Autumn... sort of. :)

Even though Fall here in Mexico is quite different from the autumn season in southern Kansas, I've been trying to "get into the spirit"... worth a try, eh? :)

85 degrees outside and rising, but you better believe that I'm going to keep drinking hot cider packets from now until Christmas... lol.

(Above: The Autumn pumpkin doll and gourds that I bought for our kitchen table... the kids wanted to know if they were for eating once they discovered they weren't fake!)

Candi and Diego showing off their permanent-marker-decorated pumpkins...

... that they are coloring in this photo.

It was really fun to see what the kids wanted to draw! Almost all of them put a mustache on their pumpkins... which is weird, but okay, whatever. :)

The completed pumpkin-itos, and the Big Mama Pumpkin... who is bald in back. ;)

I wrote the kids' names on the bottom of the pumpkin that corresponded with their "size"... so here's Jose posing with the bottom of his pumpkin! I tried to get him to turn it over so we could see what he drew, but I think he was more excited about his name on the bottom... :)

And... how do you create Fall sensations without Fall scents?!?

Cinnamon and nutmeg, mulled cider, pumpkin carnival... yum. :)

Tonight before dinner, I made Candi and Diego put on stocking caps and socks because their hair was wet, and they both have colds right now; this resulted in all the little darlings donning mittens, scarves, stocking caps, and "winter apparel" before venturing into the kitchen to show me... ;)

Above: Candi, Diego, and Aaron.

Admittedly, it's chilly. It's probably not this chilly!

In other October news...

How many kids/adults can you fit on one boogy?

If you live here... lots!

And honestly... I think more could have climbed on... lol.

Jenna, Pau, Bere, and some of the kids went for a quick spin around the yard on the Lazy-mobile... ;)

The kids love, love, love it.

Seriously.

They would sleep on it, or park it in our living room if they could. :)

Nicole's grandpa came to visit, and Candi was charmed (and did some charming of her own, I think) with his push-seat. She would climb up and sit on her makeshift throne while he walked around the cancha, the biggest smile adorning her little face!

I got some new rollers.

These were the pre-bedtime photos.

The pre-"I can't sleep and it hurts my head and take them out and..." well, you get the picture-photos.

The morning photos wouldn't have been so happy.

Desire for beauty did NOT win this contest... :)

Ponch now has a window in his room!

I've been really excited for this new addition of a door and window for Ponch's room off the kitchen... and I think he is too!

Thanks Joel and Mike for all your work... :)

At left: The three younger boys "working" with the men, and showing me their muscle poses. Right: Ponch in his new room... which is very, very green. :)

Gloria is growing super-fast... just like all the kids here, but I think we see it in the younger ones more easily!

Here we were all out on the porch, and she decided that she actually belonged inside the plastic bag instead of the blocks...

And... Rito!!!

He's so cute... [that's right, make cute "awwwing" noises, please].

He stopped lifting one ear for awhile, and I was [seriously] totally bummed... but now he's doing it again, and so my world is happy once more. :)

[Not to worry, my happiness is truly not contingent upon a dog lifting his ear... idioms, you know... :)]

And this is why the chairs on our front porch go from decent to scrap-pile material so quickly! Well... this and then eleven kids playing on them, around them, with them, behind them, under them... etc.

The past couple weeks the kids have all gotten pretty sick... flu-ish type stuff, coughs, runny noses, high temps... yep, not fun. Thankfully (except for a couple bad colds) they seem to be pulling out of it... even though I'm pretty sure I single-handedly used up the entire supply of Children's Motrin in a week and a half!

Above: Candi keeping Diego company while he ate breakfast in bed on a sick-day... and he was ever-so-generously sharing his marmalade-covered toast with the teddy bear!

And then... what can I say about this photo?

Other than... this is why I love you guys! Or at least part of the reason... :)

[Dad: Did you actually eat the cabbage, or were cabbage hats your intention all along? ;)]

Please pray for continued patience with kids, healing from the sicknesses that accompany a change in season, and for these kids' hearts... that they would continue to have the seeds of truth planted, nurtured, and grown within them.

