Birch and Coles first camera pics

These are pics of Emayani beach lodge on Pangani coast. It was an 8 hour drive but the kids did great. Nana and papa got them cameras. We snorkeled at lots of fish called "kola kola" which is much like a half halibut and half mahi mahi. Birch burned his nose real bad in the sun. Birch also took some pics of Themi suites which is our temporary housing until our house is done. We are off tonight to celebrate new years with our new friends that we are renting our next house from.

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Adventure: First week in Arusha

We stayed at Kia lodge the first two nights. Tooooo buggy but great pool and views of Kilimanjaro. Then moved to temporary housing which is great.

This is a really cool circus we went to this week. Only about 30 people in the audience but a great african circus. Cole's favorite was the flexible guy. Birch was excited to be pulled into the ring. Then they both imitated the circus acts. David even got in the act.

Lesson: Don't let the kids watch too much do you think you can dance- or maybe do??

sorry they are sideways you know me same effect though

thanks to Neera for letting us know the finals of " Do you think you can dance".

travel: goodbye Maine

Thanks to all that helped educate and care for our kids while in Maine. We will miss you. YMCA and Mrs Celani's 1st grade parties were a success.

I made these cakes with Anne's help. Cool?

Lesson: when you are moving be nice to each other

We are moving to Africa Dec 15th. This is what life is like for the kids now- boring weekends while we do chores to get ready. Thanks to one of my favorite patient for the great new blankets for them to snuggle with.

Adventure: swamp monster halloween

I am an anacondia, David is a crocodile and the kids are swamp monsters.

mimi and papa with the kids

adventure: birch climbs katahdin- yes the whole thing

Birch and David did an 11 mile hike up the mountain in Maine. These are some big boy friends he went with. Raj and Cindy and Alina went also. They did a great job. Cole and I had 11 hours of alone time. Needed more water but otherwise all went well.

travel: THE CRUISE $$$$????!!!!!

To celebrate my sis Janna's bday we took mom and dad on a cruise. The only thing missing was the little sis. I would have love to see Jeri snorkeling too. We kayaked, ate at fancy restaurants, shopped, snorkeled, ate fancy food, played bingo, bought art, drank, and ate lots of food. Overall a good time even if I felt guilty about the environmental impact I was making. I loved being with my family and having some kid free entertainment. I am trying the slide show again. peace

Lesson: summer is fun and should really be enjoyed

This summer we went to Vinalhaven, camping a million times, saw friends (Hoods, Marons, Jo and Leon) and played at home. Here are just some snapshots. The last two are of the boys after a rainy day- we had gone to see the movie with Hamster spies. this is my first attempt at adding slide shows. Music to come soon. Maybe.......

travel: vinalhaven island get away

start at the bottom of this and work up- i went backwards on my downloads
joey

our house on the sunny day we left- and a cool "pirate ship"

sun comes out as we leave

the only sun we saw all week

the fourth of July parade

While there we hiked, kayaked, saw seals, ate lobster again and again, played games, misdiagnosed Tim's toe injury ( maybe), had friends visit, went to a parade and Birch won a red vest

Good family time.

more hikes in the rain

hikes in the rain

the boat to Vinalhaven ME

travel: camping near acadia before the tourists

cute growing boys

great family time by the fire on the beach

birch finds a lobster bouy and cole finds a poison bug sprayer to spray

Lessons: help the red hen make the bread

"I won't I won't I won't"- his lines.

20 more minutes of this is you want more let me know

lesson: home life does not need to be boring

cole sneaks behind the couch when he can't sleep and falls alseep there

daddy making movies of fighting- more encouragement please dad

adventure: camping at hermit island with friends

travel: montana- a home in the future????