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!

sumo

Zach has officially reached the ONE YEAR mark!! To celebrate, he began taking his first steps... and now he's up to 4 before he hits the floor. Happy 1 year, Zach!

carpeted floors and climbing babies should go together :)

She's FOUR!

Happy Birthday EVA!!!!
You are a delight and words can't express our love for you!
We love so much about you... one thing we've been noticing lately is your soft heart. Yesterday was one of many examples.
When you heard about all the kids in the world who live without much of anything... without toys, beds, moms and dads, today you decided to give your toys away so the kids could have something. I thought you might just choose a few, but you and Elijah filled a big tub. In fact, your toy chest was looking pretty empty afterwards. Later in the afternoon, on your own, I saw you take a few more of your dolls and add them to the two already in the tub. Instead of giving one and keeping many, you gave all and just kept one. God will bless you for that, and His blessing is worth more than the greatest treasure in the world. You are an amazing four year old girl, and we are super proud of you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet girl!

cutie pie- 11 mo

after playing for hours outside in the big sand pile

hours and hours of fun

why we love our bathrooms here

OSHA Requirements - check!

travels

~2,000 mile drive from Indy to Portland
~30 hrs flying from Portland to Bangkok
~13 hour drive from Bangkok to our border town
Eva and Elijah are the best travelers ever...Zach's coming along... maybe one more year before he's there. See pics below from our travels-

morning smile :)

Found Eva performing a Bible verse this morning... totally on her own, along with her hat. :) sorry for the blurred picture!

Children obey your parents in the Lord

for this right
the first commandment
may be well with you
and be long on the earth

hiking w/ the kids... the leaves are falling!

pics from today

Zach looking outside the front door and wishing he was out there with Elijah!

Eva's new favorite thing to do- sing into her microphone! Here she is serenading us while waiting for her dinner.

9 months already? Can it be?

Look at this cutie! He's reached the mobile stage that comes just before walking on his own... transferring from one thing to the next, walking along and holding on. I'm so proud of him and just a little sad too that we'll be saying goodbye to the crawling stage soon. Don't you just want to hug him? :)

He's got 4 teeth now too, and one of these days, I'm going to start a baby book for him and get all his "first ever moments" recorded and all the hilarious things he'll be saying one day. For that matter, maybe I'll finally get one going for Elijah too. :) Or maybe I'll get rid of Eva's to make all things fair... would it be ok if Eva has one but neither of the boys do?

One thing I have figured out though, and that is that I'd rather savor today and not get every little thing recorded than constantly stressing over all the details of a project and missing out on these days when they're little. And these days won't be here for long!

first wildflower necklace with daddy!

tractor fun with our friend Aaron!

loving the great outdoors!

Pulling himself to standing all over the place!

the boys enjoying the carpeted floors

cold weather, love the fireplace!

library books w/ dad

the trip across the ocean

Great start! At the border crossing in Laos, getting ready to get on the ferry. We're paying these guys to carry our bags down the bank to the river for us... 50 steps down to the river and not so easy w/ kids and bags.

On the passenger ferry, crossing the river to Thailand

Looking back at Laos and all the other passenger boats

A restaurant along the river... looking a little rickety from this angle

The Mighty Mekong... Thailand on the left, Laos on the right

Stepping across three boats to get to shore

We're in Thailand! Here's the tuk-tuk to take us to the airport!

The kids LOVE to travel

The little town across the border now has flights to Bangkok! Woo hoo! The kids can hardly contain their excitement to get on the plane!

The snacks on the flight were great... Antie Anne's cookies!

Unfortunately, the dinner on the flight was awful... Jan and Eva are down the rest of the time with food poisoning... fevers, vomiting, diarrhea. Here's Eva resting in Bangkok.

And here's Jan at the Bangkok airport, puking on the sidewalk, less than excited about the coming flights...

We made it to Taipei! From here on out, Jan goes through airports in a wheel chair. Jan and Eva are showing no signs of recovery.

Waiting to get on the L O N G flight to LA. Which of these doesn't belong? :)

Eva sleeping

Taipei to LA
12 hrs
Elijah ok, Zach hanging by a thread, Eva constant diarrhea, Jan halfway to heaven