Unwrapping her first present for NiNi (and co.) to see through a Skype video call



Books! One of her most favorite toys! And these ones came with a CD reading too - perhaps relief in sight for parents who are constantly asked to read and reread the same books over and over ;oP


Grace's first experience with candles didn't go so well...
The first time we lit the candle and presented it to her (not this closely!) she grabbed the flame and put it out with her hand! Needless to say, it hurt and she didn't want anything to do with the candle anymore. Curiously enough, it is the candle that she cries at the sight of, not the flame!

All the same, she liked the cake once we removed the candle :o)

In the evening we had a "proper" birthday party with some friends. This party also had a hiccup: due to a misunderstanding, the cake didn't get started until after the first guests arrived! Still, we managed to keep things going long enough to enjoy another cake ceremony


(with a different candle; she didn't cry but was definitely uneasy!) and present opening before people had to leave. The kids enjoyed Grace's walking toy, the rocking chair, and simply toddling around ater each other.

The adults enjoyed UNO and Michael began teaching our Khmer guests how to play Life!


One of Grace's presents was a skirt and top made to match mommy's new dress.


Another was some alphabet magnets; she was quick to understand they stuck on the door... unfortunately she also quickly discovered that they can be posted under the door to the outside...

Khmer New Year Activities

Playing the Watermelon: Grace liked the sound of this drum!
We bought it for the church meal together on Sunday. It was a good thing we took it (even though it was by a misunderstanding) as there was no meal and all there was to pass around was our melon and some sugar crackers! But since there was only a handful of people there, it was just right. At New Years everyone goes "home" to their villages so the city is wonderfully quiet for a few days.

Plant Picking: Now she can get over the doorsill, here is one more thing we have to look out for! (Like father like daughter?) Haven't caught her eating any yet though.

Success at Last: Using a spoon to get anything in her mouth is a long process! Usually she just holds the spoon in one hand and eats with her other hand. We had a treat meal of spagetti, garlic bread, and for dessert frozen fruit with whipped cream and chocolate!

Mommy time: Lots of time with mommy! We had some days off... I spent most of them just being with Grace at home trying to stay cool and occupied! Here we are just playing with the camera in front of the kitchen fan.

We also went swimming one afternoon but we have no pictures as we didn't trust our camera to remain ours at the pool!

if you are wondering....
Khmer New Year is actually officially 3 days long and it is taken much more seriously than International New Year in January. As many as can go "home" to their family villages for the festivities and ceremonies to send off the last year's "guardian angel" and welcome in the new. It is a time of spring cleaning, offerings and prayers for prosperity in the new year, and, of course, lots of dancing and game playing!

Grace amazes us daily with new things she tries and accomplishes, but it is not easy to catch them on camera! Here is one we managed to catch in time. After months of stacking blocks for her while she showed no interest but to knock them over and chew on a block, today she surprized us by carefully and competently stacking our glass cups at lunch time!

Not the best playing blocks, but she did a marvelous job!

Walking pictures coming soon hopefully.

We had to take a family photo for the upcoming conference and I thought you'd like to see us too...