Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Hello again!!

Really?! The last time that there was anything new on here was Easter?! Wow. So so far behind! There is no way of catching up everything and pictures since then so I will just bullet point some craziness and then have our most recent moments on here. So after Easter, we continued in language school, found out that I was pregnant again, Craig went to Togo Africa, I flew home alone with the boys, and we were able to spend an absolutely amazing summer with our families and friends in Albuquerque before repacking and moving yet again around the world. We got back to Cote d’Ivoire the beginning of September, took some time cleaning our filthy house like crazy and settled. We were alone for a month getting in the groove of things and reconnecting with students and staff that are still here, then last week we welcomed three guys (Shane, Matt, and John) to our team and house and have been readjusting and resettling again. More whirlwind for sure but we are doing great all in all. The boys are incredible and hilarious and challenging and as lovable as ever and getting huge. We were more worried about Elliot in the midst of all the transitions but he has been a rock star through it all and thriving. Keenan with his tender heart and sweet spirit has gone with the flow and has been excited to be back here.

Keenan is really, really into super heroes these days and imagining things. I love sitting and playing with him and hearing the things he comes up with for situations but then he gets so literal at the same time. He will play pretend all day long and then I will play along later and talk about how he is a super hero and that little scratches don’t really hurt super heroes and he will look at me very seriously and say, “But I’m only a kid, Mom. There is a little bit of blood.” His prayers even have centered on super heroes as he thanks the Lord that He is stronger than any super hero even Hulk and he prays that he will grow up big, as big as the sky and strong and strong and strong like a super hero so he can protect everyone but clarifies that he knows that God will always be bigger and stronger and he is thankful for that. He is back in school again which has been great but it was hard in the beginning as well. I think it was the readjustment of getting in the swing of things spending all day in French and their system is a little bit more harsh than in America nurturing philosophy. They really get on him in the mornings that he greets them with their names which is hard in and of itself since they have names that are difficult for even me to remember! But yet again it is sweet to see his little heart striving to love people well as in his prayers he thanks God for his school and prays that he would not be sad when he goes, that he would play well, learn French fast, and remember everyone’s names in the school. I just am so proud of that guy!

Elliot is getting bigger and bigger and more adorable every day. He now has a love of building things and especially building trains. I have been loving having time with just that snuggle bug while Keenan is at school and getting to know Elliot for Elliot and not in the mix of the family. He still talks non stop and we still have no idea of what he is saying for about 90% of what comes out of his mouth, but it’s getting clearer and clearer all the time. He has a smile that literally melts my heart and still just wants to be snuggled as he drifts off to sleep. I’m trying to just treasure these times as much as I can because I know they will go. He has figured out that he is really in a big boy bed and can get out whenever he wants and more than once Craig and I have gotten up in the morning surprised that there is a little boy who has snuck in and made himself at home in our bed. He grins, waves and says “Ca va?” (which is a way of greeting people in French) in a ridiculously high voice to literally everyone he sees looking at him and it is fun to watch people smile right back at the little white kid who is beaming at them like they are best friends.

Craig and I are both doing well and health wise doing great. I had some pretty serious regular headaches/migraines for a couple of weeks but have not had them in a week or so and feel great. Because of the headaches we went to the dr here and found the hospital the same as when I had my surgery when we first arrived. It was super reassuring to see and as we waited for lab results we wondered around and found the boys Dr’s name still on the door of her office and patients coming in and out so we were happy about that as well. The doctor did a full exam and I got to hear our precious girl’s heartbeat and he said that everything looks great with blood work and measurements. Since then I have been so much better and really do forget all the time that I am even pregnant with the exception of at the very end of the day when I am having to peel myself off the floor from reading to the boys before bedtime. Baby girl is kicking and rolling around all the time and I love feeling her move around all the time. It is such a fun feeling! We are still working on names for our little one but narrowing and hopefully we will land on one soon :). We have had a blast connecting with friends again and having people over to the house for Bible Studies and such. So, there’s a little update on life and where we are right now. Long story short we are all doing well! Now on to some pictures!! Again, mostly of the boys….

