Backyard renovations

We have been doing some improvements on our outside dwelling places lately. Since the weather in Uganda is so PERFECT, one likes to spend a lot of time outside. With the change of landlords and the neighbor, Gift, getting inspired and more involved, we have been doing some minor improvements in our yard.

This was the latest improvement - a boda and bike lean to. This gets our boda and bikes off of our porches (actually, we've been keeping them on the neighbors porches!) and there is also some room for various other junk as well, like L's swimming pool (not pictured). I think Gift is working on some brick tiles to go on the ground and we might get some plywood to put on the back to close it in a bit more. But this was a vast improvement and something my boda's needed for a long time!

While my Mom was here we tackled the job of removing the giant, ant infested compost/garbage pile that was alongside the house. The plan is to plant it in grass and to eventually erect a swing set and fashion a sandpit, since Ella will be losing her free and private access to the one behind the school, in November.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Eventual sight for the swing set. The fire pit is there in the middle. Solomon, our new day guard and gardener, loves to work on gardening projects so he worked on this a bit one day last week. Next we are going to buy some grass seed and plant it.

These are the beginnings to the eventual sand/dirt pit. Solomon cleared the firewood stumps that had been thrown on top of the pile and had begun to grow (EVERYTHING grows here in Uganda!).

Lisa is going to help us build a nice wooden swing set out of telephone poles over Christmas break this year. She has an AMAZING swing set that she built herself so mine will be a miniature one and it will well be worth the wait. Plus, it will be fun building it ourselves!

Greenbeans - The Perfect Toy!

Want to get your child the perfect toy? Try a bag of greenbeans! I was snapping beans the other day and giving Ella the snapped parts and yucky, shriveled ones to play with. The child spent about 2 hours peeling, snapping, "cooking", and soaking the suckers out on the porch with her little stove set, some water and her dump truck (??).

So, if anyone would like to send Ella gift, a small bag of greenbeans would be perfect... :)

Ella's future looks pretty bright and, at this point, I'm suspecting that it will have something to do with produce. Some of her favorite things are hauling fresh produce around in a bag or playing with it on her porch. Maybe she'll be a produce delivery person, since she likes to include her dump truck, too.

More Wildlife! This time a…

Monitor Lizard! While I was filling up the swimming pool on Saturday I heard the neighbors dog over the wall barking, and barking, and barking, and barking, and, well you get the idea. Because I had seen the snake last Sunday I was curious at just what this dog was barking at, so I got Ella’s slide and pulled it over to the wall so I could peek over. This is what a saw!

A pretty large Monitor Lizard having a stand off with this guy

The lizard was hissing and every time the dog would get close the lizard would try to whap it with it’s tail. Pretty cool! Nice that it was in the neighbors compound and not ours this time! Although I’d rather have a Monitor Lizard in my compound rather than a cobra any day.

Chipmunchs and a carrot

Ella is growing up. She kicked off her weekend with a wild “movie night” on Friday. This fun and wild night involved staying up late (9pm), watching an exciting flick (Alvin and the Chipmunks), dancing (to the music on the movie), gorging on popcorn and drinking (some diluted Coke) with two of her best friends (her Mom and Bridger). I’m afraid we might have a real Wild Child on our hands! Needles to say, after all that excitement and liquids (had to counteract all the salt on her popcorn) she had to wear disposable diapers to bed!! Hee hee :) You know you’ve had a really wild night when that happens…

The whole idea of staying up late with Mom and watching a movie, then throw in the popcorn and Coke, really, really thrilled her. She finally got it into her head that we were watching Alvin and the Chipmunks, NOT penguins (???), and consequently has turned into a huge “chipmunch” fan. Either she really can’t pronounce ‘chipmunk’ or she saw them as a delectable food item… I’d prefer to think the former. She got so into the dancing, pretending that she was a “dancing chipmunch” that she started to fart. Oops! A little too much stimulation and popcorn I guess! Hopefully, for her sake, she outgrows that before she hits her twenties. Might be kind of hard to keep a date if she doesn’t… That is NOT the reason why I’m single by the way. Nope, she didn’t get it from me!

