in just three days...

It's crazy how busy toddler world can be!

I have yet to find a science experiment that doesn't utterly delight this girl...

And even though she doesn't like pants, this girl sure is a CUTIE.

lookin' all big :(

Our cat mercilessly taunts Boone incessantly...all from the safety of her screened in porch!

Today we made Galaxy Gak...and the girls LOVED IT!

After getting their braids out the girls always think they are LOVELY...which always makes them a bit crazy.

Lily has been really excited about chores lately...which we are capitalizing on!  Today, bleaching and washing all the eggs and produce.

Finally, tonight the girls decided to goalie the VP soccer match.

How we got Lily picking her nose and Sofie accidentally flicking off the camera at the same time, I do not know :)

They had a really good time...even when the guys actually started shooting on them :)

We've got a GREAT group of VP's here right now and we've all been having SUCH a good time working together for one goal!

the big bad bear.

Ever since "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" and Brave, Sofie has been obsessed with the big bad bear :)

Secret Weapon.

I have updated the girls blog in so long because when they say hilarious things or make precious memories, I've just been throwing them up on FB.  However, at the end of last year, I missed having those memories here to print off and keep!  SO, I recommit to sharing those things here!


This morning Lily was working on making a card game, all the rage right now since Ethan Heckman's original wonder. 

"Mom? What are some GOOD weapons for my card game? Right now I have grapes, fire, and volcano."

I suggested bow and arrow, and packing peanuts.

"Naw," says Lily. "Ooooo, I've got a a good one! How about RINGWORM!!"

Sign 134 that your child is a missionary kid: homemade game includes a ringworm card.

We miss Matt terribly and will all be very happy Saturday when he gets home!!!

friends.

The girls had a BLAST with a few of their buddies today...which means I got an hour to sit and relationship with all mamas--win win.

 there are no shoes.  in the world.  that Sofie does not want.

Lily, Nata and Katia making soup.  And, once Sofie dumped out their water, a salad :)

Jefte is just a few months older than Sofie and turning into such a BOY!

This is the kid's "swing", which they were all better at than Sofie, who I was worried was going to hang herself :)

They were all having SO MUCH fun.

Halfway through, Lily yells, "MOM!  Sofie's speaking Creole!"  I came over to see what she was talking about, because she uses lots of Creole words with Noel and Gertha, but I've never heard her speaking phrases.  And she WAS.

"Geyen banan?" she asked Nata, directing the soup making.  "Do we have plantain?"

"Geyen zonion?  Cawot?  Mesi!"

SO GREAT.  When you're with Creole speaking friends, you speak Creole.

There's nothing better than watching your children loving and being loved by other children, all aware of what they are doing together and oblivious to all the differences that never mattered to Him.

Then, to watch them all while chatting and laughing and encouraging and testimonying with friends?

A great afternoon.

friends

Yesterday when Lily woke up for her nap, Noel was sound asleep on the couch (our trip to Baron the day before almost killed her :).  Lily snuggled up on the other end and before long was fast asleep again...too cute.  Both girls sure do love No-No, and No-No sure does love them!

Gotta love this girl.  She is so full of life that she makes even the monotonous things of everyday fun :)

girl updates

leaving Grandpa's house, to the airport for Haiti.

Lily: Big Sigh.  "Welp.  I guess my vacation is OVER."

Grandpa: "Yep, now you really have to get back to work, Lily!"

Lily: Big Sigh.  "YEP."


Upon arriving in Cap-Haitien:

Lily: "Well, that was not very fun.  But now it's fun!  Except we have no suitcases.  And your toe is still bleeding."



Tonight, taking her bath.

Lily: "Well mom, you had a really big day today, didn't you!"

Mom: "Why yes, Lil, I guess I did, huh."

Lily: "I bet you're tired now."



Matt, drawing stick figures for Sofie...:  "Look, So, it's Daddy!"

Sofie:  "No, Daddy.  That's a big chicken."



Now, both girls are absolutely OVER THE MOON for Ethan and Haylie, our newest neighbors.  Haylie is endlessly patient with them, playing dolls and doing art projects, and Sofie has become her little shadow.

