Seven times around the sun

I cannot believe he’s seven, it seems so old.  Husband Dear assures me that 8 seems much older, but, well for now anyway, I’m stuck on 7. Perhaps it’s because of the places we will go, and have been, that just makes him seem older.  I mean at 7 I had changed states, but he’s changed countries, cultures, languages, norms.  It is one thing to read Oh, the places you’ll go and it’s another to put shoes on it, so to speak.  At 7 he is serious and sensitive, prone to daydreaming and hours of drawing, but when he laughs it is like water spilling through a happy waterfall and you know you’ve accomplished something.  I hope, more than anything, that 7 will be a bright year for him…

Beautiful boy, I love you so.

Camel rides

  I just realized I never posted these fun shots.  First of all this is not the first camel ride for our kids, but it is the very first camel ride where there is grass!  Live here long enough and you understand the power of the color green...

Imp and eldest prepare for takeoff.  Honestly these creatures are tall and they sort of swoosh up in two movements as they stand. Thankfully this camel came equipped with a "safety belt" of sorts. =)





The operator even refused to let K-bug ride--apparently you have to be "this tall" to ride this ride.=)  We were shocked by his safety principles considering this is a land where kids practically ride hanging from their parents ears while they zoom past in speeding cars...but ok.

And what can be better than riding a camel with your brother or sister?  Riding one with your friend.  Eldest daughter and AG have a great time giggling and careening around the park.  What makes it even better is that we totally, randomly, ran into these dear friends at this park in a different country...I love God's timing. =)  Seeing friends, especially when least expected, is like a drink of cool water in a dusty land.








And it makes for some really good memories.  To G,J,AG,AJ  we love you guys, thanks for all the fun!

Good till the last drop

 This is after the wrestling match, ahem, photo shoot, just to let you see that all's well that ends well.  Actually it makes me ache to see those chubby little K-bug arms wrapped around eldest daughter, just want to reach in and hug them tight like this forever.

 Got your nose!

If exhaustion is a sign of happiness spent then we we're never happier.  Love you so much LJK, thank you for crisscrossing the earth for us!

Bright lights, big city

A few more from our adventures...

 These artsy shots are courtesy of husband dear, can you spot our eldest son anywhere?

  aha!

 We had to take this one for L--who'd have thought they made signs like this!  Also I wanted to actually prove that J was here and he did make it into at least one picture.

 The photo shoot appears to start well... but you know five minutes in toddler/kid time is akin to days, and well things start to unravel...

 We sort of set K-bug free, with cousins like this...

I love how eldest son is not even paying attention to the tug of war in front of him.

Just a few...more...

 Safe and sound in her daddy's arms.

And here's the view without us. =)