Christmas cookies

Ellie was hard at work with her number one fan intently watching.

And here's half of our results.

I realize hearts aren't usually in Christmas cookies, but you use what you have. :)

Ellie's Couplet

Ellie's assignment in Language Arts today was to write a couplet. She wrote about two of her teddy bears.

I have a little lady bug.

When I hug her, I feel snug.

I have a little bumble bee.

She keeps me nice and cozy.

St. Nicholas Day 2013

We celebrated St. Nicholas Day at my mom's care center. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas.

I went before the kids and set up with Mom.

I got what is one of the best recent pics of my mom when we were done decorating.

Mom with the hat I knit her.

The kids were happy, too.

Crazy hair

It was crazy hair day at Adventure Club. Some kids wore wigs. We just used some gel and a hair dryer.

A Science Project

Tracing Fun

I can remember using this tracing book when I was in fourth grade. Each page has something new you can trace... face shape, eyes, nose, mouth, hair, body, earrings, etc... I took it out the other day and Ellie had some fun.

She picked the items for this picture, but I did the tracing.

This one she did all on her own.

When Ellie Takes the Camera

Ellie occasionally asks to take photos. Here's a couple that I found.

Another To Do List

This list was dictated to me by Ellie...including the fact that she wanted me to draw the line and what order to do the colors in. I would also like to clarify that "Michael Learns to Rock" is her daddy's influence... not mine. :)

Father's Day Pancakes

When I Went to Bed...

When I went to bed, this was what my computer looked like. Franklin was in the middle of fixing it. :) I woke up to a computer that was working better than it had in months! What a great husband!

Fun with Bubble Wrap

Ellie's hat

After sorting out the craft drawer in view of Ellie, she told me she wanted to make a hat. I asked her what she wanted to use. She said, "Paper, feathers, and glitter glue." 

Later we also added some letters.

Watercolor Painting

Riding bikes Out and About

We don't take our bikes out very often. The other day we had meetings just down the road, so I let the kids ride their bikes. I had to run to keep up even with Abraham.

Homemaker in the Making

She made cinnamon rolls with me on a Saturday morning. After mixing the ingredients, she got her own bit to knead, she rolled it out, she buttered it, she put on the toppings, she rolled it up, she cut it. And she was proud to serve some to her daddy and her aunty.

She sews, too.

One day I woke up from my nap and she had cut the pieces out to make her brother a kabilato. She just needed help threading the needle and pinning the pieces together. Then she sewed it together and her brother loves to run around in it. It's nice for him to have some dress up clothes. 

10:30 pm on June 29

It is finished. And since Ellie was not asleep yet, she got up and modeled the shirt! She asked if she could wear it for school today (June 30)! I can't wait to get back to knitting. 2 1/2 months of crocheting with tiny thread is enough! :)

A Buddy's Birthday

We have some really good friends here in town, and their daughter was celebrating her fourth birthday. Ellie worked on a present for her, painting an egg carton and then making beaded rings with beads and pipe cleaner to fill it up.

Abe got in on the painting action, too.

Before going to their house to eat cake, we all went to Zia Park. The kids love the carousel ride.

Uncle Yakub went with Abraham.

A Trip to the Capital

About four times a year we make the 6 hour train ride into the capital city. Here's a blurry picture of our arrival at the train station at an early 5:30am. Good morning, world!

Every time we go in, Ellie and I make a trip to the beauty parlor where we take care of hair cuts and whatnot. Each time I let Ellie get her nails painted.

On the way to the meetings, Ellie went to get coffee with Daddy. They apparently found some flowers, too.

Fun in the guesthouse cupboard.

And Ellie's first dentist appointment. Let's just say we've learned our lesson and will be helping Ellie brush her back teeth from now on!

On the train on the way home, I read to Ellie from Little House on the Prairie. We read Little House in the Big Woods for school, and it was so good that we wanted more! Little House on the Prairie isn't available in digital form, so we borrowed a copy from some friends in the capital. I can't wait until we get to the States so we can keep working our way through the series. In the meantime, we will occupy ourselves with the Ramona series.

And a couple hours out of Rajshahi the two kiddos fell asleep together in the top bunk using Daddy's shirts as blankets.