Apparently, we have witnessed more rain in the last week than Botswana has seen in a decade(which is kind of scary). Even though it has rained, it's only been a few dramatic thunderstorms where it rains hard for 20-30 minutes at the most.But the storms just sort of creep up on you. I've had laundry hanging 3 times in the past week that got caught in a rain storm. That doesn't say much for my planning and memory skills, point is, rain comes fast here.And with the rain, some serious lightning. Michelle's friends who have lived here longer than us say some of the lightning strikes force them under their beds/covers. I can't wait for those to hit 3 am.. Party in Mom and Dad's room!!!! A storm hit over the Independence day weekend and according to the Setswana teacher at school, lightning stuck 6 cows in her village. She said they had a large braai after that...How convenient.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWbfXrDTyNY
I've enclosed a slideshow of the clouds outside our home before a big time thunderstorm last evening. It's not very scenic, but without a car, this is as good as it gets. The pictures don't do it justice. It was quite beautiful. The lightning was pretty extreme.. I dressed the kids up in their aluminum foil suits, took them to an open field and we hit golf balls( just for kicks) during the lightning storm. We had a great time.
On a side note, the babies are walking all over the place now. As a matter of fact, they've been at it for a while. When Jude started (right after we arrived) he had this "victory walk" where he would hold one arm in the air, hand clenched in a fist. He's through that stage, and both are completely destroying the house and yard.. In the house their favorite games are, put fingers in outlets, climb the steps, push chairs that will fall over you, and tinker with the TV when the kids are watching it (so much to a point where they reprogram the thing so no one can figure it out). All the while putting markers, pens, money, old food, socks and shoes in their mouths. Franny does this thing where she constantly puts things around her neck and wears it like a scarf. Underpants and string are her 2 favorite things.
Outside, they like to eat the poisonous berries that cover our whole back yard and patio...If that's not an option, then they'll try to climb the jagged rocks that decorate our lawn, pick the only 2 flowers that bloom in our garden or eat the sidewalk chalk while Maura tries to draw a picture.
AHHHHHHH........ Africa!!!!!!!! As I write this, Franny is tearing up a picture book , while Jude is sitting in a poopy diaper eating a marker. Don't worry, I'm on top of it. God he stinks.
Alright, that's my cue to leave. the flies are swarming Jude, which by the way, they swarm everything in our home. You can't escape them. They are smarter here than at home, no doubt.