She kept digging around for the salt on the bottom of bowl, repeating to herself “I love salt”, then when the whole bowl was almost gone she looked at me and said, “I don’t like salt. Can I have some water?” That cracked me up :).

The fun continued Saturday, with a trip to the market. As Ella confidently strode through the venders with her little hat and bag, helping Mommy buy produce and fishies for the dogs, the Cucumber Lady (we always buy our cumbers from her) kindly gave L a free carrot to put in her bag, along with the cucumbers that she sold us. Now Ella was just thrilled to have a carrot to put into her bag (Ella enjoys the simple pleasures of life – like carrying cucumbers and a carrot around in a bag. You should try it) and I was touched at the ladies little act of kindness to my daughter, and ultimately to me. You can bet we’ll keep buying our cucumbers from her! I like the Carrot Lady too, because she remembers Ella’s name every week and even if we miss a week. Maybe she’ll pick up from the Cucumber Lady (they sit right quite close together) and give Ella a cucumber next week when we buy carrots from her! Anyways, the simple joys of buying vegetables at the market on Saturdays :). Usually I hate shopping but Ella’s free “cawwot” made all the difference…

Ella made it home from her shopping at the market in time to disperse ice cream to the neighbors, eat some of her own, then supervise the removal of furniture in our old flat, onto a huge, noisy truck. Two guys were also here building a little boda and bike cover between the two houses so she made sure that those two guys knew where she was going and when she got back. She loudly announced to them, as they were busily working away, “I’m going to the market!” Then when we got home she made it a point to go back and tell them, “I’m back from the market!” They laughed. It’s hard not to!

Blast from the past... Ella with my old Cabbage Patch doll, Elmer, in his cowboy pajamas. I think I got Elmer when I was four or five. The pajama bottoms that L is wearing were mine when I was three :)

This picture typifies my daughter. In constant motion dancing, even while laying on her back, with her trusty, big toothed hound at her side. I love Sanyu's teeth in this picture!

There is no doubt that this is my sister Becky's niece! The apple didn't fall far... :)

I think I got this picture just because Ella was SMILING a normal smile - not the wierd cheesy ones that she always pulls when I get the camera out. Note my old pajama bottoms :)

The Birthday Party

Ella’s amazing weekend continued on with a birthday party launched in our yard Saturday afternoon. This involved a fire in the fire pit, some water in the swimming pool, a soccer ball, some hotdogs and some friends and viola! It’s a party!

Harriet’s little daughter, Jackie, was celebrating her 7th birthday so Harriet and her two kids, a friend and her two little kids, plus two other teenagers came down from Kampala and we had the party in our yard. Lisa and her crew also came down, along with Samra’s friend, Becky. All together we were 8 kids 8 years old and under, two 13 year olds and six adults.
I love the laid back nature of Ugandan birthday parties. The focus is on being together, enjoying each other and celebrating life. And to eat!

Pool party (yes, there were some nude swimmers :)

Seven of the eight kids. Back row, L to R: Elijah (2.5), Ella (3.5), Jackie (7), Louisa (5.5)
Front row, L to R : Rachel (3.5), Maureen (3.5) and Jacob (8). The other Jacob (4) wasn’t cooperating so wasn’t in the picture.

My little party Chipmunch

The Birthday Girl and her cake. Jacob, Rachel and Ella are beside her

The whole crew (except Elijah) singing Happy Birthday

Eating cake

Jackie and Louise even gave Sanyu some cake!

Harriet, Samara, Becky and Lydia – Elijah and Louise’ mom. Note how Sanyu had strategically placed herself.

Where’s Lisa??

Hooray!! It's Friday!

Finally, it's Friday. I'm really ready for the weekend. I wrote a really interesting blog update for yesterday, then the computer closed down over night to load some updates and I lost it. So that really takes the blogging spirit right out of me. Oh well.

