First Day of School

School started August 4th! Here is our new principal welcoming everyone in front of a background of international flags representing our student body.

Here are the teachers, students and parents in the auditorium excited for a new year.

After school that Friday, the middle school students stayed for some fun games...like pass the banana between your feet and over your head to the next person. Elijah is there by Papa trying to join in the fun.

Here's the middle school students...bonding and getting school unity while enjoying some fun.

Malachi can't wait to be a student too! The students are so great at welcoming our Becker boys.

There's Mr. Becker leading up a game. Fun!! Who will volunteer?

Later some family time at the playground. Nate swings with Malachi...he loves swinging with his boys!

Luke enjoys a turn with Papa.

The whole Becker Family swinging fun! May God bless us this year!

Weng-Weng's House--Answered Prayer

A few months ago I shared about Weng-Weng and her need for house repairs. Praise God that donations were sent and God provided for her to rebuild the whole thing. Here you can see the new materials. Scroll down to the previous post to see the "before".

Here are Elijah and Malachi upstairs, looking out to where the balcony will be built.

The kitchen is not finished yet, but look at the tiles! This is an extra blessing as most of the neighbors just have cement for kitchen (But this is nothing like what Weng-Weng used to cook on--in the rain!--See below).

Here I am on a sunny day (Mom, like the hat?!). Also Mom notice we are using the old stroller because it is SO MUDDY there! I left Luke at home with Amor. You can still see wood in the front. It is almost finished...still live-able. Praise God for those who shared with Weng-Weng! We are so thankful and she is too!!

Various Moments With My Boys

What should Mama do? Punish? Wash? Get Angry? Laugh? ......or get the camera!

Bath moments...classic bubble beard boys

Bubble Beard! This guy loves putting things on his face.

Elijah's turn....Picture!

On the porch...Elijah loves to take care of Luke and tell him stories or pass a toy.

One night Malachi brought Luke a toy, and I said, "Wow, that's nice you shared!" Elijah wanted in on the sharing fun, so he brought a toy too. Then the older 2 kept bring more and more toys, until Luke was buried!

Malachi finds more toys....Luke feels loved/smashed?

Thanks, Mom, for the "Letter Factory." We use the cards and then Elijah makes a line and makes matches with his magnet letters. A little pre-school activity at home!

Here's Elijah lining up the letters and matching them.

One of my life-long friends sent this "Sleepy Wrap" over in the mail!!! I love it! Here I am practicing how to wrap it. Cozy Luke inside.

Luke Robert--2 Months!

I never saw it before and haven't seen it since! This guy smiled for me just perfectly right when I went to take the pic!

One more smile! Thanks for the handsome shirt, Mums.

Me with my 3 sons!
Thank you, God!

Serious brothers

Trip to Manila--The Embassy

Here is our cozy Luke, ready for his first airplane trip. This guy is so peaceful!

At the airport, ready to take off---sleepy guy in the sling.

On the airplane...Luke is excited for take-off!!

Is he nervous? Mama is feeling relaxed with only one boy to take care of.

We don't have a picture on the tarmac with the plane because I got nasueaous!! (HOw do you spell that!?). They kept circling the city and making me feel so weak and sick! Nate took over carrying the baby and the luggage. I just held the camera.

The new embassy building is behind my right shoulder. This is after Luke's citizenship was approved! Huge smile from Mama!!! What a nice new building and very organized and new. It felt like a piece of America.

Nate is looking very patriotic in his blue and white (no red). It is quite sunny, if you can tell from my eyes.

I really look like I'm in a foreign place here. I love Luke!

This was the weekend before our trip. My friend, Rachel, had her third-- a boy! A new friend for our Luke. Fun to share babies with her.

By Nate in the middle is Rachel's second, so we had 4 boys that night for dinner! Fun! (Malachi left, Elijah Right).

Our 6th Anniversary--July 10th

I'm holding 6 roses to symbolize our 6 years of marriage. Praise God for that!

They built a new mall, which is really nice, especially since it includes TGIFridays! What a special treat.

We thought it would be funny to wear the hats from the waitresses for a picture.

Luke, at 6 weeks, was very peaceful in the sling while we enjoyed a slow lunch date. Good job, Luke!

Even when he woke up to eat, he was just a joy. I love my babies!

Later at home, Nate was chillin' with Luke. Luke, a little man, in his little outfit (almost too small now!)

Handsome little man in his little outfit. I'm melting with love (and actually with sweat as I type in mid-day with no fans).

Malachi and his friend, Whitaker, were playing together, along with Elijah and our friends. We got to meet back up later that evening after our lovely time together. Cute boys!

Part of my gift to Nate was to attempt to play ultimate frisbee with the group. I had not been running for quite some time, so I need to get in shape again! Whew! What a work-out. This is true love for my true friend.

The boys want to be men like their Papa. This is just classic "boys being boys" moments!

Praise God for our marriage. Pray for us to keep growing in Christ together and as a family.

4th of July in the Philippines

Here's our patriotic family of 5 on 4th of July.

That night we had friends over and played "Pin the star on the flag" (in the spirit of "pin the tail on the donkey"). Papa gives the boys a demo.

Malachi peeks to see that he missed the flag.

Elijah is playing with the blindfold...a little too high buddy.

Elijah woke up during a thunderstorm and then discovered that Luke was cozy in Mama and Papa's bed. He joined in the cuddles with his little brother. Percious love!