Ella is two!

Aki and I have grown up with Ella since coming home to our forever family.  And, today was Ella's second birthday party.  Her parents went all out with a big shin dig.  There was food and toys and swimming and a big bounce house.  I was mostly interested in the food and the toys.  I spent a lot of time with Auntie Aleks....she is one of my most favorite grown ups to spend time with. 

It was such a big party and lots of our friends were there, which was nice since we will all be going our separate ways soon.  I'm sad I won't be growing up with all these fun faces surrounding me, but I'm so glad that they have been a part of my very early years of life.  Thanks for making it all soooo much fun!  I'll miss you guys (even though I might not know it).

Family!

One of the coolest things about belonging to a family through adoption is that you get to have soooo many people who are your family.  There are lots more people to love you.  I'm super lucky because I come from a biological family that loves me very much and wants the best thing for me.  They want to know me and be a part of my family, they are just not able to be with me every day.  So, I have a fabulous biological family.

And, I have my forever family that I get to live with....Mommy and Akira!  Mommy has a biological family that loves me very much too, so I also get to have grandparents and great aunts and uncles and even a great grandmother....along with an aunt and an uncle and cousins, and even cousins who live all the way in Norway, and they all love me!  Can you imagine! 

But, it doesn't stop there.  I also get to be a part of Akira's biological family.  Aki has two biological brothers, Arnold and David.  They are also a big part of our family even though they don't live with us on a daily basis. Still we get to hang out and play and they are the coolest boys ever!  They always include me and treat me just like I'm their little sister.  How lucky am I?  Today we went for lunch swimming at the Kigongoni Lodge with Arnold and David and then after we came back for some snacks and movies at our house.  We had so much fun! 

Cradle of Love

We went out to Cradle of Love to visit the babies today.  Mommy forgot her camera!  It's too bad too because Akira and I played and played with the kids today.  They were all outside on the playground and we had a fun time out there with them.  Mommy wanted to visit the babies....two in paticular.  She wanted to check in and see how Rachel is doing.  Rachel is the baby who we took to Dar with us to get her HIV test done.  The results are not back yet...so we are waiting and hoping that she will have a chance at a good future.  Though, on a side note...Musa, an HIV+ baby at CoL is on ARVs and is looking so healthy and great these days.  Mommy was so happy to see how great he looked today.  Rachel is also doing well and growing strong. 

We also wanted to see Kevin.  Mommy's friend Meredith adopted Kevin's biological sister, Addison and they now live in the States.  Kevin is a bit sick and being taken to the hospial tomorrow morning by the nurse at Cradle of Love.  She sees that he is struggling but she is not sure what it is.  Today she told Mommy that Kevin's biological mom breastfed him for 3 months before bringing him to the orphanage, even though she knew she was HIV+.  This HIV disease is really ravaging this country.  Both Akira and I are so lucky to be HIV free.  But, there are so many other babies who are not so lucky.  Mommy gets so mad sometimes...especially at North America and Europe who have now cassified HIV/AIDS as chronic rather than terminal.  She rages on about how it might be chronic in the States, but its terminal here and if they choose to classify it as chronic and therefore base immigration policy and funding policies on this classification, they should put their money where their mouth is to make it a chronic rather than terminal disease in Africa.  Anyway....Here is Kevin.  He is a sweet little boy, but he did seem quite sick today.  I really hope he'll be fine and one of these days I'll get to play with him.

It was also fun to see Prince....Aki's good friend.  The rumor is that a family has been found for Prince.  We sure hope that's true. 

Thanks for letting us visit today guys...we'll come back soon (and Mommy will bring the camera, I'll remind her next time).

Tree Climbing Lions

Myth or real?  We were determined to find out....but once again, no lions in trees appeared to us.  It is written in all the guidebooks, but no one I know has ever seen one.  EXCEPT....my biological Dad.  He used to work in the national parks many many years ago and he insists that he saw tree climbing lions when he was working in Lake Mynara.  I don't know...but they weren't climbing any trees yesterday! 

Oh well, we still had fun seeing all the animals on the ground....and swimming and visiting our friend Ashley.  We were sooo impressed with her art gallery, cafe and farm.  And, I have to say, that the vegetable soup there is to die for.  Mommy kept telling Ashley that it was the biggest bowl of soup she had ever seen and we would need to take it with....but I knew that wouldn't be necessary....I finished every last drop!  Yum!!!!

My thotful spot

Akira has been reading a Winnie the Pooh book obssesively (or I should say, Priya got Aki a Winne the Pooh book for Christmas which Aki is making Mommy read to him several times a day).  In the book there is much talk of Pooh's thotful spot.  The place where a bear of very little brains goes to think. 

I am a little girl of enormous brilliance and sassiness......and I too have a thotful spot.  Some call it Twiga's dog bed....but, I call it Clara Shei's thotful spot.  I view the world (or at least my world) from the vantage point of my spot and do an amazing amount of thinking.  Sure, I can't speak yet, to endow upon the world all my brilliance, but don't worry....I'm Buddha under the Bodhi tree, I'm Pooh in his thotful spot.

WHERE IS MY HONEY POT???

It's Gogo's Birthday!

Today was quite a day.  My Uncle Gogo had a birthday today.  We made a card and a cake and celebrated.  We are going to take him to Karatu on Safari for his birthday but not till the end of the week.  So, today we had a low key celebration. 

Mommy and Aki and I made a special card for Uncle Gogo.  Then, we all made a cake.  Well, Mommy put the ingrediants in and did some mixing, Akira did the heavy mixing with Uncle Gogo's help, and I....well, I read the important information on the sugar box, and made a very serious inspection of it. 

Then, we all did what Mommy says is the most important part of the baking process.....the taste test!  I LOVE that part!

We took Uncle Gogo to dinner....chinese which is his favorite.  He rarely gets to go to Chinese as Mommy doesn't really like Chinese that much, and the Chinese restaurant here in Arusha is infested with mosquitos.  We slathered ourselves with repellant before we headed out. 

When we got home we made sure to sing happy birthday to Uncle Gogo and then to all have a bite of cake.  Then, it was time for teeth brushing, PJ's, bedtime books and prayers.  And, so the day ended.....but we love you very much all year long Uncle Gogo.  Happy Birthday!

Aki's Brothers

Arnold and David came to visit us today.  Arnold is 8 and David is 6 and they are his half brothers by their mom.  They are two really nice boys who live only about 15 minutes away in Tengeru.  I like it when they come because even though they are much older they play with Aki and I and are really good at even including me in their games even though I am only one and not even really their little sister. 

Today we watched Cinderella (their choice, not mine....but I sure did love those dancing mice and that mean old cat Lucifer), we played with all our toys and we went out to pizza for lunch with the family.  I heard them all playing outside during my nap time, but they wouldn't let me play....Mommy thought my nap was most important....I did NOT agree.

I was sad when we had to say goodbye to Arnold and David and I hope we'll see them again very soon.  I really like them!