricity to support drying all your clothes so they have to line dry. But if you leave them out over night there are microscopic worms that will lay eggs in your clothes. So then you have to dry them for ten minutes in a dryer so the eggs get killed. It is a good reminder that it really is a sacrifice for people to chose to live in this kind of climate and culture in order to do mission work (at least for the women who are doing all the
planning, shopping, and cooking :-))! So just daily life takes up much of our time and often the rest is filled up with beach activities with the kids.

5. We have visited mom and dad's office, met their staff, and met all the teenage moms they work with. One morning we got to visit all the different schools the girls have chosen (tailoring school (21 teenage moms), bread baking/small business school (34 teenage moms), hairdressing school (6 teenage moms), and high school (2 teenage moms). All of these girls chose their own track of what they wanted to do to try and develop and income generating skill. It was wonderful to have all the girls show us with pride what they are learning and making (the tailoring girls especially would each bring us the piece they were working on and be so proud when we exclaimed how beautiful things were!)

6. Bryan got to participate in a famine relief project where he helped distribute food to a poorer district surrounding Kalifi, Kenya a nearby coastal town. He spent the day loading the truck, weighing the food, handing it out to the people, and checking ledgers to make sure it was done fairly. What struck him most that day was when one of teh bags had holes in it he saw the people go back and scour the ground for every last bean that had fallen out. A visual picture of absolutely everything counting. When is the last time we had to scour through dirt to pick up a kernel of food? This is so far from our experience . . . .

7. We have done an overnight safari to Tsavo where we saw a great amount of game---zebra, lion, girraffe, cheetah, elephant, crocodile, antelopes of all kinds, and much more. It was beautiful and exciting for the kids. I should do a separate post on this because we had an amazing crocodile experience and some good pictures to share.

8. We have enjoyed a traditional Kenyan church service complete with dancing and singing, "choirs," and women praying. Go God!

9. Of course we have eaten lots of Kenyan food. We have hit a local Kenyan restaurant that has great chapatis, githiri, sukumawiki, matoke, and other various dishes a couple of times. We have found delicious samosa and mandazi places and drunk Fanta Blackcurrant, Fanta Orange, Bitter Lemon, Stoney Tangawizi, and just plain Coke (which is SO MUCH BETTER than American coke).

So many tastes of childhood and smells of home. It is strange to be here because it has been so long my Swahili is terrible and I feel like such an outsider. At the same time so much rings familiar and feels just like home.

That is some of the high lights. Tomorrow Jami and Zach get here and then we will begin filling our time up with more official "survey" business. We have been evaluating cost of living, housing options, work needs, and such already, but will be more actively involved in the survey process once Jami arrives. So we'll see how things turn out. Meanwhile we have really enjoyed being with our family, being on the Kenyan coast getting lots of swim and sand time, and our lovely apartment.

Like Father Like Son

This picture speaks for itself . . . . yet another of the joys of cosleeping. This is how I found Bryan and Corban the other night when I came to bed.

Welcome Zach!

As many of you know, we have added a new member to our family! Zach Williams, who is 18 and Bryan's student assistant, is living with us while he finishes out his senior year at Northstar High School and gets ready for college. He has been a real pleasure to have in our home and we love him so much already. Here are some reasons to love Zach:

He has brought such a sweet demeanor into our home. He has a ready smile, easy laugh, and warm heart towards all humanity.

He is a great student (extra brownie points toward Bryan, who also has him in class).

He is perhaps the most responsible teenager I know. I don't even have to wake him up in the morning, which all of you who know me, that is a good thing!

He has embraced all of our craziness so easily---coming along for "family nights" and putting up with our silly antics like it is nothing. He even took off work so he could watch us dance and play music in the Heartland's talent show. He knows where the fun is going to be at (ha ha).

Every text he sends me starts with ha ha. Every one. (See above, I learned that from him.)

And, well look at that smile . . . . he is a handsome guy for sure!!

So, these pictures are from prom night. We have enjoyed participating in "teenager parenting events." We sent them off to prom with plenty of pictures taken, I enjoy trying to keep up with three male appetites in the house now, and I have a great companion for my night owl tendencies. Zach and I have had many a late night conversation. I always feel like a bad "mom" whenever he doesn't get to bed until 2 am!!!! But really, I think that matches his circadian rhythm . . . . if only he didn't have to get up for school. Well, we let him sleep in on the weekends ;-).

