Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Easter with Friends

In Easter clothes from Mamaw. G, why the flared nostrils?
Hanging out in L's apartment with new friends. They have four kids and one on the way!
Playing chess.
Discussing a move.
G and her new friend. They were two girls among a sea of boys.
Girl talk.
Hanging out with like-minded friends is like a drink of water on a hot day.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Everyone's a Critic

We've been on a kick, lately, introducing our kids to movies we saw as kids: Benji, The Never Ending Story, Beethoven. The latest was The Karate Kid. When we got to the last scene--the epic tournament between Daniel Larusso and his archenemy Johnny--we all watched with bated breath as Daniel got pounded again and again and continued to rise. At one point, Oldest Boy and G breathed, "How does he do that? He just got kicked in the face!" I was about to answer that it's because he's a hero, that he's awesome. But before I could answer, C muttered dryly, "It's just Hollywood baloney."

Aaand, there you have it, folks.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

News

Man, what a few days it's been! G has been very ill and is finally on the mend. I've had a bladder infection (majorly uncool), and we've all been 'blah.' G is finally getting better, though, and I think I am too.

On a fun note, I (H) started going through the hundreds and hundreds of pictures we have on our hard drive from the last two years. It took me an entire day, but with J's help, I sorted out all the photos from our first year here, and was able to put them into a cool-looking Shutterfly book. I'm almost done with it and, I must say, it's total brain therapy for me to be able to organize our memories like this. And, of course, it doesn't hurt that J is a good photographer and we have a decent camera.

My next project will be a book for our second year. By the time we come home, I should have three altogether. Even looking at this first book in its digital form is amazing for me. I cannot believe all that happened even in one year, and how easy it is to forget things. My hope is that these books (and my printed-out blog) will keep us from forgetting this unbelievable adventure we've had--good times, and bad.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Rainy Days

What do you do when you've had three days of thunderstorms and multiple power outages? You do school in the dark and then you play your DS.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Milestone

We celebrated two years in this country tonight. J made chicken fettucini alfredo (sauce from the US) and he surprised us with a decently good chocolate he'd picked up from a local cafe. It was a night to remember all that God has done for us in the last two years, how He's kept us going in dark times and allowed us to experience life-changing moments many others never get to know. We're exhausted in some ways, but grateful, and more convinced than ever that He is faithful in all of life's moments.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

A Little of This, A Little of That

Today G and C went downstairs to play with the kids in our building. In the meantime, G managed to teach Ivneet (she's my 33-year-old friend/landlady's daughter-in-law) how to play poker, blackjack, and rummy. G reported proudly, "She even won!"

Such a funny culture clash.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Shots from J's recent work trip...

Overlooking the city.
This is someone's office space. Seriously.
Notice this guy's hand.

A grandmother combs the nits out of her grandson's hair.
This donkey's hoof is on backwards, yet he was still walking down a mountain road.