ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Chalo is getting downright strapping. And you don’t have to take my word for it.

Two rave reviews from Mrs. Mbowe, who is one of my favorite teachers at my school for reasons that will be self-explanatory:

-                    “He is becoming as handsome as my late husband.”

-                    “I love his blackness. It inspires me.”

See? So handsome.

Annie is getting more beautiful.

Elsa is getting braver. So are the bats.

I'm getting tanner.

Everyone is learning to sit in one place for more than a few seconds.
(Or, in Chalo's case, for thirteen hours. He traveled to the lake
with me over Christmas and endured the hot sun, the confines
of my lap, a nightmarish bike taxi that literally almost killed him, and
drunk strangers kissing him on the mouth. What a champ.)

First step of my first bucket of homemade wine. That's mashed-up mango, yeast, and sugar.

And the second step, several weeks later. It tasted better than it looks.