October Break Continues

The Friday before the break, Chase's second grade class did a talent show.  Talents ranged from jumping rope to playing the piano (with a little bollywood dancing thrown in).  Chase opted to play the harmonica - learned a song in 3 days and I could not have been prouder!!  :)  It was 23 seconds of sheer joy for him!

The rest of our break consisted of hanging around the house, running errands, and the norm - but also a fun playdate with friends and horseback riding lessons!  Yes - we have a riding club here.  I could crack up just typing that!  I HAD NO IDEA!  It is a very real thing and they run a successful operation.  It is literally down the street from us and will be a regular thing for us now.  The lessons build on each other and I hope by the end of two years, Chase will be very comfortable on a horse.  Chase rode Victoria.  Drew fed the horses carrots. They also have 2 white camels from Mali on the premises.  Nice as can be.  It was a great week!!

Getting ready to ride - Drew desperately wanted to ride too!!

Friends make everything better!!

Sunprint craft (idea given by my friend Jill)

The regular routine resumes today.  Better go pack a lunch!!  

October Break

Chase has been on 'Fall Break'. Let's be clear - it feels NOTHING like Fall, so it's a week off of school in October - I LOVE school breaks during the year.  No rush out the door, no lunches to make, just a break in routine right when you need it.  Plus, it felt a little like Chase had to start school as soon as we got here, so I wanted this week to be a fun one for him with quality time spent together. When school was starting, we were still in major transition mode.  Now we're settled and it was perfect timing!  We thought Brett would be out of town, so no big plans were made, but when we found out he would be home, we did decide to do one night away at a new resort to kick off the week.  The Royal Senchi - crazy good!  Not the beach this time, but set on the river.  Change of scenery and very close to home.  We spent nearly all our time at the pool - met some other kids there that Chase rides the bus with, so the kids were completely entertained.  We did some paddle boating, and played on the playground.  Well done Royal Senchi.  I can't wait to visit again!

Even the four star resorts have thatched roof signs to guide you

Upon arrival, we were given flutes of pineapple juice

One of my favorite 'details'

Boarding the paddle boat

It was one of the best pools we've ever seen! 

In Africa, the ride on toys are zebras - love!

I could eat him up!!!!!

All by his self (our other new thing) 

Really Drew?  This is his new 'talk on the phone' pose......relaxing.

A great start to October break

People of Ghana

Fascinating. Friendly. Strong. Happy.

I continue to be amazed at their strength and resourcefulness.

Here are more People of Ghana.  Each so very different.  But living the same life.

She is selling each of these items at the market

These nice gentlemen are shop owners

A young seamstress

My friend Moses, a talented wood carver

A more experienced tailor (btw, I LOVE this pic)

Be still my heart

He wanted to sell me this.  :)

Market day

Precious

This picture pretty much sums up what I see each day  - I LOVE this pic too!! 

Bless her - just so happy!!

And this sweet soul posed for me as well

She was more shy - getting her wares ready to sell

Just a typical day in the life (look at her watch)

Out and About in Accra

Here are some pictures of no particular order, just different things I saw as I was out and about.  I wish I could transport each of you here so you could just experience a small portion of the sheer chaos that is happening around me.  It is definitely sensory overload. Explains why the days zoom by and why at the end of them, you are completely exhausted.  Enjoy!  

At the market (Nima)

Crowded all the time

Truck loaded down with sugar cane, plantains, and a lot of men

Pineapple anyone?  

Or maybe shoes?  

I could've joined this herd and just kept walking

This was a UNIQUE sight on the way to church one morning; apparently, a traditional march done for a funeral...

More market (Makola)

Just chopping the coconuts with a machete

Loved the man herding the goats down the middle of the market

Typical grocery store for the locals

SHAI HILLS Resource Reserve (part two) - baboon pics

There are actually even more pics of these fascinating creatures - but here are some of my fave!! When we first arrived and were just a little ways into the park, Brett jumped out to take some pics.  All of our windows were open, including the sunroof.  Before I knew it, monkeys were climbing our car and peering through the sunroof.  It was a bit of a panic but in the nick of time, I got all the windows rolled up.  Just as the little monkey was climbing down onto Drew's window.  Hope to see these baboons again soon!

The babies and their mamas were my absolute favorite!  I couldn't stop following them around....

It's quite a sight to turn around and see a monkey staring at you!

He is serious

He found a battery - curious

Trying to eat the battery - he quickly spit it out

Save us mama!

Just hanging on for dear life

Cute - sort of?