Our guinea pigs

The boys have really missed Mali while we have been in the States this time. They've missed their friends and their animals. They've missed their routine. One day Dawson was asking to go somewhere-anywhere- and I asked him if we went somewhere every day in Mali. -"No," he said. 

"Then why do we have to go somewhere here? Why can't we stay at the house?" I asked. 

"Because we have FUN every day in Mali!"

Mali is their home. Though it seems surprising to me that they would think the 4th poorest country in the world with no playground in our town is better and more fun than America, to them it makes perfect sense. Home is home. And home is always better than somewhere else.

So in trying to help them through the process, I did what I often do in Mali for a special treat- I got them a pet. We went to the SPCA to look at dogs but there were no small ones which is what I want. But they had guinea pigs. Two that had to go together. So we got them. 

This is Salvation.

                                                                  And this is Cool.

I did realize, though, once I got home that one of the reasons we have ten pets is because most are outside and I don't do any of the work for them. Jeremie or Bocar feed them. So the job fell on me (and my parents) to get a house together for the guinea pigs. The boys have enjoyed them though now I should say him since Cool is gone. While my mom and I were at a women's retreat, Cool got away. Thankfully, the kids aren't too upset about it. I guess they weren't that attached. We'll see if Salvation is still around once we get back from Florida or if my mom "accidently" lets him out to run around the yard. :) (I know, Mom, that you would never do that, even if you wanted. :) )

Easter 2012

This year was actually our third Easter in the US in a row. It's been fun to be in the States for Easter. I love Easter. It is my favorite holiday. I love celebrating our Risen King and relishing in the hope He gives. He is good, so good and without Him we are without hope.

I will admit I also enjoy the coming of spring. The flowers, green grass, and getting to dress my boys in the same outfit. :) 

Here are pictures of the egg hunt followed by the family pictures. Beware, there are a ton of pictures.

Trying not to look before they started the hunt.

Go!

These two look more and more alike as the days go on.

                                 
                                                                    Brotherly love

Kenan was sad here because he missed Caroline, our dog in Mali.

This is when we told him we would send a picture to Caroline so she could see us. I need to get on that. :)

                                                                 Me and my mama

Dawson is 7!

(Posting over a month late)

My dear Dawson turned 7 years old on March 27th. He was my Easter baby on that early Sunday morning 7 years ago.  I loved him instantly yet I love him more with each passing day. He has an incredible heart. He is sensitive and kind. He loves his brothers and takes great care of them.  He is inquisitive, always thinking and trying to figure out if what you tell him is true (just like his daddy). I am so thankful that the Lord gave him to us. He makes our life better each and every day. 

We didn't really have a lot of time to plan his party since we had just arrived in the US but we invited friends he had made in only one or two interactions. I love how easily kids can make friends. 

This was his cake made by Roy, Walt's dad. Walt leaves down the street from my parents and he has been the boys one friend for the last three times in the US. We are so thankful for their family and for their friendship (and Roy's awesome cake decorating skills!)

Playing a game. It was supposed to be picking up lego pieces with sticky hands. Too many boys, though, so it became more of a hitting one another game with sticky hands. Gotta love boys! :)

Licking his ice cream cone that he made for the game of lego charades.

Reading his card that Kenan made for him. I simply love seeing their love for each other.

Happy with all his presents which included legos, a camera and a new Bible with just words- no pictures! :)

In the USA

We've now been in the US for about a month. We've had a great time seeing family and friends, thus the absence in posting.

One of my favorite things of coming back is getting to see America in the eyes of the boys. To Brett and I, America is home and we know how things work. It's not the case for the boys. This is a different world with lots of fun things, for example...

Escalators! The boys love them. and elevators. Yes, we were the parents who let our kids go up and down the escalators in the Belgium airport.

Squirrels! The boys are fascinated with squirrels. They will sit and watch them for long periods of time and call the others over to see these new and exciting animals.

Mailmen! Every mailman is pointed out. A white truck is presumed to be a mailman until proven otherwise. They think the mailman is the coolest thing.

Water fountains! You'd think that they were pouring out chocolate for how much the kids like them. Not only is it a contraption that shoots out water- it is DRINKABLE water! Score!

