Pictures from last week (and 30+ years ago)

It's fitting that Seth and Will are picking fallen dried leaves off the ground in "autumn." We grow especially big leaves here in PNG!

Gracie and Seth are so delighted with the flowers that match their PNG outfits.

I think I look a bit like Seth in this picture

Seth and Kaitlyn (love the girlie boots Seth is wearing!). Will in the background

Who do I look like in this picture? I can't decide.

 

 

 

Gracie

Marcie

Random photos of life here and back in the U.S.

Hamburger Night is the kids' (including Isaac's) favorite night of the week! I love it because I don't have to cook and I get to hang out with my friends and their kids.

Cute kids goofing off before church: David, Gracie, Marcie

Cute grandparents (Marmi and Papa, Gavin's folks) in Oregon at the beautiful pumpkin patch. It feels like spring/summer here, but it's fall back home!

More cute grandparents! (Grandma and Grandpadad) We miss our families so much. We're so glad Marmi and Papa are coming here in a couple of months!!

Blowing Bubbles (and other aquired skills) plus a prayer request

Gracie

Gracie again

Seth

The boys: David on left, Seth on right, Will behind

Seth and his good buddy Walter (he lights up when he sees Walter!)

David laying train tracks. He's put all these sections (5) together!

 The prayer request is for Seth. His appetite has really plummeted in recent days. I know he's fighting a mild cold, but he can't afford to lose any weight. He already looks noticeably thinner, so would you please pray for his appetite to increase so he can regain the weight he's lost, and for us to be wise and diligent in helping him eat nutritious, fattening foods?! It's so easy to forget to add fat to everything he eats because I'm so frantically trying to just get the food on the table for the other babies too. (Oops, did I just call them babies again? Oh well, my great-grandma used to say they are babies until they are 3!)

"Never were there two such perfect sisters"

 The title of this post is from an old song, and while it may not be strictly true (they do squabble on occasion) I sure love it that Gracie and Marcie have each other. They laugh at each other and cling to each other and enjoy each other so much, it's just precious and touching beyond measure! They make up their own little games and love to have the other one around, especially at nap time.

 They really do share amazingly well! In this case, it's a Noah's Ark book:

21 months ago . . .

Seth just home from the hospital, late January 2013, almost 6 months after his birth. He's at the 9 o'clock position, with Gracie, David, Will and Marcie clockwise around the circle.

 And now!:

I know, I just posted this in the last post, but I love the juxtaposition! Seth again at the 6 o'clock position, with Will, David, Gracie and Marcie clockwise around the circle

Late January 2013 again:

Marcie, Will, David, Seth, Gracie

And this past Friday:

Again, from the last post: Marcie, David, Will, Gracie, and Seth

THANK YOU, FATHER GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!

Darling faces

Great photo! Thanks to Deb of the Friday play dates. Seth looks a little zoned (but gorgeous), and all the others look so happy because they love the toys and games and kids around! L-R: Marcie, David, Will, Gracie, Seth

A reprise of the circle photo we took when Seth got home from the hospital late Jan 2013. Starting at the top, clockwise: Grace, Marcie, Seth, Will and David

Peek-a-boo Gracie! #1 

Peek-a-boo Gracie #2

Peek-a-boo Grace #3 Her new words/sentences include: Another one! A new one! Please help! No, mine! She's become a bit of a warrior princess in looking out for her own good and not just letting the others steamroll her. I'm glad she can stand up for herself. She's still so tiny compared to the rest, although she eats the most, it seems!

 

 

 

 

Marcie, Kaitlyn and Gracie together. Three beautiful girls!!

Laughing Will: He burned his hand a bit on Gavin's motorbike exhaust and kept telling me the story for days: "Daddy car hot, owie!" [He calls the motorcycle "Daddy's car"]

Will, David, Seth (Seth can really rock a shape-sorter! He can even do that hard red and black Tupperware one with 10 or so shapes on it. He just loves it!)

Will with his temporary "mommy" when we were in Cairns (an older photo)

The kids are looking out for each other more and more, meeting and even anticipating each other's needs. If one has something another one wants, he/she will start to smile and nod as a way of saying, "Sure, I'm happy to share!"

Marcie likes to be a little mother. She was trying to wash the other kids in the bath tonight, and she wanted to brush Gracie's teeth for her. Gracie was a good sport. She also was determined to push Gracie on the swing, even though Gracie didn't want anyone but Mom to push her. (David got in on that action, too, and was definitely the best pusher.)

Gotta run! Love to you all,
Carrie

Fruit snacks, TV, helicopter

Enjoying fruit snacks from Aunt Carlene. I think fruit snacks are their new favorite food!

Gracie wanted to feed Marcie some of hers. You can see Seth's wound from being hit by a wooden swing.

The kids are very keen to sit on these little side tables. They are watching All About Cars.

Sitting in Gavin's helicopter