Yesterday Ella and I got the boda off the porch and warmed it up a bit by driving around the compound. L is quite the rider :) It ran fine after it had been warmed up a bit. It's been sitting for the last 5 months and I keep meaning to get it up and going so that I can be riding it to work everyday. Gas is SO expensive and the shorter distances in the car really eats it up. Mom figured it was about $6.00 a gallon here. Gulp. I try not to convert liters and Uganda shillings into gallons and dollars because it just depresses me and might actually encourage me to walk places. Heaven forbid! I rode the little boda to work today and it ran just fine. I love riding the boda - nothing like wind in your face... UNLESS the lake flies are out!

Plans for the weekend are a birthday party at my place for friend Harriet's daughter, Jackie, who is turning 7 years old. We are having a fire in the fire pit, roasting hotdogs and eating cake. Lisa and her four are coming, then Harriet, another adult and four kids. Should be fun. Ella and I are both ready to see our Kampala friends.

I think I got some serious cabin fever this week. I really can not wait until I get to take my furlough next year and take a break from life and work here. Not that it's bad, it's just, um, well, boring. Work, chat with work friends, go home, play with and be a slave to The Child and her doggie henchmen. Multiply this by 5 times every week. Weekends sometimes offer a bit of variety, at least Saturday. Sunday is church, again with work friends, then home so a tired and often cranky child can have a two hour nap. Most of the time I really like a predictable life and schedule, hanging with all my good buddies that I know, but other times, like this week, it drives me crazy!

Ella also seems to be becoming a bit spoiled. She's not a naughty or bratty child at all but she must have her mothers attention and be in the same proximity of her mom 100% of the time. If mom doesn't respond to her polite requests for "help" (basically "helping" her play) she responds with really pathetic whimpers, sobbing and tears. It's hard to know what to do. With her past, Ella is more needy then the average 3.5 year old, and yes, she does need lots of nurturing but when does the "nurturing" just turn into plain and simple spoiling? I don't know. Sigh. And it's starting to wear me out! Especially my poor old back.

I'm looking forward to the weekend though, and getting together with my Kampala friends. A bit of variety is always good :)

Beautician in the making!

This weekend I let lose with L's hair. The child was not safe anywhere - eating at the table, playing in the living room, etc. Mommy was there hovering over her hair telling her to "be still". Yah right, expect your three year old to sit perfectly still for hours on end while you yank at her hair? Funny thing is, she did! We watched a LOT of Davey and Goliath episodes while I fiddled with the kids hair while she watched, and played with little toys.

My first experiment was on Friday with dry hair. This is how it turned out. I started on the front, went half way back, then banded it and started from the bottom of her head, french braiding up the back of her head to meet the other braid. I think I ended up liking this method best because I just think snorks sprouting out of Ella's head are appropriate for her. I kind of like the "crazy" look, too.


Then Saturday I conditioned her head and started braiding it wet. Since I'd had the practice from the previous day, I was able to start at the front of her head and braid all the way back, which gave it a bit more tidy look.

My conclusion was that her hair is still to short for me to do this with yet. It had the "frizzy" look, even right after I'd finished it, and didn't stay in well at all. I really like the french braids though! My sisters and I wore two french braids a lot when we were little girls. For some reason seeing Ella in frizzy french braids reminded me of my oldest sister, Eva! Especially from the front. As her hair grows longer, I am able to braid better and they stay in longer, I think this will be Ella's new look :) Have to keep the tradition of french braids on little Halland girls!

"Are you done yet, Mom?"

And lastly - the cool new look when the braids come out!! (Complete with snot and milk on her face and her nightie slipping off her shoulder - a real Saturday morning look :)

Welcome Shorty!!!

Congratulations to my Mom who just got a new little puppy! Shorty Halland is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi - and a handsome one at that! Mom has wanted a Corgi for years and I am so happy that she finally got one! I do have to wonder though - seems she decided to get one after all of us kids left home and she doesn't have to share...


Shorty Halland
Shorty, receiving some important words of advice from "Grandpa Hank" - looks like he's really paying close attention!

Giving a kiss to Grandma Nola

Too stinking cute!! Congratulations Mom!!! Wish I was there to hog your puppy...