Electric toilets/sinks/ hand dryers! I mean, what's not cool about a dirty rest stop bathroom? On our way to Florida we stopped at a rest area after Kenan had asked, "Why can't we just stop on the side of the road?" since that is our "rest stop" in Mali. We just pull over by a tree which serves as our shade and our bathroom. We explained that you can't pull over on the side of the highway in America and we told them that there would be a stop soon with a bathroom. "How do you know it will have a bathroom?" Dawson asked. Because it is America. And you can find a bathroom on basically every exit on the interstate. Sweet. So we were in that dirty rest area bathroom and the kids were thrilled. "It's a robot bathroom!" they yelled. And as Dawson dried his hands with the electric dryer that had a blue light as its sensor, he looked at me with complete sincerity and said, "This is so cool!"

One day an ambulance passed by our house with the lights off. The boys asked if that was a mailman (like I said, white truck equals mailman until proven otherwise). I told them no, that it was an ambulance to which they asked what that was. I told them if you got sick at your house or hurt they would come and get you and take you to the hospital. Kenan piped up, "That is SO nice of them. I think they know God because God tells us to be nice to each other."

The first few days home every time we arrived where we were going, Dawson and Kenan would say to one another (in complete seriousness), "Don't unbuckle your seat belt. Wait until the car has come to a full and complete stop."

When I gave my credit card to a lady at the register D asked why I had to show my passport.

On seeing trash on the road after being in the country a month, D says, "oh-they do liter in America."

Several times while playing with something or using a gadget D has asked, "Why is everything made in China?"

Kenan is growing up

Two weeks ago Kenan lost his first tooth. A couple days later he lost his second. I pulled them both out which I must admit I kind of liked since Dawson has never let me even try to pull one of his.

I thought I'd encourage good dental hygiene after he lost his tooth so I gave him a sucker. :)

Since we came to the US for our home assignment, Kenan finished at L'ecole Samuel. Here is a picture of his last day. This is both the lower and older class of the preschool. Kenan did really well there and enjoyed his friends. He integrated well and went with the flow even when he didn't understand all that was going on.

One day I met a kid who went to the same school but was in the upper grades. I asked him if he knew my son. He said, "the white kid who gets da juice everyday?" I said, "yes, that's him." If his white skin didn't single him out, I guess his daily juice buying did. There are ladies that sell little juice bags each day during snack time and as incentive for them to go to school (and enjoy it) I gave them money to buy juice.

Kenan with his friend, Jean-Marc, on the right.They will miss not being in school together next year. I am thankful for the friend he made and hope that they can still get together next year.

My sweet Kenan is getting so big. I cannot believe that he will be in kindergarten next year! Amazing! He is ready, though, as knows his ABCs, can count 1-100, can count to 100 by 10s, and knows most of the books of the Bible. I am amazed at how he learns because he has picked all theis up on his own. I, unfortunately, have to admit I've never sat down and taught him this. He can learn anything put to song.

I love my Kenan!

Baby bunnies

Our rabbits had babies one Sunday morning. There were five little rabbits.

The boys really enjoyed them. Maybe a little too much because I don't think we were supposed to touch them as much as we did.


They actually all died. I think this was more due to the fact that the mother didn't prepare a nest for them and didn't seem to take any care for them. Next time, however, we will try not to touch them as much and hopefully some will survive. Need to learn more about how to raise bunnies. :)

Tennyson, new puppy

Apparently, I got the animal bug and it isn't Brett bringing home the animals but me. I enjoyed the reaction when they got rabbits, so since then I brought the birds and brought home a puppy from a village I visited. The boys had been asking for another dog so I decided Caroline could use a friend while we were in the US for our home assignment.

So meet Tennyson. Named by Kenan for Ben Tennyson from Ben10. Also works nicely as he is our tenth currently living animal.

You can see his ribs. He didn't get to eat much in the village obviously.

Funny way of sleeping his first night with us. We said he looks like the flying nun.
He is getting to eat at our house and I think enjoying it. His belly always swelled after his first few meals with us.
Caroline has enjoyed her new friend, mostly. Doesn't like when he tries to snuggle with her at night but other than that they really love playing together.