Saturday, December 20, 2014

7 Years Completed! Happy Birthday EVA


 Prepping for the 3-legged race

 Musical Chairs 35 Strong

Musical Chairs (the disappointed hopefuls)

Birthday fare: Fried Rice, Fried Noodles, & Fried Meatballs
(sorry Michele O)

The Shining Princess Birthday Cake 

Too much cake, too much soda, too much fun

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Our Meloneque Neighbors

About 100 yds from our front gate lies the main highway.

And on this, the road to Vietnam, lies a fringe of Melon Miners.

 And a good number of Melon Minors.

 These, mainly women and children, live on the highway selling Melons.

We like to visit them.

This is Lao winter, and harsh cold winds blow continually.  

The Melon Miners, all the ladies and their children, are pretty brave.

No toilets, no running water, no privacy.   5-6 months each year.

They are mostly from our village - and their kids and ours are good friends.




Tuesday, December 16, 2014

almost 4 and almost 7

This is our last week with a 3, 5, and 6 year old kid combo in the house, and I'm a bit nostalgic thinking about upcoming birthdays and this period of time that's passing by so quickly. If only taking pictures could freeze the moment, but at least they help me remember details, like what the kids did during random December afternoons and what their smiles were like. So here's Eva and Zach yesterday afternoon, the week before they turn 4 and 7- sweeping bamboo leaves and filling drawers with water.

 

School days, school days, dear old Golden Rule days, Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic...

Since we are following the calender year for school, along with our Australian compadres here in town, December means the end of the school year! Yee haw! To show Dad all the things they've learned, we had a testing evening and each question answered correctly meant another treat (hence the bowls below).

Getting ready with a science question

This year has been great. School with the kids was the BEST way to start each day- I loved it almost every day, haha!

After the testing, the kids got a couple of small gifts, like tools, cooking spoons, and flashlights. I am so proud of them! And now we get to enjoy a break for a bit while we celebrate Eva's birthday, Christmas, and Zach's birthday all in one week! Blessings abound.