1/30/2012

Potty Time

Potty training 101: The do's and don'ts of potty etiquette...
DON'T use the toilet to wash your feet

DO check that she seat is down before you begin

DO take friends

DON'T shut the lid on your potty partner

DO stay seated throughout the entire performance

DON'T take refreshments, even if you think you may be a while

DO wear your reward proudly

The way we were...a year ago

I ran across this picture today, snapped exactly a year ago. We were celebrating Jody's birthday (Feb. 6) a few days early with our friends, Pat and Ray, Putu and Ica. What a fun memory!

1/19/2012

Learning the art of play

We are the only American family in our city. It takes us 2 hours to get to the house of the nearest American family on our island, which makes us cherish the sweet times of fellowship that we have with others. We try to get together with others once a month to speak English, play games and catch up on the news. Jody really enjoyed the past week in Thailand, at a meeting with 130 other Americans. It was an encouraging and uplifting time for him to be with others who spoke his language and shared our faith. Jordan enjoyed the week with a dear friend, whose husband attended the meeting with Jody. Cadence delighted in having a little friend to interact with. She woke up every morning at 4:30 to the Muslim call to prayer, asking for "Eli" who was sleeping down the hall. Now that we are home, she still asked for "Eli" when she woke up this morning...thankfully at 6:30 instead of 4:30! Here are the last of our pictures from our trip. This is the teepee that we made for the kids to play in.

At 18 months, Cadence still plays around other children instead of "with" other children. The week was good for her to practice her social skills, like sharing toys with Eli. This is their duet on the keyboard...right before they started elbowing each other out of the way because they both wanted a solo performance!

Neither were crazy about taking a bath in the same basin! They kept getting out and running off.



Cadence also enjoyed playing dress up with Abigail and Emily's clothes. She made a precious little fairy!

1/18/2012

Move over Uncle Jarad...


Chef Cadence is honing in on her culinary skills!

1/17/2012

"T" Party

This week, our friends, age 3 and 5, are learning about the letter "T". These are some pictures from their "T" party.

It was a High Tea...Outside in the garden...a formal affair

Queen Emily:

Princess Abigail:




Reaching for the Jam...

"Oh MY Jam!"


"Here Eli. You have to try this jam!"

"You want to try some too?"

Oops. Who put jam in the tea pot?

Pouring tea...


Leftover peanut butter triangle

Cadence got creative rearranging the china place setting

1/16/2012

18 months and counting

This week while Jody is out of the country, I am staying with a friend and her 3 children. There is a little boy Cadence's age and 2 preschoolers. Cadence loves to try on everyone's shoes and push the stroller "Lola" around the yard.

At a year old, the toddlers both seem to want the same toy at the same time...

Which causes a lot of drama.

Someone is always getting left out!

1/14/2012

"The Best laid plans"...

I dressed Cadence for a photo session in her new smocked dress. But she didn't want to wear the bow.

So she wouldn't let Daddy put her down to be posed.

This was all I got. I think I need photography lessons...or at least a parenting class!

1/11/2012

Friends in low places

Cadence is one of the friendliest people I know. She has a lot of friends!

Bum Genius

We LOVE our Bum Genius diapers!

1/06/2012

Our Merry Little Christmas

Christmas in the tropics presents its challenges...like where to find an evergreen tree. We make do with what we have.


Time with old friends made the season so much brighter, since we were so far from family this year.




Cadence didn't get into opening presents as much as we had thought. I think her attention span is too short. She kept getting bored and running off in between jobs.