Moving again

Two years is too short of a time to live somewhere. 

It felt like we had just gotten settled and into a groove, and we were putting our stuff into boxes again

(with five newfound packer friends, for FIVE days).

Blu decided he was just gonna stay out of the way.. which was a good choice.

Wish I could have done that.

He did get one more snuggle on his bed before it got packed.

Books for the EAGLE school

Maybe you'll remember my post back in March about the Girl Scout visit to the EAGLE school.

 During that time, Jaffa met Larissa and was asking her all kinds of questions about what she liked, 

including what she liked to read outside of school. Larissa answered that she didn't have books at

 home, so she read the bible and her school books. 

Jaffa decided that she wanted to do a book drive for the school, so that the girls would have more of a

 library. Over the next months, she collected books from friends and from the French school. We then

 fixed the books that needed some TLC, and a few days before we left Kinshasa, Jaffa delivered her 

five boxes of books to the Kimpangi elementary and middle schools.

She gave a speech (in French) about how she got the idea, 

and how she hoped to inspire them to love reading like she does. 

Jaffa and Larissa

Giving out books for everyone to read, for a little while.. 

All the girls together!

Reading to preschool buddies

Combining her love of reading and her love of little kids, here's Jaffa on 'buddy day'.

Not surprisingly, cupcakes appeared at the next Buddy Day!

Cupcakes!

The creativity does not stop with the glue gun! 

Jaffa is in the kitchen now, and making cupcakes for her friends at school.

Moving up to Middle School!

Hard to believe that 5th grade is over, and next year is Middle School for Jaffa!

TASOK had a nice Moving Up ceremony for the 5th graders, complete with advice from their teachers and principal,

 and some singing and speeches from some classmates.

Outdoor Leadership Club

TASOK's Outdoor Leadership Club hosted their second camping night, and alumni were invited.. 

so off we went to eat camp food, roast marshmallows, and sleep on the school campus. 

Some of us needed our creature comforts.. 

..but didn't think about who else would be interested in Harry Potter!

Jewish deli

Jaffa is becoming the master crafter, and so--in anticipation of our trip to Zabar's--we decided to make a Jewish deli counter. See inside: hamentashen, fried eggs, lox, challah, a baked chicken, sliced challah.. so many yummy things!! Jaffa used sculpy and make her own salt dough for all of this. She's awesome!!