What's big and gray and furry and rocks?

We'd like to show you some of the great gifts Lee Anna got for her birthday and explain how they're a little different from what you'd see in the states.

Exhibit A:
Lee Anna loves this little phone. Every button plays a different song. I'm sure you could find similar models in the states, but I doubt you could find one that says "Benign Girl" on the front! We're pretty sure a non-native English speaker came up with that one.


Exhibit B:
This is a 2-in-1 xylophone and piano--perfect for a kid from a musical family like ours. It's actually very much like a toy you might find in the states. What's unusual about this one was the packaging. Anyone who has ever opened a child's toy in the states knows that it almost takes a special degree to get the toy out of the box. Well, that's not a problem here. We just opened the cardboard box, pulled the piano out, and Lee Anna got busy making beautiful music. Maybe Fisher Price could learn a few things from these folks.

Exhibit C:
This one is definitely a regional specialty. It's a furry camel purse that plays Arabic music when you squeeze it. I bet you haven't seen any of those at Wal-Mart!




Exhibit D:
And finally, our birthday gift for Lee Anna: a big stuffed rocking elephant. The store where we bought it also had rocking giraffes, zebras, and cows, but the elephant was definitely the cutest. We thought it was appropriate for her first birthday in Africa. Her friend Landon came over today and agreed to help model the gifts for you. Thanks, Landon!

About the Title:
On the morning of her birthday, Jason wanted to give Lee Anna a hint about her gift, so her asked her, "What's big and gray and furry and rocks?" Needless to say, she didn't quite figure it out.