21 July 2017

Iddy, the other day you started telling us some of your memories from when you were young. I think we were all talking about some of the stupid/dangerous things we had done. You said that you used to hop on the back of trucks to ride along and try to hid from the driver. Once they spotted you they would speed up and you had to jump off before they got going too fast! You also said that one time your friend had some cows and he thought it would be fun to put you on the back of one of the bulls. The bull started bucking to get you off and you managed to slide off the back without getting hurt too much.

You have been so sweet, kind, loving, compassionate, and thoughtful lately. You have always been all these things but lately it has been to an even greater extent. Aunt Amanda and Daisy came to visit and you and Daisy got along great and seemed to have so much fun together. You both started looking up card tricks on You Tube and trying to learn them and practice on one of us. Mimimo stayed two weeks longer after Amanda, Daisy, and Bepops left. You and her got to go out just the two of you and went to Osteria and shopping for souvenirs. She said you were so sweet and asked her questions about all the grandkids and kept the conversation going the whole time. You told her all about the cars you are interested in. You love cars! You like to look up cars on my phone so now I get alerts when there is a new sports car released. You also love music and listen to your music while you do the dishes. You have started tennis lessons again and you are a natural. We haven't been reading together as much because school is out and you are staying up later. You like to cook and often help me in the kitchen. You seem so aware of other people's feelings and do not put too much stock in material things. Your phone was stolen two days ago when our house was broken into and you haven't acted down about it at all. You inspire me!

21 July 2017

Ruth-Michael. You finished your "jellyfish" class and next year will be Kindergarten!  I can't believe it.  Here they call it KG3. Mrs Ineke will give you a new animal name for your class. You love school and are so good at it. You are one of the youngest in your class. Your best friend is Joyce, who also has an August birthday so you are very close in age. You name all your dolls "Lilla." You are methodical and detailed in everything you do. June 30, you cut your hair at school and lied to me about it! I noticed your hair was cut in your ponytail and you said you didn't know what happened. Later, I asked your teacher and she told me you had cut it. We talked about lying and I know you will do better. You had no sweets or TV for two days. The sweets thing was hard to stick to because every time I turned around someone was giving you one. Let's hope you learned your lesson anyway!

You are a giver always. You gave Joyce one of your Princess costumes and another child in your class some of your markers because he didn't have any. You are always wanting to give things to others. Sometimes I stop you because I see the worth in holding onto a few things that are special to us but I try to let you give as much as possible. I love that spirit inside you.

You like to have a plan and know the plan. I made you a calendar for the holidays and a list of things we can do and you consult that list every day, marking off the days on the calendar. I am the same way, so I partly do it for myself. When you speak to Kenyans you have a STRONG Kenyan accent. You love to sing and you can be read to for hours and hours. You have such a long attention span.

21 July 2017

Abby Jones, you are so much fun. You love to laugh and make others laugh. You look at me and make a funny face and we laugh and laugh together. You want to be like Kikal and follow her everywhere, doing what she does, and telling stories like she does. You try to talk over her. You love to wear skirts and dresses. You are happy, joyful, full of life. You are not afraid and you love to jump from VERY high places and it scares your mama! You stick your head out the window when we are driving like a dog would and just take it all in, wind and all. You love to run away from the waves as they come crashing into the shore. You always want to hold my hand and sit in my lap and for me to carry you. When I'm done eating dinner you always climb into my lap. You LOVE to play hide and seek. You always talk about Kikal doing things but it is everything that you do (holding her ear while she drinks milk, puckering up when she drinks soda, etc). I asked you if you brushed teeth "in the back?" You responded by singing "in the back yawd." You always hold my pinky but call it my inky. You love to sing "Baby Beluga" and "Down by the Bay." When we say "moose kissing a goose" I laugh and laugh and you love that so much. You love to play "hands up" (heads up). One time there was a picture of a tennis racket and you said, "the thing you use to kill mosquitoes!" When we pass by the hospital you say, "why are the people there?" and I say, "because they are sick," and you say "but what did they do? Did they botted (vomited) or pee-pee or poo-poo?"

"ooz" = use

"wenime" = M&M

first haircut May 31

"I just botted" (vomited)

"That's isgusting!" (disgusting)

"bread with hotel" (Nutella)

"I love this hand! Thank you, God, for Mama's hand!"

"noona" = noodles

"put your nose on my nose"

June 12, You started going to school 3 mornings per week. You love your teacher and you are so happy there.