Fun, busy times with family

Aunt Pam leaves tomorrow. We'll miss her (and her help!) so much, but she might find international travel relaxing after her month with 2-and-a-half-year-old quintuplets. ;) Thank you sooooooooo much, Aunt Pam! We appreciate you DEEPLY and we love you tons and tons!

Aunt Pam with the boys

On the raft at the beach (we were on a small cove)
Left to right: Will, Gavin holding Marcie, a laughing Seth, Aunt Pam, David standing, Isaac mostly submerged by the ladder, and Papa swimming out to the raft.

Aunt Pam made a "woofing" David look like a doggie - before I told her that the marker she was using was permanent, not washable. It's washed off (mostly) by now. Thankfully it was a non-toxic kid's marker. ;) David looked adorable, especially in the girls' Dora sweatshirt, which for some reason he insisted on wearing that day.

Life has been hectic but super fun. We've really packed in the PNG-specific activities. My dad, the kids and I have forded a shallow river twice, crossed a three-log bridge twice, gone on a bit of a hike through the jungle, headed up the mountain on the rutted roads to local villages, visited a fabulous local coffee plantation owned by our friends (I used to do HIV and general health workshops there and at the plantation school), and made the crazy trip to Madang on the north coast and back. All these activities are in reverse order as I go back in my memory.

Looking at "parchment" coffee beans. That's my mom, my dad and me with our friend.
(Drink Colbran Coffeelands' coffee if you can find it! It's awesome!)

Shopping with my dear mother at the largest store near us (about 10 minutes away). Not bad, eh?
Way better selection than we had near us when I was growing up in Colombia!

Getting ice cream at the store with Grandpadad and Jason (Isaac's best friend and a surrogate member of our family)
From top left: Gracie, Seth, Will on second step, David and Marcie on first step.

Last night we had a SUPER FUN 4th of July celebration to which people of all nationalities were invited. My favorite was my English friend and her Scottish husband and their little boy who wore a USA sweatshirt. My mom friend especially really dressed like the American flag! What a good sport. :)

My dad's glow-sticks really helped make the celebration last night, as did some floating Chinese lanterns and a couple of flares. The quints and Isaac had a blast! Alas, no pictures.

I'll be back . . .

Gratefully,
Carrie