"Jenis!"

This past extended weekend, Mom ("Jenis" above... which was the kids pronunciation of her name!) was able to come down and visit the kids and I... good times! I love it that these kids can experience "family" through our families that come down and visit. After I picked Mom up on Wednesday night, we drove down to Magdalena Thursday morning, and then on to Bahia de Kino (on the Sea of Cortez) after the kids got back from school. The water was still a little chilly, but I am truly thankful that we didn't have any rain! And since when has a little cold water stopped kids (and adults!) from getting sopping wet?!?

(Above: The kids in the water at sunset.)

Mom and I

Mom coloring with the kids... I don't know how many drawings she got before going home!

(Left) Diego with the amazing watermelon we ate... it was seriously great.

(Right) Mom putting lotion on Candi's face; Candi just hated this, can't you tell? ;)

Mom watching the sunrise over the beach...

One morning I was down by the water and Aaron came down to join me. We were trying to take a picture and this is about... hmmm... #7 or 8. :)

Unfortunately (as you can tell in this photo), Aaron got really sick after the trip, and spent the early part of the week recovering.

Diego & Ponch showing the particular shells that Mom liked so much -- so they were on a mission to find every single one that they could for "Gramma!"

I don't know why this photo won't load correctly... sorry. :)

But -- I love this shot! Mom doing puzzles with Diego... tile isn't as soft as carpet, is it, Mom?!?

With the completed 150 piece Cars puzzle...

(Left) Diego. is. too. cute. in these goggles... :)

(Right) Nereida. is. too! :)

We went to the restaurant Pargo Rojo Friday afternoon, and Aaron was the only one who didn't get seafood! I was kinda proud of the other kids' spirits of adventure -- until two of them poured a ton of hot sauce on their ceviche and could barely eat it. There's something to be said for practicality, and knowing what you like and what you can handle, Aaron! Bien hecho!

And Candi ate her shrimp taco with gusto, too!

I pointed out to Mom that she was cutting her pieces of shrimp with fork and knife! I certainly haven't specifically taught her this, but I think she's been watching... :)

On the beach in the early morning... all with sweaters and shorts!

I love this photo, because this is completely and totally something that I always do... sweaters, coats, and long-sleeved shirts on top while wearing shorts and flip-flops... :)

Mom & Candi watching the other kids brave the late-evening waves from the dryer (and hence warmer) beach chair... :)

A side-view of some of Mom's snuggling time she got on this trip!

We certainly didn't lack for food; pizza, soup, pudding, fruits, veggies with Tajin, cookies, and... Dum-Dums! ;)

(Left) Candi "modeling" her Oreo cookies!

(Right) Ponch with the bowl of Dum-Dums... this was a great idea, Mom!

(Except having to explain all the flavors time and time again... ;)

Mom & Nere walking down the beach together; by the end of our time at the beach the kids were walking with Mom, carrying her chair, and helping her through the steep sand! It was really sweet...

Enjoying time in the water with "Gramma"...

The seashell-lined wall in front of the house we rented... and we brought all these home!

(And then Mom took them home. Her suitcase was, um, a little heavy... :)

I took a picture exactly like this over two years ago...!

Two kids less, though...

Funny how things change... right, Jenna? :)

So -- praise the Lord -- we returned to Magdalena safe and sound; and with lots of memories!

Mom and all the kids on Sunday morning before church...

Ponch & Jose posing with the bike for Mom's camera.

We are all about safety measures here... can't you tell? :)

Sunday evening we went to Momo's for carne asada and then... we got served!

Soft-serve ice cream that is... ;)

Okay, I know it was cheesy. I couldn't resist, alright?!?

All the kids decided to make faces for the camera while we were eating at Momo's... I think Jose won this contest... ;)

And thankfully -- there are four bathrooms at Momo's!

