A Week Already!

It's Tuesday night, we've been here a week!

There have been so many praises to report, the excess luggage not being charged, the kids traveling so well, the play area in London....  What I really need to focus on now is His Grace.  I tend to get overwhelmed and make these really hideously long to-do lists and then I get caught up in life and forget to sit down and do them (gasp! I know, this is me we're talking about here.)  Well, this week, I made a list and then a day later, when I sat down to take care of it, all but two things on it had already been accomplished.  I was literally amazed!  God has been providing for us in so many ways.  I need to remember that when I get tired and the kids are fussing because they are tired.  I need to remember that when I'm hungry because everything here takes twice as long, and the kids are fussing, because they are hungry, because everything here takes twice as long!

I am thankful for good friends already...the Ness family was amazing in hosting and mentoring us for the first few days.  Thank you Mike, Kari and Katie.  I am thankful for Laura and her family that are taking us under their wing and "adopting" us!!!  I am thankful for Amy and her family that have watched our kids, intervened for us when we've needed them and have given us so many good ideas already.  I am thankful for Holly and Natalie, our house mates here in Dar.  Their experience and help have been wonderful in getting around town.  I'm thankful for Charles and Tahnya, our new pastors, that have been helping us to get settled and showing us neat places to eat and take the kids to play.

So far, we've been able to get connected with the internet (as you can see), we've gotten new cell phones (let me know if you really want to call us internationally and I'll send you the number), we're using a vehicle from the AG mission, we're going to be house-sitting for a neat family for a month (thank you Freitas family) while we continue our house search on the further North side of town by HOPAC.  We've gotten plugged in at church this past Sunday, I think we're really going to enjoy going to "The Ocean".  We're trying to learn a few new Swahili words each day, which has been fun.  Today was "please" (tafadhali) and "excuse me" (kumradhi).  We try to use them during the day and review the whole list each day at bedtime and it makes for some fun time with the kids.

Today was productive too, we got to get gas for the first time by ourselves ;), we then went to Shoppers and registered our phones and tried to get cash...the machine was out.  There were two people that tried to get some before us, we were so glad it wasn't our card it choked on.  We then went up on the peninsula to get some cash because we knew there was a Barclay's by the Doubletree at Slipway.  We were successful and took that money over to the IST Clinic to pay our family membership.  We are now in the system and have medical care, should we ever need it.  We then found our way to the Porters' house with our map, yahoo!!!!  She took us to a place called "Funky's" which is a place to eat, a pool, and a kid's bounce castle play area.  It was fun and outside (most places seem to be outside) and the kids were distracted while we waited over an hour for our grilled cheese sandwiches and fish fingers.  This afternoon we had some quiet time, I tried to make mango bread...according to Krypto it's more like "exquisite mango pudding" (a son that knows how to give his mom compliments....I need to keep him around ;)), and then Gwangi decided that he wanted to cook dinner, just like Mama Christina (the house worker that helps the Hansons and lives here on the compound.)  He came up with cooking some garlic and onions in the pan with some oil, then we added broccoli and tomatoes, then some water and tomato sauce and put it over noodles, it was actually quite good and the kids ate it all.  Maybe we'll have another Master Chef on our hands...just be careful when you give him a knife, he almost cut my finger off trying to help with the tomatoes...so glad we have our membership at the IST Clinic as of today!

But, really, there are so many things that are different here, the bugs are everywhere (my sugar was moving the other day and the bag was still closed....argh), the prices are super high (we paid the equivalent of $2 for 2 baby heads of broccoli and over $2 for about a handful of strawberries...these things will have to become special treats, but during transition, I'm trying to provide their favorite foods), getting used to driving on the other side of the road and shifting a manual with your left hand....hard!  Learning a new language...interesting so far.  The different types of living conditions here are hard to understand, you can have Western style houses right across from people living in what we would call a shack with none of the usual conveniences.  I walked a block or two to a local "duka" (a hole in the wall shop that will sell fruit, veggies, cards) with Mama Christina the other day and was just shocked at all I saw as I was walking.  When you drive, so much of the "details" of the other way of life seems to pass you by.  When you walk, you are forced to take it all in, and at at times, it really isn't pretty.

I haven't taken many pictures yet, I've still been overwhelmed a bit and just trying to stay on top of the basics.  I'll try to get a few more shots in tomorrow.  We're going up to HOPAC to look at more houses, and then we're hoping for a family fun day on Thursday, maybe the beach.  The kids are so tired of all the errand running and just want to have some fun with us.  We're praying we can keep our promise and be as much fun as they're hoping we can be!!!

