Leif is a singer in a band.

Yes, that's right. Leif and his friends, Sasha, Dennis, and Vasia are creating and practicing a song in Buryat style. They're preparing to be able to sing it as at an outreach in February during the Buryat New Year, "Sagaalgan". The words of the song talk about how God can make us whiter than snow. This is especially appropriate as the whole month is known as "white month". People eat white foods and attempt to purify themselves. Of course God is the only One who can really purify us.

Leif is the throat singer of the group. It's so funny. And fun. And great. Hopefully I can get a little video snippet of them sometime.



Yesterday, Anneka and I spent the morning with friends and she catnapped on the bus ride back. I knew that a 24 minute nap was not enough for her for the day, so I put her in her crib after we'd been home for about an hour. She talked happily from her bed and after awhile it sounded like her voice was coming from a different place. I stood outside her door, listening, and she slid a book under the door. She'd escaped! Leif and I both went in there and our little monkey had pushed off of the wall with her feet, sliding her crib across the room next to the other bed. Then she climbed out of her crib, onto the other bed, and down. I suppose this is more comforting than her falling out onto the hard floor, but it makes me wonder if this will become a new problem we have to deal with. Funny girl. This picture was taken after the "incident". Leif was showing Anneka how to go to sleep, but she just wanted to play!