Ladies and Gentlemen,



Our daughter Hessa, who we hope is going to be an African hunter before long, was two years old yesterday.



We had a little party for her, the theme of which was COWBOYS AND INDIANS.



As you can see, little kids did what they are best at - making a mess of things! We have been cleaning the paint off the veranda all morning.



At least they all enjoyed themselves, including Walter



We just had to make sure we had plenty of BBQ meat ready for him.











One of our friend's wives brought a set of paint, and painted all the father's and mother's faces with red Indian war paint.



Hessa was watching all this, so she decided to paint herself!

VERY cute! Are you planning to wait until she's three for her to take her first buffalo?

Best,

JohnTheGreek

Now I know who painted Walter for the witch doctor exorcism of Ray!



This just goes to prove my theory: Little boys are for Mama's and little girls are for Daddies! My two girls are just a year apart. Hessa and the cute little blond with her remind me so much of mine. One dark, one a blondie. We called them Princess Sunshine and Princess Moonbeam when we had a similar party for them, but thankfully with no war paint!



Last night my 15 year-old went to her first high school homecoming dance. Her "date" brought flowers, they went to a fancy place for dinner, etc. When the fellow came to the door (albeit, his mother was driving the car), I about died. Nobody, of course, is good enough for my daughter, but there was this little kid that I had watched grow up, looking about 3/4 a man, 6' tall and handsome as could be. Stand-by, Saeed! They grow up too darn fast.



BTW, is there such a think as an Emiress? I think you have one on your hands! Hessa already runs your house, next the whole kingdom!



Have you received the DVD yet? I think you'll remember all that high grass in the Selous. There are also a couple of good shots of LU-2, before Walter and Ray ruined it forever... kind of like leaving toxic waste, or something, I guess!



Hug Hessa for me!

Saeed,

Hessa is incredably cute as always! What I'm waiting for though is the picture of you all painted up! Come on lets see it!

Erik D.

Saeed,

What a beautiful little girl! My daughter is just shy of 21 months and is without question the most wonderful part of my life. I never get tired of watching her see and explore things for the first time. The world is all new to them, untarnished and amazing....

You never know much fun children are until you have your own.

Regards,
Dave

Happy Birthday Hessa!
I didnt find "the terrible twos" to be true with my daughter, I'm sure you wont with yours either.

Saeed: She's a cutie. Two weeks ago, I had an addition to the family(great granddaughter).

Many Happy Returns for the future huntress - Hessa may be the new name for Diana/Artemis in the future!

Good hunting with your daughter!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Hessa,
Happy Birthday to you . . . and lots of buffalo!

Saeed, It seems like it was just yesterday I told Peter Harris you had just had a little girl. I was hunting with him the week Hessa was born. Everyone at Bokport was excited for you and we drank a toast to the little one at dinner. Children are a blessing from God ( regadless of religous views) and are to be enjoyed every day we have them. Two is the age I really love kids the best, although some call it the terrible twos because they are in to everything. It is really the first time you begin to realize there is a fully formed person in there. Their minds are going a mile a minute and they have reached a point where they are articulate enough to communicate well. I am always amazed by the grasp that they have of things going on around them. They certainly dont miss a trick. You are truly blessed. Congratulations once again.
Mike
PS I will be hunting with Peter again in a few days provided the hurricane allows me to get a flight out of here. I will send your regards to everyone when I get there.

Congratulations Saeed! Only a few more years before she can try out the T-Rex!

I swapped a day of hunting sheep for an afternoon of busting balloons with a .22 with my daughter and son (12 and 10 years old) yesterday.

Almost as much fun as smearing war paint on each other, I'm sure!

Frans

Many joyous returns, Saeed!

Warning: they grow up fast. Two of my three daughters are married. Seems like yesterday I was bouncing them on my knee!

Delightful, thanks for sharing! I know how proud and happy you must be.

My daugther Marta had her 8th birthday today, we had 12 of her schoolfriends here. It was more or less calm when we had them around a table eating cake, but after that they started playing around like a bunch of idontknowwhat and my pointer hid in the bedroom.
My little girl was beaming with delight, so how could I complain about the mess and noice?

But yes, I am rather tired now...

Regards,
Martin

She is cute!!! She should be ready for Africa soon. On her first trip she can be the camp manager. I'm sure she already controls your household.

My little guy is 8 months old and no matter how bad my day was He never ceases to make me smile.

Happy birthday dear Hessa, happy birthday to you! I'm singing to you now!
Uncle Ray

Time flies, eh? HB.

Today I looked at some photographs of my little girl, when she was oh so very small.

She is now a teenager (although barely, at 13) and has become quite the worldly wise one (or at least she thinks so). I love my young lady, but I miss my little baby.

I know you will enjoy every second you have with your little girl. But as one father to another, let me say that it's too easy to forget how quickly those seconds will gather wind and fly into the past.

Happy birthday Hessa.

And another who knows how fast it goes. Mine's going to be 12 and again wonders how I've gotten so far knowing so little about how life is. I've earned every gray hair I have and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Saeed she is precious. Spend as much time with her as you can because you will blink once and it will be ten years past. Blink twice and she will be a grown women. Congrats.>John

Quite the stunner, that one! She's going to be a heartbreaker for sure.

Russ

What a little cutey you have there Saeed, almost as cute as MY little girl!

My little girl is just about 18 months old so I know how much fun they can be. Thanks for sharing the pictures. It looks like she had a wonderful time.

Saeed,

Congratulations on a very cute and happy little girl! Thanks for sharing a precious moment.

Kind regards;
Brett