Birthday girl!

Thanks to everyone who sent over some presents to make her birthday special.

The Curious George movie was a hit with Elise and two friends.

Elise had two birthday cakes, an angle food and chocolate. Thanks Mommy.

Elise was really fast in blowing out the candles.

Braden ate 1 1/2 pieces of the chocolate cake.

Samuel and I reading a local French newspaper and discussing the stories for our language session. (Samuel is one of my language helpers)

We took a couple days vacation at this ocean front property in Conakry.

Drinking fresh coconut milk minutes after the coconuts were harvested.

After a hard days work painting - with blue paint, this guy scaled the coconut tree in the backyard and got some down for us.

A coconut tree has fewer branches than a palm tree but they are much larger.

Elise and Braden love to walk along our row of hibiscus
looking for a flower low enough to pluck.

This is a local plant with beautiful delicate lavender flowers.
The plant grows super fast and we are always cutting them back.

I grew up calling these trumpets. The small brilliant red
flowers grow on vines that climb on anything within reach.

We called these pride of china growing up. There
is also a yellow variety.

Elise always loves coming into our garden with us. The big leaves are
okra plants which is gumbo in French. Elise likes the word and
asks about the gumbo all the time.

Sherri's birthday cake. Notice Elise stirring her empty bowl in anticipation.

Braden discovered he can hitch a ride with Elise on her tricycle.

Stick'em up.

Watercoloring.

Smelling the zenias.

Let me fix it daddy.

One of the two initiates at the celebration.

While attending a Konyagui celebration I got to see some of their "masks" as they call them. These "masks" are men dressed up to help with the celebration.

Thank you Lord for your wonderful promises!

Elise is so proud she can trace lines and letters. Can even say the whole alphabet as of a few days ago.

Going up to Senegal always means we see monkey beside the road. Sometimes they stay around for a photo.

Our girl.

Grandma and Braden.

Grandpa and Braden.

Grandma and Elise during our last trip to Senegal.

After work, I frequently go on a short cruise on my moto with Elise. Elise really enjoys herself.