A visit from Kenya, the first days

We hadn't even said goodbye to the cousins when we welcomed Dexter's parents from Kenya.  Since this was their first trip on a plane and out of Kenya, we were all a bit anxious that all would go smoothly -- the layover in Amsterdam, customs in the US, and luggage arriving with them, etc.  Never did we think the pick up would be the challenge.  Thankfully, all the harrowing pieces did go smoothly, but Dexter ran around the airport a bit trying to find them - starting in the wrong terminal, parking what felt like miles away from the right one, and then not being able to find them! I even called the airline just to make sure they actually got on the plane in Amsterdam.  After a few more laps, Dexter finally found them.  Phew.

They started out their visit by meeting my brother's six kids and having a quick reconnect with my parents.  After an impromptu dinner we were on our way, since Dexter had to work the next day.

The last time we had seen Dexter's parents was right before we left Kenya in 2012.  Kyalo was 11 months:

To say we were over due for a visit is an understatement.  To have them in our house in Maine was so special, and truly, a gift.

I don't think we were back in our house five minutes before Kyalo was playing (forcing?) baseball with his grandparents.

He will love them forever just for that!

The first days of their visit were pretty low-key because of Dexter working, and them recovering from jet lag.  We spent a lot of time in the backyard, relaxing, playing baseball, and hanging out.

Kyalo had 6 weeks of T-Ball, so we got to take Buda & Shosho to a couple games.  He was, of course, ecstatic to have them there.  And I managed to capture this sweet, impromptu moment when we left:

This is one of my favorite moments from the whole trip.

Meanwhile, Dr Kim had long been on a hunt for a goat for us, and found it just in time for us to have a bit of a goat roast, Kenyan style, while Dexter's parents were here.  So Dexter and his parents dashed off to Portland to pick up the goat.

twinsies!

It was a tad more goat than we were prepared for -- and there's still quite a bit in our freezer, so come on over if you have a hankering for some goat :) -- and Dexter was feeling a bit stressed about cooking it in a way that would be enjoyable for everyone.  He found an interesting marinade for it which he opted to do in the oven, and was going to grill some ribs.  10 minutes before everyone was set to arrive, Dexter ran in in a panic: we were out of gas!  Off he dashed to get more, and made it back just in time. Crisis averted!

Kyalo enjoyed helping his Shosho cut the sukuma wiki (kale or collard greens) for the party:

He does love to be a helper!

There was plenty of food, Dr Kim and his family and Aaron and Gayle and their kids, and Matthew and Angie all came.  This was a nice, low-key way  for everyone to meet the parents, without the pressure or stress of a restaurant.  Plus, Kyalo & Lucas played baseball most of the night with Mac Kim who is 17.  I say he's hired!

As usual, I didn't get too many pictures of the actual gathering. I should have tried for a group shot!  

Buda, looking like royalty

It was an intense game, even if Kyalo was Shoeless Joe!

All in all, it was a wonderful evening, with good food, friends and conversation!  

On that Sunday is when we had Malaikah dedicated and had lunch with my parents.  Already, that seems ages ago! It was so special to me that all the grandparents could be a part of such a sweet time in Malaikah's life.

Monday the weather was lousy, and Kyalo was going to his school for the last day, so we dashed off to Target to do some shopping!  Since we live an hour or so from the nearest Target it was just as much a treat for me as it was for Dexter's parents.  It is probably a good thing we don't live to close.

The weather on Tuesday was also not that great, and I was afraid that plans would again be foiled.  Instead, we decided to brave the darkening clouds and just hope they were more bark than bite.  We headed to Portland to go to the Narrow Gauge Museum, which is a small (very small!) museum marking the history of the narrow gauge trains in Maine.  Dexter's dad worked for Kenya Railways, so we thought he would enjoy it.  And we knew Kyalo would like the short train ride, too.  The cloudy weather meant we didn't have a great view of the ocean, but otherwise, it was a fun day!

 Kyalo got to ring the bell!

 love

I think she liked it.

After the museum we walked around for a bit and then got lunch.  The rain didn't slow us down, and we got to show off a bit more of the state of Maine.

If someone can help me understand what's going on with Kyalo in these pictures, I'd be grateful.

