"Mr. Eight-year-old's Birthday" - by Levi

Well, I came out into the living room and I helped Mama clean up the room. We blew up baloons and hung up a pinata we had made the day before. Then we ate breakfast and played games. When we opened up presents, I got a knife from Papa, seven motorcycles from Dan, a BUNCH of candy from Glory, and some little birthday candles from Nate. They looked like little smiley face people . Then I got to stick them on the cake. The cake was of a soccer field and they were the players. I made two goalies  and four players. It was the "pinks" against the "colorfuls". After that Papa went and got some friends of mine to play soccer with. After we played, we came home to eat cake. Tanner my friend had a present! It was a soccer ball and a boat made in China called "Junk". (Hahaha). We played soccer again at our house for a little bit and then we had to leave to go to a Bible Study, so we took the friends home. Then we went to the Bible Study. After that we came home and went to bed. 

That was my very fun birthday! :) 

Brothers

So a few days ago, I was talking to my Mama. She told me that my grandmother had really enjoyed the pictures we had posted from Noah's birthday and that she had thought he was starting to look a lot like his brother Nate. She asked me to post a picture of Noah and Nate together, close enough the she could see the faces to compare them. "No problem", I thought to myself. Ha! What was I thinking?? That I could get my two littlest wiggly people TOGETHER,  and STILL, and LOOKING AT THE CAMERA? At the SAME TIME???  :) The afternoon we tried we never did get the perfect shot,

 but here are a few if the better ones. :)

 I deleted quite a few of Nate making bug-eyed mug shot pictures. He finally started smiling, but we couldn't convince Noah. After all, why should he be happy if he has to be still?  :) 

 Ah, that's better!

Noah had given up on us by this point, but it was still pretty sweet. :)

August happenings....

We tease around here that August is the month where you eat cake every day; that's not quite the truth, but it's close. Between an anniversary and three birthdays, (not to mention a week of Vacation Bible School  thrown in just in case we were bored), we had a little bit of trouble getting normal life done - you know, things like laundry. And school. :)

Our 11th wedding anniversary and Taylor's birthday were both very nice, but apparently we are not as cute as our kids, because I took very few pictures. However, here are several from Dan's and Glory's birthdays.

I always have to laugh at the differences in these two celebrations so close together. Daniel turned 6. His gifts acknowledged the growing young man that he is; the Very. Most. Important
 gift being his first knife, given to him by his Papa.







 (I also had to smile at the wrapping jobs on several of his other presents; one was wrapped in duct tape; another was tied with a piece of rubber strap. It was altogether a very manly day.

 Daniel was happy to get a bigger bike... he had been expecting it; his old one was so small for him that it made him look like a clown in the circus. :)

The Knife. It is a neck knife...very handy for a boy 

who is usually in athletic shorts, and/or upsidedown.  

 a "coming of age" moment. 

 (one perk of Dan getting upgraded to a bigger bike, is that Nate can learn to ride the little one)

Up till now he has had a "balance bike"; a bike without pedals for beginners to learn on.  

As of this writing, he is riding his "new" bike just fine without help. :)

Ok....enough camo....

Two days later, we crowned our 10 year old princess. :)

 Her knights-errant brought flowers 

and swore  their allegiance to protect, honor,

 and do all the dishes that usually fall to her. :) 

 I had fun figuring out how to make a pink cake

 without easy access to food coloring -strawberry jam and jello powder saved the day!

 In a fun opposite of Daniel's duct tape and weaponry....

Glory and I stayed up late after the boys went to bed 

making "fancy feet" with stickers Granny B sent. :)

Levi started this brainy tradition of offering to play a board game of choice with the birthday-kid. 

It was his gift to Dan; everyone liked it so well that on Glory's birthday

 Monopoly was well underway by the time I woke up. :)

I am so very blessed to get to Mama these kids. Their individual personalities crack me up, and sometimes I think we may all go crazy, but they really are amazing people.... and I am grateful for the part we get to play in all of this. :)

Noah turns 2!

I realize I have held onto these pictures far "2" long after the event; my apologies, grandparents. :) 

But here is a better-late-than-never photo tribute to Noah being 2!

July happenings...

Noah has been learning lots of words; here are three important ones in his world right now:

- pee pee, because he has taken it upon himself to be a big boy. 

- Bible, because his family is in love with the Word of Life, 

and being quiet because Papa is reading us the Bible is an important thing. 

- and GOOOAAAL!!!, because, well, he learned to talk during the World Cup. 

 Sometimes they watched...(at least until the internet crashed)

Sometimes they played...saying, "You be Ecuador, I'm Switzerland. "

 Rafa, your Levi is a faithful friend. :) 

 Since we are still in school, (we're saving up vacation for coming to TX later in the year, the Lord willing), we were able to study some about the Declaration of Independence, and the 4th of July. We re-read the Independence Day chapters in the Little House series for fun too. After some crafts and songs, the rest of the day was spent playing silly water games, and getting ready for the back-yard camp out. :) 

 Since I haven't gotten the chance to talk about her much yet,

 Glory continues to be my "right hand girl" She is a huge help with the little guys,

 but also enjoys doing some growing-up things without them;

 she is continuing twice a week guitar lessons in town, 

and is very excited to be moving up into "Papa's Class" for math starting next week. :) 

She tells me almost daily that in fifty-whatever days she will be 10. I'm still not sure I believe it. :)

By God's grace, Taylor continues in his work here; preparing for and contributing in various Bible studies, building relationships in town and with the believers, and occasionally getting to save the day for some missionary in from the jungle with a crashed computer. :) 

Sorry...apparently I don't remember to take pictures of adults. Hopefully you will understand; it's just that our kids are so CUTE! ;) 

Love because our Savior loves us, Alesha<><

Nate's Birthday pics

So, ten days shy of a MONTH ago....(sorry about that! :) Nathanael turned 4!!! 

A week or so before his birthday, Nate woke up with a brainstorm; he tip-toed into Glory's room and woke her up, saying, "Glory, Glory. I want a BANANA cake for my birthday. Banana on bottom and chocolate on top." So, we went about figuring out how to make a banana/chocolate layer cake with chocolate icing, and banana goo in the middle. :) 

 Nate's present from us was his own little basket ball. The "goal" has since been mounted 

onto the drive-through gate so that there is cement under it. 

 My great aunt Lila came to see us for a day the week of Nate's birthday. She took him to the hardware store to pick out his very own tool. He has very happily used his pliers for everything he can think of, including picking flowers and eating popcorn balls. (see below)

Good ol' Nate. We love you lots, little man! :)

The Family of Unity...of sorts

Yesterday morning I woke abruptly due to my body's need to cough. COUGH COUGH.

Immediately following, I heard the sound of Levi: COUGH COUGH.

Then Dan: HACK HACK.

And finally Nathanael followed suit with us all and finished with a semi-muffled HRUCK HRUCK COUGH.

Now I think Noah is learning this new "trick"....sigh.

Oh the joys of a family that shares so generously!
~TaylorH