I’m catching up on my travel writing today, and I’m really excited to share our 10 day epic camping journey throughout southern Kenya. Our trip began with a long drive from Nairobi down Mombasa Road, to the Chyulu Hills. Our friends took the more adventurous and scenic route via the turnoff at Emali, but we hit the road early so we went with the familiar route via Kibwezi. As always, the Chyulus offer unbeatable views at every turn. Continue reading
We went to see the revival of Tinga Tinga Tales this weekend, and it was so much fun! The whole family was floating on a post-Tinga-Tinga high all weekend, reminiscing about our favorite songs and characters. We were BIG fans the first time around, and I couldn’t wait to see the reboot. It did not disappoint! Continue reading
As you guys know, in June we participated in the Rhino Charge, a charitable off-road race that supports the conservation of Kenya’s wildlife and mountain range ecosystems. A total of 65 teams must navigate to 13 checkpoints hidden within 100 square kilometers of rough terrain within 10 hours. Continue reading
Happy 7th birthday to my kind, generous, girl! We celebrated Claire’s birthday out in the bush this weekend at the Rhino Charge. She got two cool new board games, a weaving loom, and a magical balancing bird toy (her favorite gift this year!). Her most unique gift – a zebra tooth! Continue reading
As you guys know, we spent New Year’s camping in Kakamega Rainforest. I was shocked at how little information we were able to get online prior to our trip, and I hope to right that situation a bit. As such, this post will be a bit of a departure from my usual material. Continue reading
My baby is four years old! Heidi has grown so much in the last year, and impresses us every day with her sense of humor, her intrepid spirit, and her fearlessness. She is courageous, adventurous, and sometimes a little bit wild… 😉 She loves her two-wheeler, climbing things, playing in the mud, and tickle fights. Heidi is warm, and makes me smile every day!
We love you, Heidi. May this year bring you many more adventures!
Happy birthday, sweet girl! xx
PS – Heidi at age one, two and three!
During school breaks, I usually try to come up with a bunch of craft ideas and projects to try with the kids while they’re home. But for the last week of this past Christmas break the girls attended holiday camp run by Young Engineers Kenya, and they loved it! Continue reading
Happy New Year! We just got back from an incredible trip to Kakamega Rainforest in western Kenya. We did lots of hiking, lots of bird watching, and lots of relaxing. I’ll write another post soon with a full review of the campsites in Kakamega (there is SO little information on the internet about visiting this gorgeous spot), but for now, here are some photos from our trip, if you’re interested! Continue reading
Last weekend we went back to our favorite beach spot, Sand Island Beach Cottages, to celebrate American Thanksgiving with some friends. It’s been a whole year since we last visited the coast, and it was so good to be back! (Remember last year’s travel fiasco?) Here are some photos, if you’d like to see… Continue reading
The girls are back to school this week, and I have officially become that mom who dances in the street after saying goodbye to the kids. Don’t get me wrong, I love my two little rascals, but this school break was LONG, and the fights were REAL. A few hours apart will do us all a world of good – especially these battling sisters!
Heidi went back to kindergarten on Tuesday, to a teacher and a classroom she knows and loves. She’s grown a lot, and I’m amazed at how easy drop-off was compared to last year! (I think it helps that we weren’t all battling jet lag.) I was wondering how she would handle going to school without her big sister. It turns out, Heidi is totally ready for independence!
Claire started class 1 yesterday, with a touching ceremony. The whole school gathers to welcome the new children with songs, flowers, and candlelight. Each new student was matched up with a “guardian,” an older child from class 6 who acts sort of like a big brother or sister for the incoming kids. Claire was in her element, beaming with excitement, ready to start this new chapter in her life.
One of the beautiful things about this school year is the one-on-one time I will get with Heidi each afternoon while Claire is still at school. Heidi and I rarely get alone time – a fact of life for many younger siblings, I’m sure. I feel like I got to know her better yesterday, just hanging out with her on our own for a few hours before big sister got home from school. I’m really looking forward to these quiet hours of one-on-one play this term!
How did back-to-school go for you? I’m so happy that this year went more smoothly than last year’s back-to-school debacle… 😉 Cheers to all you mamas and papas who got to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee this morning, or who did your own little dance of joy after the kiddos hit the road!
Mama Mgeni 