updates from somewhere we now live…sort of…

We are now in Chicago.  And I am stating that as much for myself as for you all.  It has been a wild few weeks. But for now we are back in the city; our city, again, but I swear I am wandering around more like a tourist most days because A.) I got turned around and walked 4 blocks in the wrong direction B.) seriously shocking how little clothing people wear here and C.) a lot has changed in 4 years (and a lot has stayed the same).  More on that and other cultural re-entry misadventures later for sure like; for example, lessons learned by my kids on the Clark street bus.  For now here are some updates from the awesome and free (yeah!) 3rd floor apartment where I may or may not be stealing borrowing internet from the nice folks downstairs until we figure all these fancy ‘living in the US’ things out.

One of our first stops: Goodwill.  And we heart goodwill. seriously awesome.

 A cart full of fabulous-ness and a $4.99 replacement bike for Anni for super cheap!

Plus we made good on our promise of jeans for the girls.  Cute no?

with spent a week in Lake Geneva and some friends came up for a day trip (which despite little man’s face was really fun although the pic of me and Jess just was too shiny and chin-y to post)

we made time for important things like ….driving the boat with Babu

and art projects with Bibi

Then we moved our junk (and I do mean junk…why did we save half this stuff four years ago?) into our apartment for now. We had lots of help and Bibi & Babu even drove out from Iowa!

But I think Bibi mostly loved the park runs with the girls. Family is blessing and the girls are loving seeing both their Bibis’ & Babus’……they are soaking up the attention!

Major bonus: story time AND they cleaned and organized more than we would have in a week!
and unpacking, sorting, and re-setting up a home is making me do crazy things like this…..

After a couple days I kinda like it…I say make it work (Yeah, Tim Gunn rules)

and it is amazing how generous people have been to our family! The girls have been “freezing” (Anni even asked me “Mama, what are these dots on my skin?” “Umm, those are goose bumps kiddo.” My kids are African what can we say?) .They could not resist trying on their new winter coats. Thanks to everyone who donated to our long skirt wearing, faded, and ripped clothes selves. We are grateful.

we are pretty much making it our full time job to check out every park within walking or biking distance…anyone wanna join us?

bought at the farmer’s market a block away today (the berries not the kid)…….oh how we missed you sweet berry yumminess!

and I leave you with the picture (yikes!) that finally made me cave and stop using the girl’s no tangle coconut shampoo and buy some actual hair product.  It has been a long time folks.

Also, both girls have seen the doctor again and despite their complete mess and loose cannon of a mother (who LOST the doctors records and CT scan of Anni’s head and test results that were carefully carried all the way from Tanzania only to be left in either the first doctor’s office OR a Chipotle (I blame the zen feeling caused by the guacamole) OR a park…alas they are no more) they are both healing and having a blast figuring out what it means to be an American kid.  And I am having fun watching.