House full of kids!

All of our hard work has now paid off! We have finally been able to have some of the kids stay with us over their midterm break. We have had between 7-11 boys depending on the day. We have the 3 youngest boys from St. Gerald ages 5, 8 and 11 and also some of our high school boys.

The small boys having breakfast- tea, bread and porridge

Making popcorn

Rare occurance- Ian being still

Karanja reading to me- thanks to my niece Rhyan (2nd grade) for collecting and sending books for us!

Playing our favorite game "Blockus" sent by my mom.

Njenga and Karaiuri in the kitchen

Although we have a kitchen, Mama Mwangi insisted on also having a traditional kitchen where she can cook on firewood (which she says burns very hot). This is Mama M and the kids in the kitchen making chapati.

Serving dinner. We dish out the food on all of the plates to make sure everyone gets the same amount and we don't run out.

"Family" dinner

Our 5 year old brushed his teeth but forgot to wipe his face. Without lights we didn't notice until he had fallen asleep on the couch :)

The small boys were so excited to come! When I went to pick them up from St. G they we waiting at the fence for me with grins from ear to ear. Once we go to the house I was showing them around. Since they have never used a toilet (only the outhouse) I was explaining that you can do a long call and short call (#1 and #2) in the toilet. Karanja looked at me with huge eyes and asked "Everything???", yep, everything. As we were all standing around the toilet for instructions the 5 year old thought that would be a good time to put the toilet to use and started urinating right there- ha! They were so excited about the toilet I think they each used it about 25 times the first couple of days.

Then I had to show them how to brush their teeth inside. At St. G they just have a tap outside that they use. So as they were brushing their teeth they were spitting the toothpaste out on the floor!

When making up the beds I was putting sheets on, which they have never used. Karanja asked, "every bed gets one of these?" yep, every one!

Every day is a new adventure for both the boys and me. I wake around 6 with the small kids and I try to keep them busy so the others can sleep a bit longer. So we usually start by stripping the sheets from the bed wetters and soaking the sheets so we can wash (by hand) later in the day. Then we feed the chickens and do some work around the farm. By then breakfast is ready. After that the day is full of playing, cooking and cleaning. I'm not sure where the time goes but by 9:30 I'm completely exhausted! It's such a different life- having a house full of kids. But the laughter, chatter and smiles beat any day in the office.

Some of our boys on their mattresses with blankets, getting ready for bed!