Thankfuls

I am Thankful For:

A washing machine. Hot running water too.

A good school with a great gym.

A home.

Temples far and especially those nearby.

Little pockets of nature in a big city.

Children who love each other.

My better half and all of the places he takes me.

Madame Secretary

This last week featured Secretary of State Hillary Clinton coming to Manila. She is my boss. Her trip was quite a production. I was a "site officer" which meant I scoped out one of her meetings with Filipino government officials with the advance team, and arrived early and made sure everyone went according to plan. Luckily, no major disasters. It did involve a lot of standing around and waiting though.

The next day Secretary Clinton came to the Embassy and gave a little pep talk. She then came down and shook a few hands.

Working the line

Here, we were all told to pose for a picture, but the Secretary is posing for a different camera.

Someone got a shot of me shaking her hand.

It would have been a better shot had that girl in front of me not jumped in there about 20 seconds before Secretary Clinton got there, but what can you do?

She was very personable and very gracious to spend some time in Manila.  It was reportedly the first US Secretary of State visit to Manila in 7 years.

The Grand Reward

The children just finished up their "good manners" at the table chart

I don't think we have completely mastered good manners yet,

but they earned up 100 stickers and filled up the chart.

We took them to the local amusement park which is something between

a local fun center and disneyland, just mostly indoors.

We probably could have settled for a few passes for the

enormous carousel. I was not allowed on any ride so I am glad Pete came!

This is the "mini ferris wheel. There was a "mini" version of most rides,

with varying rules on heights and ages. This was troubling to Jeffrey since all of the big rides had lines and he wasn't allowed on this one.

It was a rather loud and noisy afternoon,

but plenty of smiles. Jeffrey said it was the

"happiest weekend of my life."

Coconut Tree

One day the backyard fell silent. I came outside to see why.

The children were quiet, watching our gardener.

I suppose our coconut tree needed pruning.

He also threw down the old coconuts.

She isn't ready for the coconut tree, but wanted to climb this one!

Happy Birthday Lucy!

Lucy turned two today. She even opened her gifts, with help.

The boys had to help put together the dollhouse.

Very unfamiliar territory for them.

They promptly decided the house ought to endure a typhoon!

But Lucy knew what to do with a baby and a kitchen.

Love those lashes!

Lucy with her gifts.

Meet the "twisty car," a popular toddler toy here.

If you put your feet up, you can propel the car by twisting the handle.

By request: a butterfly cake with purple.

(Oatmeal cake for a girl who likes oatmeal so much that she will eat it dry out of the bucket)

Happy Birthday Lucy!