Tennis

Can you believe that this picture was taken at the hospital? Thanks to a very generous, tennis loving friend of Brett's we now have a tennis court in Koutiala! This was the first time we played on it (though Brett had the inaugural game with Shawn that morning).   

The boys were thrilled to play.  I think they have MacLean blood more than me and actually may be good at it. :)

At the end of our time, with our "ball boy" in the background. He did fairly well getting the balls but not understanding the game he often ran on the court in front of us and got in the way of shots.

I honestly don't know who is happier about the court.

toothless Kenan

Within a few short days Kenan lost both of his front teeth. The new ones were already pushing through so he didn't have much of a choice. He's quite cute without his front teeth, I must say.

The tooth fairy gave him 100 francs (equivalent to 20 cents). He came out in the morning singing about how the tooth fairy gave him a dollar. Seems to be a win- win. It doesn't break the bank and he's happy thinking his coin is worth more than it is. :) Here's to keeping the confusion going for a few more teeth! :)

Sweet Burkina

We find little Burkina everywhere taking her naps. And like watching a baby sleep, it is precious and picture worthy, for some reason. :) We are thankful for this cat as we lost our others and though I am kind of done with an indoor cat, I don't think my boys will ever let me put her outside.

                     Burkina longs to go outside so she is always at the windows watching what goes on.

Rain dance

Until recently we haven't seen rain here since October. We love rain here in the MacLean household.

 One day the sky darkened and there was the smell of rain in the air. I called the boys outside, for sure that rain was coming. We waited and waited. We danced around in anticipation and waited some more. I realized my high hopes were failing. Dawson had the idea that if we filled a bucket with water, it would evaporate and thus it would soon rain. We tried it. It didn't work. I then held the hose up to the trees and wet them, then the dripping of water felt like rain. But still, it didn't satisfy.

So Silas took to sitting, fully clothed, in the dirty water meant to cause rain.

It is in these moments that I think my life is so wonderful and their childhood will be filled with beautiful memories that I am overcome with gratitude. These are the moments that I want etched in my brain forever. Dancing in the yard with my kids, eagerly hoping that rain will come.

And, then just getting to watch life unfold for them. They enjoy the little things. I love it.

He's into making faces at the camera if you can't tell. :)

This is the house he set up for himself. And once he had worked, he rested.

So no rain came that day. We drank hot chocolate nonetheless in expectation. But a few days later, I woke to the sound of rain drops hitting the tin roof over our window. I was so excited that I ran to get Kenan and woke him up. He was not happy to have been woken up but as soon as I said, "rain" he jump up and ran outside. We enjoyed a morning of a cool breeze, the delightful smell of rain, the cleansing the dirt off of everything around, and of course, hot chocolate. :) Yeah for mango rains! Only a few more months until we get to see the rain on a regular basis.

Flying high

With three boys I am learning that they like to jump and be active no matter what surface they are on. This day was a spontaneous jump fest off the couches. Thankful this was only two feet off the ground. 

And just because, here is a picture of the face we see often. He actually chose to pose this way.

Easter Sunday

After three years in a row of spending Easter in the US, this year was a bit anti-climatic. Yet, I love Easter so it is worth noting. God's grace is so good and I'm thankful for His gift of life to us.

I had to bribe the boys to get this picture, but thankful they are all smiling.

                                                          They really do love each other.

Easter 2013

Thanks to Becky, who is hanging out in KTL for awhile, we had an Easter party. It's nice to have someone who loves throwing parties so I don't have to! :)

All the kiddos excited and ready to party

Let the egg dying begin...

The colors are light so it is hard to tell but he made the country flag. Then he made France's as well.

If her parents would let me take her, I would. I absolutely love her. She is precious.

The egg walk with all the McCabes clearly in the lead. I'm thinking it has something to do with personality...they are free spirited, ready to go and try. Mine are cautious, not wanting to mess up.

My attempts at Easter pictures...not quite the same as the last few years in my parents' backyard with beautiful green grass.

See, she wants to be a part of our family. :) She could fit in. 

Cute Titus

 Becky leading the crew to find more of the eggs that were still hidden.

Showing off his lot of candy. They all got lots of good treats.

Happy Birthday Dawson!!

My first born turned eight! Wow! He is a joy. I love that kid. He is kind, polite and respectful. He loves his brothers and does well taking care of them. He likes to follow rules and makes sure all of us do as well. :) He is obsessed with washing his hands (too much and we are working on it) which I would say came from me, not the hand washing but I knew of a girl once who had an obsession with brushing her teeth. Oh the joys of seeing your crazy traits being passed onto your offspring. 

He is a stupendous kid, if I say so myself. Simply wonderful and I am grateful, so incredibly grateful, that the Lord gave him to us. I love him to the moon and back...and back and back and back to infinity, as we often tell each other at night. 

D wanted a Lilo and Stitch party, without the Lilo and with the experiments. I had no idea what he was talking about but now know what experiments are that somebody makes on each show. The boys write down the experiment number (which are really things like Stitch that do things, not like science experiments) after each show and keep a log for some reason. It means something to them. So I obliged.

My free hand Stitch. Not too shabby, I think. As I sweat over cakes I am oh so "grateful" to my sister who made the boys awesome cakes that I must live up to, that and colored pancakes. So no Jennifer cake, but this is my best.

One experiment blew bubbles so we tried to see who could blow the biggest bubble.

Dawson held the lead until right until the end when Joel made a massive bubble.

Then there was an alien that made a crown and if you wore it you could tell everyone what to do. So it was experiment Simon says.

He loved getting to tell people what to do.

Then there was a water experiment that through water balls at people....so we threw water balloons.

 There was also an experiment that folding everything so we folded paper to make something, like a hat and various other games sprinkled in the day.

And of course, then came the cake.

Happy Birthday, my sweet Dawson!!! Love you with all my heart! May this year be a great year for you!