Valentine's Day of Races

Rain, thunder, and lightning postponed our Valentine's Day of Races this year, but the next night was perfect and the races were on!  This year we had more kids and less adults, meaning we had more chaos and less organization, but fun was had by all.

I feel like every event like this has to include an egg race.  It's perhaps the most classic relay race ever.

This was a fun and simple race.  Carrying soccer balls on top of upside-down cones and running.  Even the little kids could handle this one.

But this was my favorite event of the night.  Beach balls smushed between foreheads and running awkwardly down and back.  It was hilarious!

We ran out of time for all the stuff I had planned because the sun sets early here, year-round.  That's what happens when you live on the equator.  But we squeezed in a balloon race, water balloon toss, and the fan favorite: the wheelbarrow race!

Some of the kids have already asked if we're doing this every week.  I had to say no, but it was gratifying to know how much fun they had.  And as always, I give props to all the adults in this world who participate in stuff like relay races!  It reminds us of the joy and freedom of childhood, and gives the gift of fun memories to our kids.

The River

One of our favorite places is the river behind our compound.  It's a creek in the dry season (like now) and a raging river in the rainy season.  It runs through a forested area and has much to explore and enjoy.

The boys' imaginations run wild whenever we're there.  Many a dinosaur has tromped through the forest, and many a wild animal has camouflaged itself against the backdrop of bushes and rocks, and many a game of "Pooh Stick" has been played over the charmingly rustic handmade bridges.  I've also been rescued many times from nefarious creatures who never stood a chance against the swords and daggers of my sons.  If I ever thought a stick was a useless weapon, the imaginations of these boys have proved me wrong several times over!

The tall trees are calming and mesmerizing.  I'm still not sure what kind of tree they are, but the bark slowly peels off as they grow taller, leaving a perfectly smooth surface on the upper half of the trunk.  The wind often whispers through these trees, a perfect backdrop to the sound of flowing water in the river.  It makes the entire scene one of the most peaceful places around.

Sometimes we venture across and further up the river in order to ride the seesaw tree - a tree that fell and got lodged at a perfect angle and bounces perfectly like a seesaw.

But mostly we just hang out near "Big Rock" which is - you guessed it - a big rock.  It's a perfect place to rest, read a book, and eat a snack.

Our latest escapade culminated in a "wolf marathon" around a cleared-out shamba.  The maize had been harvested and the area made for a perfect place to do laps.  The boys slept quite well that night :)

I'm so grateful for this place.  It's one of the few places outside our compound where we can be left alone (most of the time) without the prying eyes of everyone curious about wazungu.  The river is a haven.