January began with big changes afoot – Hubby’s initial training with DoS was wrapping up and were making plans to move to Nairobi, Kenya. At the same time, we were thankful to have settled in quickly in D.C., even though that meant saying more goodbyes. J14 and T13 competed in two NCFCA speech and debate tournaments. R11 and C10 were able to participate in junior tournaments, in which they very appropriately recited Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Foreign Lands.”
February included rounds of exotic immunizations, appointments, a final pack-out, and a good-bye open house. We flew through London to Nairobi and took a few extra days to tramp through the city, eat fish and chips, visit Westminster Cathedral, and celebrate R’s 12th birthday. We arrived in Nairobi right at the end of the month–it was good to be “home.” Thanks to preparations by a friend, we even had a fridge full of food, sheets on the beds, and most importantly, fresh Kenyan coffee!
March meant Hubby hitting the ground running at his new job, and he’s really excelling. Our first weekend in town, the boys got to ride ostriches and had ostrich nyama choma (barbeque.) J14 and T13 entered Rosslyn Academy – the first time they’ve been in school since 4th and 1st grades. Re12 and C10 continued to homeschool. We found a great truck—a bit beat up, but very practical. Just driving in our neighborhood required constant off-road detours and mud-bogging due to construction. It is a manual transmission, and took a few months before I braved driving it, especially since everyone drives on the “wrong” side of the road!
April brought our first visitor, Andrew, who holds the distinction of visiting us no matter in which corner of the globe we live! (We’d welcome more visitors, too, but understand Nairobi is off the beaten path. . .) We also enjoyed a safari on Crescent Island, where we got to walk among the animals. We even saw a giraffe baby nursing and what looked at first to be an injured little zebra – later we realize it was probably just a newborn!
May meant wrapping up school. J14 played rugby, and was “most promising player” for the under-15 teams. Our family got its first dog – an African hound/rott mix we named Buckley. All four boys went to their first sleep-over camp, Camp Bluesky. One perk of living in Africa is that camp includes some pretty exotic trips and activities like camping with the Maasai!
June is the beginning of winter in Nairobi – overcast days, sweater weather. J turned 15 and discovered the joys of the Kindle. I began volunteering with Mercy House maternity home.
July was a low-key month. Hubby and I celebrated our 16th anniversary.
August on the other hand, was quite exciting. I took a last-minute gorilla trekking trip in Uganda. Immediately after I got back, we discovered that baby #5 was on the way (due late April 2012!) We’re all thrilled, especially the four big brothers. Hubby was able to take leave for the first time since we arrived, and so we went on safari in the Maasai Mara – elephant, lion, wildebeest migration, zebra, giraffe, hyena – everything you would imagine seeing in the wilds of Africa! Right at the end of the month we had the adventure of driving from Nairobi to Mombasa (crazy drivers on a narrow two-lane highway) and spending a week at a friend’s beach house on the Indian Ocean. It was peaceful, restful. . . and Hubby and the boys started plotting out a fantasy series they want to write together.
September meant back to school. . . This time the younger three boys started at Rosslyn Academy (first time in school for C11, 5th grade!) and J (10th grade) continues to homeschool. He wants to study economics and classics, and has an opportunity to intern in Uganda.
October brought the official publication of John’s scifi book, “Knox’s Irregulars.” He wrote this book eleven years ago, when we were in language training before moving to Ukraine. It’s exciting to see the fruition of his work and even more exciting to hear how much people are enjoying it!
November included the news that baby #5 is a BOY. We have a fun guest who needed a change of pace from Malawi. We celebrated a traditional Thanksgiving at a friend’s home, enjoyed having Andrew visit (4th time!) and the kids did a fun “What Thanksgiving if About” play for guests from South Africa, Bolivia, and Uganda. C turned 11 and T turned 14 right at the end of the month.
December brought the end to my grad school pursuits, culminating in a Master in Nonprofit Management degree. (Would love to hear about any short-term projects to work on!) We’ve enjoyed our Advent and Christmas traditions, incorporated with new things from Kenya. We rejoice in God sending a Savior !
Into 2012. . . The boys and I will be in Florida from March – May, as the medical unit here recommends returning to the US to have a baby. We welcome you to come visit us in Kenya before our anticipated departure in February 2013!