All in all, the first few days were off to a great start!

cousins adventures: all dressed up

I really need to wrap these stories up...there's so much still to get to, after all!

Two years ago, Adam came out to MA with the four oldest kids.  I got this picture:

I was hoping to recreate it, just to show how the kids had grown/changed.  Unfortunately, having 7 kids in the mix this time around, and my parents rushing off to usher at church, made it a little harder to make happen.  So we scratched the grandparents.

We started with a small contingent.  I love Vera's face here.  

There they all are!  I'd say they've change a lot!

After church, I grabbed everyone again, and got some more...

I have no idea what Kyalo & Vera are looking at, but it was fascinating!

So, everyone cleaned up nicely, and everyone survived Adam & Noelle's trip to Paris.  A win all around!  Too bad I never thought to get myself in the pictures.

Here's hoping it isn't another year till we're all together again.

cousin adventures, pt 2

Spending time with the cousins is just about Kyalo's favorite thing in the world.  I think I hadn't even gotten Malaikah out of the car after we got to Essex for our visit and he was already playing a game of baseball with the older cousins.

This week back and forth to Essex is one of my favorites of the summer because it is just so sweet to see him playing and enjoying the time he has with them.  We never did anything remarkable -- though there was a Red Sox game and a trip to the Boston Aquarium in there -- but I think that's what makes it so special. Slow (slow!) summer days.

The other thing I liked is that the 'littles' (Vivienne, 5, and Vera, 3, and Kyalo) were usually the earliest risers, and so they'd spend time playing together before the others woke up.

Here are some of the things they did. . .

 improvising on a catcher's mask

morning chats with Vera

impromptu ring-around-the-rosy

The days were filled with:

 badminton

 look at that action shot!

 bike ride/races

 I don't even know what's going on in this picture, but they spent a long time tucked into that little niche there chatting

many, many wagon rides

 how many cousins can you fit on the hammock?  a lot, apparently, but it did come crashing down at some point

Needless to say, the yard was well used while we were all there!  Not pictured? The fort that they created in the tall marsh grass at the edge of the yard.  Also, the sword fights with said marsh grass.  

To me, this makes for a magical summer -- games, family, ice cream, etc.  I keep reading about kids spending 6, 7, 8 hours of time on some type of gadget per day, and so it makes me so, so grateful for this time, these memories, this childhood these kids are having.

A few other shots...

 California lemons gracing my mom's counter

 most of the cousins.  We lost Abby to the The Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers.  Can't say I blame her!  Check it out if you haven't read it.

Everyone wants to be read to by Grandma!  Her favorite place to be, surrounded by the grandkids.

It is safe to say that we were all glad to keep everyone in one piece the week Adam & Noelle were relaxing in Paris.  I'm so glad we all had this summer we did.

Amazingly, I do have a few more pictures to share -- the ones where everyone's all cleaned up (and out of PJs!).

cousin adventures, pt 1

We kicked off the summer craziness with a visit from my brother, Adam, and his family here in South Paris.  They were bringing all six kids to the east coast for the first time, and were eager to see this little town we call home, naturally.

I had high hopes of taking them to Kyalo's T-Ball practice so they would get to see Kyalo in action, and perhaps Jack & Campion, big baseball players themselves, could help out.  Of course, it was pouring rain at practice time.

We were able to get a couple of quick, impromptu family photos.  Adam and Noelle were heading off to the real Paris the next day, so it would be our only time to be all together.

do you know how hard it is to get this many people -- and this many kids -- looking at the camera and smiling simultaneously? 

Adam and his beautiful family

For their visit, I put my ice-cream maker to the test, and made salted caramel and my favorite, mint chocolate chip {pro tip: use mint extract, not peppermint extract, and skip the food coloring :) }.  The kids seemed pleased with this arrangement.  And Kyalo was in his happy place -- ice cream cone in hand, surrounded by cousins.

After taking Adam & Noelle down to the dental clinic to see Dexter in action, everyone piled into the 15-passenger van and headed back to Essex.  Kyalo, Malaikah & I drove down Wednesday morning to hang out/help my parents with all the craziness.  We would have stayed more, but had to be back in time for T Ball practice on Friday.  Priorities!!  

Part 2 of these adventures coming soon, ish....