Wildlife/Nature

I had several encounters with Uganda wildlife on Sunday. In the morning on my way to church, after having accomplished the task of loading Ella up in the car, I realized that I was standing in a bunch of army ants. I carefully picked them off my feet and out of my shoes and surprisingly none bit me. Boy, they latch on and they won’t let go without drawing blood. If they latch on to a soft shoe you have to take their heads off to get them off! They just won’t let go!

After de-anting myself I checked L. She is allergic to ant bites and gets itchy welts all over, plus she screams bloody murder, so fortunately she made it out unscathed. I attribute that miracle to God of course, but also to her hard, slick, very Ugandan Sunday School shoes.

Well, the little devils had crawled into my shoes, latched on and only after I was in the middle of driving to church did they start to let go and start crawling around all over my feet. I’d stop the car and pick them off and this kept happening for the next ten minutes or so, even after I was safely in church! It’s just a good thing that I go to a Pentecostal church because I don’t think anyone even noticed my little ant dance :). Amazingly, I don’t think I ever actually got bit!

My second encounter with wildlife in the compound fortunately wasn’t as close as the ants making their home in my shoes. I was walking past the edge of my house (looking for ants actually) and if a black cobra didn’t just slither happily on by! Ack!! I was all by myself (the dogs had abandoned me and were sleeping in the neighbors house and Ella was snoozing in her bed), in my slippers without a weapon so by the time it took me to shriek at the neighbor Gift, him to come out in his flip flops and me to get my shoes on, the rascally snake was no were to be seen. We hunted around with a long pole and Sanyu, whom we used as snake bait, but to no avail.

Ella was quite disappointed to hear that she missed out on the snake sighting. I told her to stay away from snakes and to run away screaming if she saw one but I have my doubts… Both her and Sanyu would probably try to catch one, which is a scary thought. Where is the fearful little girl that I brought home 5 months ago?

Needless to say, it is not a comforting feeling to know that there is a poisonous snake slithering around one’s compound in which their daughter and dogs play. At least with rattle snakes they give you a good warning that they’re around, but these cobras have no way of warning you.


Six foot green cobra that was found in our yard last year :)

Team Building Activities (and other things!)

An undisclosed friend who lives in the country directly north of me sent me the following enjoyable and informative link - http://www.wikihow.com/Recycle-an-Old-T-Shirt-Into-a-Sexy-Bikini. Being model and exemplary missionaries, the two of us are always looking for more frugal ways to lead our lives. We are also always looking for ways to build unity and harmony amongst those of whom we live and work with.

Needless to say, after checking out this site my thoughts went wild over the weekend and visions of bikini clad Sudanese, a certain Spronkie friend and one of her neighbors in particular, began to dance through my head. As I communicated with this undisclosed friend over SMS our ideas really began to build and I believe we have a whole new plan for building unity and harmony amongst especially difficult colleagues in our organization.

I may start a fund drive to send t-shirts to needy missionaries in Sudan soon.

This actually looks like a pretty fun craft to do with Ella, too. Looks just like something that might help in “building the bonds of attachment” with a pre-schooler, don’t you think? Better find a couple of t-shirts and get my scissors out this week…

Baby Poof

Here's a shot of how big L's hair is getting! She reminds me of Einstien or one of the three stooges when her hair is like this. I had just taken it out of her snorks so it was really big and poofy. "Fuzzy hair" as she calls it.

Today I am going home and braiding it - it is finally long enough! I did a bit of "practice" on it last night while she was eating dinner. Poor kid - even meal times aren't safe when her mother gets that "look" in her eye... I have always loved fiddling with hair. I always took great care with my horse's mane and bridle path and was the family dog groomer. So now that I have no horse close by and my dogs are both short haired I have a daughter!! I'm really glad that God didn't give me a son :) Hair care would be really boring then!

My Little Cross Eyed Wonder!

This is a little "trick" that Ella does in the evenings when she's drinking her milk. The child is basically just a 3 foot clown without the red nose. She cracks me up! You can tell I don't get out much when a three year old crossing her eyes every night at dinner cracks me up every time...

With some careful coaching we are working on crossing our eyes on command without the help of the sippy cup to focus on. We really have high standards to live up to in our house!

