Next in the Catch Up Posts: Jungle Christmas!

What was our Christmas like in the village? I've been saying this: Hot and sweaty jungle Christmas is still Christmas all the same. Lovely, Jesus-centered Christmas. Simple, quiet, special Christmas. We were still unpacking and in the chaos of our settling in, we still made time to do the special Christmas things. We had a wonderful time.

Making Christmas cookies! It was so hot, and making cookies wasn't first on my want-to-do list, but look at that little face! Who could say no to such a happy, willing little helper?!

 We spent Christmas day (all day!) next door with our co-worker friends, and had a really fun time of fellowship and relaxing. (until the guys had to go up to the end of the village to clean some wounds...)

 We sang Christmas carols together and heard the Christmas story, ate breakfast and a big dinner together.

 Eventually, we made time to go home and celebrate a quiet family Christmas too. We had carefully packed and brought in a few fun gifts for each other. 

T3YO had a BLAST with the stuff from her grandparents. Here she is waiting patiently for her turn to open a gift. Thank you, guys for what you sent! (She's still enjoying all of it, by the way. The paper dolls, the blocks, the cool camera, the coconut tree necklace. All so fun. All so special).

 Bitty Boy had his first Christmas, and is just such a little dolly. 

He opened his fun car from Memere, and loved it right away!

 The kids in our village all dressed in red on Christmas Eve, and came to spend some time getting to know T3YO. She still wasn't sure quite what to do with all that attention...

But after a day or two, figured it out and was quite welcomed by the resident village girls (who now act like her older sister in watching over her, teaching her both good and bad things, playing with her, etc.).

Our son continues to impress everyone he meets. His sheer size is just astounding. No one seems to get tired of trying to hold him, and watching him smile and laugh at everyone. Contests are held regularly for who can last longest hefting that boy's weight (which is, as of now, not determined. The last time we weighed him was last time we were in town... i can only imagine what he really weighs now).

 Our little guy loves the traditional swing in the kitchen of our house. Here he's laughing as we swing him.

And sitting up in his highchair, playing with his new airplane.