Happy 6th Birthday Ella!

This weekend we went to Jinja, hung out with friends, had a pool party and celebrated Ella’s 6^th birthday. We had a blast!

Unfortunately, this was the weekend that Ella came down with a rip roaring cold – runny nose, weeping eyes, fever and cough. But thankfully it takes a LOT to get our little L down and dampen her spirits – especially when we’re seeing her best friends again AND celebrating her birthday! Actually, it wasn’t ALL bad because it sort of helped slow her down a bit : ). One thing about L though is that she can’t blow her nose quietly so it was sort of like spending the weekend with a sick baby elephant. That kid blows her nose LOUD! Dainty little princess that she is.... ;)

We stayed at Kingfisher this time and really liked it. It’s super affordable and the pool is GREAT for kids. We left early Saturday morning in hopes of avoiding the Kampala traffic and in our attempts I got a speeding ticket. Oops. Going 6 kilometers over the speed limit through Kajjansi. Watch out for that place – it’s a speed trap!

We made it to Jinja town a bit before 9am I think and had latte’s (adults), juice (kids) and a little breakfast (samosas) at The Source Café. A nice little coffee shop that attracts every tourist in the area, including us! From there we went on and checked in at our resort and the kids promptly donned their suits and jumped in the pool! Our friends (old neighbors from EBB who moved in August) came a few hours later and the party really started. Our kids hadn’t seen each other since last August (yes, I feel guilty about that) and it was quite the fun reunion! So nice to catch up and enjoy each other again. We swam, ate lunch, swam some more and then had the birthday cake and opened presents. Fun! My kids started swimming at 10am and didn’t get out until 4pm so they were tired.

Some juice at The Source Cafe

Frank and Tanya enjoying some breakfast

Tanya and the kids ready to party!

Yeah, this is sort of how Montanans party at tropical resorts. Fully dressed, in the shade, reading a Readers Digest. Yep, I'm a party animal people!

Janet taking a flying leap

Madeline taking a flying leap

Frankie sliding down the slide

Melinda and Hannah on the raft

Frankie sliding, Ella "sunbathing". The poor sick little kid!

Janet and Sophia have the right idea - get warm!

Tanya had the right idea too, sitting there playing with her little iPad thingy. She's advanced way beyond a Readers Digest!

Oh how the kids love their auntie Tanya! Her and Frankie really bonded on this trip :)

Frank totally loved chilling in the tube!

We had some cool times with some super cool party glasses. Cuz that's just the kind of people that we are...

Hannah, Frank and L

Sophia, Janet and Maddie

I have high hopes for this boy :)

Ella's dog cake, made by her loving auntie Tanya and mom. We couldn't fit "Pack Leader" on it but thought that the dogs would suffice.

The lightening of the candles was a real group effort as there was a bit of a stiff breeze blowing. Tanya did the honors with the matches...

... while Melinda helped shield the flames so that we could get though Happy Birthday!

Give it a blow L, give it a blow!

The opening of the gifts. I love how thrilled Tanya and Hannah look over Ella's new underwear from her Granny! Guess I know what to get Tanya for her birthday...

Ella got a new dress from her Granny. The more gaudy, the more she likes it!

Ella grabbed the knife and really dug into the cake. I was pretty impressed at how skilled and confident she was with that knife! A little scared too...

Hannah and Frankie - they played so well together! They're good little friends :)

Frankie cracked us up the way he totally got into the "resort chillin'" mode. He happily laid here wrapped in his towel playing with the lid to a pepsi bottle singing to himself :)

Tanya even goes down the slide!

Relaxin'

What's a celebration at a tropical resort without drinking expensive fresh juice?

Just kidding, Granny! Frankie really wasn't drinking this beer....