MY BOYS

Glad I get to call them mine :)

Exciting NEWS!!!!

Coming March 1st, 2013

 Pictured at 13 weeks... currently 14 weeks:)

"Guys- I'm going to be a BIG BROTHER!!! Hehehehe"

-Levi

:: Backyard Village ::

 I heard a little commotion out the back window of the house, so I snuck over for a peek.
What I found was a South Asian pick up truck, backed up to the side of the field we live next to, LOADED with STUFF!

 So I quickly call Craig and say, "Honey... I think we have a village moving into our back yard!"
And move in they sure did:

Ladies took their little brooms and swept the ground to clear a spot for their homes, tent poles were laid out, and then tarps were strung up...
Then Waa-Laa, They had set up home!

 

And not without bringing their favorite pets along :)

At first I was really sad that we no longer had our "quiet" view overlooking the field, but in those following hours- I just would watch...
and I felt like I learned so much about how some folks here live.
It was pretty neat!

In the morning, several ladies took their buckets of water (that had been hauled in by a few other ladies on their heads earlier) and took a bath via the bucket (AKA more like a sponge bath with the addition of washing some LONG hair upside down with the bucket- whew!)
Again, not something you see everyday... and actually quite a process!

 Other ladies pulled out their families clothes next to a rock, and got busy cleaning them by hand, and then hanging them over some weeds to dry (as you can see below)

 

Other ladies were cooking breakfast, and the men were gathered around enjoying their morning chat:)

The kiddos were having a ball running free and all over the place next to the field!
Some of them still pantless from their morning "squat"- they don't mess around with potty training here- HAHA.

 The funny part is... our backyard village only lasted for A DAY!!!!
lol
I think they didn't like the fact that their location sat in the direct sunlight so they shifted just down the way.

 The good news is- we have our quiet field back...
AND
I was able to learn so much in that one day as well.

Gotta love South Asia!

. Lake side view .

 One thing we LOVE about our city is that it is the home of several lakes!

On one Sunday afternoon, we went for a ride to the lake side with some friends, and we got to see it up close and personal. 

It was gorgeous-

 There were boaters everywhere, this cute little island out in the middle, and lots and lots of people just out enjoying the weather as well

 My friend, Akashmih, is really a lot of fun.

She speaks both Hindi & English... and best of all LOVES TO LAUGH!

(Levi got too comfy and fell asleep on the ride over, so he didn't get to see this view :))

The ironic part of our "outside lakeside" hang out, was that during our drive back (on bikes) a nice shower decided to come sweeping across the lake- Do ya see it?

It actually was a fun ending to the day, because I have always wondered what folks here do when they are out on bikes and the rain comes... That day I found out-

You quickly pull over at the closest covering, which sometimes is a pretty small place w/ not much around it ...  meaning, you have LOTS of other company who had the same idea :)

It made me giggle seeing us all crammed in this little ice cream parlor.

*There are lots of folks that live near the lake that don't know the Father's love... 

Would you take a minute and pray that one day they would?

Thanks y'all!

:: Levi's House ::

 "Hello? Did someone knock?"

 

"Oh hey, it's just you guys... come on in!"

"It might be a tight squeeze, but I think we can all fit :)"

"Here, have a seat... I brought all the essentials- a pillow, my WV Mountaineer bear, and my ipod

Let's PARTY!!! "

We all remember the best part about our parents having to buy washing machines, refrigerators, etc...

THE BOX!!!!

I couldn't let Levi miss out on experiencing the JOYS a cardboard box can bring...

and ENJOY it he DID.

"Y'all come back again soon!"

Levi's face for Beth :)

We call this the "Beth's face" pose... However, the irony in all of this is that it started from Beth mimicking Levi's fake whine face.

But he totally associates it with her now, IT"S HILARIOUS!!!

(If only I could capture the noise that comes with it- LOL)

"What guys?  I wasn't really upset... just faking- couldn't you tell?"

haha.

Yep, I think it's safe to say those two are buds for life.

Thanks for having a blast with our little guys, Beth!

When Papa Leaves Town...

 Occasionally Craig goes out of town to do some trainings, 

so Levi and I do our best to survive without him:

1. We pick a movie to watch each night

 

2. Of course there has to be some yummy snacks involved

3. And we set up our computer on Mama & Papa's bed, kick back, cuddle close, and enjoy the show!

Hey- it's rough... but we do what we can ;)