Babysitter

Our date night aka 'Shaun the sheep" on a school night.

Peek boo!!

Gingerbread construction

Warning do not attempt without grandparent support. Last year the kids frosted cookies together, and next year the kids will frost cookies together. But this year I was feeling ambitious and baked and cut out gingerbread, made the royal icing, and gathered three kids high on sugar to construct miniature houses. They loved all 30 minutes that it took. And they will enjoy the next week of taking it apart and eating it bit by bit. 

Santa hunting

Our now traditional Santa hunting on Christmas Eve. We saw 10+ men dressed in Santa suits, countless trees and blow up Santas.  Most people wouldn't expect it, but southern Lebanon has a very lively and festive Christmas celebration.

Leaves

Here is our guys in the leaves. 

New traditions

We are trying out new traditions this year.  One I saw on line, was a advent book gift idea. A new book every night before Christmas.  With JuJu's book gifts, coloring books, and books I had ordered we had enough (close enough).  So every night we read out a part of the Christmas story from the Bible, the kids either color a picture or act out something from the story. Some nights I admit if we can get them to sit still we are doing well.  They love books so our tradition is going well.  (They have argued a lot and gone to bed without any story, so as angelic a photo as this is, it isn't always the case) But on a whole going well.

Anna Lena pics

Tom boy and girl

She wanted to dress in the Spider-Man costume. But then she accessorized it with a purse. You go girlfriend!

Dog

When we arrived back from America a street dog greeted us from with in the gate. She was a nice dog, very friendly. But we were not exactly sure how she got in. One day the kids and I finally saw her scale the wall. With in a few weeks she had 6 puppies behind our house next to our water pump. She preceded to  eat two after they had died😝 and then after approxamently 6 weeks we never saw her again. I was left with 4 puppies and no desire to clean up after another living thing. The kids that beg at the gate are always asking if there is anything I don't want, I made them take all 4.  I convinced the kids the puppies were going to be taught to heared goats, which was my hope. So this taste of having pets cured me of wanting anything else that poops for the forseable future.

Fort Bowers

Yes when mama is in the bedroom working on CEU's this is what happens.

Thank you aunt Julie

Thank you aunt Julie for having been a flight attendant, and thank you aunt Julie for leaving that for a better life, and thank you Aunt Julie for giving Daddy and Judy vacation passes to come visit. A lot of prayers were made for my sanity during the two weeks Bill was traveling. And my sanity was in tact and then some thanks to their visit. They both were so helpful, encouraging, flexible, and generous. We had a great time. They brought costumes, coffee, and even velveta. They didn't complain when it rained for 5 days straight, and they even figured out our now even more crazy electrical system. Anna Lena cried after we dropped them off saying "No pop pop ju ju airplane". Very greatful!!

ThankfullTurkey's

We are working, a work in progress, to encourage thankfulness among all of us. Thanks to pinterist we made thankfull turkey's from a few of our pine combs. 

B-Ball Texas Style

We call this Texas style because in Texas you can do everything from a drive-thru. 

Thanksgiving

This was our second thanksgiving to host. We had 18 adults (in Michael Ludlow fashion can't leave anyone out), 6 kids, 4 casseroles, 6 pies, and what might have been the biggest turkey in Lebanon. I got started with dishes to quick and didn't enjoy my company as I should have, but I did get all the left overs : )

IDE al Barbara

If anyone remembers from last years post, IDE Al Barbara is to remember Saint Barbara who through tradition was disguised in costume and taken from village to village to escape her angry father after converting to Christianity. To celebrate kids wear costumes to school and eat a special custerd (which no one likes as Jonas informed me) great time was had.

Castle climbing

It seemed as if we went to the castle every week for a month, birthday party and guests.  The last group we took there was in the evening at sunset and we got some great pictures.  With no other kids around (well no other parents around to shame us) we let the boys crawl through the drainage system with flash lights.

Engagement of a friend

A worker friend of our got engaged to a local Syrian believer. When in Rome do as the Romans do, I.e: wear a sparkly dress, lots of make up, loud music, and eat cake. The party didn't start until 7 pm, so the kids were super excited to stay up late. Anna Lena as it turns out loves dancing, or just clapping while everyone dances around her. Jonas just liked the cake.

Castle birthday party

Two friend celebrated their birthdays at the castle. There was a castle cake, treasure hunt, and shield and tiara gifts. Awesome time. The locals were taking pictures of the foreigners for a change of pace.

Do it yourself

She may be ready for potty training if: she takes her own diaper off and puts her own cream on afterward.

Or, she may just need the diaper cream put away higher out of her reach!