Belated Happy Birthday to Aunt Katie!

(Thanks to Maya for helping the quints sing to my sister.)

Firefighters, trains, books and planes (and a little accident)

Seth looks so much like my brother and me at his age in this photo!

Will is convinced that the firefighter helmet is supposed to be worn backwards. He's too used to shade hats.

Isaac built this train track with the help of the quints. All had a wonderful time!

Annika reading to Seth and Gracie (Wheels on the Bus, Aussie version)

David found a cute little reading seat using his construction helmet.

Gavin and Isaac are very much into radio controlled aircraft, great entertainment for the quints too.

David is wearing his Lightning McQueen undies on the outside of his shorts because they are too cool to be hidden. ;)

Marcie fell and hit her forehead, requiring four stitches. Oops. 

Video of training flight

Gavin here.  As I'm moving into the Chief Helicopter Pilot role here in PNG, I've been doing a lot of training with another pilot, getting used to flying and instructing from the left seat of the cockpit.  A few weeks ago, we did a training flight where we landed at a bunch of confined areas and on some pinnacles.  This video is a time lapse of most of the flight.  Just a small example of some of the places we go to here in this amazing place.

Welcoming the Leedahls back!

It was one year to the day since we said goodbye to them in Australia (we were down there for Gavin's esophageal dilatation surgery). I NEVER would have thought then that they would be back February 17th, 2016! It's pretty mind-boggling.

Will and Seth got to go with us on the airplane - they seemed to need some special time with Mom and Dad (and the bridge was out due to flooding, so we couldn't drive to Goroka to welcome the Leedahls as originally planned).

I screamed involuntarily when I caught the first glimpse of Jon, then Adie. I was so excited! Our precious nurse friend was the first to the gate to hug them and cry with gratitude to God for saving Jon's life. She was working the night we thought he was going to die from blood loss.

So glad to have our friends back!! A great excuse to drive to Goroka more often - once the bridge is fixed. You can see Jon's robotic leg. It's got a cool Spiderman-like cover on it. The Leedahl boys were SO patient with all the pictures and fuss (especially after a 4:00 a.m. wake-up and traveling all day long)!

 Juxtapose these pictures of a fit, happy Jon with the ones below (I think Adie took these which is why Gavin is in them instead of behind the camera): There were so many miracles that night - things that happened that had no explanation; things that didn't happen that absolutely should have, etc. My lab supervisor and trainer (who happens to be one of my best friends and the kids' "Aunt" Natalie) counted 7 miracles on the lab side alone! To God be the glory, great things He has done, as the old song says. Not only is Jon alive, he's rockin' his robotic leg in the cockpit and is flying fit again!

Bonus photo of a very happy swinging Seth

Debut of The Quintets

We are obviously not destined for fame and fortune in the singing world, but this video is kind of funny. You might want to turn your volume DOWN. It's a joyful noise, but it's a lot of noise - especially since the kids were doing a monotone drone initially, and I tried to steer them into "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Some maintained the droning instead, like the world's worst set of bagpipes. But they had fun and they made me laugh. You can see their little characters, anyway!

Silly sibling fun

Wearing clean Pull-Ups (toddler diapers) on their heads.
Marcie, Gracie, Isaac, Will, David and Seth

Isaac, David, Gracie and Will "hide" under the couch cushion on the rug.

"Mommy, he don't have to touch me!"

. . . Gracie's response to what she perceived Will was doing in this photo to make her cry. Which gives you a glimpse into our days, especially now as the quints "individualize" and have a very strong sense of their personal space and their personal rights. Pray for us. ;)

Love,
Carrie

David, Grace and Will 

Let's ride!

The boys:

The girls (they are all amazingly strong! Gracie even takes David around!):

The girls and David (but mostly just Gracie):

Other random and mostly older photos (by a few weeks)

Kids peeking out of windows (Gracie, Marcie and Will). Taken at the only local restaurant, a real treat! It's about 15 minutes away in Kainantu.

This is a beautiful picture taken by Gavin's helicopter-mounted camera during a recent flight, showing how verdant our area has become now that the rains have restarted. I love the full river!

The rain has helped flood our market as well with beautiful produce! Seth LOVES broccoli with a passion.

Gracie trying on a pair of someone's boxing gloves (for the punching bag only!)

Marcie's turn. I love the contrast between church clothes and boxing gloves!

"Reading" the hymnals on Sunday (at least they were quiet!)

Gracie, Seth and Will

Will wanted to show me that he is a "Stinks" (his way of saying the Egyptian Sphinx), complete with the correct pose and long hair - in this case a pair of the girls' leggings on his head and down his back.  

Visiting our friends' guinea pigs

It's been a long time since my last update, and in the meantime I've discovered some photos I don't think I ever posted. Just regular life, but I know a lot of you care and are just happy to see pictures of the kids! 

The quints are doing really well, and are soooooooo verbal now! Today as we arrived home for lunch Seth yelled, "Mom, check it out! It's Daddy's motorcycle!" 

They make us laugh several times a day. Last night Will told Gavin that "God/Jesus" made the world, and Jesus made Will, then added "and Mommy made my bed."

Gracie is our most fearless when it comes to trying new things.
She was the only quint willing to hold a guinea pig on her own.

Gracie's expression made me include this pic!

David is excited to watch, but not to hold or touch yet.

Aunt Mandy helping Marcie pet the guinea pig

Seth dares to touch one with one finger (held by Jenny Beth)

Marcie is finally courageous enough to let me help her hold one