Mom's Super Heroes

Hadassah is my Super Hero. She is bold like a lion on the inside and timid like a kitten on the outside. Hadassah loves to play it solo. She also loves all things funny. She is our contemplative one- and absolutely loves to think up little pranks she can play on all her siblings. Now she is probably thinking "How can I trick my siblings that are about to come through this door into making them scream when they realize there is a big dog laying here???"

All made it to our 3 when bike safely… with only a few screams of delight/ fright!

 Happy Halloween Farmer Brown! Another one of my Super Heroes! August Rocks. I love the way he laughs and laughs and laughs when I tickle under his rolls of chin and squeeze his chubby legs. I love the way his eyes follow me around the room noting my every action until I come to him and pick him up for a cuddle. I love this little man's appetite! Maybe one day he will be growing some crops to feed us!

 We enjoyed a library story time on Halloween followed by some candy collecting. 

 As usual we had mostly princesses...

 Best Buds- Lily & Lydia. Lily is not only my princess, but also my Super Hero! She has one of the most compassionate and tender hearts of anyone I know. She uses her words- spoken and written- to encourage, love on and thank those in her life. She has a love for journals, pens and fairy tales. (After asking each one of her siblings individually who their favorite sibling was (for the fun of it :) they separately and unanimously replied "Lily!!!!"… "and…" I am so proud her for who she is and I often think of the times she has chosen to serve others over herself.

 and Super Heroes!

 My Super Hero Cades Bud! What a wonderful opportunity I have to watch this awesome guy grow into a charming, laid back, intense young man. Cade loves to tell a joke, play with his legos, and wrestle and sword fight with his buddies. He loves to watch and imitate his daddy- I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with the same profession :). Caedmon has a way with all his little sisters- he is learning to be kind and gentle and loving. And is also an amazing big bro to his little bro!!!  

 Best Friends! Well, that's what Gretta's mom and I keep telling them they are… I suppose time will tell :). 

 At least they both like pink!

 A little stalk of wheat sticking out of his mouth would make this picture perfect :)

 Olivet is my sweetie, stinker Super Hero! What a personality does this little body contain! Obs has a wonderfully refreshing and charismatic demeanor. Her smile is so huge- and now that she is all done with her pacifier (since "Nukies are for babies, lambies are for big girls!"-Olivet) I get to see it all the time! Olivet takes the blame for any single little thing that might happen, to the delight of her older siblings (who are more often then not at fault). She sings her own little tunes around the house that I just adore. 

 super hero mom's yummy oatmeal breakfast :)

 Olivet also said good bye to diapers this month! 

 Here she is stuffing her scrambled eggs into a pencil sharpener... 

(With quite a few voices "egging her on" in the background!)

 … and dropping it- all for the purpose of having a good time.

 August and I got away this month for this long awaited retreat that has been in the works for over a year. We had an amazing time (I even brought a babysitter with) hearing from a wonderful speaker and being ministered to by 7 wonderful women who left their families in the States to come and serve us for 3 days. Besides the prayer time and hearing amazing testimonies, one of the highlights was nursing August in a small rubber boat (that only fit us) in the middle of the freezing cold pool with the sun shining down on us! What a precious memory I will always keep in my heart.

 Since we use our 3 wheeler often to get places, I am so glad the weather hasn't gotten too cold- yet. We never fail to see something interesting when we drive around town.

 A cop at the visa picture taking place

Gus gets all the special privileges.

 There's always something to be excited about with Olivet!

 not so much with this guy :)

 My best looking Super Hero :). Josh is one amazing husband and dad. He is one million times more than I could ever dream of or imagine. I am thankful for Josh's passion and heart for what he does and I love the way he pours his whole life into what he loves. He leads me closer to Jesus every day just by the way he trusts, is loyal and is honest. I am a blessed wife.

 crazy faces!

 I might try to cover my windows too if I had a camera right on the outside :p

 city traffic

 back home

It's a treat to play in Lily's bed!

 August's 3rd and 4th tooth are coming in vampire style

 a super yummy breakfast made by Lil

 bathing beauties

 Stick out your tongue if you are all related!

 Viv is 4!

 Last but not least- my LOUDEST Super Hero! Viv has a voice and isn't afraid of using it! Whether we are going for a walk, watching a movie, trying to rest- Vivi's voice will be heard! She has the most awesome, hearty laugh. She has this intense passion for life- and grabs the bull by the horns. She usually makes her entrance by flying into the room and then landing on her face and then getting up again without a second thought and flying into someone's lap. Vivianna loves to cuddle and enjoys people a lot. She is easy to get along with :).

 Vivi got a trampoline for her birthday since she is also a jumper. First she opened up the legs and didn't quite understand what they were. She said, as if she spent time thinking about whether or not she was going to share her gift, "I think I'll let Olivet play with these."

 She still wasn't getting it...

 Now she plays on it every day, multiple times a day. If someone gets on first she nudges them off so she can jump. We'll have to work on that :)

 During all our Skype calls for the day, Vivi was jumping in the background :)

 "I guess I'll share!"

