Elijah's Birthday Afternoon

After the boys' naps, I put their little matching outfits back on for the rest of the day. I just love this picture of my boys, loving each other and having fun, with cute smiles for mama's camera! Thanks, boys.

Elijah loves making Malachi laugh! Tickle, tickle! Love how Malachi has his hands by his face, just letting his brother love on him.

I've been keeping this in the closet and finally gave it to Elijah for his present! It is perfect for him and we spent the rest of the afternoon playing with this.

Malachi was a little "cherub", as my mom calls him, and just wheeled in the stroller while Elijah drove his car.

What a precious boy! This place is where the school and mission buildings are walled in with a guard, by the way, so it has smooth sidewalks and is a safe place to play.

His first car....already getting more independent!

Stopping to smell the roses. Getting flowers for Mama!

Here is his dinner (what kind of a mom am I?!). I wanted him to have a chance to blow out candles one more time, and this time I made him wait until I finished singing. I loved having some special time with just Elijah this afternoon. Thank you, Lord, for our boy and for a wonderful year! May he come to know Jesus at an early age and follow you all his days!

Happy Birthday Elijah!! 2 Years

Two years ago, on May 8, 2008, our firstborn son was born in Omaha, Nebraska! Now, here we are waking him up on his 2nd birthday, in the Philippines! He was a little stunned to get woken up and to see the balloons, but he got excited quickly. (Thanks to my mom, I am now the 2nd generation birthday fairy...how did she get those streamers over our bed while we were still sleeping?!). We've been anticipating this day for three weeks...he has had a count-down all week. (Mom and Sarah, notice the new shade of paint, a light sage green--we had to re-do because of the termites in the wood).

He got to wear a new outfit that I saved from when Aunt Nancy mailed them for our boys! He loves the balloons and is finally waking up here with a smile. We dressed the boys and then went to a park for a family photo shoot at 7 a.m. Those pictures are with our photographer, so we'll post those later this week, stay tuned...

Then we put Malachi to his nap and left him home with Amor. We took Elijah to the swimming pool with a waterslide and met our friends there. Here is my very special friend, Emi, and her family. I was happy to get a family photo for them since they don't have one of all 7 of them! It will be special for her to have framed in her house. Emi was also Elijah's first babysitter, so it is special that she was there for his 2nd birthday. She is like Elijah's aunt.

You can pray for this family with me. I just love them to bits! (The youngest was named after my mom! Eunice Marilyn!).

At last, Elijah's dream birthday is taking place. He talked daily about these slides and would say dreamily: "Sojo be there...Silas [will] be there..." What a fun planner (with the help of his mom, the planner). What an action shot of the fun!

This is my all-time favorite picture of the day!!! This one makes me a proud photographer and a proud mother. Frame-a-ble!

Friends are a blessing! Thanks for helping us celebrate!

What a cool place, eh? Malachi finally arrived with Amor, so I had to get some M-time in with him!! I missed him like crazy. He just couldn't wait to get in the water and loves to lean over his little boat to touch it. What a cute little sailor boy!

Malachi and his Ate Emi...I just love these captured moments.

Yep, it was great to have special one-on-one time with Elijah at the pool, but once Malachi got there I realized how much I missed him too! I got a little camera-crazy for a few minutes. (Some people are thinking, "A few minutes? How about a whole day?" Yes, I took over 200 pictures that day (not including the photo shoot we did with James at 7 a.m.!).

It was a fun family day with our friends. Some will be leaving for a year, some for the summer...and some will stay, but it was nice to get together before the good-byes.

Sharing a meal with our friends was a blessing!

At last, the candles were lit! Now Elijah can hardly wait to blow them out.

Nope, he couldn't wait, so he blew them out BEFORE we sang. That's okay. We can start a new tradition.

While I sliced and served it up, Elijah stood by me and ate WHO KNOWS how many brownies!!!

...really, he was after the frosting. Finally, I had to say enough, but this guy even got his mom to let him eat a brownie for dinner.

The other kids liked them too...what a cute little friend, Sojo. Thanks for coming!

A doll, Lydia...Elijah tried to poke her little curly pig-tails.

And here's the guy Elijah looks up to, Ewan, his little Irish buddy, is 4 years old. Elijah tries to copy him at the playground and loves to talk about how Ewan did this or that. I can visualize Elijah like this in two years. It's nice to have older "brothers" around in the community.

A very cool home-made present! Little roads for cars that drive into "garages" with pictures of Elijah's friends on them. Thanks, Louise! The party was over and it was time for naps. I'll post the other pictures separately since this is long already! Thanks for sticking with us. It is fun to have a boy to celebrate.

Beyond Live Band Concert

Here is proof that we do indeed do other things besides just focus on Malachi and Elijah! The problem is that the photographer in the family does spend lots of time with the two boys, so you don't get to see as many pictures of what Nate does a lot. Also there are many things that you can't photograph, like conversations with people and other daily tasks that aren't very unique for a photo. Finally, there are some things that we have done often in the last five-six years, so you've already seen lots of pictures of those (whereas the boys are always growing and changing!).

