Headband and barrette from our market trip yesterday... eva and I went to buy veggies and came back w/ hair stuff for eva! Lots of fun!

I stuck my head outside this morning to make sure the kids were okay and found them in a wheelbarrow full of water. haha! Kids crack me up. It's cold here! Early morning temps have been in the low 60s lately, which leaves Nathan and I scrounging for fleece and sleeping in wool socks. I mean really, what's not to love in life when you're 2 and 4 years old?

the day after Christmas

Of all the weddings I've been to, here or in the states, this one was the largest and probably the fanciest too! The kids ate and ate... I think they were still eating when we left late that night! The wedding had several western aspects to it as the bridegroom spent several years studying in the states, so it was a fun combination of cultures for us. The best part was that the wedding was up in the capital, so we got to attend our first wedding with Jeff and Laura there too! Lots of fun!

random

The kids are excited for Christmas sugar cookies... though hard to tell from this picture :)

Playing in the sand pile with one of the neighborhood girls

Zach loves hanging outside.. he uses the johnny jump up to kick off from the edge of this thatched shelter, flying out into the air and then swinging back again!

Hike and picnic by the mountains!

neighbor friends

Cole Christmas traditions!

This year for Christmas, we did something new with the kids. Actually, we didn't mean for it to coincide with Christmas, but since it did, and since we liked it, we're thinking we'll make this our first Cole Christmas tradition! It's our "giving away our best stuff" time when the kids get the opportunity to give away their favorite toys to kids who don't have. This picture was their start, which they added to as the day went on. The key here wasn't to give away junk but to give away their best, which in reality, hurt me way more than it hurt them. :) In the end, it was a great process of moving towards some our goals for the kids... exchanging indoor toys for outdoor play, becoming more like our neighbors, and giving the kids a way to love in a sacrificial way. Their smiles below are way better than any of the smiles they gave as they opened their own presents... now to figure out a way to include Nathan and I in on the fun!