Six weeks

Well, six weeks have come and gone since my last post. Not sure what has happened other than once you get out of the habit of blogging, it is hard to get back in the routine. We have had two birthdays, Thanksgiving, and a lot in between. This will be a quick run through the past month and half!

 Lucy swinging with JT - we got to enjoy some fun moments with him and look forward to many more. But we said goodbye to the Hunemullers in early November. They will be gone 4 months and then back but again the reality that 7 months of this year we spent apart in this crazy expat life.

 The kids jumped in the leaves and had a great time...till somebody threw some poop covered leaves in the air and splattered it on my phone. Just when I was thinking...wow this almost feels like America getting to jump in a pile of leaves- my illusions are shattered. Ha.

 Austin is now going on three times as a ring bearer. He is getting professional!  And still so cute.

 At the wedding reception my boys got into a big argument. About who got to eat the duck head. Seriously. They both really wanted it and finally a shu shu at our table asked the next table if they wanted their duck head. Can you believe they didn't?  Everyone went home happy.

My little boy turned 8!  He seems so big these days- he knows way more than me about many topics of science, geography etc. He is kind and thoughtful and loves to do things right. Disaster was narrowly averted the day of his party as the original plan to take some friends to an outdoor bouncy house was changed when the bouncy place was just not there as promised (I was not entirely surprised). But a friend of a friend who lives in a  very nice complex that comes with its own indoor play place allowed us to go there. It is awesome- with three story slides and some amazing things- and all ended up being free. No complaints and Austin ended up having a good time. His friends were also really encouraging when plans changed, which helped us make it through.

Clone Trooper cake...these things are getting harder and harder.

 The new favorite post-dinner game, otherwise known as the "Falling off game". Everyone rides on Daddy while he plays this Simon and Garfunkel song "If I Could" and walks around while they all try to stay on. And inevitably fall off.

 I would love to do another post about this trip- but I was able to go with a group of women to a big foster home (you might recognize it if you have read a certain well-known book) in another province and love on some babies and the families that work there. Definitely a moving weekend. Wish I could post pictures of all the precious lives there but I can't ...

 Thanksgiving came and went in a flash, but we were thankful for many things like the car we were able to purchase this year and so many other blessings we receive, tangible and intangible. Lucy has become quite the kitchen helper these days.

 Chris is like the pied piper with his banjo, playing praise songs after our Thanksgiving meal.

 Once again we had a blast at The Gift, the Christmas bazaar and arts event Chris helps put on every year. So fun to get in the Christmas spirit and see Daddy perform.

 No comment needed- cute and sassy. We actually got a real tree this year- its a bit Charlie Brown like but we love it. 

 We enjoyed a fun visit from an old friend from our old city...last time I was back there was for her wedding. She now has a daughter about Lucy's age. She was in town for a conference with work and spent a fun night with us.

 And we celebrated Chris' birthday with- what else- a giant gingerbread man cookie and lots of love. We had a nice date the night before too with fusion Vietnamese food and live jazz music.

 A family in town has started a local awana chapter here in our area. This year has been our first exposure to it but the kids love it and got to really take a step of faith to invite a friend and neighbor to our English Christmas party. Lots of fun, games and learning about Christmas.

Well, that was a picture dump but glad to catch up. My new year's resolution will be to get back on track with the blog.