All these disclaimers aside, I am pleased to say that I was finally able to attend Nate's concert! My sweet friend, Rachel, offered to help with the boys so I could go alone. It was my first time to leave Malachi at night alone, but he slept just fine while I sat in a chair in the auditorium without moving for more than an hour! This is a contrast to the wiggling, moving, pacing, in-and-out that I normally do with active ones.

The opening of the concert, "Beyond Live", was thrilling and excellent. It was Nate's high school jazz band class (I'd venture to say it is his favorite, if there are allowed to be favorites). I think he likes it especially because he gets to join them in playing with his trumpet! I love watching Nate play trumpet and still swoon when I realize that this hottie is my husband! I tried to experiment more with my camera settings to give you the feel to the lights and excitement of the night.

Also about this special group-- three of the guys were my 6th and 7th grade boys when I was teaching several years ago. Now they are in 10th grade and are quality, godly young men--very talented and respectful. It is a huge blessing to see them grow, almost like my own sons, and to now have my husband investing lots of time in them too...so their discipleship continues on and on. We love our roles here! Thank you, Lord!!

I have to get close-ups of this teacher. What a fun guy! Of course all the students up there had shades on (how could they read the music?), but I have a little camera bias.

A lot more formal here, I like how this high school ensemble is standing. More than that, I love to actually know these students and to remember when Mr. Becker taught them as beginners in middle school. I remember that the trumpet-player there was too cool for band in 7th grade, but now there he is in high school still playing and doing a great job! It is fun to see their growth.

We get to the younger students, but the music was quite good. I was pleased to hear the sound with such a blended mix. They are no longer beginners, so it is a reward to hear their skills developing more.

This picture gives you the feel of a great concert! I want you to notice several things here. First, the stage--a huge blessing! I remember doing these concerts on the covered court with hand-made wooden platforms. Now we have been blessed with lights, a great sound system and notice above the stage the sound panels and also curtains. Again, Thank you God!! What provisions! I remember when Nate was teaching music in a little classroom by the playground with only a few drumsticks and drum pads available. Now, look at all these instruments and all that we have to use. Yes, this picture captures many answered prayers! Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

Very full of energy and joy! The concert is completed--all went well! It was the best one I have heard yet. I was so glad to have been able to sit and enjoy the evening! Well, done, students! We are thankful also for such great parental support. It makes a huge difference.

Here is my special pen pal from the 4th grade class, Jasmine. She was at the concert thinking about how excited she is to get to join band next year in 5th grade! I was glad to get a picture with her (thanks, Jasmine!)

Three totally unrelated pictures, but related to my day...

On that same morning of the concert I was busy getting ready for Elijah's birthday. Here is the cake I decorated (actually brownies--they are much more yummy!). Do you recognize what it is supposed to be? I hope you guessed "swimming pool" because that is the theme. We went to the waterslides, so I tried to create a home-made cake-topper out of straws, toothpicks, cardboard and foil. Does it look like a waterslide and a pool?

The extras were pre-sliced with little turtles on top. Elijah loves turtles and can identify the letter "T" for turtle (from our Noah song "Going A-Z with Noah"). Notice the number 2--he is now 2 years old!

A close-up. Don't you just want to pick that up and eat one (or two!). Yum!

Malachi is 8 Months

My camera hasn't had much use this month except to help Nate make a poster for the concert this Friday. Other than that, here are Malachi's 8 month pictures! As usual, there seem to be repeats, but for the careful observer multiples are included so you can really get to know the various expressions of Malachi's personality!

I saved this outfit for 8 months since my mom came in Sept. just so he could have a new outfit! Thanks, Mom.

Sitting by himself (mostly--he still falls when reaching for something).

Sarah, here is the evidence. He loves to play the "Snowman Game."

"Exploratory...Your Reflection!" Elijah saw this pic and thought the other guy was him. Now we truly have a twins picture.

Who is that handsome guy?

Sticking out his tongue is trademark Malachi.

Not his best picture (other than his brown eyes make me melt). I include this to show you how he refuses to let anyone see his new tooth. He sticks his tongue way out and when I try to move my fingers he seals his lips so tight. Oh, little guy, shy about your first little tooth!

This is my new desktop background! So natural and true to life. Brothers! Precious!

See, these two pictures are different...I have to include them both!

And a third---this one I like Elijah's smile and it shows Malachi sucking his thumb and holding grass (which he tried to eat of course). Elijah looks so grown up here! He'll be 2 on Saturday!!

I love the green. Who needs a portrait studio? I just love these natural ones.

There's my thoughtful guy. What a little muffin boy! Thank you, God, for our boys!!! I'm crazy about them.