It’s not too often that we get the chance to spend one-on-one time with 1 of our 3 kids. We had the day off of classes and so did Colt, so we took the opportunity to take him to this indoor playground and then go for some of his fav. foods. It was fun to spend time playing and talking, and just getting to know him even better. We are proud of this boy!
Caden Luke turned 2!!
Actually, Caden turned 2 on January 22. . . like a month ago. We celebrated on time, but I’m posting it late. Sorry Caden!! Internet in our country blocks youtube, so uploading is a big challenge. Not to mention all of my free time is . . . nonexistent 🙂 haha. Language study is no joke folks! So, here on a visa run/vaca to Malaysia I can catch up on my shutterfly books and youtube videos. Yay!
Caden is a sweet little fella. He smiles so easily at everyone. . . and EVERYone loves him 🙂 He speaks as much Chinese as English. He prefers rice and spicy foods to western foods. His words are all so cutely made into 3 syllables 🙂 He loves music and can match a pitch. Taking his pacifier away was the easiest of all 3 children. We were down to 1 pacifier, and didn’t have it when it was time for bed because it was in a bag that David had taken to the store. I laid him down and said “meiyou paci” (don’t have the paci), he repeated me and went to sleep. Hasn’t asked for it since. Are you kidding me? That was too easy. It’s just his laid back temperament. He gets that from his mom (juuust kidding) ha! We love you Caden Luke!!
Sweet treat. . .
One thing I think it super fun about getting fresh fruits and veggies here, is that you can only buy the fruits that are in season. Right now it’s pineapples and the strawberries are just starting to come out!! The people that sell the pineapples can slice and carve them in no time! It’s amazing. And it’s a sweet treat for less that $.50!
More pics from the park
You see. . . another day of good weather and the park is busting at the seams with people! We love it though. . .
Kylie and Ni Ni enjoying a balloon someone gave them.
Caden lost his first balloon, but someone gave him a second. If my children are spoiled it’s not my fault!! haha.
Colt’s best friend Lyric. They don’t go to the same school anymore, but we have a set playdate every weekend. So very thankful for this friendship!
Cookies and movie night. . . can it get any better?
Walking around the park . .
This little walking park is right across from our apartment complex. It’s nice because you can get on the grass! And there are always lots of kids playing there and people flying kites or walking their dogs.
Caden went up and down the stairs 100 times. (some pretty tall apartment buildings there in the background huh? About 30 floors. . .)
Lots of little venders out! One of them gave Kylie a balloon 🙂
Poor little buddy got a nice bruise on his face playing with the big kids. . . I don’t really know what happened, but he didn’t really cry either.
Colt was playing with a neighbor who happened to be there too. They made paper airplanes from some flyers left around on the ground 🙂 It was nice to get outside! Winter is cold, and we find ourselves not playing outside quite as much. Can’t wait for some warmer temperatures here!
Christmas Performance at Colt’s School
Let me just say the teachers did an amazing job decorating all around the school. There were balloons EVERYWHERE. . . it looked really fun! All of the classes at Colt’s school did a little dancing performance (they are big on dance and music in this country – but it’s happy not-so-flashy dancing, so it’s fun!). There were so many people there! Everyone’s parents and then some it seemed. . . They had assigned the seats per class so that there was a chair for one parent of each child. I was actually in the front row with Kylie on my lap. So, I thought it would be great 🙂 Then the program started and everyone got up and crowded around the kids performing, trying to see and take pictures/video. It was hilarious!!
The head teacher got up and did an introduction to which I was very surprised! She was in our Christmas parties that we did at the school last week, and she started by repeating something that I had said! She said she had recently heard that the Father’s BEST gift to all of us at Christmas was His Son!!! Can you believe she said that in front of everyone?!! Then she said she didn’t agree 🙁 She said the Father’s best gift to us were these precious children. Maybe she meant well. At least she was listening and at least she recognized these children were from the Father!
Christmas trees that make me smile :)
We are learning so much about Christmas in Asia. . . the trees are coming out on Christmas day and THEN the Christmas music and greeting really pick up 🙂 Our local friends must have thought we were crazy putting our tree up at the end of November! But now we can leave it up for. . . well, until their’s go down in the stores 🙂 Could be another month or more!
Most of the trees really crack me up. We did find 1 really pretty one though!
Balloon for top? Never thought of that. . .
Notice the top 🙂
Christmas Parties 2 and 3!
Our second Christmas party we hosted at our house and invited 7 of our neighbor friends with kids. I was nervous because we were told everyone would accept your invitation in front of your face to be polite, but you didn’t really know if they would come! So I didn’t really know how much to prepare. . . but again, going in faith we prepared for everyone 🙂 6 out of the 7 families came! They even came on time!! (which was another thing you never can be sure about).
The kids came and we played some games, then we did a Christmas craft, decorated cookies (hello icing!! They loved it!), then we shared a short cartoon video of the Real Christmas Story. Most of the kids were between 4-7 yrs old (except for my younger ones and 1 other baby), and they listened so well! They answered all the questions I asked at the end too! Only 1 child had heard the story before . . . which is really sad. But the good news is that her family are already His children too! So that was really neat!
Then we did another nativity craft after the story and played for a bit 🙂 It went WAY smoother than I anticipated and we all had a lot of fun! Relationships were deepened and the Christmas Story was shared!
Christmas Party 3 was at a friend’s house. . .we just helped a bit, they did pretty much all of the work. It was all adults, so a friend came and kept our kids. We invited Lulu and Echo 🙂 They had some fun games, Christmas carols, and we all read the Christmas Story!
Seriously, Christmas is such a great opportunity to share! Being here it’s the only thing on our minds. . . wish I would’ve taken more opportunities back in the States where I spoke the language and had no “rules” about it 🙂 Looking back, I don’t know what I thought was hard about it. . . What’s wrong with that picture?
Merry Christmas From the Miles!
Missing time with family, rook and other games, cousin play time, and family dinners. . . but we have so much to be thankful for! We are definitely blessed and happy to be where we are!
Colt David – 6 yrs old. He LOVES animals and begs to do science!
Kylie Joy – 2 1/2. She LOVES to accessorize. Clothes, shoes and hair bows are as much fun as toys to her. Did not get that from her mama!
Caden Luke – 23 months old. He prefers Chinese food over western dishes. Go figure.
Classic real life trying to take their picture 🙂
