Kenya 2012 Part II

So I posted pictures of our 1st part of the trip here   and Mark made a video you can view it here.. After Mark left I had moments of ‘ticket change remorse’ but I knew I had a few business to take care of here ( so I consoled myself)  I missed Mark..The kids missed him sooo much.

*** May I just brag that Joey has a cuteee ( not biased at all) Kenyan accent! He speaks lots of swahili in sentences… proud mama!****

Okay here is a treat to Kenyan sunset:)-

Mara sunset

Sarah is attempting to walk to keep up with the big cousins.

Stepping it up :)-

Eat, Laugh & Wow..its been years! These girls I have known since 1st grade!

April is here, my baby Joey turned 5! A day at luna park and then a day  of eating cake Yum…- Happy 5th birthday Joey and God bless you.

Joey, Hannah and Cousin T

Kisses for birthday boy

more kisses for birthday boy

Best Friends (Cousins)

Ahhh the cake!

The cake!

Alright,  9 days later guess who turns one ! My Sweet Sarah is one…. where did time go? Happy Birthday Sarah we love you so much and God bless you sweet girl…

Birthday girl and digestive biscuits

Birthday Girl

Kenyan yummy food

The party is on….

After all the April sugar.. we spent time visiting with family & friends.

Cousin Marion – Love you girl

Love

Aunt Millie & Family ( Reminds me so much of my mom… always loving and giving)

Took a bus to go see my other Aunt Grace — so warm, welcoming and abundant love! She lives out in the country running a library and farming.

buying vegetables on our way

Random young boys heading to the river to get some water…

Random..beautiful young girl walk back from school

Aunt Grace on the far right — these are all her children, in-laws, neighbors (loving bunch)

Cousins!

Okay — so Hannah got sick, scare! she gets fibril seizures anytime her  temperatures rises real fast. So she did gets one of those and I was not HOME, I was 30 miles away and in Nairobi traffic that translates to (2hrs away)! I still shake up typing this… — Well  lets all just pray for her to outgrow it. Doc said around 5-6year Yikes. Seems so far!

My sick baby –

Its getting close just a 3 weeks to go! I am already feeling rushed again….

My fishes.. Harriet & Joey

Finally Sarah in the pool

Hannah loved carrying her baby on her back…just like all us African mamas

Baby on my back….

Vallette!

Chapati just test better in the laundry basket

Nyabo!

Then the tradition –family picture time came. Off course typical of “some” of us, it had to be a last minute project. Getting everyone together was hard ( yes) — considering Kenya is smaller than Colorado and Nairobi is probable the size of Castle rock (maybe not).  We picked a date and time –but again… only 1 person on time…most of us were late… some 1 hour late, some 2, 4 hours and some forgot all together.. cutting this story short.. here is the family 5 out of 6! I love you all… laughing at how the pics turned out :)- OR maybe that I am the one who was super LATE:)-

my siblings 5 out of 6

Well well.. we left Kenya on May 2nd.. I mean it, everybody took us to the airport..a fleet! felt special, I cried leaving. The kids slept in flight since we were traveling at their regular sleep times– the layover was still the hardest!  Entertaining them for 10 hours nonstop took a toll on my body and brain…  but we were so glad to be back! Thanks to Mark for letting us take so much time away ( we missed you so much)

Thank you friends and family for all the prayers and sweet emails, calls and texts!!

So happy to see daddy!

Glad to be home…praise God for the wonderful trip!

***Okay I said I would not whine about it anymore but whatever!  so the airport officer ( what are they called?) threw away my Kenyan beef spices Roiko at the point of entry ( I choose not to dwell on that today)  but I had to whine a little more again today — I cried wept!!…

FUN …..here are a few random pics why I LOVE AFRICA …  just for laughs from all over ( and Africa, this is why i live here)  enjoy and laugh… “…Yes every 60 seconds life does happen in Africa!”

Importance of play

Yes – keep playing

Do you need ride ? ( borderline walk)

goat ride…

well worn

hanging out….

Think twice before littering

Stopping car theft ( NOTE: I didn’t experience this…)

I love the singular use….

24 hours? — African time it means!… “Stacia don’t laugh”

Dinner!

Adorable

..and if you are in PETA that chicken is totally fine.. African chicken know how to relax!

Chicken having his tea

Cows crossing… I love Africa!

TV cafe … like movie theaters. just pay to watch

Tell me – don’t you love Africa?

Enjoyment of the English language) …

Okay… enough.. Thank you all again! you thankful for everything in this life!

Love,

Nance.

