Christmas 2009

Back by popular demand...pictures of my kids. Caught in all the joy of Christmas I failed to post any Christmas pictures two months ago. Better late than never I guess.

Christmas PJ's

Thanks for the cute jammies grammy!

December Projects

Last year I thought our stockings had been stolen out of our luggage, I was so releived that they hadn't been because I just had to make one this year instead of six. This is how Dulci's turned out.

I think this is the second lemon merang pie I've ever made, yummmy.

We spent an FHE doing the simple gingerbread houses out of ghram crackers and lots of sugar.

Christmas Morning

Enjoying our Chrimstmas spoiles.

Christmas Nativity

Mary and Joseph were played by Ksusha and Nobu.

The three wise men were played by Ben, Yuri and Jesse.

Mylah was the Angel.

And the Shepperd's were played by Jazz and Abram.

Dulci

I must admit that Dulci melts my heart and has learned to get what she wants around here. If she wants something she lets us know by screaming at the top of her lungs until we figure it out. Spoiled? Maybe that's what you call it.

One of her favorite places is under the kitchen cupboards. She finds a place for herself by throwing everything else out.

Ksusha is her second mother.

She loves doing what all the big kids do, especially playing with markers. This time she thought she'd see how the black one tasted.

The Many Faces of JoyeLoni

They speak for themselves.

December Snow

Right Before Christmas we had our first big snow storm for the season. Boy, did we love it and had no idea that it was an omen of things to come...

All the kids had lots of fun playing in the snow, even the big kids.

Seth built a real full sized igloo.

We put the bike ramp to good use as a starting line for our sleds.

And JoyeLoni kept us laughing with her ever changing winter wardrobe.

Canopy Walk

So people keep asking me "Africa! Did you have fun?" and I have to admit that I'm very grateful for the opportunity I had to go to Ghana but I can't say it was the most relaxing or kick your heels up fun I've ever had. However, with that said I think that the most fun I had was on the canopy walk we did in Kumasi National Park.

A few Canadians and some Ghanaians built this series of rope style bridges in the park to take visitors into the tree tops hundreds of feet above ground. Before we went I really underestimated how high we would be, it's a good thing I'm not afraid of heights!

This was before the walk and either it's really hot in Ghana or we're worried about the crossing.....

On the last bridge I told Seth that if Troy were there he would probably be running across them as fast as he could, just for the thrill. Seth thought that sounded like a fun idea... he has made it home safe.

Really, it's not a forced smile. I had a great time.

Ghana 2010

Seth and I have just returned from an adventure in Accra, Ghana. Seth was working there on a TDY for 6 weeks so Grandma and Grandpa Billings kindly watched our kids while I joined him for 2 weeks. There is too much to post in one night, so I'm going to cover some of the highlights and when I have more time hopefully I can add some more.

The best part for me was being with Seth. He had been gone for 3 weeks already when I got there and I missed him like crazy. If it wasn't for him I would not have been able to endure missing my kids. He's a great tour guide and I loved being there with him.

The kids in Ghana are the light of the country. Most of them have very little compared to American standards. The kids we saw most were those who live in huts on dirt floors with no running water. I saw thousands of kids during my visit but can only remember seeing 3 toys. These kids have nothing and yet they always seemed to be smiling. The kids in this picture had seen a camera, and were fascinated by ours but I don't think they knew what it did. When Seth showed them a picture of themselves they were truly amazed. I'm sure most of them have never even seen themselves in a mirror before, so they probably didn't even recognize their own faces in the picture.

It was hot and muggy, and full of color. Ghanaians eat bright and colorful food and wear bright and colorful clothes. Street vendors such as these were a common sight, they lined every street and alleyway in Ghana. They sell everything from fruit to fish, staples to superglue. Of all the food in Ghana the bananas and pineapple were the best.

Who knew that the best place to carry a heavy load was on your head? I think we saw it all... I'm sure this woman would have made me a dress if we had asked. For the right price of course!

There will be more pictures to come as time permits. I'd love to show you how they carried their babies, the beautiful coast we stayed on, the bead factory we visited , the central slave trade castles of Elmina and Cape Coast, the animals that slept in windows and ate out of sewers, the beautiful plants, and the bikes of Amsterdam I saw during my layover on the way home. So stay tuned, there's hopefully more to come!