Another craft

We did another craft today, out of the school curriculum.

Snowflakes

Today, we made paper

snowflakes for our activity.

Another 2 in 1...

Since we forgot to do a Christmas activity yesterday (again), we doubled up again today... Christmas crafts, and hot chocolate. Katrina made a Christmas tree card, and Heather made a nativity scene.

We also have guests tonight from Arusha! It's so good to see old friends! Glen, Ivy and Willie came up for business reasons but its so good to see them. Vino is coming to stay in our guest apartment for a few months. It's good to see some familiar faces.

Computer fun

On Saturday, we Skyped with Grandma and Grandpa Fischer for our activity. We also opened a package from Grandma and Grandpa DeLaughter with some Christmas activities, so lots of fun from both sides of the family.

Sunday, it was Independance Day in Kenya. We went out for lunch, and we saw an airshow flying over head while we were out-- jet planes and all! Very fun. There was even a bouncy house on our street. Very cool.

The kids spent e-cards to their cousins as part of their Christmas activities today. It's wonderful to have internet, and to be able to keep in touch with family and friends that way.

Thank God for the internet!

New book

Today, we read a new Christmas book with giant flaps from Grandma Fischer. Thanks, Grandma!

Stringing Popcorn

Today, we strung popcorn for the tree. Fun, and yummy too!

New Shoes!

The kids in their new shoes, yeah! Sorry, you can't see Jonathan's very much but that shot was so cute with the hat.

We went to the mall today, and so didn't have time for any activity since we got home late and kids were asleep... (isn't he cute?)

BUT, we got the kids all new shoes, and Bill bought me a new outfit including purse for Christmas...YEAH! We had alot of fun tonight, so I think it counts don't you?

Oh, and I just got word from my mom that Jonathan's new prosthetic is ready. They'll mail it to some friends who will be coming to Tanzania in January and Bill will pick it up a few weeks after that. Very exciting!

Christmas activity today

Today, we read a Christmas book that has little plush characters of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Very cute.

Heather learns to ride her bike!

Heather learned to ride her bike without training wheels today! Yeah, Heather! I'm so proud of you.

Nativity Set

Today's activity for Christmas is one of the kids' favorite-- we got out the Little People Nativity set. They love acting out the Christmas story. It was a Christmas present from Eastview last Christmas and we love it!

Days 4 and 5 Activities

Saturday our special holiday activity, we went to see "Entangled" in the theatres, and had pizza at the mall afterwards, very fun.

Sunday, we made Christmas cards. The Christmas fun is continuing!

Day 2 and 3 activities

Well, since the girls were asleep last night when we got home, we didn't get to bake cookies. So, today we did two things. We baked cookies, and we watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Two traditions that are a must for the season!

Nairobi... The Good, the Bad, and the UGLY??

We moved up to Nairobi on Saturday, and it was the smoothest move I think we have ever had! Friday we spent the whole day packing, and thanks to the help of our friends, were able to completely close the house by Friday night and go spend the night with friends. We woke up early Saturday morning and left for Nairobi and arrived at 1pm, amazingly. The trip was really easy. This move was covered in blessings because so many things could have gone wrong.

We LOVE our house, and love Nairobi so far. We live in a gated community, with paved streets and even side walks. Our house is two story. Downstairs is a nice living room, with very comfortable couches and a big screen TV; dining room; big kitchen, bathroom, and Bill's office. The yard is small, but behind the house we have a seperate guest house with it's own bath, kitchen, and living room, and we also have a laundry room out back.

Upstairs are three bedrooms. The girls each have their own room for the first time, which they are loving. We are doing school in the Master bedroom. It's big enough that we have a table and chairs in there and a bookshelf for the books and there is still plenty of room.

The kids and I have been exploring the neighborhood, and we have discovered a school just across the street from us. In the afternoons, we walk down to it, and play on the playground. The kids have met lots of friends from the neighborhood there. I'm glad the kids have started making friends already.

Okay, so that is the "Good". The "Bad" is the traffic here in Nairobi. It took us 3 hours to drive to the mall tonight in horrible traffic, and 2 hours to get home! That's 5 hours in traffic to spend an hour at the mall. We probably won't be going to that mall again for awhile...

The "UGLY"... on our way to the mall, I was holding Bill's phone in my hand because I was checking the GPS, and some guy reached into the car, ripped it out of my hand and took off running! That scared me, and we lost a very nice, expensive phone. No more driving with the windows down!!

Okay, I have "vented"... we are really enjoying it here, and we liked going to church on Sunday at LifeSpring Church not far from our house. I love the fact that everyone here speaks English, even the kids. It has made it very easy for the girls to make friends here.

We have started our traditional Christmas activity advent. Day 1, we put up the tree, see pictures above. Even Jonathan got in on it. Day 2, we were supposed to make cookies but we got home so late that the kids were asleep. SOO... we'll continue the Christmas activities tomorrow.

Happy Christmas Season!!