Christmas lunch

Lunch in the "bush" this year for Christmas! Analiese loves her Nsima.

First swing

Big thanks to the Helgren family for giving our little girl her first swing. She is loving it. Big smiles the whole time. So much to be thankful for!!

My new chair

We found an Analiese size chair in a local store - we were quite excited and she even more so!

New stuff!

We received a box from Grandma Vicky today with lots of fun stuff for all of us but mostly for Analiese. She loves her new/cool little outfit! Zikomo agogo Vicky!

Ready!

Analiese in her new church dress all ready for Sunday school!

Lil Miss Strawberry Shortcake

We have our very own "Lil Miss Strawberry Shortcake"! Isn't she SWEET?!


Thanks for the strawberry plants Uncle Todd and Auntie Kathy!

She can't really grasp the concept of pulling the berry off the bush, but I still let her "pretend". :)

I love that we have only picked the berries 2 times before yet she still knew exactly what we were doing when we went towards the strawberry plants. She took her little bowl and knelt down to get ready for her berries!

Time to chow down!!

Her Daddy got one, I got one and we waited for Grandma J but she didn't come out in time to get one. ;-)

We don't mind her eating most of them all by herself though. Not only are they healthy for her but there are few things more precious than watching our daughter grab each little strawberry with her tiny little fingers and quickly pack as many as possible in to her itty bitty mouth. :D

I often say that one of my favorite sounds that she makes is that smack! We are so blessed to watch her grow up and enjoy God's blessing of.... food! :)

All Dressed Up & Ready to Go ;)

Analiese is all dressed up and ready to go to our church service today. We went to town this morning while Daddy went to the bush. She was able to wear a pretty dress and shoes because she wouldn't be playing or sitting in much dirt. ;-)

First time eating Nshima!

Analiese ate Nshima for the first time today. She loved it!

Nshima is eaten with your hands... she really likes that part.

Nshima is the local staple food here in Zambia. It is made up of ground maize boiled until thick and sticky. Much like grits! Many Zambians will eat Nshima for every meal.

She went back several times for more... the Zambians really enjoyed watching her eat and enjoy their food for the first time. :)

Boo!

Analiese playing peek-a-boo! It usually comes at random times throughout the day. So much fun.

AJ & Ayesha

Analiese has a friend named Ayesha. We met her and her parents in the grocery store one day. We noticed they were about the same age and that they were intrigued by each other! ;) Since then, Farzana (her Mom) and I have become good friends as well.

It's so much fun to see her make friends. I have pictures of me with my little friends growing up. It is such a blessing to see her in pictures with her little friends!!

I love being her Mom, watching her grow up and seeing what the Lord has in store for her each day!

Growing pains ;)

Growing pains... As soon as the other bo-bo healed she made a couple new ones.

Lol

Not even sure what to say about this one except, lol! ;-)

Damaged goods

AJ took a nice spill yesterday. Didn't cry too much - guess it looks worse than it actually is!

Bangin' Pots N Pans!

Now she can cook her own meals to serve to our many visitors. Teaching her young to be hospitable and a little keeper of the home! In the book of the Bible Titus, Ch 2 says that the aged women are to teach the younger women to be keepers at home... what a fun way to learn! Analiese is a great little student too. ;) She was so serious opening the lid on the pot and stirring the pasta. I'm so blessed to be her Mom, teacher and the keeper of our home!

Thank you for the pots and pans Gramma Vicky! :)

Preparing Green Beans...

I don't know what I would do with out my helper! We are getting ready for 3 visitors from the states today. We are making green beans to go with spaghetti and meatballs! Analiese loves to help Mommy! Lately she has really enjoyed putting things in bowls or baskets. The other day she helped me with the laundry. I ended up folding everything a few times over... but at least she had fun! Today she helped me put the green beans in the bowl. :) So what if she just spilled the bowl of snipped ends on the floor... She has fun helping me pick those up too!!

I love my little helper. ;)

Let's go gang!!

Everywhere we go she makes friends. These are the kids that she met at church today. I think she was saying, "let's go gang!"

Supper time!

She loves spaghetti night!! :-)

Her baby ;-)

She even carries her baby on her back... Just like they do here in Zambia! ;-)

Her n Teddy

She just loves that Mr. Teddy bear! She hugs him, rocks him, gives him crackers and sippy cups and even puts him on my back for a piggy back ride!
Oh yeah- and she brings me "his" socks and shoes too! ;-)

She's got em'!

She is so proud to have all three of those animals in her little arms ;-)
Funny girl!

Chips

Just relaxing with some chips and a book ;-)

Found a new toy

Analiese found a new toy at a restaurant. Its always good for her to have something fun to do while we chat and eat. :)

A girl's work is never done ;)

Using a branch as a broom she just swept and swept. Finally she takes a break but then it's quickly time to get back to work. Once it was time to go inside, she threw herself on the floor crying.... guess a girl's work really never is done ;)

My girls

Analiese is really starting to love being outside! It is so much fun to see her just enjoying the outdoors.

Mississippi girl ;)

Gramma, Mama and AJ at her 1 yr Birthday Party!
She loves that Gramma. :)



Analiese's very own "car"... she would sit in the icechest and make car noises ;)




With her Mommy's 1st doll... she liked it very much!




Children's time at church. She wasn't sure what we were doing, but she liked it anyway!



"We get to sit in front again?! I like this a lot!"



Before children's time the children walk around getting money from the adults. They are then suppose to put it in the box shaped like a church. Analiese is still learning about giving... she really liked the receiving part though!




She liked the park everytime we went, but especially when Uncle Josh came too!



He even showed her how to play the guitar. :)



One of her favorite things to do in MS was take walks with Papa Noel. ;)
"Hey, wait for me!"



One of my favorite things to do was take walks with Papa Noel and my daughter. :)




Cousins, cousins, and more cousins! She liked her cousins!
Top to bottom: Childress, Smith and Fryfogle






Spending some time with their Great-Granny.
Childress great-grandkids and Granny Janet Childress Rouse



Spending some time with their Great-Mamaw.
Molly, AJ and Mamaw Pollie Fryfogle



"Pine Hill Day Celebration" in my home town.
She loves new places and people so this really was a celebration for her!