All in all it is a joy to have him around and we look forward to sharing this part of his journey with him! Look forward to some graduation pictures in the near future!

Some More Corban Antics

So, here are some of my son's hilarious recent comments.

After finding a penny on the floor today:

(in an excited tone), "Oooh Mom, I am going to save this for my college! I need to go put it in my elephant (his piggy bank)." My question--who has been telling him about saving up for college already? My guess--his papa.

When we told him to sit as still as he could, testing how long a toddler can hold still:

"Wait, I have to get sit-u-ated." After shuffling around a bit. "Ok, I am situated now!" Then he proceeded to manage holding a still position for maybe three seconds before he started wiggling around.

After telling a looooooong story about zoo animals:

"And, that's the point!"

And that's all in one day. I have a great life as a mom, and perhaps the most entertaining person known to keep me company all day!

My son and his ridiculous comments

So this one was funny enough to share:

(Well first, some background. This interaction took place after I had just drunk a cup of coffee, first thing in the morning before brushing my teeth---I know, gross!)

Corban: Mom, what is that smell.

Me: Probably my breath.

Corban: Let me look in your mouth.

Me: Opening my mouth wide so he can peer inside.

Corban: Mom, you ate my poop.

If that is not bad breath, I don't know what is!

It's Me Corbanl

Well, apparently my mom forgot how to blog, so I thought I better get on here and let you know what is going on in my life. I mean, good grief, so much has happened since I puked and pooped all over the house, I can't believe she left my bodily functions as her last post for over a month. I am here to save the day. As you can see, I still love popcorn and I still love being naked. 

But this post is about what is new in my life:

I started taking gymnastics. I absolutely love going and wish it was every day and not just once a week. Mom thinks it is entirely unfair that I am so flexible I can lay my head flat on the floor between my legs when she struggles to touch her toes. I tried to tell her it's an age thing and my bones are still more malleable than hers. My class involves stretching, running, galloping, jumping, somersaults, balance beam, swinging on bars, jumping on a trampoline, and practicing holding myself up on parallel bars. My coach used to be the coach for the University of Nebraska Women's Gymnastics team and he goes to my church. He is a pretty cool guy!

I am exercising my verbal skills in every way possible. I like to say things like, "Oh my word!" and "That's ridiculous." I also like to say what mommy says. Like, I tell her she is "not a good listener" when she is not doing what I want or that she is "being disrespectful and hurting my feelings" when she tells me what to do. I've noticed that mom is not sure what to do about this new habit of mine. So for now, it is pretty effective. 

I have a new emotion---embarrassment. I feel embarrassed when I get corrected in front of other people or if I fall down or get hurt in front of others. When this happens and I am at home I run to my room and dive into my book corner (a nice comfy corner full of pillows and stuff animals) and bury my head like an ostrich until I feel better. If it happens when I am out and about I usually tell people, "DON'T LOOK AT ME" and I hide my head in mommy's shoulder. I also recently have started trying to hold in my tears when I get hurt---I say over and over, "I'm OK, I'm OK" because I don't like to admit I got hurt. Again, the new embarrassment thing.

I am very interested in anatomy. I like to know who does and does not have a penis. I also like to make up songs about my penis or other people's, including Jesus'. One time I changed the words to the song "Holy Lord" and I sang "Holy penis, most holy penis, you alone are worthy of my praise." I heard my mom tell papa that she didn't think this type of singing was supposed to start until junior high. Then she brought home a picture book from the library all about body parts so I can investigate further :-).

I am really looking forward to my cousin Hannah coming to visit. She is going to stay at my house for 17 days. I am soooo excited! I ask if she is coming yet every day and even cried in disappointment when she wasn't here yet. We have lots of big plans. I want to take her to the Omaha zoo, show her my gymnastics class, show her how I go to kindergarden, and take her on a camping trip. 

