BelliSafari: December 2019: Gio turns 11 & Christmas in Italy

I am far far behind (it is Jan 17th as I write this). Internet troubles in Italy and general procrastination are to blame. So without further ado....December....

Two old fellas hanging out at Karura.

Gioia and her best friend Pepper.

(Somewhat) patiently waiting for me to throw the ball.

He might be a senior but his monkey chasing obsession is still strong!

The only holiday card we managed this year. Sadly Paolo was traveling so not complete.

In early December we had a crazy evening storm that caused havoc all around Nairobi. A rainy season that is supposed to end in November continued all month and caused all sorts of troubles.

Napping/Netflix together on a stormy evening.

A flooded Karura Forest created great fun for the dogs (and as of Jan 17th it still looks like this!)

A surprise birthday party for me from my morning Karura Forest gang (complete with a forest crown!)...

...and a frame of all of our dogs!

The gang. We had a young boy take the photo so sadly our dear friend Alyx got cut out (you can just see the edge of her cap on the right).

Maria's first coed slumber party. (I am still waiting to go to one myself!)

The morning after!

Maria's sweet class.

Maria is working so hard on her reading!

And then two days after my birthday came Gio's. He is 11!!
We had to delay his party until January due to all of the heavy rains in December. So look for next month's blog about white water rafting!

It never stops...

My dear friend Amanda (of Karura Park gang) arranged for an afternoon lunch and matinee of The Nutcracker. She even made this crown for Maria. Maria loved every minute of the ballet (well she passed out of the last 10 minutes thanks to that slumber party two nights before!)

Maria colored Amanda's hair just before the performance.

Brother love.

Since we had to postpone Gio's birthday camping and rafting trip we had the boys over for the day and a movie.

While the big kids watched the movie Maria and her friend Sammy (big brother is one of Gio's best friends) spent time with me.

Actual blue sky!

Just before the winter holidays started the ES cast of the all-school musical performed at assembly. Gio is in the green shirt pushing a swing on the right.

"Were you actually thinking of going somewhere without me?"

Many mornings Cinnamon calls to us from the roof to bring him breakfast. Of course we obey.

I am the room parent for both children so on Dec 19th I organized two parties. I needed a holiday after that!

And so our holidays began. School finished on Dec 20th and we caught the 11PM flight to Germany and then on to Italy.

Car ride from airport to our home in Carpineti.

With our arrival on Dec 21st we had a LOT to do to prepare for Christmas. I was so busy that I took very few photos. We bought a tree, decorated it and made 100s of cookies all in the first two days.