Eden's first tooth....

Right before Christmas, Eden's first tooth came out. It had been wiggly for weeks, and it hung on forever. Finally we had her wiggle it 5 minutes each night, so that it would loosen quicker. In the end, daddy finally yanked it out - without any fuss! Eden was beaming with excitement, even though she was bleeding a lot! She didn't care at all. She loves the hole in her mouth and sticking her tongue thru.... Her smile is so joyful!! She put the tooth under her pillow that night for the tooth fairy....but she/he forgot to come (we've been SO busy over here)!! We felt SO bad the next morning, that we had to distract her and sneak the tooth out & replace it with some $ and a special note. Maybe the tooth fairy was operating on another time zone?? She had to fly a looooong way!? Eden didn't care one bit. :)

Harvest Party 2011!!

This is our 3rd annual Harvest Party extravaganza...and I think we have gotten a bit out-of-control with the amount of people we wanted to invite, so we decided to ask a local restaurant to host our party this year! Thankfully, the wonderful 'Texas Cafe' has agreed to cook up an amazing Taco-bar, and let us play games in our costumes. This was the perfect alternative to having our home trampled by candy-crazed kids and messy carnival games, which isn't usually that crazy (unless you try to fit 50+kids & parents inside).  We are getting much better at planning these types of events, and we even made a fun Activity Book for the youngsters.  It has become such a fun tradition, that all the families across the city look forward to this holiday - and we've never even gone trick-or-treating!

The girls decided they wanted to dress up as Native Americans this year, which was so fun for me.  I loved finding material & creating a pattern for each of them.  We even found this incredible Kazakh ribbon that looks authentic, and bird feathers at the park too.  They each added beads to the arm tassels and a headband to match.  I just love this little tribe of mine. 

Syd (4) Eden (6) Asia (8)

 Another fun treat:  One family we know lives kinda far out in the countryside, and they decided to plant REAL pumpkins this year.  They must have brought their own seeds in, because the only pumpkins we can buy at the local markets are tiny (about the size of a huge grapefruit).  Well, somehow we lucked out - and they gave us a beautiful BIG pumpkin - ready to CARVE!! 

Believe it or not, this is the first time the girls have ever tried carving a pumpkin!  They needed a little coaxing, as the stringy pumpkin guts were not their favorite.  Maybe next time it won't freak them out so much.  My favorite part is roasting the seeds! 

the girls named the pumpkin:  PUMPY (so original)

sharing PUMPY with our neighbor friends

photo time with PUMPY

PUMPY with a candle

the whole gang!

Wing Feather & the Sheriff

Little Fawn & Batgirl

Magpie & Space Cowboy

Happy Harvest to everyone!!

first snow.....and so thankful too.

Its COLD over here!! Our noses tingle when we step outside, and its almost time to get our long-johns out for the winter spell. I do love the change in seasons here, watching the obvious fade of life & green turn into brown & grey, and now covered in white.  Winter is only taunting us now, but it will come in full force very shortly. 

We will enjoy the white snow to the best of our ability, and make snowballs while we can.  Maybe next time we will wear our gloves!

thankful for:

Asia's big cursive bubbly loops

cute squeaking shoes on kids learning to walk

kids playing with yo-yo's on their lunch break

hot peach tea on my sore throat

writing a love note to my babe

knowing that You are in control and You never change

 cancer is not in control

for troubles that cause us to turn to You

for sicknesses that invite us to bring a sacrifice of thanks

for good friends in this city who drop everything to help

iphones gifted to our family!

packages from afar

the quiet of falling snow

snow crystals on barren trees

for Joe Anthony Dostalek - such a generous servant of God

the vulnerability of life 

a friend is pregnant with baby #4!

to see God's power & strength in a wind storm

God's character in a tiny intricate snowflake

best friends & practically family!

These are our best buddies here in our city... 

We've known this family since April 2006...when our girls/their kids were so very young.  Asia was almost three, and Eden was barely one when we first met.  These two below have grown up together, and have such similar personalities, and only 3 months apart.  They are both strong and sweet, caring & sometimes quiet.  They love to be active, and can be very goofy too.  Its wonderful to see how they love each other.

These two are such pals.  I have loved that Asia has had such a good buddy here, and especially such a tender, gentle, and caring friend, like this boy.  They are almost 3 months apart in age too, but such close friends.  Of course they clash and have their stubborn streaks, but they always end up laughing and growing through the hard spots.  They love to scheme and laugh about the silliest things, and they can get serious and work hard together (math/spelling/writing) too.  Its so wonderful for our daughter to have such a precious friend in a boy. 

Syd & A* are two peas in a pod.  They never skip a beat.  They are non-stop laughter and goofiness.  They are both so full of imagination and energy, its hard to keep up.  They have known each other since birth, and have always loved to play together, fall down together, eats snacks, and pretend constantly.  What a precious buddy we have found in this little guy. 

We are so thankful for these wonderful friends ~ a huge blessing when we live so far away from family.  They have become family to us!!

recess

Andrew & Asia doing Sequential Spelling

We've been homeschooling for the past 5 years....and its really fun.  But even with all the FUN, our girls still watch the clock for RECESS!!  With all the other home-schooled kids in our neighborhood, we've organized a 10:00am recess to get the kids outside and active, no matter what the weather might be.  Its a great incentive to stay focused in the morning too!!  Here are some of my favorite pictures of the kids playing in front of our building. 

 ....back to our studies!!

Happy National Day!! 国庆节

These little ones sure do love this precious country!!  

Guóqìng jié kuai le!!

gotta love these little world changers!

amazing girlies

three girls under the grapevines

my green smoothie girl

learning to read

also learning to read - www.starfall.com (while in costume!)

my resident bookworm ~ excited about a borrowed book!

giving her Chinese Chia Pet a haircut

this is Eden's cookbook that she is making. I love her shopping list. LOVE IT.

...and I am so blessed by these amazing girlies!

turtle buddies

We went to the fish market today in hopes of finding some tadpoles (to observe them grow into frogs!), but instead we came home with 3 baby turtles!  Yes, I am a sucker for having pets in our house - I know they require work, but they are so educational!  I have no idea how long they will last....

...but three little girls were very excited to add some turtles to our clan.  Asia chose out three special blue rocks, Sydney is holding the turtle food, and Eden is holding the 3 baby turtles.  Let's pray they survive.**

  

Here are the turtles at the Pet Shop area before we took them home : in a tiny tank climbing all over each other.  This can't be sanitary.  I am pretty sure turtles carry diseases too, right?  They are so cute though.

all three at home getting their first soak & bath & scrub by the mom.

this is Mary.

this is Henry, sitting on a piece of cabbage.

Mary, swimming by the filter.  She loves the bubbles.

 

all three together : Mary, Henry & BB.  BB stands for "blue back" and he/she is quite camera shy.  BB is an incredible swimmer though.  

Eden loves to watch her turtle.  This is where we got the idea to try "planking"

such fun turtle buddies.  

Mary loves to dive down deep.

**Henry died a few weeks later.  He was too little and definitely not thriving.  He must have come home already sick.  We replaced him with Joseph, who also died soon after.  Now we just have Mary & BB - who are doing ok.  I wish it weren't so hard to keep animals alive out here.  The girls are still enjoying them, even with two dying.  Mom is not really enjoying cleaning the tank though.  All for the love of animals, and JOY of our kids!!  :)