Happy Birthday Kristie - Congrats Graham

Kristie celebrated her 38th by having a few dozen of her favorite pals over to our dance club/patio


The boys ensured that the disco ball and lights were in good working order... and did some hip-hop

The swim season finished up with a great swim meet - and lots of fun - thanks to coach Shirley!

Lincoln enjoyed the school science fair - because his teacher had the good sense to do things that required action

Kristie and her class put on a great show also - with Graham doing a great experiment on electricity.

We don't have a picture - but Graham won a VERY prestigious competition for a video he made about life in Cameroon that will help families coming to Yaounde (or thinking about bidding on a job here) what it's like. His infectious enthusiasm and unique commentary impressed the judges, and he collects the prize money (yes) - in July from a very special MC. (More on that later).

Cameron continues to be an active member of the family - and is shown here picking on her brother "Scout"

Cub scouts is coming to a close after a good year - the boys are shown here at a nearby village where they coordinated a giveaway of clothes and toys for local kids.

The village is no more than 5 miles from us as the crow flies - but is a world apart from our daily reality

Another school activity has been "Heely" class (cross between sneakers and rollerblades) - and the older guys are shown at a presentation they did at the annual school bazaar.

Sprint to the Finish

Dear friends and family

Sorry for the lame blogging - we've been losing and breaking cameras like crazy, and are gearing up for the big move this summer. Beleive it or not my big break came now that Kristie and the two older boys are on a school trip to Bratislava, Slovakia (long story). It's wrestlemania during the day, but Lincoln wears out by nine or so...

Truth is, while there are frustrations and challenges here in Cameroon, it has been a wonderful home for all of us, and expanded our horizons in countless ways. France will of course be wonderful, and have snow, and we are consoling ourselves that we will see many more of you at a post that is about as accessible and alluring as you can find. The Swaneys senior get the grand prize for making it out to the bush twice to share in the travel, raising a litter of puppies, and enjoying an afternoon swim with Lincoln and the dogs. (working on that blog entry).

Anyhow - before we leave Cameroon we've been trying to do all those things we either haven't gotten to, or can't get enough of.

Top on the list - conquering the Mt. Cameroon Race of Hope. After two years of nearly completing this full marathon that starts at 3000 feet and goes to over 14000 feet - Bill took the suggestion of a Cameroonian friend (Kristie's tennis coach) who pointed out that the mountain was still there, and that I didn't HAVE to wait another year to run the course. Thus was born the first annual (perhaps) U.S. -Cameroon Friendship hike/run. By sharing the experience with Cameroonian friends, work colleagues and visiting U.S. military colleagues a personal psychosis evolved into a fun day hike for most of the participants, and a man vs. mountain battle for Bill and a handful of U.S. Marines (who got a 4 hour head start) and arrived at the summit by noon - where is was still approaching the freezing point with high winds. Kristie and the boys also defended the family honor pushing far up the mountain and then carrying a sleeping Lincoln all the way down.

Three times a charm - at the halfway mark of my personal marathon

Cameroonian and American Friends on the Trail

School has also been going very well this year - with Kristie enjoying her small (7 students) fourth grade class, and her star student (Graham). She has also REALLY enjoyed her tennis, and become the school champion. Eli has also thrived, keeping busy with tennis lessons, and a hip-hop dance class where he is learning moves that make my back hurt from watching. Lincoln also loves school, and is very popular, most likely because he is usually in some kind of minor trouble, talks to everyone, only sometimes says things that make any sense, and has enough enthusiasm for an entire kindergarten class.

Eli Really is So Fly - (Moms' Genes)

SuperMom/Tennis Starlet with her coaches

During our recent Limbe trip we also celebrated Lincoln's fourth birthday - sharing the occasion with several good friends, and providing the perfect gift for him, a punching bag and boxing gloves...

Lincoln Celebrating with a Crocodile Ride

And a Horsey Ride

And we cannot forget the newest Swaney - our second baby girl, Cameron

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!!!

It was a busy day for Neo and Trinity - who teamed up with....




Spidey, a Ninja Turtle and a prizewinning astronaut



and we went out to trick-or-trunk - in the Embassy parking lot, which is a highly efficient system where trunks replace houses, so all the loot is collected in 15 minutes...

Then some brother bonding

Or was that brother beating?

Hope you all has as much fun as we did

The Swaneys