 A card from Lily along with ¥4 ( I think her only card for the day)

 Cupcakes in the courtyard time!

 viv & gretta

 ian

 austin & mama

 sneaky Hadassah getting Mr. Spring to let her play a video game

 scoot scoot

 time for art!

 8 months old!

 hooray for my mom! she's number 1!

 Olivet being goofy

 And finally… our new home!!!

 ours is the apartment in the building on the right, the window on the top to the far left

 where to park our che

 We can see the ferris wheel from our window- it lights up green and red at night!

  We hope to move in around the 15th of December. The location is only 5-10 minutes from our current home. We are blessed especially by answered prayer.

 Josh and I with our pretty awesome new landlords last Saturday.

 Josh signing the official papers and then stamping them with his thumb print in red ink.

I thought this moment was funny. The landlords left so much stuff in this house (they lived in it for 10 years and then it sat empty for 1 year). The wife found a whole stack of jewelry boxes and began to hastily go through them. I didn't even know she spoke English until she looked up and said, "What a pity! They're empty!"

Even Super Heroes need rest! (Best part of my day!!!)

"Who do you wish you could be?"

 "Where's your tongue?"

(WARNING: this post contains a higher than average amount of food talk! Hope you are not too hungry!)

 Date night with Dass!

 Hadassah's agenda: 1st: Eat ice-cream out side while watching the old ladies dance on the walking street. 2nd: I paint mom's nails and then she can paint mine. 3rd: Watch Backyardigans without any other siblings (and then tell everyone what I got to do and they didn't). 

 6 month pics- after 3 of the fussiest days ever. I was not in the mood to get a good smile out (or even a matching outfit on). Neither was buds a boo. 

 still... so sweet.

 Almost the same size already?!?! 

(Today as I was feeding August with April ((his Chinese friend that's a girl.. and only one month younger)) next to him, April's mom and Auntie were laughing so hard at how big August opened his mouth for food! They kept saying so cutely in Chinese, "He opens his mouth so big!" I told them that the baby spoons frustrate him because he only gets a little taste with each bite, so we use a big spoon! We all got a kick out of it.) 

 No matter who else is in the room, if Caedmon is there, that's where August's eyes are!!!

 Quinoa is awesome. 

 Kids eating (and enjoying) kefir pancakes! The joys of a new food discovery.

 I mostly take a picture of a good meal for the purpose of remembering it so I can make it again. Yum, this was so good. It's my new energizing breakfast: spinach w/ a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper, sesame seeds, cashews, quinoa and two or three eggs. I feel energized just looking at this picture :). 

(nice spoon placement- I just noticed)

 So many "Gus in highchair again" pics. He doesn't seem to mind occupying this seat for a majority of the day :)

learning from the best of them 

 Lily did Hadassah's hair- it was precious. 3 cute braids. 

(by the way, has anyone seen the bouncy chair?)

 Maybe one of the best salads I ever had. 

 This was another hit. At least to me. Shredded carrots with a little butter and salt, spinach, scrambled eggs- awesome.

 I don't even remember what we were doing besides passing the time before dad got back!

Josh was gone for about a week at the beginning of the month. 

 For our movie night, we watched "The Secret Garden." It is recommended by 7.

 I was relieved that Olivet picked the dog because all that was left to choose from was the dog and the bird :).

 Random Story of the Month: I was waiting outside a bank to meet a friend, and this lady came up to me and said, "Your eyes look different than everybody else's. Where are you from?" Huh. Interestingly said. Then she asked all the questions that lead to the interesting answers that make people go "Waahhhsaaiii!" (meaning "Woah!") Normally the conversation ends there. But then she invited herself over to see the kids. Not many have the guts to do that! "Of course!" was my answer! Sally came over for lunch a couple weeks ago, and is planning on coming again this week. I am thankful for a new friendship!

 "Feed my squash and I'll love you forever!"

 flower girls

gotta love the greens

 Kefir, pomegranate, banana shake: Cade and my new fave

 I have slowly become one who loves breakfast. So on my run this morning, I was running through my head my breakfast options. Oatmeal? Eggs? I decided on a small portion of both. And then returned to this! A sweet comment from Lily along with this breakfast feast: "Since you don't usually get to eat breakfast until it's almost lunch time because you are so busy with feeding us kids and getting things ready, I thought I would make you your breakfast today." I am so blessed.

 Doesn't the piece of toast seem to be saying, "Eat me!"?

(The spread is homemade apple pumpkin butter, yum!)

 Every second she can, Viv is trying to help August. 

"Mom!!! Can you at least help Viv get the food in my mouth??"

 So here's the quote of the week, "I wish I could be August. Who do you wish you could be?" spoken by Viv with the most serious expression and adorable heart. Not quite sure how to answer! What would you say??

 "I think mom is realizing I need a little trim..."

 what a great personality! clicking the tongue as the bangs await the scissors...

 silly dragon fruit seeds are stuck on my face!

 that wasn't so bad!

 "now turn to your left!"

 7 month pics

 all smiles

 the hovering sidekick

 Not the timeline song again! 

Here's our Classical Conversations Crew

 fun group of kids

Saying good bye on a good note! Tin Whistle Lessons!