Halloween Brings Out the Weird

I have decidedly mixed feelings about Halloween. On the one hand, I love seeing the creative ways people put together costumes and the choices they make. Kids are especially adorable.

On the other hand, I'm not very creative and I get nervous having to think up some sort of costume idea. 

On yet another hand--CHOCOLATE! 

Like I said, not crazy about the holiday. (Pay no attention to the wastebasket overflowing with candy wrappers)

In keeping with the tradition we started last year, I will now show you our costumes and give you a chance to vote on your favorite. The winner gets the all important bragging rights. 

Last year's winner was Troy who was Avatar: The Last Airbender

I was accused of unfairly persuading the votes by posting my picture last--I got a fair percentage of the votes. Therefore, this year I will post in alphabetical order.

And now, without further ado, this year's contestants:

 Amy--A Barmaid

I had a corset already on hand and so just had to figure out how to use it in a costume.

Jasmine--Luna Lovegood (from Harry Potter)

The cat insisted on being in almost every photo. This time it worked.

Thomas--A Wild Man from Borneo

Originally Tom called this costume Tom in 10 Years. I told him it had better  be an alternate universe because there is no way that is my future!

Timothy--Phantom of the Opera

A point for you if you know where he's posing to take this picture.

Troy--A JabbaWockeeZ Dancer

This is from a dance group featured in one of the Step Up movies and winners of America's Best Dance Crew

So, join in the fun and leave your vote in the comments. We'll love ya for it!

You can also send me an email or write on the Facebook page. All votes will be compiled and the winner announced on Friday.

Exactly One Year Ago: Costume Fun

Exactly Two Years Ago: Beautiful Ham--one of our lovely girls.

Just Dance

I didn't find the time to post many pictures of our trip to the States. Somehow the days just flew by and then I was back in Zambia and life carried on at breakneck speed. 

Lest I forget all the fun we had, I will occasionally throw a few pictures up here--for the grandparents too, you understand.

While we attended the Missons Conference in Alabama we were invited to take part in one of the church's regular mission projects. Volunteers from the church help out at Eagle's Wings.--a charity 'dedicated to helping adults with special needs'.

We first helped paint pots that would be fired in a kiln, painted by the Eagle's Wings' clients and then auctioned to raise funds for their project.

After a pizza lunch we were all invited to take part in a dance off. I had never heard of Just Dance for the Wii.

Troy was the first one roped into the competition but as soon as we saw how much fun it was we jumped in with both feet.

For some of us it was with both left feet but everyone had a ton of fun.

I enjoyed it so much that I made sure that before we left the States I bought a copy for our Wii.

I plan on having the kids and nannies take turns playing this game as well. It's really good exercise!

Carnival Fun

Two weeks ago when my mom came to visit we all went to Kemah for a fun Sunday afternoon. Kemah is Houston's version of Coney Island. There are restaurants, carnival games, touristy shops and most importantly (for my kids that is) amusement park rides. 

When we lived in Houston years ago we would come out here but that was before they added all the rides. Our kids were so young then that most of them didn't even remember coming out here at all.

Sadly, Jessica had to work so it was just the five kids--sorry, teenagers. No, that's not right either. Young people! There you go! Do you think they'll approve of that term?

Do you see Timmy's gloves? He wore those everywhere. It was such a novel experience to be able to wear cold weather clothes.

For their first ride they chose a tame enough looking one. Still, I felt the best place for me was on the ground. Someone had to take the pictures, right? Right.

Wait? Did I say tame? That does not look safe! What is it about thrill rides that people go crazy for?

Here the boys are mugging for the video camera. Tom documented our entire trip so we could show the staff what 'America' looks like. I'll be sure to tell you all about it.
 

Next they moved to a ride called the Inverter. Hmmm, definitely an ominous name. I decided to sit this one out as well.

And, boy, am I glad I did! That looks so scary! The girls sat at one end....

 ...and the boys sat at the other. They are upside down, people! That is not cool!

And yet, they're smiling. That is just plain weird, if you ask me. 

And, they're upside down again. And, remarkably happy about it. Are we sure these are my children?

My boys are such good friends. It was wonderful to see them reunited if only for 2 weeks. Timmy has only one more year of college prep before he'll move to Texas and the boys will get to hang out together again.