So Happy Together

It is incredible watching these boys together and watching them grow as friends and play together. There really is no warmer feeling than coming around the corner to see them playing trains together or hearing them roar with giggles as they tackle each other in the back yard. Everyday Elliot makes sure that he gets to go along in the car to take Keenan to school and every afternoon he beams as soon as he wakes up from his nap asking to get Keenan. There are days when Craig has put Keenan in the jogging stroller and taken him to school that way and Elliot will tell me "I get Keenan!" about 10 minutes after they have left the house. They miss each other when one is missing and they get super happy to see each other when reunited. I love that they are friends and that they love being with one another. We are praying that this love would only increase as they get older and that they really really would grow up being each other's best friend, confidant, encouragement and a source of truth and strength. But for the moment we thoroughly rejoice in the giggles, the chasing, and the wrestling!

We dont have a bath tub in our house so our norm is hosing the boys down at the end of the day with our power sprayer in the shower but every now and then they get bubble baths in our giant plastic laundry tubs. This is one of those extra bubble equals extra fun times!



Gotta love the splashing!
Craig was mowing the lawn and the boys got so excited watching him and wanted to help with their outside toys as well
So sweet


Keenan climbs our mango tree all the time and Elliot just looks longingly at him. Hey, let me up too!!!
Im up!!!!
Keenan with his monkey face and Elliot clinging for dear life
Cheeeeeeeeeese!!

And then he was 4!!


Happy Birthday Sweet Keenan Boy!!! Keenan's birthday started back in September when Craig's mom threw him a birthday bash before we left town so our families could be there to celebrate him. It was such a great idea and Keenan loved being celebrated by everyone :). It was all super heroes and Craig's mom and dad stayed up until the wee hours decorating awesome cookies and cakes. We had so much fun with everyone!
Running around outside.
Grandpa and Uncle Kevin manning the grill


Out of order, but all of us singing
Me, Hailee and Steph watching the kiddos run around

Keenan with Lucas. He just went over to him and sat on the floor talking with him for a while. Maybe he didn't want Lucas to feel left out since he can'r run around yet.

Some of the awesome cookies



The cakes

Happy Birthday to you!



Now fast forward to October 23rd and we get to celebrate this big guy yet again!! The day started with presents, went on to breakfast cake, church, and then we had a little celebration lunch with cake and ice cream with another couple here that we are friends with here at our house. Later that evening we got to skype with so many people and we all felt loved by the messages caring for this sweet boy!
Take that, Spiderman!
Well, I guess that's one way to open a card. Just rip the envelope to shreds!


Our gifts to him were super hero masks and he has not stopped pretending to be is Wolverine, Captain America, Spiderman, or Thor in his spare time since. He continually makes me laugh with the things he comes up with in the battles and how he loves sneaking up on people to scratch them with his giant claws or shoot his web at them when they least expect it. I sometimes get to play with him but there have been times when the answer is a clear "not for girls" After we got home from church on his birthday he wanted to play with his masks and so he put on one and I asked who I could be to play with him. He just looked at me and said, "Mom, did you know that you are a girl?" "Yes..." "Girls cant be boys, so you cant be a super hero. Sorry." At this point I pretended to cry and he said, "Are you crying or what?" So I told him I was just so sad that I couldn't play with him so he slowly got up and brought me the Spiderman mask saying "you can be this one I guess." "Hey, I could be Spiderwoman!" "Yeah, I guess.... This is just so stressful!" I had to laugh out loud and gather him up for a big squeeze. He is hilarious!!!

Elliot also is loving having things to play with and especially weapons to hit things with.
A little out of order but here he is blowing out his candles!
Craig's best friend Kevin sent Keenan an awesome remote control Lightning McQueen car with one of our new STINT guys that came a couple of weeks ago and both boys are in love with it. Il lights up, plays some tunes, has sound effects and goes!! We have already had to replace the batteries!!!


Keenan had asked for strawberry banana cake weeks ago and I was so hoping that he would forget since there are no strawberries here and no boxed cake mix for me to use either. But he got it stuck in his head and he would even tell people that his birthday was coming and that he was going to have a strawberry banana cake. I couldn't believe the kid's memory!! So we searched and finally found some strawberry jello and I added some strawberry jelly to the batter as well then filled the cupcakes with banana pudding and there you have it. He was a happy camper and I was too that he was satisfied :).
Elliot enjoyed them as well. Sugar. What's not to love?!