Easter 2010...at little late

I'm trying to catch up on pictures that we've taken since being in the States. Here are some from Easter, which I must admit was kind of a blur because we were only in the country 3 days at that point.

Cutie Silas. I LOVE all the grass! It's so beautiful!

Dawson wasn't in the mood for pictures

Silas and Mommy

My sweet boys looking cute in their Easter clothes

I know their eyes are closed, but they still look so cute to me posing as they are.

Then the Easter egg hunt at my grandmother's house that afternoon.

Holly Jolly Christmas

This video is for my aunt Patricia in honor of John. Each year they sent the boys singing Christmas cards (and often birthday cards as well). To say the boys love them is an understatement. I think the cards are the highlight of Christmas, at least until all the new toys are opened. :) Usually, they go around opening the cards and singing to them all the time. This year, I haven't let them for fear they would destroy them and they are just too precious to me. When they opened them it made me miss John so much as they are something that is so John- even making a Christmas card entertaining by having it sing. So they are now hidden in my room so they are preserved. But I had to get a video of them dancing to the cards. The card music isn't too loud, but it is Holly Jolly Christmas. The other card sings Feliz Navidad. I actually like Dawson singing that one better but at the moment of videoing, Kenan had that card. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Our Christmas decorations

When it is 80-90 degrees outside, it is hard to feel like it is the Christmas season. So between that and the fact that three little boys occupy this house, our decorations are minimal. I considered not putting them up but the other day we were at our neighbor's who have put up all their Christmas stuff. Dawson came home saying, "why did they have their Christmas tree up? It isn't Christmas time." I told him it actually was Christmas time so he insisted we get the decorations out.

These are the boys' first Christmas ornaments. They are on my dresser since I want to see them but don't want the boys to touch them.

This is the whole set up. Do you think it's too much? :)

The tree was down on a table and the stockings hung on the drawers of the armoire, but within a day the boys had managed to break several ornaments and mess up the stockings so all went on top of the tv armoire.

We do actually have lights hung up in the living room as well, which Dawson wants on from the moment he is up until bedtime. I must admit, they are kind of fun, but something tells me we won't be winning the Christmas decoration contest this year. :)

Thanksgiving

Though Thanksgiving is not a holiday here in Mali, I feel like I must at least comment on the fact that it did occur. The missionaries do actually get together for a meal, but it’s just not the same as being at home. Since I was in high school, I have had a tradition that my quiet time on Thanksgiving is only that of thanks and praise. It has become one of my favorite times (I also really enjoy the end of the year and I look back at all the Lord has done in the year). It starts out with the obvious: God, family, friends, home, etc and then always gets into even the smallest of things- the trees in our yard that provide shade, that I’m finally losing my baby fat, that I now have two potty trained kids, that 80 degrees in the house actually feels cool, etc. I am always left amazed at the kindness of the Lord and all that he has blessed us with. So here are a few things I am thankful for this year:

My God and Savior who loves me. He is faithful when I am faithless. He does not treat me as my sins deserve. He is patient and good. He is love, hope, joy. He is the giver of all good gifts.

My Brett, he stands beside me, pushes me to be better in whatever I do. He is my best friend.

My boys. They bring me so much joy. My heart melts each time they give me a hug, flash a smile or give me a kiss. I love that Silas can now lean in and give me a kiss! Love it!

My family. I love that we are close and support one another. I love that when my uncle died it was never a question of if, but when and how I would get to the US and I knew without even talking to my sister that she would be on a plane from Korea as well. I am so thankful for a loving and supporting family who are not just family but my friends.

Mali. I am thankful for being here, for the people, for our work, for this being home.

Help. I am thankful for our house help- Jeremie, Marthe, and Bocar. They are fantastic and they add to our family. Don’t know what I would do without them.

Happy Father's Day!

One of the boys favorite things to do with their daddy is ride bikes. They go up to a "mountain" and see an "ant house" which is really a huge termite mound. They love it. Dawson loves getting to drink daddy's special drink- gatorade. :) They have a blast. Since there is only one seat on the bike, Brett takes Dawson first and then comes back for Kenan. Kenan screams as he has to wait for his ride and is so excited when they return so he can go.

I love that Brett takes the boys on these rides. It was on one of these such rides that he talked to Dawson about going back to preschool last year. After that talk, Dawson was willing to go. I was so amazed. There's something about that ant house and getting special time with daddy that makes everything ok.

So in honor of father's day, here are picks from their ride on Friday.

Ready to head out.

at the ant house

and for the next boy

he just looks so cute to me here

and here too...

and this is the difference between dads and moms. daddy will let you play IN the termite mound. pretty cool.

and poor Silas doesn't get to go on rides yet so here's just a pick of the two of them together.

happy daddy's day!! (or as dawson called it all day- happy valentine's day). the other day as we made cards and such for Brett, Dawson insisted on making black squares (construction paper completely painted black) for daddy for valentine's day. :)

and to my dad- thanks for always loving me and putting up with us girls growing up! thank you for always supporting us and encouraging us in what we felt led to do. I love you!

Easter

We had a get together of all the missionaries here in Koutiala for Easter. We had lunch and an Easter egg hunt. Our boys had to come with their super hero capes- couldn’t leave those at home. My mom made them for Super Dawson and Super Kenan. They love them. Wear them all the time. The boys enjoyed the easter egg hunt and since they are the youngest, they got to have a little bit of a head start. The older kids were supposed to leave the eggs lower toward the ground for them. Each kid was to get 11 eggs. Well, within just a few minutes, when we finally stopped to count, Dawson already had 16! He was having fun and obviously finding more than just the easy ones. 

What are in these baskets?

That's my candy, Silas!

Here's a box (empty) of nerds...

Look, I got nerds!

Super Dawson surveying the land to make sure all is well. 

A little before Easter

The week before Easter we were up in Bamako taking my mom back. We spent a whole day with the McCabes while there. The boys loved it. We dyed easter eggs, had a easter egg hunt and swam in their pool. Dawson bawled as we left that day (I wanted to as well). It’s so fun to have kids for the boys to play with and sad that we won’t see them for awhile. But such is life and there’s not much I can do to change that situation. But we’ll enjoy them when we can. 

Brett asked Dawson the other day who his best friend was. He said “when I’m a super hero, kenan’s my best friend.” Brett asked about when he wasn’t a super hero, he said “Ella.” He loves Ella. Thanks for a day of fun, McCabes!