One really big benefit for my 3 youngest kids from this trip was them getting to see where they'll be going to college. It has given them a picture of the future and has re-energized their desire to complete their schooling. Jasmine may go a year early and do dual credit--do her  senior year of high school subjects at the community college for a head start on her college education.

Well, that was my Sunday two weeks ago. Wanna see other Sunday Scenes? Check out Sundays in my City at Unknown Mami.

Costume Fun...

...and a job for you

We had a very nice Halloween Day. Taking advantage of every holiday we can is one way we stay connected to our friends and family back home. Helps make things a bit less lonely.

Timmy as Mr. Fantastic

My kids are very creative (they take after their dad that way), and they spend weeks if not months thinking, planning, considering and deciding what costume to make for that one special day. 

Jasmine as Persephone (wife of Hades)

The funny thing is that because it all takes so long to create and since there really aren't any events that we have to go to, the actual time spent in costume is very short.

Mostly it comes down to a photo shoot and perhaps a couple games and of course the CANDY!

Troy as Avatar--The Last Airbender

Jasmine and Summer made cupcakes and let the oldest kids decorate them but I forgot to take pictures. I was a little busy with something I'll tell you about tomorrow. Maybe next year we'll have a full costume party for all the kids where they can dig into a big box of dress up clothes and have a bunch of fun. This year they're all still a bit young.

Summer (our volunteer) as Aphrodite

 The rest of us finally got costumes on around 9 PM last night. We were all really pleased with how well everyone's costumes turned out. We took photos (Tom was good about finding appropriate backdrops) and then Tom took the photos to his computer and dressed them up a bit.

Tom as American Chopper (the dad)

Now for your assignment. Please look over these photos and choose your favorite costume. Leave your choice in comments. If you are reading this in an email, click on the title to go to the blog page or just reply to the email. You can also leave a comment on my Facebook page. I'll compile all the votes and announce the winner on Wednesday.

Last but certainly not least (LOL): 

Yours Truly as Queen Hippolyta (Wonder Woman's Mom)

Thank you for voting! Your vote will make a missionary in Africa very happy!

This is my final post in a quest to win a fabulous camera from SITS--the community where I get helpful blogging tips.

Sundays in My City--Ntumbacushi Falls

I'm not sharing all these photos with you to make you jealous. Truly I'm not. But, are you? Just a little?

I happen to live in a wonderfully beautiful place. I have a 'paradise' lagoon 45 minutes in one direction and a waterfall that inspires and lifts your spirits 45 minutes in the other direction. Sometimes we'll be driving around running one errand or another and I look over the typical African landscape and gasp with joy--I live in Africa. Imagine that! I am so, so blessed!

We have friends visiting us this week so we've been sharing all the gorgeous sites with them. Yesterday it was the lagoon, today Ntumbacushi Falls and tomorrow two more awesome waterfalls. 

 After a picnic of tuna sandwiches and soft drinks, we headed up the hill--hiking to our favorite swimming spot.

The beginning of the hike is quite steep. But oh, is the workout worth it!

The pre-jump conference.

Go, Timmy!

Yeah, Jasmine!

Good one, Troy!

After swimming and a failed attempt at water polo (I couldn't deal with the current and tossing a ball around too) we had a rest time of sunbathing.

This was my view. You'll have to supply the sound effects: babbling brook, water rushing over rocks and then tumbling down over the edge and crashing to the bottom. 

This was also my view. Lovely blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

Also this--my little Hollywood starlet.

Then it was time to head home. 

Such a nice Sunday!

Travel the world this weekend by visiting blogs over at Unknown Mami's blog carnival

Exactly one year ago: Adventures in Baby Care

For the Win!

I have made no secret of the fact that we are not your average family. We not only live in the African bush but we enjoy very active imaginations. Well, not me but most of the rest of my family do.

This calls for some very creative birthday cake requests. Some years are better than others and when I asked Troy what he would like his cake decorated as, it was done with no small amount of trepidation. When I heard he wanted a Clayfist cake my heart sunk just a little. This was going to be challenging. I don't blame you if the name Clayfist doesn't ring a bell. Even if you keep up with the comic book or super hero crazes you are probably not familiar with this one. That's because Troy invented him. Troy has created this whole super hero and his accompanying nemesis: Toxicity. Because no super hero would be able to hold his head high if he didn't have an archenemy to fight against--and it's even better if said bad guy is the exact opposite of said good guy. Oh, the poetry!