Kenya 2012 – Part I

The Flight: So I left Denver at 6 PM with 3 kids under 4 on a 24 hour flight/ trip to Nairobi. I must say it went OK ( not that i expected anything better…) They fell asleep in-flight at 9PM Denver time and voila! we arrived  Heathrow London ( I don’t like this airport at all…) at 3 AM Denver time… We had to switch aiports, with 3 kids and a carry on and a backpack – some nice, handsome pilots helped me on the train and then I was by myself  for a 45 mins bus ride and check in ( Oh I don’t like this airport)….This is when trouble began.. how do you entertain your kids at an airport for 9 hours layover at this odd time of the day.night? … my mother in law had sent me a care in flight package with an energy shot in it.. so that was helpful.   I had a color book and stickers from Mel which kept them busy for awhile, then Clair gave me calm homeopathic tablets and this helped calm down everyone eventually– after 7 hours of STOP IT! QUIT THAT… they fell asleep and 2 hours latter we boarded for Nairobi….they refused to fall asleep… They played around (aka noise) for 5 hours, made friends and just slept for the last 3 hour… Thank you for all your prayers, we made it to the city under the sun!

Baby Sarah sleeping

Nap at the airport

In flight fun

We arrived Kenya at 6 AM. Oh, I forgot to say, they accidentally checked in my double stroller in Denver all the way to Nairobi – remember I didn’t like London Airport? So we arrive to Nairobi and the stroller is missing… anyway, safe and sound we are ready to enjoy the  fresh air, family, Friends and the sun –

Here introducing my family…. I have 5 siblings, 4 In-laws, 8 nieces and nephews.. gazillion cousins, aunts and uncles – I love it!

Eldest sister Lilian

My siblings from left - Colin, Cliff, Awino and us

My youngest brother Cliff

My loving sister In-law Philly and bro Poly

cousins

Aunt Nancy

Left: My sister in Law Euphie, Brother In Law, My sister Awino, cousin Violet and us

My niece baby Sheryl passed away on February 15th may your soul rest in peace sweet girl. So thankful I got to meet you and hold you.

Kenya is the same, it feels like a vacation but its home.. East or west I guess home is home! … we were all ready to have fun.

snack time - chevra perhaps

Cooling off with Nicole

cousins

Slip and slide

Pool fun

New hair do - in progress...

Our nanny Triza

One of those a must photos at the animal orphanage

Hugs from cousin Violet

Awww... my BFF Joy & her family

Welcome Yummy Cake - Thank you Joy & Family

After the jet lag and a few weeks of resting in Nairobi, we decided to start on our road trips. Its time to go to Alego for some country life.  It was a quick 6 hour trip – after 24 hours in the plane everything seems quick anyway.

Arrived Alego

Shower time

Celebrating the harvest

Back on the road to Eldoret to see a good family friend Marianne and a beautiful drive thro nandi hills and the Kerio valley.   At this point you should think we are getting used to these long road trip but we still get cranky…just love showing off my birth country to my family.

Enjoying the view

The Kerio Valley

Girls -

The boys

week 4;  drove to Imbo to see my maternal grandma and cousins. My grandma is one kind woman, courageous, generous, loving, nurturing, Intelligent, funny, faithful, compassionate.. I could write a whole book on her…

Grandma Dearest

Fire is ready!

Dinner

 

chai and Bread time....

More upcountry pictures…

Hardworking African mama

Herding the cows

Random beautiful kids

Swinging under the Mango tree

Drying our clothes

Chasing the goats

Two Akinyi's - I love these girls!

Fresh Water!

Maji baridi

Cousins

Week six, we are back to Nairobi… resting and swimming. I signed up Joey for Swim lessons so we are just taking it easy, meeting up with more family & friends, a few business and ‘important stuff” here and there… 

Sarah getting so big

New baby - Friends from High School :)- love you girls!

Play station time

Our drive back to Nairobi

Swim classes

So week seven; My baby is here! Yes Mark got in safe – thank you again for all the prayers. Mark got in at 11PM after the kids were in bed , so in the morning, it was lots of screaming, hugs and kisses from the kids.

`

We took many trips around including going back to the village, he went back hills hiking…then to see my grandma again…

My kids want a bunny? these were $2 a piece

A monkey on our car... Africa!

View Point

Date night with childhood girlfriend Trixie and her husband Henry...

Date night with my friend Joy & her hubby Albert

Just taking it easy enjoying daddy and playing catch up. we took a trip to lake Nakuru National park.

We drove up to Kajiado to see our Compassion sponsor child Naiserian. Her beautiful laugh, smile just warmed our hearts. So thankful to God we can experience this rare opportunity with you – God bless you.

Visiting Naiserian, her brother and mom

Naiserian School

Love

My Africa! cows and zebra grazing together....

Giraffes on the road - our drive home

Week 8 is here…. we are getting ready to fly back to America (never mind, we have decided to stay another 5 weeks)—-Its my birthday this week, a passion fruit cake was ordered :)- and saying goodbyes to my hubby dearest (tears….)

Family picture.....

Birthday cake

samosa time...

Well I am so thankful for all the support, prayers, emails, skype, text messages and phone calls – I miss you all my other friends and family in America and the world. God bless.

love,

Nancy