Photo Shoot

One of our missionary familes were staying at the guesthouse this week, and their son who is in college is here for a 3 month visit. He is a very good photographer, and so me and my friends, Joy and Mary Margaret, had the kids outside for a photo shoot. Just thought I would share some of these awesome pictures of the kids. Thanks, Enoch!

Yes, Kelsey has lost her 3rd tooth in the 3rd country, and on the 3rd continent she has been in. Her first tooth was lost during our training in Virginia, USA. Her 2nd tooth she lost during our 9-hour layover in London, UK. And now she has lost her 3rd tooth in Zambia, Africa. The 2nd tooth was lost in the swimming pool in London, and now this 3rd tooth came out while she was jumping on the couch and we couldn't find it anywhere. She wrote the tooth fairy explaining the situation, and they were very grateful to leave her a little something without taking a tooth in exchange!

Mrs. Brain

I am trying new ideas to make homeschooling a success in our first year. We have had some struggles over the past few months and so I got this idea from a former Zambian missionary family. We had fun for the first day trying something new and crazy, but I am disappointed that it didn't work like I expected it would. I think I have waited too late in the school year to implement a new method of teaching. But I'm proud that I gave it a shot. Better luck next time, I guess!

My outfit included some big, ugly sunglasses, an African FRO wig, one of Ricky's oversized African shirts, and a chitangi (an African wrap skirt). I named myself Mrs. Brain, and told the kids that mom stepped out for a few minutes and so she called on Mrs. Brain to do school for the day. The all got a kick out of laughing their heads off, and we didn't get much school done - but I'm positive they had fun today! Later in the day, Austin made me change my sunglasses to his more cooler sunglasses. Kelsey thinks that Mrs. Brain is smarter than mommy because of the wig.

Happy Mother's Day

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her; Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." - Proverbs 31:28-29

Happy Mother's Day to both of our moms, who we cannot be with this Mother's Day. We love you and miss you and think of you often.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Detours

My friend, Amy, was here at the guesthouse this past week, and her husband was attending a meeting in South Africa. I thought it would be nice for the two of us girls and all the kids (that was Coby, Kelsey, Caleb, Abby, Anna, and Luke) to go out for lunch one day. Unknowingly, it was Labor Day in Zambia and a holiday. On our usual route, we found ourselves detoured off the main road due to a parade. I didn't want to go the way they were routing us, so I made my own detour. As we are driving along, Coby lets me know that he thinks we are losing gas, again. That's another story, but anyway, I thought it best to check on the gas situation. PTL, we come upon a BP gas station. I fill up on gas and check for leaks -- none to my sight. While there, I ask of the attendant directions to our lunch destination, which is now already 15 minutes past the time we wanted to be there. The attendant tells me to take the next DIRT road and go until I come to the end, and then ask someone else. Ask someone else? I ask him again if he knows the directions well enough to tell the whole way to our destination, and he promises that I will get to our restuarant by following his directions.

We had a bumpy ride on the DIRT road that went FOREVER, until we finally came to a turn. I decided to stop and ask for directions. The people were very kind and told us to keep following the road and we would end up on the main road that we were looking for. In the meantime, our kids were asking when we would arrive for lunch, as they were starving. Valid question since it was 45 minutes past the time we were supposed to be there! I could see the city buildings in the distance so I knew we weren't lost, but we had no idea how long we had to travel through this compound to get to the tar (paved road). Finally, after one hour of scenery, we found our way to the main road. I think we went in a full circle and came out almost near the place where we turned off.

I'll never forget the following days when Amy tells me that she and the kids went back to the same restaurant with some other friends, and Caleb tells them that he hopes they know the way since Aunt Niki got them lost! I love the honesty in kids!

Here's your sign

I love to look at signs when I'm traveling. I get a laugh at some. I question others. Here are a few signs we saw on our trip to the eastern province.

Kelsey's 7th Birthday

Happy Birthday to our sweet 7 year old. And a birthday in Zambia... what could be better?!

Our morning began with a large stack of pancakes topped with candles. Hannah had spent the night, so she and Kelsey gobbled up those pancakes so they could get busy playing together. Then, at 10am some more friends came over for some playtime. I made a Cocoa-Cola Cake for all to enjoy.

For dinner, Kelsey chose Rhapsody's, a local restaurant at the mall. Before we could go out, daddy needed a hair cut. So, Kelsey took hold of the clippers and went for it. Watch Out!

WOW, how she's grown in just one year.

Hippos and more...

Hippos

Crowning Crane

Impala

These 2 impala are fighting. I have a long video of this that I might blog about later.

Waterbuck

Okay, so we got a little carried away with naming all the animals. As you have already seen, we had the Walmart Elephant and Geoffrey the Toys'r'us Giraffe. Now, meet the 'Ipod' of Hippos, the 'Burger King' Crowning Crane, the 'McDonalds' Impala, and the 'Target' Waterbuck.

Check out this short video of one lonely hippo doing a flip in the water!

We also saw a monitor lizard, but he didn't get a special name. And whenever we saw the warthog, we would sing together, "When I was a young wart-hog!"