We're back...

In reality, we didn't go anywhere, but I haven't had time to post. We are doing well, enjoying our last couple of months here before heading stateside for home assignment. Now the packing has begun, and chaos reigns at the Rideouts! Not that I've ever been known to be overly organized, but it is worse now. There is no one to live in our house while we are gone, and as it's a rental, we will be giving up the house. Out here that means a lot more that it does in the US! It takes months to find and fix a house to standards we can live with- screens on the windows, (we don't want malaria carrying mosquitos to have an easy time getting in!) and sinks and toilets that work are just a few things. Not to mention electric problems, roof leaks, etc. I know we're awfully picky aren't we? I think we finally got this house the way we like it. So now we'll tear it all out and do it again next time. I'm so thankful that Kevin is a very capable handyman! He is constantly fixing something that is broken, whether it be a light, a sink, a toilet, or killing giant cockroaches. (I think they're giant anyway...) Since we are giving up the house, all of our things need to be out by June 1. We will go to stay at Kevin's brother Ian and Beka's house for the last couple of weeks before we leave, since they are currently in the US. (thanks Ian and Beka!) So we have barrels and rubbermaid boxes all over the house half full and waiting for more. We would prefer termites and other creatures not munch on our things while we are gone, so we will pack it as well as possible, since we don't know where it will sit for the ten months we will be gone.

So you wonder why I've been too busy to write? I can't honestly say it was all packing! One of the blessings for us here in Niamey is an American School that has a rec center with a big pool. The girls and I have been spending a lot more time at the pool. It's hot season, and our house stays about 95 degrees F (35 C) most of the time. The kids and the mom get awfully sweaty and grouchy in that weather, so we opt to head to the pool when Kevin gets home from the hangar a couple of days a week. Kira and Brynn have also been taking swimming lessons one morning a week. So we are enjoying the refreshing 85 degree water. Hey, it feels a lot better than outside!
Here is Brynn enjoying the water.


Brynn was jumping off the diving board after her second lesson, and loving it!Kira is loving the diving board too. We try to see how far we can get her to swim to us. She is doing a great job.


One of their favorite things to do is go under at the ladder and try to touch the bottom of the deep end. Here is Kira coming up from a trip to the bottom.


This month has been full of other excitement as well. Last Sunday night I was in the kitchen, standing at a cupboard near the electrical box. I heard a little buzz, and looked in the corner there. On top of the breaker box there appeared to be a little flame, or a small light glowing. Not remembering there being a light in that particular spot, I went to find Kevin. Sure enough, a 220V wire coming into our house was melting a hole in the plastic of the breaker box, and a little fire was burning up there. This was at 10:30 pm, and he had to switch off the power. Now, I don't know about you, but I find it rather difficult to sleep in a room with still air, and no fan- not to mention air conditioner- when it's 95 degrees. But what do you do at that time of night? He called the electric company, and lo and behold there was an electrician there, and he was willing to come look at it! We were so grateful to him! I knew the kids would be waking up any time to tell us how hot they were. But in fact, he got the power back on shortly after 11:30. We slept well beneath the fan, and our air conditioner brought the room down to a comfortable 82 degrees by morning.

Kevin has been roasting along with the other SIMAir guys out at the hangar. We affectionately call it "the oven" this time of year, as it's in the 100's on a cool day. I don't know how they manage to function in that heat! I guess it makes the house seem a lot cooler when he gets home! It also makes the pool even more attractive.

Other family news- Elayna is currently loving the Cinderella story. Every night before bed she asks. "Mommy, tomorrow can we play Cinderella?" She and her creative sisters usually come up with quite the production. Cinderella has never had so many adventures as here in our house!

Silas is keeping us busy chasing him down. He's now walking. Make that running. And walking backwards, chasing his sisters, throwing balls, climbing the ladders to the girls loft beds, and much more. Wow, the world of boys is different! =) He's a lot of fun, but keeping us busy with much needed "training." He too loves the pool. One day last week he figured out how to splash his sisters, and how much fun that can be.

We look forward to seeing many of you soon!