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.

Gioia's breeder is on right.  This was her holiday card to us.  Gioia's mother and father are the two on the left looking ahead. 

Christmas Eve table ready!

Guess who always gets the turkey leg?

Dancing!

A visit with dear Marina.

Visiting our local pizzeria.

New Year's Eve dancing led by Maria.

I will hopefully be faster with the January blog!  
Happy 2020 to all of you.

Love, Clara

November 2019: Masai Mara & Gio's Stage Debut!

The highlights of this month were a trip to Masai Mara, Maria mastering a two-wheeler and Gio's stage debut....

With what seems to be an endless rainy season, Gioia discovered mud.

Back in South Africa Alaska's first litter of puppies went home to their puppy raisers.  

Bruno has found a new source of shade.

We did a neighborhood trick-or-treat (a few days after Halloween). We had American candy so we were quite popular!

I finally managed to get Gio's hair cut...after school on the day he had class pictures taken, of course.

What happens at our house if you try to take a nap during the day.

Music recital time.  Gio's first time playing the piano for an audience.

Since Paolo missed the recital Gio kindly taught Paolo his piece that evening.

Swim gala morning with her favorite coach.

Maria's turn for a haircut.

When you are a giant puppy with a lazy streak....

After hours chasing monkeys at Karura this is as much energy Jagger & Gioia can muster for evening play.

We spent a morning at school learning about Gio's art and music programs (Maria had her day earlier in the week).  In art Gio's taught us how to sew.  He was so patient with Paolo!

5th grade band presentation!

ISK had a Friday off from school so we took the opportunity for our first Kenyan safari- we flew to Masai Mara for an amazing weekend in the bush!

Naptime.

Swimming not advised.

Lion pride

Baby hippo!

Baby elephant!

Hyena lounging in the mud (reminded me of Gioia!).

The famous "5 brothers" of Masai Mara.  They are not actually believed to be brothers but somehow these 5 males joined together a few years ago and have remained together.

Gio's happiest moment of the safari....

And what was Maria doing during the leopard sighting?? (Luckily we saw another leopard and her baby the next day!)

Hyena mama.

We watched these lionesses for a while as they hunted.  They were not successful- sort of a relief for me!

Gio was our co-pilot flying home!

Back in Nairobi with our own "wild" animal....

...who has discovered the joys of digging.

Nairobi is indeed a dangerous place to live....

Paolo and I headed out for a dinner with friends a few nights ago.  The children wanted to be left without a sitter.  Since our driver lives on our property with his family and we have a guard at night we decided to give Gio the chance to be in charge.  We told him they both had to be in bed by 8PM.  We found this note on our bed when we got home...

Maria mastered her bike after much work that she and Paolo did together.  She is so proud of herself!

Gio spend the final weekend of November celebrating his best friend's 11th birthday with a camping sleepover and paintball.

Two of Gio's musical numbers in an all-school review of Broadway hits.... See if you can spot him!