Africa Update- Pics to follow

Thursday morning we got up early. We had an egg and toast breakfast in the lodge with hot tea and passion fruit juice. We sat out in the veranda area and watched the sunrise. It was beautiful. We then drove out to Queen Elizabeth Park to Kyambura Gorge to go Chimp Tracking. We drove out and meet our guide and gun man for the hike into the gorge. Yes, we had a gunman to protect us from any animals that may harm us like hippos, lions, hyenas or others. In the gorge is a beautiful forest with a river that runs through the gorge. In the gorge is a small group, about 30, of Chimps. We saw red-tailed monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys. I didn’t get a picture of them because they hide when they hear any disturbance. The Chimps actually eat them at times. We walked and hiked and walked and hiked for about two hours. We also had to cross the river several times twice on bridges and twice across a log that feel over the river. For about an hour we followed the trail of the Chimps. We finally found them. They were in a heavily wooded area so we didn’t get a great view of them but we did still got to see Chimps in the wild. We also saw some hippos and tracks from elephants and hyenas. What was amazing to me was two hours into the trek our guide stopped and started looking around he them looked at us and said he could feel their smell, five minutes later we saw the first Chimp.

Later that day we went back to the park and took a boat ride between lake George and Lake Edward. There is a natural channel between the two lakes that has a guided boat tour through it. We got to see LOTS of hippos and water buffalos. We also got to see some crocodiles, an elephant, a hyena, and lots of different kids of birds.

The next morning we got up early again and headed out for our game drive. We left early so we would have a better chance of seeing some lions. We did get to see two lioness and three cubs, warthogs, different types of deer and antelope, crested cranes and of course a lot more water buffaloes. We stopped at the Equator and got some pics then headed back to our lodge, packed up and drove to Ft. Portal.

Nolan's One Year Pictures

The other morning Nolan and I meet Kristin Mathis at Aldridge Garden's for Nolan's 1 year pics. Kristin did a great job and her prices are awesome. She also makes glass art/jewelry, check her out she's actually been on HGTV. Well here a FEW of the pictures she did.

Here is his new face. He does this with a whine when he doesn't like what's going on but he's really not that upset. While doing it he also blows very large spit bubbles.

This is him with his lovey. It's a frog. This is the frogs butt.

He does not like the way grass feels. Whenever we put him down in the grass he always holds up his right foot. I think it's funny.

Up all night..... seriously???

Ok, when I took this job staying up all night was not something I expected to be part of my job. Here I am though sitting at the church with some other parents and about 25 kids and we're supposed to stay up ALL night. I haven't done that in about 15 years!!! I'm so tired.... and it's not even 9:30 yet. Oh yeah and in less then 72 hours and Andrew and I will be boarding a plane to begin our journey to see Julie. We are leaving the boys for 12 days with Andrew's mom (please pray for her) to see Julie and see what she has been doing the past year. We're also going to get a chance to meet some of the other missionaries in Uganda, go on a Safari and white-water rafting on the Nile (please pray for me).

We are both excited about going but I know I'm going to miss the boys sooo much. I know they are going to change when we're gone.

So here I am just hours from having to experience jet-lag and about 24 hours of traveling staying up all night. I don't think I'm going to make it!

A dreamy weekend.....

I'm late on this post.  It's been three weekends ago that I experienced one of those weekends I have been dreaming of.  No, Andrew did not fly me off to Paris, or even to the beach for the weekend.  I did not get to sleep in till 9 or even 8.  I didn't even get to spend a quiet relaxing weekend at a spa.  So what dream was fulfilled?  Andrew had to work the weekend and his mom volunteered to take Ty for 4 days.  That's right I had FOUR days with one child.  The child that sleeps 11 hours straight at night and a total of 3-4 hours during the day.  

Is it sad that this is a dream of mine?  Probably, but I was able to get an amazing 8 hours of sleep each night for 3 nights straight and still have 6-7 hours of ME time.  I am proud to say that I DID NOT pick up a broom, mop, or sponge the whole weekend.  I spent the weekend working on projects for the house.

I starting working on these for the dinning room.  They didn't get finished till midnight the night before Nolan's party but they are done!

I also finally got pictures hung.  This is the family gallery in the living room.

I got two selves painted and hung.

I painted these monogramed canvases for the boy's room

I found this at a yard sale about a month ago.  You can't tell by the pic but it is actually 4 feet in diameter.  I gave it a few coats of black paint and we finally got it hung in the dinning room.

I also made this wreath (thank you Ashley for the inspiration).  I had been wanting something pretty for the front door.  Now I just need a nice front door to go with the wreath.

And...... This is what Nolan spent his weekend doing.

Nolan turns ONE!!!

Yesterday was Nolan's first birthday.  I can't believe it's already been a year.  It's gone by so quickly but I have a hard time remembering him as the tiny newborn baby we brought home from the hospital.  He has changed so much but he continues to be such a great baby and toddler.  We had a wonderful time today celebrating his first year of life.  

Friday at lunch we celebrated with cupcakes! 

I LOVE making birthday cakes for my family and I think this is my favorite so far.  I went with a fish theme for Nolan's party.  Jamie from work printed some GREAT invitations for us.  They are on her website.

So the cake.....  The fish came off and it was Nolan's smash cake.  The bubbles were marshmallows, which I had to put on the cake twice because Ty ate them off the first time.  And it tasted good!  Strawberry cake, chocolate ganache icing in the middle and buttercream icing on top. Yummy!!!

Nolan digging into his cake.

Do you want some?

What a mess.  Luckily he didn't get any in his hair.

Present time!  What's in here?

He still looks so little to me even though he is quickly becoming a toddler.  He is our little peanut.  He is growing and putting on weigh, which is an answered prayer, but he is still only about the size of the 5-6 month olds we go to church with.  We go for a check-up on Tuesday so we'll see what the doctor says.

We also went to a Barons game, local minor league team, tonight with some people from church.  We left early because it's been a busy day and the boys were exhausted but we enjoyed the game while we were there.

Tyler and Tatum entertaining Nolan.

And this is Ashlyn.  If three year old boys had girlfriends she is Ty's.  She was being shy tonight.