36 Weeks and a Date

 Nate and I are excited to meet our first daughter soon!  Here we are at 36 weeks ready for our special date.  (As of today's writing I am now 37 weeks!).

 Some friends invited us to a lovely French restaurant for a "dinner for a cause", which was to put a new roof on a school that got ruined in the typhoon.  The menu was rolled up like a scroll, tied with a lovely ribbon.

No photo of the appetizers, but it was:
Hot Chili Gambas (no idea what that was)
Salmon Mousse with Caramelized Rhubarb (never ate Rhubarb while in the Philippines before!)
Homemade Cured Tuna

 First Course:
Neptune Mousseline of Surgeon Fish, Gindara & Bangus Belly
Adorned with Crab Veloute' Sauce
Complimented with French Green Beans & Rice Pilaf
a la Jean Pierre Dujay Chef de Cuisine

 Second Course:
Roasted Pork Rack with Ginger Scent
Infused with Herbs de Provence and Palawan Honey
Sauteed Apples in Calvados Brandy
Marbled Potatoes & Buttered Vegetables
a la Jean Francois Lacassagne Chef de Cuisine

 Dessert:
Souffle Glace au Grand Marnier

It was better than a wedding reception.  What interesting titles and tastes for the food!  Nate and I had a lovely time relaxing and enjoying the restored mansion where the restaurant recently was moved.

After dinner we enjoyed lovely live music by a piano player (Mozart, Chopin and Debussy); mixed with a "Voce Octava" (8 voices) opera style!  We heard excellent vocal music written from all around the world...what an international night!

 "Buntis"=Pregnant in Cebuano.  Cute little baby belly!  Feeling bigger and more ready!

A picture of me not on a date, not dressed up, and with all 3 boys.  Do I look different?! (Answer: Yes, more tired and no make-up!).  These guys are excited to meet their sister!

Joy, our wonderful midwife, who helped with the birth of Malachi and Luke...now checking the baby with the 3 boys "helping".  Precious moments!

We're thankful to God that the baby's head is down, the heartbeat and ultrasound are all good, and there are no concerns at this point!  Pray for a safe and healthy delivery! sometime around July 2nd!

Luke's 2nd Birthday

 We had fun making cupcakes for Luke's birthday.  Notice all 3 boys are licking frosting in this pic.  Thanks to Shirley for the package from America; we saved this mix for 2 months!

 Papa and the 3 boys ready to go on a boat!  Excited for Luke's birthday trip to Samal beach.

 We were bummed to miss the first boat, but totally glad that the second boat was a pirate boat!  Our first one (Elijah's first--he was most excited).  Ready to sail!

 We went to a place we'd not been before, Blue Jaz.  They had a swimming pool, beach AND watersides.  Fun!  Beckers 5 + 1!

 Luke was so glad his 2 special Ates could join us!  What fun ladies!

 Ate Aldeza and Luke had a blast going down the watersides.  The 35 week pregnant Mama just stood on the side taking pictures.  Nate was taking the older kids down the bigger slide.

 Our special friends, the Stevensons, came with us to celebrate.  We love our friends!

 Blow out the candles!  2 years old!

 Later that night we got to open Grandma Bruce's present that we saved for a month.  What's inside?!

 Luke loved the airplane ball popper!  (I post this one for my mom).  =)

 We actually celebrated his birthday 2 days before, since on his real birthday (Monday 27th) Nate had his first day of the big Summer Music Orchestra Camp.  But on his real birthday I took Luke on a little breakfast date.  What a handsome guy!  We praise God for Luke's little life!

 Holding Mama's hand--what a gentleman!

 We went to MacDo for a breakfast date--just me and Luke!  Very fun to take time just to enjoy one boy.

Happy Birthday, Luke Robert!  2 years old!

Mother's Day, Random Recent and Last week of School

Here's some random recent pics starting at the end of Elijah's birthday and just before Luke's birthday.  I post this one for my mom so she can see the fun of getting the package for Elijah's birthday.  

Nate and the 3 boys! 

 Mother's Day was a very special one for me--maybe even my best one ever.  Nate woke up early, got the boys ready and made breakfast.  (Notice he put the "I love mom" shirt on Luke that we got from the Becker clan when Elijah was his age).  Cute how he dressed the older two in matching shirts (presents from Grandma Becker--thank you!).  

Look at the card Elijah is holding...amazing.  Nate got paper, markers and scissors and had the boys do an activity to make me cards, all while I got to sleep in!  Excellent!  Then later they each got me a balloon and you cannot see my roses in the picture because Luke is blocking them, but very lovely.  I can imagine how cute the picture would have been of them all on the bike each holding a balloon and Nate holding flowers.  Precious!

