Breakin the Rules...

Every once in a while you have to break the rules.  Mommy has some pretty strict rules about healthy food and no TV.  Instead of TV she really wants Shei Shei and I to read a lot and we have lots of interactive and creative toys instead.  She keps the TV to a minimum....only on special occassions.

Tonight, there was no special occassion....but Mommy decided that sometimes we have to break the rules.  SO.....

she popped us popcorn on the stove in the old fashioned way that they did when she was a kid (you know, back when there were no automobiles and people went outside to the cows for their morning milk).  And, she let me stay up past my bedtime watching my very favorite show....Peter Pan.  Mommy let me watch Peter Pan a few months ago when I was sick one day, and now I'm obssessed.  Kids that fly like airplanes....seriously what could be better in the whole world than kids who fly in the sky like airplanes???

Thanks Mommy for a fun night and for breaking the rules with me.  Just to be sure we could do it again, I was the most extra sweet and cute kid ever, making the funniest comments and cuddling on the couch like a very good boy.  Hopefully, she'll let me do this again some day! 

At Aiden's for the Afternoon

Just a quiet Sunday afternoon.  Mommy and I went over to see Linda and Aiden for a bit in the afternoon.  Aiden and I played, while Mommy and Linda talked.  We all played ball together, and ate grapes.  A nice way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. 

Thanks for hosting Aiden and Linda!

African Rains

For a while during the Tanzanian adoption process, it was hard to remember to appreciate our home.  Some of the worst parts of Africa were rearing their ugly heads and an appreciation for this beautiful country were in short supply. 

Even now, life is still not easy and Mommy is anxious for us to get to California as soon as possible.  However, there are moments when the beauty of my country comes to life in vivid color.  The afternoons of November and early December are some of those times.  The short rains come in these months, and they are a sight to behold.

I've also heard Mommy telling Bada about East Africa and how life is just....MORE.....here.  The highs are higher, the lows are lower, the sky is bluer, the grief is deeper.  Life is really being lived here, it is not muted by convenience, it is intense and very real.  The short rains are no different.  The storm clouds roll in and the thunder begins to roll in a very serious intense way.  And then the storm is upon us, everyone is running through the yard to get things in and out of the rain, and the rain comes alive as if it is a living being, talking to us and telling us.....the air clears and the smell of African rain is deeply breathed in.  In short, it is a beautiful experience. 

Today a rainbow appeared to set down right in our yard against our jacaranda tree, and we all stood on our veranda, Uncle Gogo, Shei Shei, Mommy, Jenny, David and I and stared mesmerized by our rainbow and our beautiful serious, scary, living storm.  I hope you all have the possibility to experience the african rains at some point in your lives....something not to be missed.

Thanksgiving

Last year I was still living at the orphanage, so this is my first Thanksgiving that I'm able to celebrate.  It is pretty fun, I gotta say.  We woke up in the moring and spent the day decorating the house for Christmas.  Mommy had a cup of her favorite tea, which she hoards as she only has a few cups left of, and we put on some Christmas music and we all decorated the tree.  Then, in the evening, our favorite friends came over for a Thanksgiving feast. 

Mommy made everyone go around the table and say what they are thankful for.  And, she said how thankful she was for me and Shei Shei.  I'm pretty thankful for my family too! 

I hope you all enjoyed your day and I hope you all have as much to be thankful for this year, as we do!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Playdates sans diapers

Well, for the past few weeks I've been going to my events minus diapers.  And, I've yet to have any accidents.  Today was no exception.  I was really good at telling Mommy when I have to go potty even when I'm right in the middle of playing with my friends or reading a magazine at the table.  Mommy is so proud of me and thinks that I am really becoming the biggest boy ever. 