With six kids who all manage to have small bladder syndrome at weird times... it's helpful. :)

Mom with the bottle that says, "Nana" -- which is a nickname for "grandma" in Spanish.

Thanks for coming, Mom! The kids and I had a great time, and we're thankful for your love and prayers! We love you, too... :)

Agua Caliente: Quema!!!

This past weekend, ten kids and eight adults loaded up into the big, white van and headed to Agua Caliente (Hot Water) [I'm not sure if that's plural, actually... :)]. There are several natural hot springs there, as well as a waterfall (which was really a water-trickle this time).

Other than the winding, windi-ness of the road to get there (and the subsequent tossing to and fro of my stomach, and the stomachs of several other passengers)... it was a good day.

This pic of Ramses was on our walk to the water-trickle... above him (graffiti was all over these rocks) it reads, "Christ lives."

Jenna, Poncho, and Julissa enjoying a lonche (snack) before we headed to the water-trickle.

Aaron -- geared up in his oversized swim trunks. :)
Actually, they're not too big for him, but the elastic has stretched out in the waist, so they sag quite a bit... I know, I know Joan! I will get them new ones before next year, I promise!

As we hiked (that's a relative term here) to the waterfall, Diego and Candi found this little niche that they fit right into...!

The group crossing the rocky barrier to get back to the water-trickle; Limon graciously hoisted Candi into his arms and walked over these with her... ;)

After we arrived at the water-trickle, there were plenty of big rocks to perch on; (above) Kristi and Julissa stay back from the ice cold freezing take-your-breath-away water.

In other words... it was a bit cold. :)

Nereida avoiding the water as well... :)

Jenna and some of the kids clambered up earlier, and then Todd and Limon climbed over the slippery slope to explore up above...

The kids - of course - found whatever bottles, cans, etc. that were lying about, and promptly turned them into water-carrying vessels... :)

(Above, left) Jose pours freezing water over his head, and (above, right) Candi had to copy... of course!

We'll be lucky not to come down with colds... all of us.

Then again... we did all go get in bath water afterwards! Seriously. The pools with hot water felt like a very large bath... and I envisioned pouring tons of bubble bath in and seeing the foam spill over the sides, carrying small children with it. :)

(Above) This small trench ran from the main pool area to a side pool, and the kids enjoyed laying down in it -- and they actually fit inside it... sheesh.

After swimming (and burning) at Agua Caliente we went to a restaurant in the nearby town. With all 18 of us, we certainly filled up the place! It was a nice place, the food was good, and the workers were super-amable (super-nice).

(Above) I'm not sure where these sunglasses came from, but they were suddenly on our table. Candi wanted to exchange glasses, so we did... and this was the photo result!

Seated around the table during comida: (l-r) Kristi, Limon, Todd, and Sarah Hodel (down visiting Kristi & Limon).

Another table (there were only four in the restaurant, and we filled all of them!): (l-clockwise) Katrina Stoller (down visiting Nicole), Nicole, Jazany, and Nereida.

After our day's outing, the kids weren't the only ones who were tired!

As evidenced by this photo of Todd... :)

We talked about how it would be relatively amusing for the waitress to come out with our food only to find that all her patrons were zonked out on the tables, snoring... lol.

After we left the restaurant there was a line for the bathrooms. I wandered over to the other side of the parking lot to take pictures of these beautiful yellow flowers, and the kids ran over wanting their pictures taken! Sometimes they're totally camera-shy, and other times they just ham it up... :)

Kids above: Alexia (top), Nereida, Jose, and Candi (bottom)

All in all, it was a nice day, and I praise God that we can have trips like this, and good friends to accompany us all! (And provide human "pillows" for the kids to sleep on... [grin]).

A few prayer requests:

*Please pray for an upcoming trip of older kids and adults to San Jose this coming weekend. Also for patience, learning, and discernment amongst staff members as we continually learn how weak we are, and how strong He is. And please pray for each of the children, that Jesus Christ would become their all. Thanks!

p.s. (DaBid... yes, the title was in honor of you. ;)