Austin's day -from his perspective (with Mommy's comments in parentheses)

Today I got to go to a really far away place (actually a 1 hour plus drive) to help some kids who don't have many things or a nice house. We have a very nice house. At first I did not want to go and I did not like all the aiyis and shushus and big kids who wanted to hold me and play with me. But then I got used to the place and had more fun. It was a really long day, but i was very patient (well, overall he was really patient. He had his moments though) and sometimes I was kind to other people. But sometimes I screamed when the aiyis came over to talk to me (a direct quote as we walked home from the bus tonight, "Sometimes I can be kind and sometimes I can't be kind Mommy". Well, I can relate to that!).

I got to listen to Daddy and our other friends play music. I even found a stick and pretended that it was a flute (I found him with a stick in his mouth at one point). I helped paint walls and I got paint all over my hands and face and even in my hair. I got to wash my hands in water in a big red bucket. I saw a puppy and a cat and was very gentle with them and played with them a lot. And one shushu spun me around and around and it was very fun. And on the ride in the bus I saw LOTS of cement mixer trucks and excavators and dump trucks and cranes. It was a long day but it was pretty fun. And I got to put a star on my love and peace plates because I helped show love to kids and Daddy said I was bringing shalom, which means peace (he has colored paper plates- one for each fruit of the spirit - on his door. He gets to put a star sticker on the plate when he displays a fruit like patience or self-control). Here are some pictures.

Bennett likes it when aiyis and shushus want to baobao (hold) him. I don't like it.

I LOVED this little doggie. I gave him a grape to eat, but he didn't eat it.

I stuck my hands in the paint and made my handprints on the wall. I wanted to do that over and over. But then I always wanted to wash my hands after.

I made a new friend (actually, not really. He was mostly NOT into making friends here, but I can hardly blame him. He did play ball with this little boy for awhile).

All these little didis (little brothers) wanted to take their picture with me. So Mommy bribed me to smile with some fruit :).

More on Mommy and Daddy's perspective of our day next time. Night Night.