Coloring and Saturday morning cartoons

Elephants

My mother-in-law made a much better post- you can find it here.

What'd you say?

"You're so silly mom." Funny, only because I told her a bedtime story about Sleeping Beauty being obedient.

"My friend! You want to play with me?"- addressed to anyone knocking at the door or riding in the elevator.

"Mom, I don't like my dinner. May I be excused?"

Abram has about 1000 big sisters at church.

Sunday afternoon cookies

Dusit Zoo

We have a sweet patio-

The playground

Is awesome. Abraham Ioves it, and there is loads of dirt to play with.
Yesterday a little boy was sent out to play, he brought his psp and
sat at the bottom of the the slide. He kept trying to get Mary to
watch him play. . . boring.

Our little chef

The new apartment came with one of these. He runs straight up and down
the walls.

Sleepy morning

Dan did a service project with his work yesterday, planting trees in a
mangrove. He said it was pretty cool. It was out by the ocean, and he
worked in knee deep mud. He's feeling it this morning. He hasn't moved
from the couch even thouh the children are peltjg him with blocks and
climin all over.

Mudskipper

One of those fish that can breath air.

Taxi nap

Sweet Mary

Still loves sandboxes.

Just for fun.

Kisses

Can you tell they are both screaming at me? And yes, they screamed a bit longer so I could take the picture. :)

This sweet little ice cream shop...

sells miniature cones. Delicious and cheep!

Saturday

Beats the heck out of that California aquarium!

Mary finds that children are the same everywhere:

Pushovers with toys. (watchout for the moms though)

3 awesome things

The motocycle taxi

Change

There as been so many new things in the last few days. And many of them will be semi permanent. I'm still adjusting, as Dan may attest, I've been a bit on edge. Maybe a little more than that.
The flight was so difficult. I don't think I've ever enjoyed pulling an all-nighter, and on a plane for an 18 hour flight with 20 minute naps was not very easy for me. I would never do it with out Dan, I don't know how my mother-in-law flew with two small children by herself several times.
It is warm here, mostly pleasant, but the streets are dirty. So being outside has been kept to a minimum. I really need to learn more about the neighborhood around me so I can take the children to parks or indoor playrooms.
Being in a new place, with language, culture and food has given me a lot to thing about. I am so thankful that everyone here is willing to help. Strangers ask if they can help me into the elevator, or find the grocery store or get a high chair. And if they can't speak English they ask their neighbor to translate. Back home there are a lot of people who move to a new country, they leave familiar things, comfort, nice homes, careers and choose to come to the US where they will not have many if any of those things. And then the language is a huge problem. I don't remember being as patient, or willing to help someone who was in my position. I've heard many conversations that went something like this:
"They should learn English if they want to live here." This thought has really made me think that with such a big and difficult change for someone who might need a little help or encouragement I wish I had been a little more helpful or tolerant. I know I sound like a horrible person.

Got our seats

Cruising around LAX.

M, she's my buddy.

This afternoon was spent drinking hot cider, dancing, listening to Christmas music and watching the snow. And a double batch of cookies. I am so thankful for my little friend.