Bamboo Squirt Guns

On a hot and balmy Saturday, after moving chunks of bamboo for hours, my husband employed one of his many talents and made a squirt gun out of bamboo; one, he says, like he and his brothers used to make growing up in the jungle. and it worked, very well. He only needed a rubber band, some cloth, a stick, and some bamboo. It works like a syringe. Ty played with it for hours.

Christmas Season

Here's some Filipino culture for you. The Philippines boasts the world's longest Christmas season. Beginning in September (the 'ber' months), one can begin to hear the sweet sounds "It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas" and "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" and, on occasion "the Night Santa Went Crazy" (by the esteemed Weird Al). The stores put out their decorations, all the while also having the other holiday decorations out (currently, the grocery store has a 'merry halloween' sign posted). This will build over the months, and in December, carolers hit the streets, singing house to house. Usually, they are rewarded with a few pesos or food. We often give candy to the kids who come. The season does not end until the first week of January, when they celebrate the 'Feast of the 3 Kings.'

You may ask, have you been sucked into the Christmas joy when it is merely October? I mean, after all, many back in the states get pretty feisty if those twinkly lights go up before Thanksgiving. I admit, I have. I have my twinkly lights up and even put up snowflakes. It's wishful thinking, but I think I feel a little cooler in this tropical heat when I look at my sparkly snowflakes...

A new picture

Working for a new family picture for a new card. Family picture means no Pez dispensers (sidenote: they didn't know you put candy in those things...). No pez dispensers means no smiles. Blast!

Why aren't you smiling, Ty? I want my buzz lightyear. Yes, the bean got her pez dispenser, after all, but the mood was already set. and her right hand: that's the 'don't tickle me, mom' movement. It didn't work either. Maybe next time we do this...in 2 or 3 years...

A change of engine

It's time for the old girl to get a new engine. That would be the airplane I'm speaking of. And since she is a part of the family (Ellie kisses her goodbye every time we leave), we thought we'd get a picture of the airplane in process.
Ben gets to work outdoors in the humidity and sun...
I get to work indoors, in the humidity....
During out trip to Manila, we got to go out with our friends :) and try fried fish. Literally, they are little fishies, fried to a crisp, bones, eyes and all! Scrumptious...if eaten with a lot of vinegar or ketchup. Okay, maybe their edible with a lot of ketchup. Scratch that, ketchup tastes okay with a little bit of the fishies.