On his own initiative Malachi noticed the dishes needed to be washed, so he got an apron on, moved a chair over to the sink and actually spent an hour washing dishes with bubbles.  So sweet! Little servant.  Love you, Malachi!  This guy is only 3! 

 Luke got a haircut finally, so I had to take his picture.  He loves to play piano and play the "Low notes".  What a musical guy!

One day E and M were playing nicely without fighting for more than an hour.  Wonderful blessing--thank you, Lord!  I thought it was SO cute how they decided the couch cushion was a big ferry boat and they had loaded all their cars onto the boat--working together and sharing.  Photo moment!  (We do not have photos of all the other fights and grabbing, so let's remember this is a unique photo moment!).

This was our last week of school.  Here Mr. Becker is leading the high school instrumental music class final performance.  I'm so proud of my man!  So handsome! 

 I loved the flute "octet" (though one girl was missing).  There was a great variety of ensembles and music.  Well done! 

 A unique chance to have a brass ensemble--they also played for the graduation ceremony.  I loved the Tuba--so smooth and a great foundation.  These instruments still remind me to praise God for His provision of each one (and the stage also!).  Thank you, Lord!

The other day Malachi spent literally 45 minutes in his room trying to dress himself.  He kept saying, "Mommy, close your eyes, don't look!"  When he finally presented himself I was so proud of him!!  His socks were on inside-out, but it was the first time he ever put socks on himself.  He even chose a matching outfit--I was impressed!  The best is how he preferred to have the buttons going down the back, I couldn't bring myself to make him switch it.  What's the big deal anyway?!  I let him wear it like that the whole day.  Precious boy! 

Graduation!  Congrats!  So fun to have watched these students grow for the past 8 + years.  Now they will part ways and go on to various paths.  Pray they will keep in Step with the Spirit and follow Him wherever He leads.

Mr. Becker got to present the music award to Josiah.  Great job!  

Solomon Musical

 Friday and Saturday night the students did a great job in the performance of "Solomon".  Here's the cast and crew--can you see Mr. Becker in this picture?

It's a great production of the story of King Solomon from the Bible.  Here he is getting crowned King.

This was a fun song between the two mothers who argued over whose baby it was.  Solomon gave a wise ruling.

Three camels--quite humorous to see our teachers in costume!

The wives of Solomon, when his heart was led astray.

 "Who do you think you are?  The Queen of Sheba?"
"Well, as a matter of fact, I am!"

 The final song was very redeeming.  A message about following God's ways and the verse from Ecclesiastes 12: "Fear God and keep His commands, for this is the whole duty of man."
They sang, "The purpose of man is to glorify God!"

PS Thanks to Patty Shiel for the pictures!

Elijah's 5th Birthday--Car Theme

My firstborn son is now 5!  He is such an energetic, funny, passionate guy!  Keeps me active!  Keeps me on my knees praying.  Thank you, Lord for this precious man.

 3 brothers love to race cars...so we decided to have a race car birthday.

 Do you like my cake?!  I always think of Beckie and Cheri whenever I decorate these.  Thanks, also, Angel, for the recipe.  (The brownie mixes I usually like to buy were gone, except one imported Gheradelli 6 pack that cost more than 900 pesos--$18 USD!  No way!).

 "I'm 5!"  Thanks, Sarah, for the "Happy Birthday to Me" shirt from last year.  Even though it didn't arrive in time for his 4th birthday, he was making sure it was washed and ready in time for number 5!

 Thank you, Lord, for friends for my kids!  We love you guys!  It was fun to write a song for Elijah's birthday with the race theme from Hebrews 12.1-2 "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith."  The kids loved the actions!  See Elijah jumping for joy!

 They listened to my Bible story about Elijah running faster than King Ahab's chariot.  We can even find races in the Bible!

 The kids had fun painting their own race cars...thankfully I found some great Crayola washable paints at the mall, even though it was imported.

 Time for cake and ice cream!  What a bundle of fun kids!  (Hope this picture doesn't show how sweaty I am!)

 MMMMMM!!!!  Sojo, Elijah, and Silas!

 Time for our race car parade!!!  I am so glad the kids liked this idea!!  Thanks to my mom for teaching me to have fun birthday parties and for giving me creativity and joy in birthdays!

 Ready to race!  Elijah was proud that his headlights were painted white.

 Go kids!  Run!!

 Finally, we had a car wash!  We borrowed our friends' car for the day.  It's amazing how much fun bubbles and sponges are!

That afternoon I enjoyed a precious date with my boy!  We looked at pictures from his special day on the computer as we drank hot chocolate at a coffee shop.  Thank you, Father, for this guy!  May he grow to love you and know you Lord, and follow you all his days!