I love that Troy is creative and has even built his own website: Becrazed Comics to display his art and creations. He has done stop-motion animation, built remote controlled robots and edited a movie that he and his siblings wrote, filmed and starred in. Troy and Timmy also have started filming their own 'stunt' video series.

But when it comes to having to take something that your child created and turn it into a birthday cake--well, that is a little bit of a challenge.

So, are you ready to see the final result? 

Here it is! 

Clayfist and Toxicity battling it out!

We continued with the yin yang theme inside the cake*. 

(Sorry the photo is unclear) 

I couldn't have done this without my two helpers: Timmy and Jasmine. Jasmine baked the chocolate cake and whipped up the icing and Timmy was a big help with the squiggles. I have too orderly a mind to do random art.

Happy Birthday, Troy

May you live long and prosper!**

*The layers were chocolate with with cherry sauce and white cake with a simple syrup infused with cinnamon. I iced the layers with a buttercream frosting. 

**Sorry, couldn't resist....;)

Geek Mothering Fail

This week we celebrated Timmy's 17th birthday. One year before 18!! How did this happen??

Anyway, Timmy decided he wanted to have a Green Lantern cake. I told Jasmine that I would look it up on Google so I knew what the face looked like. She gave me a funny look and said that, no, it was a symbol. Oh. This should have been my first clue....

found here

Once I found out it was a symbol I thought I'd have an easy time of it. Simply a circle cake with 2 rectangles on either side. Done!

We settled on carrot cake made from scratch. Homemade cream cheese became delicious icing. Way to go, Mom!

What was that you said? Pride comes before a fall? Well, you might have said something earlier!

The cake was assembled. Strawberry yogurt served as a moistening and delicious filler between layers. I got out a kite that showed the Green Lantern image and copied it exactly. Just as I finished trimming things so it looked perfect Jasmine walked in. 

Jasmine: Why are the side rectangles tapered?

Me: Because that's what the Green Lantern symbol looks like. (Duh!)

J: No! That's the Justice League Green Lantern.

M: Oh.

J: Just stick the pieces you cut off back on and we'll cover it with icing.

M: Umm, I already ate them....

So, we moved forward. Can't cry over eaten cake now can we?

The icing was gorgeous. Beautiful, creamy white loveliness. But that wouldn't do for a Green Lantern cake. So out came the colors. After the first addition of green it looked perfect for a baby shower cake. Nope. More green. Now it looked summery. Still not good enough. I had an idea. Add some black. We did just a drop and sure enough it looked much better. Let's add a bit more. Oops! Now it looked like green-purple mold. Not quite the color we were looking for. 

The more we worked on it the worse it looked. I felt like we were in the middle of a sci-fi or horror movie. Would this icing morph into a monster?
Aaah! Attack of the (Surprisingly Sweet) Swamp Thing!

Adding a bunch more green finally worked. We iced the cake and were ready to sing.

It looks like I still have a ways to go to be the perfect Geek Mother. But at least the kids know I try.

Happy Birthday, Timmy!

Sundays in My City

I heard shouting yesterday and went out to investigate. I found bodies littering the ground and fierce fighting happening. 

Don't worry, it wasn't an attack from African rebels. It was an attack of......

the LARPers!

Don't know what a LARPer is? I'm embarrassed that I do but that is what happens when you not only marry a Geek but have 6 beautiful little geeklings with him.

Anyway, LARP stands for Live Action Role Play. Apparently people get into it big time with costumes and weekend shebangs to do the whole Role Playing thing. 

My kids were bored and decided to create their own version and get the nannies involved too. Below is the photographic evidence.

Team 1 planning a strategy

Team 2 defending the high ground

And the battle begins!

The battle rages on as Team 1 mounts a steady attack

And Benard is down again. 

But what really stands out to me in this picture is the two women in back.

Christine and Foster really got into the game.

Go get her, Christine!

I don't think you can beat my son for competitiveness though.

Take a look at this picture:

Everyone was fine after the game with only a few small cuts and bruises to show for all the fun. 

I will never understand the appeal of a game where the highlight is getting hurt.

Hope your weekend is fun and a little more peaceful. 

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