Christmas Cookie Reunion

Thursday the 11 sisters came to the cookie reunion. The ladies quoted the 12 weeks of scripture they memorized last year in the Bible study and decorated cookies while they listened to each other. It was so encouraging to hear how God had used the verses this past year in their lives to strengthen their faith. (Can you spot Malachi in the picture?)

Elijah helped me get ready the week before the event. He went with me to buy the sprinkles at a special store (not a common item in the grocery store here)...he helped me go to the bank, buy the rice and make the cookies. Of course he sat in his chair and ate a whole clump of dough while I thought he was just rolling it and making impressions with the cookie cutters.

Thanks to my mom's recent visit we had fun cookie cutter shapes--cross, Christmas tree, musical note, heart, star...and also the food coloring for the frosting. THANKS MOM!

Elijah's buddy, Silas, came to help also. Thanks to his mom I was able to get 15 dozen made in one day!

A precious photo moment captured--boys' piano duet!

We're all ready for the party! Each lady got to decorate 2 dozen cookies for her family.

Each sister got a surprise gift to take home--10 kilos of rice (good for 1-2 weeks) and some plates that were sent to us in a box from generous people in the U.S.! They were so happy to know their family would have rice for a week! God provides!

Amor and Emi helped me--I couldn't do it without them! Emi made 15 dozen cookies the week before. Thank God for such great friends and sisters! Amor helped me with the kids during the event and helped clean up after. Wow, what a blessing!

Praise God for these sisters--a blessing! Pray that God's word continues to pierce their hearts and encourage them throughout the year.

Malachi is 3 Months!

Of the 122 (!) pics I took, these are my faves:

American Thanksgiving

We celebrated the American holiday with some Filipinos and some Americans. There was a turkey and it tasted good!

Malachi's first holiday--he slept wonderfully the whole time.

"Turkey little guy? Someday..."

Here is a Filipino turkey. Our friends bought one, kept it in their yard to fatten it up, then did the deed. We went there today and Elijah said "Turkey...gone...died". True enough.

"Gobble--Gobble--Gobble!" Elijah loves to watch animals and listen to their funny sounds.

Post-thanksgiving day--a random pic. Elijah loves cows and can make a low sound just like a cow.

I took this one for my sister--notice the outfit!

We hung a star from the light and as Malachi lays there I say, "Malachi loves looking at the star!" Elijah lays by him and sings "Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky." Well, I sing while he waves his arms and keeps saying "Up, Up Up".

"Brothers!" Elijah holds his hand and hugs him...."Ba--thees". Stripey boys!

Elijah's special little table for thanksgiving with his little friend, Sojo. Cute!

We have much to be thankful for and praise God for!

Lately--Pics of the Kids

I love this recent pic of Elijah. What a fun climber. This is his 1 and a half birthday.

Elijah loves to shovel. The guys on the road are shoveling to even out the rocks, so Elijah wants to bring his own and "poo--pah-toss!" the rocks, as he says.

Precious--just like the big guys.

A fun community--the little ones learning from the big--a helper boy!

Typical...the kid is not IN the stroller but pushing it. Well, it's worth having for the wipe-out times. I always remember seeing parents in the park pushing a stroller and carrying the child. Now I know why it happens.

My friend, Liz, also had the same two midwives as we did. Her boy was due a week after ours but she gave birth two days before us. It was the EXACT same hours, 9:30p.m. to 3:30 a.m. so we were glad it was not the same time (we were sharing the oxygen tank and midwives!). Thankfully, there was a night in between for the midwives to get some sleep before our little guy started to make his entrance! Liz' boy is Judah.

Elijah loves rocking and reading books "buu-ts" (He can't make a "K" sound yet)

Nate and I had a fun date--with Malachi of course. I haven't separated from him yet. He looks all bundled up. It was "cold" for us that day as it rained a lot. I guess they say I am becoming more Filipino, putting a hat and gloves on my son on a "cold" day! Haha!

Our growing family. We're so glad we have such a great babysitter, Amor, to help us when we go out. She gets along so well with Elijah.

Malachi found his thumb! He never took a pacifier really, so now he has a quick soother to keep him calm.

He is smiling now! Elijah loves Turtles and the letter "T" for "Taxi, toes, tongue, and turtle". This is Malachi by the way--almost three months (this Saturday the 5th!).

Elijah started going pee in the potty---but he is also going IN the potty! Oh, we have to do some more training yet!

Elijah has fun taking baths with Papa because he gets to swim in the water bucket. Splash! He must have his little yellow ducky (it was a present for Malachi, but he loves it).

Singing in the shower "Rubber ducky, you're the one! You make bathtime lots of fun!"

Elijah is learning his alphabet every day. Notice the "M" for Malachi. He loves to put his animals and letters on Malachi's chest.

Malachi is Two Months

Smiling boy turned 2 months on November 5th!

I saved this outfit for three months and almost forgot to take his picture, until Nate reminded me that morning!

Though the pics look similar a photographer mother has to get every expression (believe me we have 600 pictures in this one month, so this is just a choice selection!)

Elijah loves his brother! He hugs him and kisses him (with tongue sticking out). We've been teaching him not to throw toys at Malachi or to kick him but to use loving touches.

"Careful!" now I know why my mom always said that. Look at these guys, loving brothers!