We so appreciate your prayers about our living here, still lots to work out; but, it's all coming together.  Please continue to lift us up for good rest, positive attitudes, a quick resolution to the housing situation here in Dar, the sale of our house in CO soon so we won't drain our budget here, etc.  We'll post some pictures soon!

Our Week in DC!

We have had an amazing week in DC so far.  We're exhausted, it's been a long two months since we've been able to live in our house, not have to repack a suitcase and the car every few days.  I am enjoying the time with our very good friends; but, most of me just wants to rest, to put my things in a drawer and to stay in my jammies all day!  I pray that I am still being a good friend, that the times we talk and share with others is still a blessing to them....like they've been a blessing to us.  I just want you all to know how much we love and appreciate you, we may not be the best at showing it this last week, as we are finishing up our time in the US and getting ready to get on the plane....  we love you guys....

This may look like a ton of pictures; but, I missed a few pretty major shots - there are no shots of Kristy and I, Kim Haes and I...Enjoy what we have here to share!

Slip and Slide at the Pryslak house

Woo-hoo Spencer!

Fun slide there Sissi

Coffee Night with my ROTC friend Kays

Meeting up at GORC park with our old sitter, Sam

Sam with the kiddos after a "baseball" game

Dinner at Medieval Times with the Rykiel family

Sissi and Gwangi

Jase, Krypto, Josh at dinner

Indy and Jay

The battle between the Knights

The final procession

Loretta, Jennifer and I at the BBQ on Sunday

A group shot

Ash Brid and I

Michelle Pryslak and I

Tony and Jeff P.

Indy, Bubbles, Sheila and Troy - I used to work with Sheila and Troy at 6 SOPS in Colorado Springs, CO

Loretta and I

My tired girl and I

Group shot at the Boyd's house

Pictures with Rachel and Spencer P.

Play time with the kids

Picture with Steve, Inna, Lizzie, and Lexie Boyd

Cincy

After we left Indiana, we made the trek down to Cincinnati...so many reasons to go here and in retrospect, we should have planned to stay longer.

We arrived to the Master Chef Pascal and his BBQ beef, chicken, slaw, beans, etc, etc, etc...it was quite the spread and all painstakingly homemade.  What a guy my old college friend Steph has found ;).  After dinner, we took a nice long walk, critiqued houses and paint jobs, and went for ice cream at Annabel's in Hyde Park.  On the way back, we saw the original fire station in the Park.  The firemen were sitting outside and when the kids and Indy showed interest, they let us all come in, sit in the truck, take pictures and hear some of the old stories.  This station has been there for over 100 years.

The next morning we got ready and made the drive over to the Creation Museum...we were so excited to go and meet up with some old "Word of Life" church friends, Dmitri and Marina.  Thanks you guys for the passes, what a neat experience, and it was so fun to catch up and meet the kids.  Everyone enjoyed the exhibits, the walk through, the planetarium show, the "Men in White" experience, the petting zoo and botanical gardens...super fun!  We pushed it as long as we could; but, with no naps and the heat, we had to leave about 4 and head on home.

That night we had some more of Pascal's amazing creations, some excellent steak and all the fixings.  We took another walk to Oakley Square and did the classic "ice cream shoot-out" and tried Aglamesis so we could compare to Annabel's from the other night...I think we would all say Aglamesis won, hands down!  We also got to stay up late again chatting and sharing so many of our experiences, job situations, cooking and "green" tips, and answering lots of questions about homeschooling.  I think you both will do a great job, Mac is in for a treat with you two as her teachers!!!  Love you both a ton and we're so thankful to have you as friends.  We'll keep in touch and if the sailing idea comes to fruition...you'll be the first two (and Shane ;) that we call!!!!

On their deck with Nautilus and a recorder!

Hyde Park eating our ice cream

Fire Station in Hyde Park

Sissi at the Creation Museum

Ahhhh, reminder from school this semester...it's Martin Luther!

Another reminder, the printing press!

The kids by some dinosaurs

A mock-up of Noah building the ark

Pascal and Mac on the swinging bridge

The boys, this bridge was a hit

Dmitri, Marina, Emily, Natalie and Julie with our family

Pascal, Steph and Mac with our family

The Dunes

After our time in Springfield (I'm still waiting for some other pictures so I can finish that blog entry), we drove up to Indiana to stay with Indy's family.  Maria's family, our sister-in-law, has a beach house on the Dunes of Lake Michigan.  It's a super quiet and restful location.  We were so thankful to have some down time and be able to just hang out on the beach after the very busy 2 weeks in Springfield.

