Kourtni: September 2010

Today we actually woke up kind of late- we didn't get out of bed til about 6:30. Zazu and I were talking about how things are so much more laid back now that Scar and Sarabi are here, they tend to all the daily activitie that we were taking care of last time ( the workers, the keys, the go-go's, the food room, the clothes room, emergencies, etc.) so fortuanately for us that means that all we have to do and worry about are THE KIDS!! Hooray! So this morning Rafiki and Timon were evaluating the kids one at a time to see where they are at academically. While they were doing that and the older ones were doing their chores I went and played with the other kids ( Hips, Froggy, Chickem, Drama, Mr. Leech, Simon and Dee-Dee). They were dancing and singing for me it was so cute!!

They then decided that this blonde, thick, large amount of hair that I have is a mysterious wonder to them so they all started playing with it; Mama, Thinker and Obama also joined in on the hair styling. At one point I counted more then 12 hands playing with, pulling, twisting and braiding my hair at one time. An hour later and my hair was unsure if it was naturally curly, straight, a comb over, has cow licks, is naturally twisted or what but the war with the newly made rats nest was 100% totally worth the hour of laughs, smiles and fun!

When everyone was done with their chores I set up a soccer game with Obama, Abraham, Clown, Hands, Futbol and Rock. I told them that I would be on both teams so to keep an eye on me and which way I was playing and man we have some good players! They were doing all the real soccer moves with the head bumps, chest pumps, kicking their leg above thier head, etc. It was so much fun to watch them play and to be able to play with them.

After that all the kids took extreme interest in our cameras like always so we let them walk around and take pictures as long as they were careful, they shared and they stayed where we could see them. Braids, Mana, Futbol and Tude were the ones that took my camera, they were seriously cracking me because they would pose in the flowers or around things, I then showed them how they could take video with it and they took so many videos of Tude standing in the flowers singing- So precious!

I then went and sat by the playground where Queen, Dee-Dee, Froggy, Drama, Hips and baby girl were playing house and kitchen. Then Mr Leech came by with Volume in the wheelbarrow, I told him that I wanted a ride so him Drama, Queen and Thinker took turns running me around in it, these kids are so strong! It is so much fun to just let go and be a kid agian! I was then told that Nala needed to use my hair to teach the girls how to do things with is so I needed to go wash it so Tude, Braids and Lips helped me shampoo and rinse my hair. We then played with Jump, Baby Girl, Little Rat, Simon and Giggles.

When it was lunch time the 3 of us decided that we needed a bit of a break so we came back up to our flat, they went in their rooms to take a small nap while I stayed on the couch ( which was a bad idea because people were coming in and out the whole time.) Scar then took all the boys to a wedding so we had a girls day! It started off with Volume, Tude, Lips and Braids up in our flat where we practiced reading and math, if they did well I painted their toe nails ( it was nice to get that one on one time with them) Mama then came up and joined us.

After awhile before it started getting dark we decided that we would walk to the damn. It was a easy walk and it was so much fun to have the girls ( Rafiki, Timon, Zazu, Mama, Dancer, Tude, Hips, Braids, Lips, Queen, Froggy, Dee-Dee, Chicken, Drama and Smarts (who surprised us by following us there).) We walked across the dam and then walked up the rock hill -which we named Pride Rock-. Then all the kids and I started to slide down the side of the rock by sitting on our shoes, a piece of plastic we foumd, or just by sitting on our butts. It was sooo much fun! You actually get going really fast! Then the kids walked around the bottom of the rocks and then came running up the hill with their faces painted ghostly white, growling and making scary nosies. It was funny cuz they actually did look kind of scary! We then walked back because it was almost dusk. It was so much fun walking with and spending so much time with girls, we sang songs and danced or just talked to get to know each other better.

When we got back it was bath time and supper time. Baby Girl surprised me with how much food she ate- she ate more then I did! We then told the kids goodnight and came up to our flat to do somethings when Mr. GQ and Mana surprised us by bringing us a big bowl of popcorn! Scar then came in to work on his computer and to get some help putting pictures on it, it has been nice to get to know him and I am amazed at the positive changes and differences I am seeing that are taking place. He really cares for and loves these kids- they desereve it and for them to have such a strong make role model just makes me so happy! I love it here so much! I want to take them all home with me- every last one! I"M SO BLESSED!!

P.S. I forgot to mention the other day while on the plane from Ethopia to Harare when I looked out the window I could see a huge blanket of clouds and poking out of them- like a huge part poking out was Mt. Kilamanagro ( however you spell it). It was so fascinatingly awesome!!