A day of Flying

For the last couple of weekdays, Ben has been flying missionaries and supplies into tribal locations. Sunday morning, we got a text asking if we could make an emergency medical flight on Monday. So, today Ben is up in the air.Here's Ben landing...and taking off

Boiled critter

Fulfilling a need to have tuna and noodles, which the rest of the family despises (and I use that term accurately), I put a pot of water on to boil. Once it was boiling, I added a bag of noodles to the pot. That's where all normalcy disappeared, for I saw this thing float to the top:

Okay, maybe that is exaggerating, I admit. Just for those of weak constitution, I put that in to soften the blow. This is what REALLY floated to the top:

Gross. Really gross. AND there were no more noodles to be had. I fished him out, but it was too late for the wee li'l lad.

back to the airplane

After the engine was changed, Ben flew her around and then brought her back for a check (checking the innards, as I like to say). Unfortunately, they had a bad cylinder, which meant, the plane needed a new one. Having good cylinders is really handy in flying. Ok, it's completely necessary. As the part comes from the states, that meant a slight delay in flying. When that part arrived and got held up in a customs check, that also meant for a slight longer delay. But, alas, the part was released from customs and is on the plane. The plane is flying again. The missionaries are going into the tribe today. Oh, happy day.

Ty also got into the spirit of things. He has learned a few essentials in parking the aiprlane:

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.