Kobe

I sure do love Kobe!  He is getting better at being potty trained and so Mommy is letting him hang out with us in the living room a little more often.  Shei Shei and I had so much fun playing with Kobe this afternoon.  And, I was very careful to teach Shei Shei how important it is to be gentle with the puppy.  She gets so over excited when she sees Kobe coming that sometimes she can't help but to let out a very loud SHRIEK.  Sometimes that really scares Kobe, so I tried hard to show her how to be very quiet and gentle when she plays - think she's getting it. 

Shei Shei's Birthday

Wow....lots of birthdays lately.  Only, if you can imagine....none of them are mine!  Geeze....it's hard to make the world spin around your orbit when other people keep having birthdays. 

So, today was Shei Shei's birthday.  I tried a hard as I could to ensure that the day would still revolve around me.  I gave it my best effort, and despite winning a few battles, I lost the war.  The day, in fact, was about my sister.  She sure looked pretty today.  And, she also seemed very happy. And, that does make me happy.  Cause I might like it when the world revolves around me, but I so love Shei Shei that it makes me happy when she's happy.

So, we all went to Kigongoni Lodge today for a lunch a pool party.  Aiden and Ella were there.  And, Auntie Aleks who is always so fun.  Priya was there playing with me, and Aleks went swimming with me.  I got to eat cake and gave a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.  You can see me in the photo below, clapping and dancing to the happy birthday song....

Happy Bithday Shei Shei!!!

Happy Birthday Priya

Priya was Mommy's friend.  Now, I think she is more my friend, and we just let Mommy come along for the ride. 

In any case, today is her Birthday!  So, we took her out to lunch to celebrate.  I always love to go to Blue Heron and especially on a day when there is much to be happy about.  The sun is shining, our family is together and Priya was born today. 

Later on tonight, Mommy is going out with Priya for a grown up birthday celebration.  I'm trying not to take offense that I'm apparently not invited, but seriously.....SERIOUSLY!

Happy Birthday Priya!!!

"My Little Thing is Planting Trees"

In the words of Wangari Mathai, planting trees might seem like a small achievement, but it is a mighty task indeed.  Mommy told me all about how important it is to take care of our earth today and how much we need trees to keep our environment strong and healthy. 

So, we had some small seedlings that we got at the Christmas fair this past weekend, two jacaranda trees and a fern.  We spent some time this afternoon with Mommy, Uncle Gogo and David (our fabulous, green thumbed gardener, friend and all around great guy) and we planted trees.  I had so much fun.  Mostly I loved the part where you get to scoop dirt into the hole to pack in the little tree to the ground.  OK....I'm gonna be honest.  I don't like calmly scooping the dirt into the hole as much as I like picking it up and throwing it into the air. 

In any case, how can you go wrong....playing with dirt and making the world a better place to live.  It was a great afternoon!

2 Year Old Checkup

Today I had to go to the doctor. I did NOT like it at all.  Dr. Matthews poked and proded me in all sorts of weird places, and then he made me get blood drawn.  That really hurt, and all night since we got back from the doctor, I keep pointing to the place on my arm where they took blood and saying, "Mommy hurt, Mommy hurt".  And, believe me, it did! 

My stats at the doctor on my two year old check up are as follows:

weight 14.1 kilo or 31.1 pounds
height 35 inches
percentile - weight 77th!, height 46th. 

Wow, am I a big boy or what??

Christmas Fair in Arusha

This weekend was a busy one.  We had the Christmas fair come to town, complete with shopping, food, Father Christmas, a performance by the circus and a tent dedicated to kids having fun.  Well, fun was definitely the order of the day.  I saw Father Christmas and even got a Christmas gift from him. WOW!  Super fun.  I helped push my sister around the grounds so that Mommy could shop, and I read books with Uncle Gogo. 

It sure was a scorcher of a day and Mommy kept reminding me that Christmas isn't supposed to be in the 90 degree weather range....but we have to make due with what we have.  And, today we had the Christmas fair in the middle of the sauna....with poor Father Christmas holding his pants together at the crotch with a lot of safety pins.  I wonder if he has all those elves making stuff for us kids, couldn't he get them to zip up a new pair of pants for him?