A Day Off

Last week we had a break from school so we took advantage by doing nothing at all. We had originally planned to go down to Omo for our break, but our car ended up not coming in time so we weren't able to go. Instead, Caleb spent most of the week clearing our car from customs (successfully!--pictures to follow) and we took a day to go to an insanely fancy hotel here in Addis to swim for the day. It was a perfect day. We went into it thinking our kids wouldn't last more than an hour or two, but it was after a full day that we finally bribed them out of the pool with a promise of ice cream. (Bribes work--especially of the sweet variety. Don't judge, you know you've done it, too.) Here's a picture of the four of us enjoying the Addis sunshine and the warm water:

A Baby Named Joanna

recently found out from Donna, Caleb's mom, that one of the babies I helped deliver while I was down at Omo in January was named Joanna. Well, to say I helped 'deliver' this baby is a tad inflated. It's more like I crouched in the dimly lit hut and watched while Donna and a local midwife wrestled this first-time mom into a position suitable for a safe delivery (this lady was being uncharacteristically resistant to the process over-taking her body), and I simply happened to catch the squirmy, slippery little girl who made her debut into the Daasanech world. I'm sure her eyes were blinded by glaringly white face peering into her little face the moments after she was born, but since the mom was 'angry' at this little being who caused her so much pain and refused to hold her, I was the one to clean her up, cut her cord, and whisper to her those sweet nothings that you can only say to a brand new babe.
Naming babies after the Swart family has been a long tradition among the Daasanech, there are more than a few "Donnies", "Rays" (for Caleb's grandfather Giles), "Shelahs" and "Leahs" (Caleb's sisters), and "Calebs" running around up and down the Omo River. I'm sure it won't be long before we hear of little "Elsas" and "Ezras" running around, too.
I suppose if we accomplish nothing else by living among the Daasanech, at least we can say we've added pages to their "What Shall We Name the Baby?" book.

Happy 2nd birthday, Elsa!

Birthday party for Elsa

Daddy's Handiwork-- a barbie birthday cake for Elsa!

Ez enjoying the barbie cake

More please!

Happy Birthday Elsa -- a new tricycle from Grandma and Papa!

Menegasha Forest

We had the chance this last weekend to get out of the city and take a picnic to Menegasha Forest. We ate lunch by a little stream, hiked to a waterfall, and had a really good day just breathing free from the city. We could feel ourselves relaxing the further we drove away from Addis Ababa. The kids had a great time, Caleb caught a tadpole for them and they entertained themselves for a good 20 minutes grabbing it back and forth from each other. Ezra has definitely developed a mind of his own the past month and doesn't like to settle for not getting what he wants, which was the tadpole in this case. He lost his privileges for getting to play with it, though, when he tried to eat it.
All in all, a great way to spend a Sunday.