On the topic of visitors, once again my mom really needs to catch up. We had a great holiday season with my Grammy and Grampy and lots and lots of Minnesota cousins. Then my Babu and Shosho visited us from Africa for a week in January. After that we took a special trip to Texas and visited my good friend Jude and her family (Josh and Jen Gray, and baby Gideon). I have lots of wonderful stories and pictures from those great events so hopefully you will get to see them soon too!

Right now we have settled into a pretty predictable routine in Lincoln. On Tuesday mornings I visit my Aunt Mandy's kindergarten class. We sing songs, do puzzles, and have "writer's workshop." After kindergarten I go eat lunch with my Aunt Jami who works in a pharmacy at a hospital. On Wednesday mornings I go to gymnastics class. On Thursday mornings we go to toddler time at the library. After toddler time I like to bring mommy book after book after book and we read together for about an hour, then we go play on the playground before lunch. On Friday we catch up on housework, laundry, and just have some time at home. Usually on Mondays we go grocery shopping and get ready for our week. 

So, as you can see I have had a lot of fun trips, time with family and visitors, a busy weekly schedule, and am quite a challenge! As I approach the age of 3 (I am very aware that my birthday is June 2 and am already getting excited about it) I am becoming more independent, emotional, and a handful. I am learning so many things so fast and sometimes it is hard to keep it all under control. I am so expressive and intense and I never slow down. I am also hilarious and love to entertain so I keep our family in stitches most of the time. All in all, it has been a great first three months of the new year!

Puke or Poop?

Bryan always says he would much rather clean up puke over poop any day. I disagree. I think puke messes are way worse.

A week ago, Corban pooped in the bath tub.  I courageously cleaned up the bathtub (this was no minor poop, it was a full job, complete with smears on the bottom of the tub)---got everything sterilized and rebathed Corban. Afterall Bryan hates cleaning up poop.

Today I took Corban to the doctor after he had been running a temperature for two days and literally refused any food intake for the past two and a half. Of course it was "just a virus" and there is "nothing to worry about, just push fluids and it will pass" (translation: wasted copay for a doctor's visit). Well, on the way home in the car he FINALLY agreed to eat two crackers (the itty bitty kashi crackers) and ONE bite of banana. Other than that, all he had that day was fluids (primarily milk). On my way into the house he started scream crying (a high pitched ear splitting complaint) and then, yes, puked. Curdled milk and banana/cracker mush splashed all down the wall and across the (carpeted) hallway floor. Covered his clothes and parts of mine. I remember doing this same puke on the wall while trying to run to the bathroom move at my friend, Julie's, house when I was a kid. I was pleasantly surprised by the way her mother reacted in compassion and didn't seem to hold it against me. My incident was even in the middle of the night. She just calmly comforted me and apparently cleaned up the mess at 2 am with no complaining. I'm not even her biological child!! Well, I did not react with immediate compassion. I let the CRAP word slip right in front of my two year olds' ears, then quickly recovered and layered on large doses of motherly compassion and comforting while he continued his puke job into the toilet. Ok, all this lovely story to say that of course Bryan was at work so I spent the next half hour scrubbing down walls, floors, carpet, and clothing. Hooray for me. I have conquered poop and puke in a short span. Not the first time, and not the last I am sure. Bryan, it is definitely your turn next buddy!

I am sure you are grateful that I refrained from adding pictures to this post. So, what is your clean up preference---poop or puke?

Back track to the holidays, starting with Fun in the Snow!

I have not had a truly white Christmas in a while. This year it started snowing in Nebraska a week or so leading up to the holidays. And, of course, there was even more of it in Minnesota where we spent our Christmas. Corban has seen snow before, but this was his first real experience with it out of the infancy stage. When he woke up and saw it out the window he said, "I want to touch it." I couldn't convince him that it would be too cold in his pajamas, so I just slid the deck door open and let him scoop some up. He enjoyed touching, tasting, and later playing in it with papa (Bryan).

First Snow Angel

Helping papa scoop the driveway.

Tasting the Snow .. . .Yum!

And no snow day is complete without hot cocoa! Corban loves hot chocolate so much I got him his own container of it for his stocking. Now when people ask him what he got for Christmas he says, "Santa brought me hot cocoa." ---not a tool set, not an easel, not a karaoke machine .. . . hot cocoa. :-)