Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours

We all wish you a Blessed Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2007

Sister's Love

I love my brother!

A Christmas Song from the Guices

Merry Christmas!

Joy to the World, the Lord has come!

Let earth receive her King!

Laura Grace (7), Benjamin (5), Isabel (3), and Caleb (10)

Trimming the Tree

We spent our Friday Fun Night at our business trimming the tree and decorating for Christmas. Some helped decorate cookies and string popcorn while others made bows and trimmed the tree. We topped off the night with hot cocoa and Christmas music.

A huge thanks to Holly's mom for sending lots of Christmas decorations, stockings, greenery, and bows.

A big hug from daddy

Thanksgiving with our Gold Members

During the month of November, we invited our gold members to our home for a Thanksgiving meal. We enjoyed sharing our traditions and delicious food with them. The menu consisted of turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes, cranberry salad, green beans, fruit, pumpkin pie, and apple cake. Pecans and yams were shipped from America and the pumpkin and cranberries were bought in Dubai when we visited last May! They all seemed to enjoy it. Some of the comments were..."the sweet potatoes taste like baklava (a traditional dessert served here)", "do you have anything salty?", "very interesting", "thank you, ,thank you", "can we have some more rolls?"

We were able to seat all 16 guests with three Americans at each table for practicing English and enjoying lots of laughs!

Fall Party with Compass Members

What a blast we had with our friends carving pumpkins, eating lots of candy, and playing games. Each team had 30 minutes to carve the most unique pumpkin.

First place went to the "Kind Pirate"

One member walked away with a jar full of candy corns sent from America for guessing the correct amount.

Lots of laughs with friends

Happy 5th Birthday Benjamin!

We can't believe our Thailand boy is now 5 years old. He is beginning to love legos like his big brother, he loves to doodle and draw, and he is a great singer! Last week I caught him on video singing in the mirror using a broom as a guitar.

Egg racing

Picture taken after digging for goodies in a plate full of flour

Storytime with Isabel

Our sweet little Izzie reading to Daddy. I just loved watching her expressions as she made sure she was reading it correctly.

Happy 10th Birthday Caleb!

My homemade cake complete with storm troopers and theHoth Rebel Base.

Legos, legos, legos

We had a lego building competition while watching

one of the Star Wars episodes. Merril and I judged for

creativity and uniqueness. A Dr. Pepper and candybar was

awarded to the first placewinner.

(Dr. Peppers are really hard to find over here, so this is huge)

Harvest Party Fun

The school where Caleb and Laura Grace attend welcomed in the fall season with a Harvest Party. The children enjoyed dressing up, games galore, food, and a tug-o-war competition at the end of the evening. Isabel dressed up as a ballerina and Laura Grace was her ballet teacher. Caleb was a Jedi Knight and Benjamin dressed as spiderman.

Jedi Knight Caleb turned 10 today!

Spiderman and Batman posing for a picture

The first and second graders pulling against the 3rd graders! Pull, Laura Grace, pull!!!

First Day of School

Caleb and Laura Grace are beginning their second year at the International School here. There are about 50 students. We moved Caleb up to the 5th grade and he is in a class with 5th and 6th graders. Laura Grace is in the 2nd grade and has 14 1st and 2nd graders in her class. They both have wonderful teachers this year!

Benjamin and Isabel started at a small preschool (in a home) and attend two times a week. It has been good for them to meet and play with other children.

Sweet Memories with Nana and Popa

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Sightseeing the City

Stopping to get a picture and climb the tree

Fun Times with Nana and Papa

Spending time with Nana on the Caspian

Fun eating out

Playing Games in the evenings

Nana and Papa are Here!!

How wonderful it was to see mom and Larry walk through the

doors of the airport! The children ran into their arms with hugs and

kisses to give. We are so excited about the next three weeks with them.

Trip with Students

What a great time we had traveling away from the city to

enjoy the cooler weather, sites, and greenery!

Our Modes of Transportation

For the past 9 months, we have traveled in the

city by large bus (pictured above), mini bus (white "bus"

in the picture with the children), metro, taxi, walking,

or hitching a ride with someone on our team with a car.

There have been many challenges without having a vehicle,

but we have learned more about the

city and learned more about the driving here. In the fall,

our company will be providing a vehicle for us.

Benjamin walking into our apartment.

It looks like it has been a long day.

Benjamin loves to dance. The girls, I think,

are being entertained.

Laura Grace's Birthday Party!

July 4th, 2007 - 7 years old

July 4, 2006 - 6 years old


Isabel getting dressed up too at the party


Laura Grace's friends posing after
getting hair, nails and princess dress on.

Celebrating Laura Grace's Birthday!

Laura Grace picked a Chinese restaurant for

her birthday meal. None of us objected.
Laura Grace holds up seven fingers for

turning seven! I can't believe our 4th of July baby is seven!