Day 57

A's baby sister! I want one just like her <3

I just had a 10 minute panic attack when I opened my laptop and all I saw was snow falling. If that had happened at home, I wouldn't be as alarmed because there are mechanics and technology experts on every other corner. But oh my lanta, there must be a God in heaven because I took out the battery, said a little prayer, and rebooted this baby. Thank the Lord!

Big A and baby J

Since the rest of the group is off on their safari's this week, I was able to go to Boona Baana by myself yesterday :) Not that I don't like going with the other girls, they are my BFF's! But it was nice to change it up from the regular group book club and instead take a little time to teach the boys how to cook. I & M had to make French toast and brownies for their school projects, but they had never cooked before. The power was out though (what else is new...) so we had to cook the French toast on the charcoal stove outside. I & M had never lit a stove, let alone a charcoal stove, ever before so it was a learning experience for all of us! The food turned out wonderfully, even though we improvised a lot without cocoa, lack of eggs, and no measuring cups;) It was so much fun!

Maria & I

The entire time we were cooking I had this beautiful little girl on my hips. Her sister is also gorgeous! I felt like a real African, cooking on a charcoal stove outside with a baby on my back and all the kids helping. But I don't know if I could do it forever. The mamas here work so hard, and they rely on their children a lot. Little A often has to skip book club to care for her baby sister while her Mama is working. Maria, Boona Baana's Mama's helper, is only 20 years old and she helps take care of the 7 kids, plus watches Julian when Mr. M or B are working. The level of responsibility here is way more intense at much younger ages, but it works for them. It's really interesting to see how the relationships work, dysfunctional to us at times but totally normal for them. Maybe I should take a lesson from them about responsibility and hospitality!