Capture life 365–week 46

Another month of frequent days without power – thankful for the red Ryobi wonder that we can fire up when needed. 

Just as we were coming right from the flu, we get slammed by a stomach bug. I know I said I’d much rather do vomit over poop, but maybe I wasn’t being completely honest. I’m really not that much better at vomit.  I blame it on eight rounds of morning sickness. Anyway, Pete once again came to the rescue and dealt with the laundry after FOUR complete bed changes in one night, while I gagged my way through washing clumps of carrots out of hair. I think we’re going to start taking lessons on how to aim for the bowl.

Learning about God creating the earth and plants in the Early Learning program – getting creative with clay from termite mounds!Tyre rolling fun!

Not being able to walk doesn’t stop Brian from being a star football player! This guy is amazing with his hands!Second attempt to dye Josiah’s hair blue. Second fail. Although it did have a slight blue tinge until he washed it.Slowly turning into a smurf.

We had an an amazingly talented local facepainter come to our weekly kids & mums get together at a friends place to celebrate a birthday – a fun surprise for the younger kids! The older kids were nowhere to be found for the photo! Pikers.

Capture life 365–week 45

Chocolate chip cookie goodness in the making - thanks to friends from the U.S bringing us chocolate chips along with a bunch of other treats including Reeces peanut butter cups in their bid to win us over. While I still think it’s wrong to combine chocolate with peanuts, they weren’t as bad as I thought! I may have even almost enjoyed them.Riana does an amazing job juggling schoolwork and helping with the early learning program (as well as keeping her nails looking gorgeous!) Cuddles with this wee chubba are a highlight of her day! …and hanging out with these two characters always means a bunch of laughs!

We had a little sewerage issue this week. It’s aroma filled the house. Again. Pete is beyond awesome for being willing to go anywhere near our poop to get things flowing smoothly. Even though a small share of it’s mine, I just gag. Before having to run for a bucket. I don’t do so well with snot or vomit either, but I’ll take them any day over our blocked underground poop canals.I think Joe inherited my gag genes.

This is the boys ‘responsibly’ disposing of a tabacco tree. Their reason for burning it: so seeds don’t fall to the ground and germinate if they were to put it in the compost. Yeah, right. Notice in the background – even our animals are crazy! Must be the tobacco.

Along with our sewerage issues are little water issues. It’s going to take a long time to rinse out Petes cup!

Attempt number 1 to dye Joes hair blue. Fail.

Saying goodbye to sweet friends whose visit was far too short but oh so lovely.

Capture life 365–week 42

Once again I’ve gotten behind in posting - week 42 was about a month ago I think! I guess at least when I look back on it, it’s not going to matter that the weeks weren’t all posted as soon as they happened! So… onto birthday week!

Super thankful for the chance to head to Jinja for a bit of of vacation this week. My only birthday wish. Five relaxing days – our longest time away in over two years. Uganda has some truly stunning scenery. I love the contrast between the lush greens and earthy reds.Orderly & manicured tea plantations – such a stark contrast to the rest of the country’s landscape.

Our morning view while on holiday. Just having breakfast by the Nile River. I could easily move in. Permanently.Going to sleep with the sound of frogs croaking and waking to the sound of monkeys playing in the trees, thunderstorms and the song of exotic birds. As the sun went down on Charlottes and my birthday, we were given this gorgeous display of colour to enjoy. What a gift! Did I say I wanted to move in?!Not a great photo of us birthday girls – but the best we got!

Taking children on middle of the night toilet runs in the rain. Stepping on tiny frogs as my feet first hit the floor in the morning. R.I.P little Kermit. Truly sorry.

Card games and chatting, Riana happy to have a brave friend come experience holidaying with the Gordons for the week. Hope you’re not still traumatised Sarah!Fishing with modified bow and arrows, fishing off the bank, fishing from local boats, fishing from kayaks, setting morning & night-time nets. Making sure no opportunity is left unturned.Drew found these guys to take him out for a fish – just before an unexpected storm blew in – finding shelter behind an island on the Nile all added to the experience! Went out again the next day & returned with a small edible catch. Asked some local residents to cook it up for him & share in the eating of it. If he wants something done, he’ll always find a way to make it happen! “Mum, can I come back now?” “Mum, this is scary.” “Mum, I didn’t know it’d be so small…” Photo narration by Josiah and Riana.Celebrating the third birthday girl for the week! Both Riana and Charlotte had been wanting to go horse riding for ages, and the area we were staying was one of the only places to do it, so it was the perfect birthday treat! Had to get there by boat which was fun too!Charlotte – a true farm girl through and through…Changed her mind about staying on the horse, but loved visiting with them all in their stalls!

Night-time swimming most nights – brought back childhood memories of church new years eve parties, jumping into the pool on the stroke of 12. Daytime pool fun most days – Gordon style! No Olympic recognised swim strokes allowed! The kids found some tyre tubes & put them to good use!Our kids were invited to join in with some expat kids living in the area that have kayak lessons & games each week at another campsite  – despite most of our kids being twice the size of the rest of the group they had fun & were used to demonstrate how to flip a kayak. Fun unexpected opportunity - even if it means they need to take Bilharzia medication in 6 weeks time!

A great time away that went by much too quickly!

The night before heading home Charlotte & Jed came down with fevers which only got worse after getting home. Thankful for negative malaria tests but not really sure what the mystery illness was that then started going through other family members. One month later and still battling sickness – most of the kids have finally been bribed agreed to do stool samples tomorrow to hopefully get some answers