We are seriously in love with this sweet little guy!! He turned 3 on January 22nd! I remember when we found out I was pregnant with Caden. . . I cried and cried. David and I had just returned from our 5 year anniversary trip to Cancun. I thought I ate something bad because I was sick to my stomach and throwing up. . . but it didn’t end. . . for 5 months 🙂 Even though he came a little sooner than we would have planned, he is such a special gift to us all! Caden was 8 months old when we moved to East Asia. He speaks Chinese and English at about the same level, prefers rice and noodles over western food, loves to laugh, and loves music! We love you Caden Luke!
Chinese New Year is almost here!
The Chinese New Year is quickly approaching. The Chinese New Year is comparable to our Christmas. Everyone returns home to be with their family and eat lots of yummy food 🙂 The differences include tons and tons of fireworks and firecrackers (day and night), and the holiday lasts for 2 weeks. . . lots of people are off work and stores closed down for that period of time. I think that is a great idea – 2 weeks off together with family?! Yes please 🙂 🙂
These red knots will be hung in every home for the Chinese New Year! Kylie was learning about them at her school. They make nice earrings too huh?
These sweet girls are dangerously cute I think 🙂
Around the town. . .
This is a really neat place to live. . . one second you are in the city, then you can turn down another road to the country pictured below. This city is full of diversity, huge gaps between the rich and poor, and so many people who have never heard. . .
Celebrating New Years at Colt’s school!
I really like Colt’s school. He LOVES his school. He would tell you it’s the best school ever and how his teachers are so nice. This mommy’s heart is beyond grateful to the One who gave us this gift! To be in a different country, different culture, be immersed in a different language at least 8 hours a day, do homeschool with mommy, and still LOVE school. . . that is a gift for sure! This school is much more laid back than the traditional school here, they love to be outside, and stress the importance of family often. For this event, David was traveling so I went and stepped up to the plate with Colt on the various “field day” type games. So we didn’t win the tug of war, but we did win the potato sack race (I conveniently lost those crazy pictures that someone snapped of me)! I love this age with Colt. He’s fun to play with, interesting to talk with, and he loves to be with Mommy and Daddy. I PR for wisdom to guide these little hearts . . . Just like marriage, parenting is a great opportunity to make us more like Him! It can be sanctifying indeed as we fight the flesh and pour ourselves out, continually serve, and unconditionally love these children. . . just like He did for us through his life and on the cross.
1st and 2nd graders vs. 3rd graders (with the help of a few parents). We lost that one.
Thankfully this wasn’t a competition. Just for fun 🙂
1st and 2nd grade vs. 3rd graders again. We tried switching sides of the rope to gain advantage from the lay of the land. . . still lost 🙂
Christmas continues. . .
We celebrated Christmas a little longer this year. . . thankful for friends and open doors!
We all got in this one (selfie stick)!
Kylie did everyone’s hair, complete with big bows!
Christmas tree glasses (thanks Alicia)
Hot pot! Just add the raw veggies you want to eat to the soup and eat as they are cooked (it’s pretty slow eating obviously)
QJ and David are basketball buddies. He bought Colt a basketball goal for Christmas!
They love our kiddos!
David was able to share with some classes in the countryside too!
Thanks to the preschool class at Trinity who sent these crafts for the kids!
Pics from Kylie and Caden’s Teachers
We are still very pleased and thankful for the school environment available for our kiddos. Kylie and Caden go to a preschool right across the road. The teachers frequently send pictures and videos of the kids, and Haley teaches English there, both of which allow us to stay informed and see how they are doing. They are both doing great! Thankful for Dad’s gift in this area!
Kylie LOVES her teacher, and her teacher is really great with Kylie. Thankful this little girl speaks fluently, has friends, and fits into her class despite her blonde hair 🙂
Caden is doing great with his Chinese. He is excited to “go see teachers” on school days. Super cute to hear him saying things and singing songs he has learned at school.
Making a stocking for Christmas!
Christmas Happenings!!
