Tales from the Person who Counts: Lukenya

Editor's note: Below is a contribution from my other half, the "direct hire," the one with a name and not just a designation of "eligible family member" on important documents. (Note within the note, This does not mean they actually care about him. Ref the movie Julia and Julia...if you are FSO and you've seen it, you understand.)

One of the outlets for my increased leisure time has been rock climbing while wife and daughter play at home.  Yes, rock climbing in Kenya, who knew!  I've been a couple of places with co-workers, namely Hells Gate and Lukenya.  I'm not an expert by any means and I'm still amused by some of the unique scenery and hazards in Kenya. Driving up to the rocks, we have seen a small herd of giraffes. Baboons are fond of fouling the same rocky places that are great for climbing.  Eeew.  While on approach looking for the route, it's best to keep an eye of these and other critters.  I swear after a climb on the walk back down I saw the rock cave where Simba was born.

Just sayin'

My daughter pointed it out. I have never said a thing out loud, though I have thought it every time we read this book...

Plimoth Plantation, a 1627 reproduction village, known to us from our love of the book Sarah Morton's Day 

Modern-day homestead in Western Kenya

Madam Secretary

If a winning smile, long sleek hair, fashionable use of the color black, and a love of travel is what it takes to be Secretary of State, we may have a future cabinet member in the family.

Secretary Clinton and some great kids, August 5, 2012.

Jambo

For the first time in her memory (and indeed, ever), our girl has gone back to school. She has never known the comfort of going back to a place that she knows and is comfortable, and where there are friends and teachers she missed over the break. The playground this morning was a chorus of little-kid hello's and hugs, with random teachers being nearly knocked over with kid-enthusiasm.

My girl is over the moon with her new classroom (freshly built!) with its lovely view and smiling young teacher, as well as more than a half-dozen faces that were already dear to her. The picture here is of the all-school first day assembly - the high school band there on the tennis court as the "all-school" size has outgrown the auditorium.

And, how did I get this picture, you ask? It is true, I myself am there picking up my kid. After many difficult arrangements at the end of last term and a stint of 8-to-5 workdays including a few weekends, I did a great big head slap and decided to cut down my work hours. How hard was that?

Kwaheri

After a month of soccer, swimming, playing, swinging, animal-viewing, cooking, journaling, reading, pretending, camping, dancing, and partying, we have said goodbye to my dear friend and her two kids. Our kids have always gotten along very well, but I figured a month of together time would truly test the limits. Not true! Or rather, there didn't seem to be any limits. So our stand-in family has gone back to deal with reality, and we stay here suspended in this somewhere between the clouds and the African plains. We are sad they left, but sooo happy they came.

The 3 Musketeers watching Kenyan dances.

Turning Six!

Avocados: almost free. Blueberries: gasp! expensive. Birthday tradition lemon cake with avocado frosting: priceless.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 - our wee girl turns six today! Sunday we decorated the front yard and steps with glittery hanging stars, put stick-on flowers down the hallway and into the living room, hung balloons and ribbons, and had the neighborhood girls over for fairy house painting, fairy hunting, and other sparkly things (dubbed by my daughter as her fake birthday party).

The best part was having my friend and her kids here. Not only did my friend skip lunch with me in the mad rush to get everything ready, but I love how her kids love! They made the party day really special, and continue to help the kiddo celebrate the "real" birthday today with grace and giggles.

Happy Anniversary to Us

Yesterday was our 9th wedding anniversary. At times I can scarcely believe how long it's been, but at other times I think back (5 years in VA, 3 other states, Virginia again, now Kenya)... eh, yeah, we've had some time to go through some stuff. Andrew brought me home 18 wonderful roses.

I also can't believe it's the end of the third week of my dear friend and her two kids visiting us. Only one more week (sniff!). This week, after a return from weekend camping and safari'ing, has been a whirl. Much like last week, we are taking kids to sports camp, applying sunscreen, and going to the store for endless amounts of apples, carrots and yogurt, and somehow getting in a nearly-full day's work as well.

The wrench in this week's plan was that said dear friend got laid low, very low, by what I decided was Campylobacter (darn food on the camping trip!).  I succumbed to a lesser degree, but it's enough to make me wonder whether I'll be able to eat our lovely anniversary dinner. Yes, we are going OUT tonight for dinner, leaving the child in the blissful care of a mostly-functional friend with her two awesome buddies.