On the road

A couple of weekends ago, we went camping! Jaffa discovered that she loved it and Zeric learned that Zoey knows how to put up a tent. More on that in the next post. Just as exciting as the camping itself was the drive to and from the campsite. It was about 3 hours each way.. and the things that you see on the road are pretty impressive.

There were more.. and it really makes you wonder why truck companies don't use these as examples of how much their vehicles can carry, and how many decades they can be on the roads. On the way home, we played the game 'how many broken down cars/trucks on the road'. Any guesses how many we counted? 

52. No joke.

Something blue

Actually, there are a lot of blue things in our house, and now.. even more: Eben's hair!

Don't worry, it comes out in 40 washes ;)

Here were my instructions about where to apply.

The Brent Birckhead Quartet

 The US Embassy organized a jazz group to come to Kin, and it was a hit! Jaffa and Zeric went for the performance and loved it. Our piano teacher Tyson, who is an accomplished jazz pianist on his own right, went to a number of their workshops and said that they were incredible--and they learned so much from each other. They wove a message of non-violence through their music which they brought from the US and was (according to Tyson) so appropriate for DRC. Every little bit of inspiration helps!

Welcome to Afrera

In 5th grade this trimester, the students had to create their own country - everything about it!

The government, the constitution, the map (including GPS coordinates), the flag, the anthem, the climate description, a brochure.. and then they set up in the big hall and parents and other classes came to hear all about it.

Welcome to Afrera. A constitutional monarchy with Emma Watson as the queen.

It is an island located between England and France.

a map of the capital city

Afrera even has a mascot!

She did a great job with all of the work pulling it together, and presenting! 

You can ask her to to sing you the anthem :)

Oh - and the national food is doughnuts, so I surprised Jaffa and brought some for her to share with her class.. 

good Mommy points!

Seder

We had one! Much like Rosh Hashanah, we were days late because of political stuff, but we still had one! The highlight for me was how well the kids read from the haggadah :)

Zeric's lamb was a hit (of course), and the desserts: flourless chocolate cake, almond meringues, and flan. It was a very lovely evening with friends!

Side note: Earlier that week, because we had begun eating our matzoh, I tortured the family with spinach lasagna.. and talked constantly about what was chametz (leavened). Zeric ignored me, Eben got a guilty look on his face, but Jaffa was into it! She was so into it that when we went to a neighbor's house, she looked at me when she was *just about* to eat a chocolate chip cookie, and said, "oh no, it's chametz!" I told her it didn't count if it was outside of our house ;) Right?!

Dogs Don't Do Ballet!

There is always something going on at TASOK, and just after the Wizard of Oz came the talent show!

Jaffa decided to read a book: Dogs Don't do Ballet, and thanks to her awesome music teacher, Mr Nick, it was projected on the big screen as she read. She did a super terrific job with her pace and all of the voices of the different characters.. and when the sad part came, the whole audience was sad. 

And then.. the happy ending! 

Great job, Jaffa!!

Easter celebration

Our friend Jen organizes the best kid parties for the holidays!

This time, Easter! 

(I guess I could have offered to bring chocolate covered matzoh for Passover, 

but it didn't even occur to me until just now.)

A bunch of us showed up for the easter egg hunt and crafts and food.. it was really hot but fun!

(And Eben was with us, just hanging out with the cool guys somewhere 

eating all the candy they found in the eggs.. 

I guess that's what you do when you're a 9 year old dude.)