Tidbits on GraceResmei (our house helper) has a small moto. Grace likes this because it is small enough for her to climb on and pretend she is driving! She likes it when Resmei takes her for rides too. Here she is, our big girl all grown up with her phone and moto!

Grace discovers bubbles!
I was scrubbing some of her stained clothes last week. I went inside to check on Jasmin, and this is what I saw upon returning: a fully dressed Grace completely absorbed in learning about the properties of bubbles! They occupied her for a long time; I'm hoping I can find some bubble solution to introduce her to.

(Next post is all Jasmin, I promise!)

Beautiful Asian Jasmin

Grace's new procedure for fun showering

Daddy and baby Bear out for a ride

Grace has just discovered that they follow her if she pulls on the string. Kept her busy quite awhile - until she couldn't get them over the doorsill out outside...

Teaching Grace how fun it is to play in the rain

We were just about to leave for afternoon church when it began pouring. So to keep from being disappointed, we played in the rain! Grace wasn't too sure o it at first - it is so LOUD on the neighbour's tin roof, and she doesn't like water coming down like the dreaded shower - but once thoroughly wet and being with mommy, we had good fun splashing and dancing :o)

Sister SnuggleSmile!

Home Again

We are back in Phnom Penh! We arrived on Sunday and have been busy getting settled. It has been like moving in for the first time as we have had to unpack what we took with us and what we left behind, rearrange things to suit having two babies, find a new house helper and language tutors, etc. But the greetings and helps we have received from friends and coworkers remind us that we are indeed coming home and not beginning again.

Our trip went well, Grace, Jasmin,and I taking a nap to fill our 5 hour wait in Bangkok. Even with that long layover we still managed to almost miss our flight out! Somehow I mixed up the time we would need to get to checkin and get to the gate... and of course not much worked with us: our luggage was overweight so we had to pay and decide which extras to carry on, at immigration I sent Michael on ahead to ask them to wait for us (it was that close), only to discover that we'd overstayed our visas by two days from a missunderstanding (60 days is NOT two months)... so there I was with the 2 crying girls, extra bags (but not the one with our emergency fund), anxious about missing the flight and being askd to fill in extra forms and pay a fine! Thankfully, I "happened" to have exactly the right amount in my pocket and an official took pity on me and filled out the form for me. Next, at the screening check point one of the extra bags had to be searched because it had a jar of Nutella in... at the very bottom, of course! We lost that jar because I wouldn't stay around while they debated if I could take it or not. When I finally got to the gate and caught up with Michael, he told me that the plane was delayed anyhow for technical difficulties and I needn't have rushed! We were just glad we made that plane!

Grace definitely remembered - she has spent the first few days here pulling out all her toys and visiting all her favorite people and places. One of which is halfway up the outside stairs "talking" with the neighbours over the wall! She is definitely happier here, adding to our happiness of being back. She also is taking more interest in Jasmin:


Sometimes I express a bottle of milk for Jasmin so I can leave her with Michael. Often there is a little bit left and I let Grace have it. This is what she decided to do with it!


Shortly after the bottle, Michael cam into the kitchen and saw this... big sister entertaining while mommy made supper!

I've enjoyed working hard at cleaning the courtyard and ordering the house. But now I am paying for it with a sore back and pelvis which was not fully healed from carrying Jasmin inside. We now have someone helping with cleaning until we can find a long term helper; something I am very greatful for.

Michael has been busy helping me in the house and reconnecting with friends and other connections. He will start work for ICC next week and hopefully language study also. He has a manager position now so hopefully he will get more time to study Khmer.

And some left over Thailand pictures:

Floor time!

Miss Secretary!