. SNOOZZZZZZZZZZZZZING .

 What started out as a convenient snacking/ tv watching spot while "Bubble Auntie" cleaned the floor....

 

... Turned out to be the perfect spot for a little SNOOZE, too.

(Little guy fell asleep mid-snacking and stayed out for like 2 hours!!!)

 TOO CUTE!

Shopping Anyone?

We had a dear friend visit recently, and while she was in our city with us- we took her to one of our favorite little shopping spots!

 Ladies~ you know we had a good time :)

Meanwhile, Craig was super sweet and chased Levi throughout the shopping arena.

But when I didn't here a little boy squealing or running, I thought:

"Hmmm... I wonder where those two have ran off to?"

And THERE they were!!!! Caught red handed!

(Or sticky handed... one or the other)

 

You know this little guys loves "SWEET" moments with Papa ;)

 I LOVE my guys!!!

Traveling & Training

Craig often travels to nearby villages for his work here.

However, recently, my friend Beth and I along with Craig, Levi, & some other co-workers were able to travel to a village to work with some ladies.

We learned so much in our trip & really enjoyed these women!

 They fed us a delicious South Asian feast for lunch- Rice, Roti, Chicken Curry, and fresh veggies:

(We ate & then rested for a few minutes before an afternoon session with the ladies)

 Beth & I:

 

So while we were off with the women, Craig & Levi were left to find some way to entertain themselves.... Levi didn't seem to have a problem with that:

(Totally shoving gravel into a muffler before I caught him!!!! yikes!)

 Doing what little boys do best...

Playing with D.I.R.T.

These two were a HOT MESS by the end of the day.

Sweaty, sticky, laying in the dirt, dropping handfuls of dirt on each others head... 

Yea- you can imagine, right?

 But who could resist such fun????

"Thanks Papa for being a trooper and watching Joya & I so Mama could be with the ladies! 

You are the BEST "

-Levi (& Mama agrees!)

* Bonding over Apple Pie *

I met a friend here who speaks both English & Hindi, and she is a BLAST to be around.

We met through a mutual friend who previously lived in South Asia,

and one of her favorite things they did together was bake an apple pie!

So we decided to embark on the endeavor together one day, as well.

(I realized afterward that this may have actually been my FIRST time making an apple pie from scratch... I usually just enjoy my Mama's apple pies- so it made it even more special)

Apples are cut and ready... so DUMP away!

It was smelling delicious!

She even insisted we do the fancy top... so I told her to go for it:

Two new friends, a Betty Crocker cookbook, and a fun afternoon... 

and the results being one Yummy Apple Pie~ what more could you ask for? haha:

(Do you like the bow she created on top?)

The final product:

We were quite proud of ourselves 

AND

I really enjoyed spending the afternoon with such a precious friend- 

Grateful for the way the Lord provides!

:: PIckin' Posies ::

 Part of our new daily routine:

As "Bubble Auntie" heads out the door, she looks at Levi & says "Bye"...

(Totally egging him on. haha)

Then he proceeds to reach his arms out for her, with the expectation that she will take him OUTSIDE,

Walk just down the way, and pick some lovely posies :)

 I'm pretty sure she adores him :)

 And I think it's pretty adorable seeing my precious boy with a handful of posies.

Costume P.A.R.T.Y!

 OOOOOOhhhhh Yea~

October 31st

Our Team hosted our First Annual Costume Party to celebrate some fun American traditions.

At first, the thought of coming up with costumes for the three of us seemed overwhelming-

I mean, it's not like we have a lot of "extra" stuff hanging around to throw something together.

AND THEN- I remembered "Google"- VICTORY

Some construction paper, paper plates, and an old 'package' resulted in a 

SUPER FUN costume for Levi:

 *Oh the unending blessings of a package :)

The results were- FUN- FUN- FUN!!!

Lots of yummy food, dips, desserts, games, and GREAT costumes

(Thanks to Sarah- we now have some hilarious moments playing "Minute to Win It")

 

Our little "truck driver", who could barely leave his costume alone at home 

(which resulted in the headlight being glued on several times- lol)

paid NO attention to it what-so-ever once we arrived at the party.

Go Figure!

And what did Craig & I come up with????

Glad you asked :)

Introducing... GRANNY & GRAMPS:

 

 There he is... Our little Truck Driver:

Mr. Important & Cat Lady:

 

 Big Bird & Wonder Girl:

Best Duo of the Night~

Pirate & Police Man

(equipped with tickets & all... to which he preferred to call "lists"... like I said~ We had a BLAST!)

 

And this is where I found our sweet boy at the end of the night... 

Sitting quietly, all by himself, resting his cheek on the table, and in the "zone".

P.R.E.C.I.O.U.S.

Thanks for checking us out- hope to have more fun photos and memories to share next year!

:: BIRTHDAY BASH ::

 We kicked off Levi's Birthday Bash by Skyping with Grammy & Grandpa to open presents they sent:

By the end, he got a little better with opening the presents.

He's a champ with Skyping these days, though- He LOVES to "tickle" and hug and give kisses right to the person on the screen.

SUPER CUTE!

The plans were set- Saturday @ 4:00 pm.....

So by 4:00, the cake was made:

(sorry my camera would NOT take this picture in FOCUS, I tried a dozen times... who knows?)

The snacks were made and set out:

Decorations were hung on the wall:

 

Party favors were tied & ready for guests to take home:

(included Psalm 139: 16b)

  

Our first guest had arrived:

(Thanks BETH!)

And that was it for a while......

Then 4:30 rolled around and guess what?

Our truckload of MANURE for our garden showed up and they conveniently unloaded the ENTIRE truck bed into our carport/ ENTRY WAY into our HOUSE!!!

(Of course it was supposed to show up the day BEFORE... but what can you do, but LAUGH!) 

 The lovely scent swept through the house, just in time for the guests to come- haha.

So I lit candles around the house....

AND then we lit the candle on the cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to the birthday boy:

 As we sang, he began dipping his finger along the edge and helping himself to some icing while he waited to blow out the candle and dive in. :)

I think it's safe to say, he liked it!

 Sweetest little 2 year old I know :)

 

And then it was CAKE time!!!!

 "I think I'm in heaven"

 "Guys, did you get some of this stuff... I'm telling you, it's good"

 

"Ok, suit yourself, I'm not gonna miss out on mine!"

~Levi

(These eyes crack me up)

"Oh shoot- this is too difficult, and let's be honest- this stuff on the top is the best anyway... 

might as well just lick that off :)"

 

Then we enjoyed fun birthday gifts & hanging out with our guests:

 "Thanks for coming guys!"

 "I LOVE BIRTHDAYS... Especially MINE!"

~Levi