Daily Life in Kampala

Today is the start of an important week (we hope). Simon and Rachael's Ugandan passports could come in any day now and we can finalize our remaining documents. Passports are required for us to go to the International Organization for Medicine (IOM), where the kids will get their medicals. IOM takes about a week, and then we will be at the Embassy working on Visas.

In the midst of waiting, we wanted to share what our typical day looks like:

6:00AM Breakfast and Cartoons - Sometimes earlier, rarely later, one child will crawl into our bed. Before long, all four kids are crawling on us, forcing us awake and pleading with us to turn on cartoons and make breakfast. Simon and Rachael's first phrase in English was the theme song to Jungle Junction, so thank you Disney Junior for being such a great baby sitter while Mom and Dad get ready. We finally had enough oatmeal and cinnamon toast and recently hunted down some syrup and bacon for FRENCH TOAST!

9:00-11:00AM Controlled Chaos - By now, we are typically dressed, cartooned out and full. But are driver doesn't come until around 11 on most days, so we look for any way to keep the kids relatively quiet and entertained. We pull out every trick in the hat from schoolwork, coloring, flashcards, dance parties, and whatever little games we can dream up.

11:30-2:30AM Out on the Town - This is when we do our grocery shopping, kick the ball in the park, walk around Acacia Mall/indoor play gym, or go to a local market. Yesterday we took the kids to their first theater to see Rio 2. This morning, Simon woke up and made a huge rectangle with his arms and said "MOVIE!" We also go to lunch during this time which is typically our big meal of the day. We have tried many places, but hands down our favorites are The Cafesserie (Acacia Mall) and Café Javas (has the park out back). We will probably check out the nicest and most expensive chicken restaurant (KFC) soon. A typical KFC meal here costs $10-12 and occupies the most prominent space at the entrance to the Acacia Mall, which is Kampala's version of Domain/Galleria. Last week our apartment manager invited us to her son's birthday party which was really fun for everyone, until Keith got dragged into a dance contest.


3:00-5:00PM Swim Time (Swimma) - On the way back to the apartment after lunch, the kids are usually begging to go swimming, which has been our safe haven almost every afternoon. Rachael can be heard saying Swimma! Swimma! But we know when we get to the pool she just walks around it looking in until Dad throws her in. Simon, Rachael and Will paddle around in their life jackets while Caroline dodges a bunch of non-swimmers trying to drag her under the pool. Our most exciting day happened when we had two of our non-swimmers decided to take their jackets off and jump in. Mom and Dad sit out beside the pool and do absolutely nothing. It's wonderful. Eventually the kids coax dad into the pool for some water wrestling.

5:00-7:00PM Dinner, Bath, and Bedtime - We quickly shuffle the kids through the showers and get them in pajamas before having a small bite to eat and start our bed time routine. We read the Jesus Storybook Bible or one of a few books we picked up here. All the books come from the UK, so the other night Caroline said, "What's a flat?" I love my little Texan. Without fail, lights are out by 7PM.

7:00-10:00PM RELAX! - During the week, Keith works remotely and Lauren chats with other families here encouraging one another and planning next steps in the paperwork process. During the weekends, we'll watch movies on the laptop. This Saturday, Keith snuck out with our driver (Ken) and another adoptive dad for a 10PM showing of Captain America. This was Ken's first introduction to the Marvel Comic movies, and it was an awesome movie.