. REWIND: Road Trips & Reunions with Friends .

The G-clan was so kind to host our crew of four for a week in October.

And we have lots of FUN to show for it!

Levi & Parks are too much alike, it cracks me up!

And sweet Wint is just learning to jump on in :)

Cupcakes and candles are always a fun way to celebrate a friend's birthday:

His wife is so precious and beautiful!

Riley hanging out with Ryan:

Brandy,

Your kids are SO SO kind and thoughtful in how they invite my kiddos to join in on all they do.

So grateful for their sweet spirits!

For our friend's birthday, we decided to go to a park.

Little did we know they would have CAMELS there!!!!

We didn't ride them this time, but next time we might just give it a shot :)

Levi stuck with the "safe & stationary" route this time.

We totally spotted a peacock UP IN THIS TREE!

Don't know if you can see it, but regardless, it needed to be NOTED :)

We always love bedtime stories, and especially with Papa!

Thanks for being such great hosts guys!

Riley decided to start doing "big girl" things, and was pulling herself up into standing position on everything while we were there:

Cute & Talented ;)

And we must have hit "harvest time" on our way home because the fields were sprinkled with all kinds of colors, which happened to be the beautiful sarees worn by the women who were harvesting the crops.

It was so NEAT to see!

Oh and don't worry- 

this is totally NORMAL to have to come to a complete STOP in the middle of a 4 lane highway because the mass herd of cows crossing ;)

(Yep, only in South Asia!)

"Thanks for joining us on our journey!"

...:::* Riley Joanna ~ 8 MONTHS OLD *:::...

. October 27, 2013 .

Our little girl is officially 8 months old.

What a fun month we have had this past month!

Memories & Milestones:

MONTH 8 (Sept 27-Oct 27):

- getting more and more sturdy pulling yourself up- on tables, on couches, and you LOVE to pull yourself up on mommy's pants and stand by me when I'm working inthe kitchen

- sleeping a little better

- oct 11 started clapping your hands :) 

- think its hilarious when Levi gives you raspberries on your belly

- tried beets and carrots so far. You have a serious gag reflex everytime you try something new. But then it slowly grows on you. 

- click your tongue in your mouth 

-10/14 bottom Left tooth poking through

- 10/15 started shaking your head "no". 

- 10/18 climbed the steps on your own. Crawled up to the first landing!!!

Our Precious Daughter,

Riley Jo~

As you grow in your understanding of your teeny hands, by clapping them, by using them to grab a hold of things, by waving them...
We pray that you will always allow the Lord to use your hands to be a blessing to those He brings into your life.
May your hands become His hands- free to offer in help, quick to embrace a friend who is hurting, always willing to clap and cheer others on, and the list could go on....

My heart is overwhelmed with love for you, dear one.

~All Our Love for Always~
Mama & Papa

Yippy Yippy LEVI'S THREE!

. October 12, 2013 .

Our first born precious Son-
Levi Elliot was born THREE YEARS ago in good ol' North Carolina.

My heart rejoices and is sad all at the same time.
I am going to choose to focus on the REJOICE part so as to not stay sad too long about how quickly time passes.

Every day this little guys  brings JOY beyond measure into my life
(He also gives me many opportunities to practice: patience, grace, unconditional love, etc...)
In it all, I REJOICE and am overflowing with GRATITUDE to a loving Father who saw it fit to allow me to be his Mama.

Ok ok ok- onto the party and fun :)
Well it's been three years and guess what Levi STILL loves?????
CARS!!!!!
So we stuck with the "car" theme:

One of my favorite memories of this year's birthday is whenever anyone would ask Levi how old he was going to be, he would respond:

"I be TRIANGLE"

(*TOTALLY unprompted- he did this ALL on his own. But you know this Math Teacher Mama was SO PROUD!)

We formed teams and played games on each side of our "race track" we made in the living room:

Everyone colored their own "steering wheel" and

 we played Pin the Steering Wheel on the Car

Everyone gathered around and we sung Happy Birthday and watched Levi blow his candles out.

(Something this little guy has looked forward to for a while- He LOVES to sing Happy Birthday and blow out candles.  And OF COURSE eating cake. hahaha)

I Love him SO MUCH!

 

Then it was PRESENT time:

(He had all the assistance he could need ;)

 

"Oh no she DIDN'T... wait... YES SHE DID! Aunt Buff bought me a THOMAS train!!!!!"

~Levi

 

*This face brings so much JOY to my heart :)

Thanks Aunt Buff for knowing my little boys so well!

This was such a tender moment captured:

Levi opened his gift from his friends- 

Sarala, Sam (pictured left), Jackson (pictured right), Parks, and Wint

It was the PLANES book and as soon as he opened it- Sam just opened it up and began reading it to Levi- Isn't that SO SWEET?!?!?!

I may LOVE that he thinks books are so much fun :)

Happy 3rd Birthday Levi!

You have grown in SO MANY ways over this past year.

You have become a Big brother, a quite fantastic one at that.

You have continued to adapt to South Asia so well.

You talk up a storm :) and never cease to amaze us with what new things come out of your tiny mouth

You always make Mama & Papa laugh (Riley Jo, too)

You love to laugh.

You love others SO well.

Mama & Papa LOVE you more than we can say, sweet boy.

And we count it an HONOR and PRIVILEGE to call you Our Little Boy!