Whoops...

Did anyone else totally and completely misplace the months of August and September?  I know October just snuck up on me leaving me feeling a bit confused and discombobulated.  Not that anything drastic or terribly dramatic happened over the past two months.  Just getting into the new normal of our daily routine with K back in school (which she loves) and me starting a new job (which I love) has thrown things off kilter enough to make life feel hectic and rushed.  But, the good news is, I think we are really finally hitting our stride and that October should be awesome!

While the majority of you are starting to enjoy varying degrees of crisp fall weather , things are starting to really heat up here.  We even had one almost 100 degree day, which was a bit brutal.  We are still a few weeks away from rain, as evidenced by the thin layer of red dust that covers everything outside.  I can't wait for the first big rain to come and clean everything up.  It really is quite odd thinking that we haven't had rain since sometime way back in May.  Of course, the rain is going to create some logistical problems with the pet bunnies (which are holding at a total of seven, though I am currently suspicious that there are babies in the burrow again).  We are going to have to create some sort of rain shelter to keep the poor things from being perpetually soaked.

Two of my cousins were in country for a couple of weeks.  It sounded like they had an amazing trip and we were lucky enough to get to spend one small leg of it with them at one of our favorite lodges on the Lower Zambezi.  The elephants were out in force.  On one river cruise we must have seen close to forty of them!  We even got to see a group crossing the river.  Plus lots of crocs and, of course, the omnipresent hippos.  And the adults all had to jump out and push the boat at one point when we got stuck on a sandbank (the Kafue dam had unexpectedly shut a couple of its gates and teh water level dropped a good meter or more overnight).  The girls both had a great time and T especially enjoyed all the hippos.  I am starting to hope just a little that maybe she will actually remember some of this adventure after all, especially if we keep showing her photos and talking to her about all the amazing things she has seen in Africa.  After all, she does turn two tomorrow!

The closes thing we have to a family photo in which all of us look nice.  Poor K, just cannot smile for a photograph, she always ends up looking pained or angry, when in fact she really has a lovely, lovely smile.

One of the big groups of elephants we saw.  Almost certainly all bachelor males hanging out together.  This bunch was very playful and relaxed as they came down for an afternoon drink.  Coincidentally, I was also having an afternoon drink on the water!  Gin and tonic, of course, as it is important to take all necessary precautions against malaria.

We came around a bend in the river just in time to see a group of four elephants crossing at a shallow spot.  We just drifted closer and closer and they totally ignored us and went on their merry way.  It was really neat and the girls were fascinated.

One of the many medium sized crocs we saw on this trip.  We have seen bigger in the past, but these guys were less shy and would let the boat float right up to them without scurrying off.

Finally!  The classic hippo shot!

Its a rough life, but someone has to do it.

I liked how this guy was staring us down from the grass trying to decide what he thought about us.  I also like his little passenger.

And that is all for now!  More soon, I hope!