Petting Zoo!

During our visit to Seattle, Brinley and I went to the petting zoo with Kilee and Easton Nickels. Brinley loved the animals, but did not want to touch them. She was so excited to see them and was talking like crazy. Easton just ran around the place like the little independent guy he is.

Brinley and me posing with the sheep! Kilee and Easton with her favorite farm animal, baby pigs!

Brinley and Easton checking out the pigs.

Peeking at the baby chicks.

Brinley looking in awe.. but not touching!

Easton and a baby cow.

Tools of the Trade Stainless Steel Pots and Pans Review

Boy, this is posting day! I have been on the hunt for some stainless steel pots and pans. The other day I was in Macy's and found a brand I hadn't heard of on sale for half off. I was a little skeptical of the brand because it wasn't mentioned when I was doing my research on what kind to buy. However, I still bought the 12-piece mirror-polished set.

Before I opened them, I read quite a few reviews about them. Usually 1/5 or 5/5 stars from consumers who had bought them. Needless to say I had some mixed feelings about the pans. The overall rating was about a 4.3/5. So, yesterday I decided to try one. I wanted to cook something easy to see how well it worked. I had read a lot about needing to use butter or cooking spray on the frying pan to make sure it didn't stick . The meal I chose to try was a grilled cheese sandwich with the bread buttered on each side on low heat. Simple enough right?

Here is what happened to my pan...


Maybe I didn't use enough butter? It took a solid 5-7 minute scrub with really hot water to get this off. Annoying to say the least.

My rating: 1/5 stars.

They will be returned this week.

Art City 5k

I ran a 5k with some friends and family this weekend in Springville. It was a lot of fun. There was a rather steep hill that I couldn't make it all the way up with a stroller and had to walk about half way. Man, it was tough! I hope to do another one or another race in the future too. I enjoyed the week of training and the goodies afterward. Plus, it was a cheap race :). Thanks to my friends Ashlee, Dalyn, Lindsey, Austin, and Liz for running it with me. And to my brother John and his wife Liz for recommending it to me. I would love to run it again next year!

Liz B., John, Dalyn, and me before the run with our kiddos and strollers. John took 3rd in the stroller division! Woohoo!

My cute little bug ready to go for a ride

Me, Ashlee and Dalyn right before the gun went off.

Brinley was exhausted after the race and needed some hydration!...Ashlee also fed her ice cream for the first time!

Our matching pants

Yes, I was very sweaty after the run. And it was pretty warm too.

Babes that went on a ride: (left to right) Brinley, Porter Nardone and Isaac Heath

Chilling after the race, waiting for the drawings to begin!

These pictures were borrowed from different cameras seeing how ours is in Africa with Mike, so I don't have all of the pictures that I wanted to post. Lindsey and Liz H. - I love you too! :)

Adjusting to Life in Uganda

Things are going really well here. I am finally getting used to the incredibly hot weather combined by the crazy humidity. I am understanding the local English dialect better, which is making it much easier to communicate.

I have been meeting with a lot of local leaders and many owners of the local private schools. They are incredibly underfunded. Most of classrooms have dirt floors and are sometimes taught with several classes going on in the same room. It makes it very distracting for the children and hard to learn. There are also at times a 1 to 100 teacher student ratio. This makes personal tutoring almost impossible. The local curriculum is horrible and most of the children are taught to memorize rather than use any form of strategic thinking/problem solving.

This is compounded by the fact that they do not have running water and a great number of the students are orphaned. Many of the teachers do not have any certification or training and teach things that are incorrect. As I go from school to school I often become more and more discouraged, but have been also gaining a greater resolve to find solutions and implement those solutions.

I often see little ones digging through the garbage trying to find something to eat and it makes me think of Brinley. Hard to keep all together. I would look ridiculous breaking down in front of a bunch of infant/toddlers when they are smiling from ear to ear. It seems that regardless of their situation they are happy and making the most of what little they have. I am learning some really important lessons while I am here, lessons that I won't be able to really articulate until I get home and have a better computer with better internet, and more time.

On my down time I have been going to the local orphanage and playing soccer with the children. Many of them have HIV/Aids that was giving to them by their parents who are now gone. Even still, it is amazing to see how much life in them. They make the majority of our daily worries in the lives of the typical American seem almost comical. The word for white people is "Muzungu". So when I walk down the street the little children clap and yell "Muzungu, Muzungu, hello Muzungu!". They will run over and hold my hand for ages while I walk down the street. Many of them only 2 years old. Once again, reminding me of Brinely and life I would want for her. I have secured funding for many projects and have been met with much gratitude. The biggest issue is when you look at the poverty, suffering, and corruption that exists here it is only a small piece of the pie. But hey, I guess we can just keep pushing.

**Note - He finally received his luggage after a few days there! Yay!

Update from Mike

I just wanted to give concerned friends and family a little update about Mike. I just received an email from him this morning. He missed his connecting flight in Chicago to London due to delays, so he had to get on another one about three hours later. He made it and here is a little of what I heard from him today:

"I don't have very much time do to some incredibly slow internet and a tight schedule so I just wanted to let you know that I did make it. None of my bags did, but I did. So it will be pretty interesting getting by with one pair of everything. I'll probably borrow some clothes. The airline is looking into the bags. The Ugandan airline....so that will be interesting. Anywho, other than that bag thing, all is well and Uganda is absolutely amazing. The trip has already been emotionally exhilarating...from the beautiful sights to wall of Ruben's paintings, picasso's sunflowers, Monet's waterlillies, and Raphael and Caravaggio...the list goes on. And now I am pushing to survive in Uganda.

The country side is beautiful and quite raw. The people are kind and careful, despite the economic circumstances."

I had a feeling that when he got the different flight his baggage might not arrive with him. He will probably be posting some of his adventures soon with pictures :).