Looks like the latest thing is card games and card tricks. All the kids walk around the house practicing their shuffling, card tricks, and alternating between several different games.
Yes, here is the proof that our family took up the ENTIRE bike rack at the beach. The kids wanted to go for a ride, so we thought we would see how long it would take to get to the beach. It wasn't too bad.
But since you are at the beach, you might as well play for a bit :)
One of these days we might actually bring some shovels and buckets and try to build a sand castle, but I think they did a good job with just their hands.
We got some test results back from the doctor about Hudson's allergies...looks like his main allergy is dust/dust mites. They said that his sheets need to be washed in HOT water every week. That's a little difficult since hot water is not used here for many things (including laundry)...so I am very THANKFUL that our new house has a bath tub! (a hard find in most apartments and the first we have had since we moved overseas) We turned on the hot water and and filled the tub. We are on week two dust alert Sheddans and I can already see a huge difference. I hope we can keep as much dust at bay as possible.
I know you are probably tired of these pictures, but the kids keep asking me to take more. Benjamin said that he like the sky this day because it was yellow, blue, white, and grey.
The kids watching Hudson's new favorite...Finding Nemo. Notice the eyes in Benjamin's toes. Funny kid.
We found a nice outdoor "mall" last week. The kids like the elephants and the surprise find...Dairy Queen!
There were several little restaurants there that I would like to try out some day.
Our friend, Soey, came to visit us. The kids snatched her up for much of the day and taught her many games and sang songs for her.
Then we all went for a bike ride around the island.
The kids wanted to stop about half way around to look for "ocean bugs" I think it's a good name for them. I have no idea what they are. They look like a mix of a silver fish, centipede, and a cockroach. Ugh. I'm not a fan. At least they are fast little critters and don't really like people.
These two hopped off their bikes on the way home because they saw a sprinkler watering grass. Haha. They had so much fun!
On a different day, two other friends came to visit us in our new city. Unfortunately, Benjamin was in bed most of the time they were here because he was not feeling well. So that is why you won't see him in the group pictures.
We took a long walk to the beach. Yes, again.
It's one of the few things that Hudson really likes doing outside.
Regan wrote his name for him in the sand.
Here's everyone trying to save fish. There was a really big one that was in here (we caught it and threw it back in the ocean) and then several minnow type fish swimming around.
A full happy table :)
Our friends spent the night so Jonathan slept with the boys and I slept with this little girl. I couldn't help but take her picture. She looked so sweet.
So, all of the kids have new chores to help keep up with the amount of every day cleaning for dust. Hudson has the job this week of "clearing the table after meals" He made me laugh when I came back in and he was scooting all around the top of the table to clean it :)
So proud of these kiddos. They are learning about budgeting their money wisely. They each have "give" money. This week they put all their give money together to buy a case of water and a few snacks. They made cards and loaded up their backpacks to go hand out water to people on the streets. The first 2 people refused to take the water. The kids looked a little disappointed, but they kept trying. It ended up being a matter of presentation. When they heard that the kids bought it with their own money and they wanted to bless others on a really hot day, it brought only smiles and a sincere thank you.
This little girl lives near Ayi. She's been asking when the kids were coming back to play again. Lauren happened to be out with me when we ran into her. So Lauren spent the morning with her playing.
This is Benjamin trying to make a mean face because he wasn't going to let me take his picture. That's the cutest mean face I have ever seen :)
The girls were trying to do planks on top of each other in their room. I think Lauren missed out on the point. She is bear hugging Regan..haha!
I was hoping to get some pictures of the boys together for a frame I have. This ended up being one of my favorites because they were having so much fun together and both had real smiles.
Hudson and Regan
This was cute. Katherine got down to his level for a picture and then they started comparing heights :)
Here's the cute picture afterwards. Katherine and Hudson
