At the beach!

We're in Madang on the North Coast of PNG enjoying the sand and water with grandparents (both sets) and Aunt Pam. 

But first: the cockatoo and Crown Pigeons. Will, Marcie and David

David hiding in the roots of an ocean-side tree

Seth still loves to go off and do his own thing

Dads Jones and Peterson, Marmi, Gracie and me.

Dad Jones (Papa) has spent a LOT of time with the kids!

So has Aunt Pam - her energy is that of a  20-year-old!!! She's super silly and fun, just like she was when I was a kid.

Isaac is also silly and fun, and he's great snorkeler!

Marmi also being silly and fun pretending with the kids that a wooden crocodile is biting them. The kids have so enjoyed this break from daily life! Gavin and I are pretty exhausted, and I bet some other adults are too. (Sorry Mom P, no pictures of you on Gavin's phone!!)

The Quint-Mobile

Marmi and Papa's sweet (borrowed) ride is stiff competition for the old blue truck Aunt Pam is driving around:

Actually, the quints just love to go anywhere in anything! Marcie and Will keep wanting to go on an airplane. Marcie raided David's drawers to find these airplane outfits that she then insisted she and Gracie needed to put on. Gracie was all for that idea, and they even posed together for me!

Just a cute picture of Papa and Marcie

Princess Marcie

Marcie is very much into "boo-tiful" dresses now. She loves my dresses and loves to tell me I look beautiful whenever I wear one. She runs up and asks us to look at how pretty she is in her outfit, or with her hairstyle or new ponytail holder, etc. Today she picked a long church dress from her closet, and when she put it on she said, "My not a baby. My a big girl." (patting her dress where her tummy is).

Just then Seth ran in, stopped suddenly in awe and delight, and approached Marcie slowly with a big grin on his face. "Oh, Marcie! You a princess!" he said, gently stroking the material of her dress.

Of course, she grabbed onto that concept right away and said, "My not a big girl, my a princess!"

She wore this dress to bed over her pajamas last Saturday. Thank you, Annika and Maya!
(These are her favorite pajamas right now, Len and Mickey.)

Christmas in June!

It's amazing what large suitcases can hold:

(Thanks in large part to the Blights, as well!)

Balance bike for David (actually they have to all share), thanks to Grandpadad.
David has had roseola, so he's really not been himself the past few days. Thank God, he's a  lot better now! It's not a serious illness, but he sure looked and acted miserable. He still has the rash. The others have just a touch of it.

Strollers for the girls to go with their new Starling dollies!

But really, who needs new toys when you've got a scuffed-up, dirty, old wooden store delivery box to play in? For a while, at least, Will was happy just with that. :) Once the toys came out, the store box was history. 

(Debbie, the kids asked to go to your house today, not Daycare! I need to stop using that top road!)

Grandma, Grandpadad and Aunt Pam have arrived!

(A lot happens when you don't update your blog for more than two weeks. We've been fine, just busy!)

It is so much FUN to have both sets of grandparents and Aunt Pam here now! It's also really nice to have someone share the work of dishes, clean-up, kid-watching and playing. :)

My folks arrived for a two-month visit, and the kids very obviously remembered them!

Seth running full-bore to Grandpadad. Will got to him first by breaking the rules and going through the "no entry" gate!

David is so happy his tongue is hanging out! Marcie was screaming hysterically with delight.
(Aunt Pam got these pics. Grandma got ecstatic hugs, too!)

Gracie "helped" Grandma unpack. Oops. We didn't notice where she was or what she was doing - with Marcie.

Grandma and the kids (minus Will, who came along later)

Seth and Aunt Pam (my favorite person in the whole wide world when I was a kid, and still in the top .00001%!)

Grandma playing farm and tractors with Seth.

Looking at pictures. Jason, Isaac's friend, was interested to see them too. :)

Aunt Pam is always ready and willing for an adventure. We ran an errand to Aunt Kelly's house using this fun old truck. It's pretty jolty in the back. Some of the kids rode up front with her instead. Marcie insisted on it every time. :)

Happy girls and grandparents on Sunday. The girls' outfits made me squeal, they are so cute!!
Thank you, Len, Mickey, CJ and JJ, Megan and Naomi and Aunt Katie for the beautiful/useful/delicious, thoughtful gifts! We are so touched by and thrilled with your selections. (And I'm sure I'm still missing someone!)

Grandpadad in one of the silly hats Aunt Pam brought the boys.
Gracie loved being on his lap. (He's still teaching online classes for NorthStar Academy, so he needs that computer.)

Grandpadad reading to the boys.