Just Being A Boy!

Two separate days.

Two different types of dirt.

One happy boy.

Posing in Pangani

Playing In Pangani

Ben "WOW"-ing each wave that crashed in.
Look at all that ocean!

Beach babes.

Ben, Jeff and Anna, and a dhow in the distance.

Anna SWIMMING in the ocean.

Ben zig-zagging across the sand.

Sand play right outside the banda in the shade.

Jenn with the butterfly kite.

Sweet Ben.

Silly Ben. And Silly Mommy.

Delicious food and delicious company.

Piece of Paradise

The sunrise from the window of our banda on the Indian Ocean.
The view from our banda.

A fisherman pushing off against the current.

Views from our banda

The banda that we shared with another family, who happen to be our best buds in Tanzania!

Part of the coastline, in front of a local village.

Our beach.

Does anyone see a single umbrella or PERSON for that matter?

So beautiful.

We are so thankful.

And overwhelmed.

The Journey to Pangani

Our journey began at 4 am on Tuesday morning. The kids were a bit too excited to keep sleeping, but we set them up with pillows and blankets anyhow.

If that is not a "deer in the headlights" look, I am not sure what is!

Grabbing a picture at our "rest" stop. This is our friend "Franky" who has recently joined the family of our best friends here in Moshi.

This is the ferry that we used to cross the Pangani River.

It was risky, but we all made it.

We are "floating" across the Pangani River - looking out at the mouth of the river meeting the Indian Ocean.

A picture of the ruins of a house that some of the first slave traders in this area built in the late 1800's.

Three exhausted, sun bleached kids returning from a week at the beach.

Note: this picture was taken approximately 10 minutes after we left the beach.

Boy Meets Africa

This is Benjamin exploring during a bathroom break at the foot of the Usambara Mountains.

The WORLD became our rest area.

Benjamin taking in the deep blue sea and contemplating life.

Benjamin debating whether or not he could TAKE ON the deep blue sea
and still live to tell about it.

Snapshots of Christmas!

Christmas Cookie decorating with our best buddies in Moshi on Christmas Eve!

The stockings hung and stuffed with goodies from friends at home! THANK YOU!

Our two sweet little elves on Christmas morning.

Ben with some sweet stacking blocks and a new tractor from Gramma and PopPop Holcomb.

This year he loved the presents!

Swimming in the school pool on Christmas afternoon with our best buddies again.

Anna putting on her "dress-up" from Daddy after swimming. They were inseparable that day - Anna and her dress - up that is...

The happy Grinch picture (taken by Sarah)

Ben and I outside cruising around the garden on Christmas Eve.