We spent most of our days there having fun playing in the sand.  We also did a visit out to the family farm and the kids had a blast running around, we got to host a couple of my high school friends that have settled in South Bend with their 3 children for a day of fun on the beach, we went to the 49'er drive-in theater and saw Cars 2, had old fashioned ice cream at the original Port drive-in restaurant, we had some family photos done, and we had a day trip into Chicago (that's in the previous blog post.)

Jon and Maria, you were such awesome hosts...stocking the fridge for the week, fresh bedding, the planning and tickets for the day in Chicago....an awesome trip, with an awesome family.  Love you all bunches and give all the kids big hugs from us and ours!!!

Got to love the beach toys

Digging in the pit...it got deeper and deeper each day

Starting a bonfire

Wiped out kids!  L-R: Alex, Gwangi, Krypto, and Ruthie

Some of Maria's family came out to visit too....Arlen and Norm

Covered in marshmallows

Krypto and his Grandma Stamp

Kids waiting in the back of our van to watch Cars 2 at the 49'er drive-in

A Day in Chicago

While we were staying with Jon and Maria, we got to have a special "day outing" to Chicago.

We broke up into two groups.... the boys and the girls!

The girls went into Chicago first and had a special lunch at the American Girl Place.  What a neat experience, I can't wait to go back in a few years when Sissi is older and can really experience and comprehend all the history behind each of the dolls.  For now, they are pretty and fun to look at.  I, on the other hand, am fascinated by all the "back stories" with each of the girls.  Grandma Stamp gave her some money for her birthday and so we got her, and her Lee Middleton doll, a matching outfit.  Super cute!  I also splurged and got her two of the "mini dolls" that are part of the historical line.  They've retired so many of the ones that I really like in the full size dolls, so we got Samantha and Nellie in the mini size.  They're only $22 a piece (so much better than the full size dolls), and they even come with a little book inside the box too.  I'm hoping I can get her Elizabeth and Felicity (also retired in full size), in the mini size for Christmas or her next birthday!

Sissi with her dolly "Lizzie Julia", at lunch (if you know Sissi's full name, her dolly's name is hilarious)

Lara and her doll

Grandma Stamp and Ruth

Sissi ordered the American Girl Picnic Lunch - a mini hotdog, mini hamburger, mini bowl of mac and cheese, and a fruit stick...with chocolate milk and an American flag!

Dessert.....cakes and chocolate mousse in a flower pot, with a flower in it!!!

Looking at all the amazing historical dolls, is it possible they have been around for 25 years, really...that would mean I was 11 or 12 when they got started...I guess I was too old for a doll then????

Ruthie at lunch with her doll, Kit

Grandma Stamp and Sissi with the dress that she got from the store for her birthday.  Her doll has the same dress too....oh, and notice the flower from the dessert in her hair.

After the American Girl Place we all met up for the Architectural History Boat Tour on the river.  It was super neat, and as usual, Sissi became fast friends with the tour guide, Diane!  Diane told Sissi at the end of the tour that in all of her years of doing this, Sissi was someone that she would never forget!

Some of these buildings had amazing stories.  I also liked the tales of the bridges.  We saw 25 on our tour and there are over 50 in the city; but, there are only 2 "tender teams" - they leap frog each other to open the bridges when that is necessary.  They usually only open/close 2 days a week and only in May/June and September/October...when the sailboats want to come in and out from their moorings.

Liked that there are 5 different types of architecture on the river...this building had neat Art Deco balconies

What a view!

The Jetson's building ;)

Krypto getting silly toward the end of the tour

Penny and the rest of the family on the tour

The Navy Pier...heard a neat story about how they did touch and go's here on Lake Michigan while training for WWII

The building/HQ's for the 1893 World's Fair - The Grand Columbian Exposition!  It was the 400th Anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America.  We heard all kinds of stories about the fire of  1871 and how the city rose up from the ashes to put on one of the most amazing World's Fairs ever.

Later that night, we split up again...the girls went home and had dinner at an excellent Mexican restaurant in Chesterton, El Salto.  The boys had a blast heading over to Wrigley Field and taking in a Cubs vs. Giants game.  They had the whole experience, the Chicago style hotdogs, Heileman's Old Style beer (just Jon and Indy of course), buying the old ball caps....and BIGGEST surprise of all, the Cubs WIN!!!! 

What a great time, thanks again Jon and Maria, we had so much fun!!!!