Kenya - herds

Adaya's Fall Preschool Performance

Waiting in line for her introduction.

I've been spotted.

The welcome song. Adaya says they bow and say "Kanichiwalk."

"It's raining, how it's raining..."

"This little light of mine..."

"O, be careful little ears what you hear..."

growing again

Last night, Josiah weighed in at 51 lbs. His first time over 50lbs. Typically, for Josiah, 1 lb = 1 inch. Which would mean 2 inches in the last couple months.

This morning I wonder how Adaya's pants got so short. Didn't she wear those last week? Didn't they look long enough then? Didn't I just send Autumn a box of clothes?

Why am I so suprised? They always spurt in October. I know that.

Making red Lightening McQueen fondant

First melt marshmellows in microwave 30 seconds at a time, stiring between each 30 seconds.

Add red dye to marshmellows and mix, then add more and mix more, and more, and more.

And more.

Add chocolate powder to make red darker.

Mix more.

Once red, pour equally into to gallon zip lock bags.

Make sure to sift powder surger.

Add to Ziplock with red marshmellow goo. Kneed and kneed, and kneed.

Eventually it will become red again. Then do other bag.

Soon you will have two bags of red fondant again.

Then add more powdered sugar. Kneed. Sigh.

Put both bags together in one. Refrigerate.

Make a 1/2 batch of white as well for nonred detail.

A package in the mail

The anticipation is killing him!

The first b-day present of 2011. Oh, the joy!

MONEY!

Josiah makes the connection that he has 8 packs of gum and $8 and Adaya has 4 packs and $4.

How to make a garden cake for an 8 yr old

Bake cake, slice in half, hide gummy worms inbetween layers, frost poorly

Sprinkle with demolished Hersey bar - aka dirt

Make tea

create heads of lettuce from lime totsie rolls, add halloween pumpkin candies

Use green candy strings to make pumpkin vines.

Add frogs, carrots made from orange totsie rolls, rocks, colorful seeds

Add peas made from more green totsie rolls and skittles, add red skittles

Add carrot tops, raddish frosting and leaves, and lots of bugs

Final touch shovels constructed of more totsie rolls and pretzels

Happy Birthdaytober!

Josiah - 6 years - 2009

Josiah - 7 years - 2010

Josiah - 8 years - 2011
Adaya - 2 years - 2009

Adaya - 3 years- 2010

Adaya - 4 years - 2011

Grandpa's germ tornado

Adaya had done a couple of paintings Monday morning. I suggested that she paint a picture for Grandpa. I told her that a pretty picture would make grandpa happy and help him heal faster. So at 11am, while Grandpa was in sugery, Adaya started a painting. When I glance over to see how it was going, this is what I saw. A couple minutes later... "Mommy, look at my painting. It's a tornado, a germ tornado. It's going to suck up all of Grandpa's bad germs and make him all better."

This is where all the bad germs collect.

The finished results. (Sorry, you'll have to tilt your head to the left.)

my baby went to preschool today

And yes, she picked out her own outfit. She's so Portland.

Taking dinner at Mama Susan's

Kim, short for Kimani, named after his grandfather. He also has another cousin named Kim, named after the same grandfather, because in Kenya you name your first born son after the father's father. You are also given a baptismal name. I think Kim's is George. He has resently decided that he wants his name to be Ethan. Anyway, this young man is almost 6 and since he is Susan's nephew and Susan and Ashby are "sisters," Ashby considers him her nephew as well. Therefore we spoil him rotten and let him play with Ashby's camera.

Keith and Pete work hard at eating all the food on their plate. It's rude not to. Also in the picture is Mama Kim. Thus named after her first born child, the mother of Kim.

We were really excited about this moment when Kim was showing his grandma, Mama Susan (Susan's mother), a photo. She had a rare moment of smiles. Unfortunatly, the camera fired before the lense focused and the moment was gone. Clearly the fault of the camera.

Keith and Kim share a high five.

Kim recites his ABC's.

Kim small, Lenard, and Kim big

Taking chai after taking supper

Teaching her nephews how to play Angry birds on her iphone.

Aunt Susan and Kim small

Kim big and his father, Baba Kim.