I had NO idea that 13 year old Ethan would EVER take any interest in the girls, but he is SO GOOD with them and has spent lots of time each day playing with them.  Yesterday, I even found him packed into the girls playhouse with them, happily taking way-too-much direction from Lily and adding his own sense of humor to their games...sending the girls into peals of laughter frequently.

They beg to play with him, sit with him, and follow him, and after days of telling me "I want to play with that BOY!", Sofie has finally learned "ETAN."  Lily kept getting in trouble at church on Sunday because she and Ethan were doing all they could to crack each other up :)  Two hours into the service...at least they were happy :)


The happiest moments for me as mom lately have been watching the girls thrive in their cross-cultural, bi-lingual lives.  As we were loading up the cars last week for staff retreat, we were piling into our truck when Lily said, "Couldn't I please ride in the van with my friends?"  Her "friends" were all of the security and kitchen staff at EBS, driven by Abel.  I couldn't believe she would actually be brave enough to ride away from her whole family, but she darted into the van and settled into the back next to Paulcine and Kesner, and was happy as can be.

She was also quite sad to learn that Azi and Gideon won't be going to her school again this year.  When I told her, she started to cry, and said, "NONE of my friends are going to school with me!  I'm going to miss Azi and Gideon and Asheline and Alexandra and Madame Nata...."

I cut her off, and explained that it was ONLY Azi and Gideon who won't be at school this year, and that her other friends still will be.

Immediately she returned to happy chatter.  "OH!  Well, I will miss Azi and Gideon, but as long as my other friends are there, too...we're gonna have FUN."

I wasn't sure how to breech it to her that she will be the only ONE foreigner in a school of 600 Haitian children, and now realized that that thought not only hasn't crossed her mind, but ISN'T an issue for her.  She's four.  She cares that she has FRIENDS at school, and upon learning that she does, she is counting down the days.

I LOVE that.  Her childlike understanding of friendship and differences is the way I desire MINE to be.  People are people.

Sofie is growing like a weed...well, at least up.  She's still a bony little thing, and as ornery and cantankerous and cute as she can be.  Everybody seems to have a special spot in their hearts for Spicy Sofie...we're always attracted to trouble makers, aren't we :)  Seeing Sofie recognize and love those around her, Noel...Micheline...Gertha...Thaliya...Granny...the EBS staff...some of the students.  It's GREAT.

The girls continue to be unaware that they don't have any family within a 1000 miles.

Because they do.

the funny things they say (and wear)

Lily: "Mom, who IS she, in OUR family?" (pointing at Great-Grandma).

Me: "Well, that's MY Mommy's Mommy."

Lily: "But, YOUR Mommy is in heaven."

Me: "Right."

Lily, pointing at Great-Grandma.  "Soooo.  Well, is SHE still living?"

The look on my grandma's face while patted herself down, just to check, was PRICELESS.

Heading upstairs with Sofie and Lily.

Sofie, charging ahead: "I'm gonna WEEEENNN!"

Me: "You gonna get to the top first?"

Sofie: "Me no rotten egg!  Whoo!"

Lily, from the backseat: "Mom, which way are we gonna turn?"

Me: "We're going to turn LEFT."

Lily, so impressed: "WOW.  How did you LEARN all that stuff in your head?"

Me: "Well, I guess my mom showed and taught me a lot of things when I was a kid, and I still have them in my head."

Lily: "WOW.  You should keep putting stuff in my head, ok?"

Bedtime with Lily: "Mom, WHEN are we going back to Haiti?"

"Three days."

Lily: "YAY!  I am so excited.  There's only one thing I'm not looking forward to."

"Aw, what?"

Lily: "Elli and Dani won't be there"  and SOBBING.  

sigh.  they won't :(

Lily: "Where are we going?"

Grandpa: "To Smokey Bones, for dinner."

a few minutes of other conversation.

Lily: "Are we almost to Dusty Ribs? I'm HUNGRY!"

Watching rat basketball at the science center yesterday, after 2 minutes.

Lily: "Ah, those rats should be dead.  We kill our rats.  Let's go look at something else."

Sofie:  "Me HOLD it!  PULEEEZE?  Me HOLD it!"

We discovered it's hard to play putt-putt with Sofie.
Or really, to do ANYTHING.