Puppy Problems

Sanyu has been really annoying me lately. She simply doesn't have a clue and is starting to chew things - everything! Aren't puppies only supposed to chew? Oh wait, she is one! I seem to forget that she really is still just a pup because she is a hair taller than Bridger now, much fatter, and she has already gone through her "right of passage" into adulthood by being spayed.

Her last beating was over chewing the strap off of one of Ella's little shoes. I think I can fix it and Ella still wears the shoes but must we chew on shoes?? She also tore up a bathmat which left me pretty cranked. I am trying to keep the dogs OFF the furniture a bit more since they seem to have been getting out of hand and controling the house. They come charging in, jump on the couch and/or chair with thier muddy paws and several times I've found myself without a place to sit, IN MY OWN LIVINGROOM! Our home was quickly turning into a dog centered, dog focused household, which was getting old.


So now the pooches are learning to stay off the furniture in the mornings and afternoons. I let them up only in the evenings after L's gone to bed and after I've already staked out my spot.


Sanyu really is a great little dog though. Her and Ella play and play together and I don't really worry about Ella hurting her because she does know how to use her teeth! I've NEVER heard her growl once though, so I still have to remind L to respect her. I really don't know what the rest of us would do without Sanyu.



The one and only "Sanyu Baby"

Didi's World

Saturday I loaded Ella up in the car and we headed off to Kampala to meet our friends, Lisa and Harriet, and their kids. The nine of us went to an amusement park, Didi's World, and then afterwards went to Lisa's for a hot dog roast. We had a fun but tiring day celebrating Ella's five month anniversary of being home, one day early. It was also the anniversary of the emergency landing in the Idaho Sawtooth Mountains (believe me, they are called the Sawtooths for good reason!) in my sister's little Cessna 150 seven years ago (engine caught on fire). A lot sure has happened to both of us in the last seven years! I never would have believed that seven years later would find me in an amusement park in Uganda with my 3.5 year old daughter! How weird is that??!! Not exactly what I envisioned being a missionary would be like!

Ella, all ready to go in her protective sun gear. We wore matching outfits to help keep track of each other better :)

The crew: Harriet, Samara, Maureen, Jacob, Jacob, Rachel, Jackie, Ella and Lisa

Ella and Jackie on the motorbike ride

Lisa operating the motorbike ride :) There was no one around so why not?

Jackie and Ella on the swings

You can barely see L's little snorked head on the second from the last car. She's sitting in the back.

L in a tea cup

Roasting hot dogs in Lisa's back yard. We had such a hungry crew that we polished of 1 kilo of hot dogs!

Jackie, Jacob and Ella

Maureen, Rachel and Jacob

Washing Machine!!

Last Tuesday I got a new addition to my home - a washing machine! We have been using the one that was at the school for the last 7 months or so (before that Sarah did all the laundry by hand) and now that the school is selling out the neighbors and I went in together and bought it. Ella generates quite a bit of laundry and the neighbors are having a baby the end of September so we will get our money's worth out of it.

My house was chosen to house the new appliance since I have a nice big kitchen, and it fits perfectly!


Fits in perfect between Spike and the trash can - plenty of room for everyone!

It was about the easiest installation that I've ever been a part of. The neighbor, Gift, dealt with the plumber, Sarah and Ella babysat the plumber and when I took Ella over to a friends house to play Sarah stayed on until the job was finished. I had nothing to do with it except fork out some dough at the end! Now THAT is how I like to be involved in things like this :). I am learning how to enlist the help of others in order to make my life easier.

Baby Pictures :)

A friend from Australia who worked at the babies home where Ella spent the first three years of her life, sent me some baby pics of the little kiddo. Here are a few. What a darling, fat baby L was!

Ella at about 9 months old

Baby pictures of the little tyke leave me with mixed emotions - they are cute but they make me sad, too. She was a worried little baby and just needed her mom - NOT to be left there until she was three years old! Adopting a baby would scare the heck out of me but it sure would be better for the baby. I was NOT able to adopt a baby three years ago when L was this age and the Lord's timing really is perfect so I just need to trust in that. He really did take care of her while she was in the institution.