We are so thankful for how well everything has gone this past week! We know we can make plans, but it’s Dad who carries them out! Haley shared the Christmas story with 4 classes at Kylie and Caden’s preschool, then we had different parties with friends and neighbors on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We actually have a last minute one tonight to wrap up the party week 🙂
Here are some pics to help you envision the faces, the laughter, the yummies, and Christmas in Asia! Thank you so much for those of you who sent things to help these parties be such a hit! Thank you for lifting us up this past week! His name was shared at each one, we trust seeds were planted, and He will continue to work in hearts! We are so thankful for these friendships, and that we are able to work here!
First of all. . . Merry Christmas from us!
Colt really enjoyed the different Christmas parties this year. Whether is was adults or kids, he was in on the action, sharing, and laughter!
The kids (and adults) all enjoyed making and decorating sugar cookies!! Thanks Alicia for the awesome party decorations and cookie supplies! It was a lot of fun!
Playing games with Colt’s friends from school and neighborhood friends 🙂
Lots of smiles 🙂 It really was fun!
Playing games!
Caden enjoying a cookie he (with a little help) decorated.
Cookie decorating!
Kylie’s Christmas tree cookie. She decorated with great care and precision. Each sprinkle placed by hand 🙂
Colt decorated his cookies quickly so he could eat them 🙂
Cookies making/decorating table 🙂
Teaching some friends how to make and decorate cookies. They thought is was the best thing ever!
Helping with a party at a friend’s house. David played music, we ate a traditional Christmas meal (complete with turkey again), and were able to share!
Kylie likes music 🙂
Taking out a turkey leg!
Another party at our place. . . so much fun with these brothers and sisters!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Thanksgiving in Asia. . .
This thanksgiving was a major success 🙂 We missed our families and that special time together, but we still have an endless list of things to be thankful for!
David found a turkey (which was imported from America!) and deep fried it to perfection. It.was.so.good. I had my own memories to make though. I made sweet potato casserole, rolls, and then was given the task of 3 pumpkin pies. So I bought a pumpkin, roasted it, made the pumpkin puree. . . bought a piece of fat, which I then cooked down and made into lard. It made for some especially yummy pie crust we all agreed! Don’t forget the homemade whipped cream! The traditional meal can still be done in this context. It just took 4x as long and cost 4x as much 🙂 It was sweet fellowship with friends though, as we laughed, ate comfort foods from home, and reflected on the Father’s goodness this past year! Colt had just studied about the first Thanksgiving in homeschool and lost by one point (to his competitive father) in the Thanksgiving trivia game we played after dinner 🙂
Haley taught a lesson about Thanksgiving to 4 of the classes at Kylie and Caden’s preschool. It was new to them! Plus, our local friends who shared our Thanksgiving meal didn’t appreciate the yummy goodness of the pies (they aren’t big fans of desserts or cinnamon – no problem though, we enjoyed the pies for them)!
Family Pics. . . another year
Goldilocks. . . or Rapunzel. .. or Tangled may be a better name. Kylie’s favorite princess name right now is “The Mermaid” though.
Kylie Joy – 4 1/2 years old! Loves music, dancing, dress up, fixing hair, and being a “mommy” to anyone smaller than her.
Cool man Colt David – he doesn’t want to cut his hair right now, and we going with that. It is kind of cute when he “flips” it out of his eyes 🙂
Colt David – 7 years old! Loves being outside, nature, exploring, bugs, animals, and climbing trees!
Happy Caden Luke – 2 years 10 months! Loves trains, cars, outside, and food 🙂 He laughs and smiles all the time.
Family Pics Fall 2015
Family Pics Fall 2014 for kicks 🙂
Fun Flashback!
This is a video I found of Colt and his best friend back in Chengdu, Lyric. They look so young! It’s hard to believe this was just 1 year ago! These 2 were always together. They went to school together, we lived in the same neighborhood, and Lyric’s mom was my best friend too! Oh how we miss them! I’m glad we’ll have this little keepsake memory though 🙂