The Jolliff Family

What do you do when the electricity goes off for a long period of time and it is dark outside?  Take pictures on your computer of course... enjoy :) Though if it goes out again tonight, the Jolliff clan is going to bed early!! :)

Today we enjoyed a morning of family worship in our living room.  We sang lots of songs, prayed, and read the Word together as a family. The boys have gotten better at participating and we have enjoyed our times as a family like this.  Today I had to laugh because they looked like a little trio singing songs :) Happy Sunday!

Happy Birthday to mom/mother-in-law/grandma Jessica! Hope your day is fabulous!

Popcorn, movie, and some brotherly love on a chilly evening keep things warm around here!

Puzzle Time!

I went through some cold weather clothes tonight to evaluate what we have for the boys since the weather is fall-like in the morning and in the evening.  I am so thankful that I packed so many clothes, we have plenty for the winter!  I also pulled out some "new" PJs for the boys to wear after their bath tonight.  They were all thrilled! I realize Sam isn't in focus but these boys do love each other! Hello Fall!

Today has been a cool, overcast, and rainy day!  I will admit that the cool breeze reminds me of fall in the midwest but I'm still looking for that pumpkin patch :) Since the weather was rainy this evening, we spent the evening working on homework and now the boys are watching a movie.  Andrew had to color the pictures and count the number of objects. Sam had English homework. Jacob didn't have homework ;) but I saw on pinterest an easy activity for a toddler that works on hand-eye coordination.  Just give the child a colander and some pipe cleaners.  They are to put the pipe cleaners in the little holes.  Jacob loved it and played with it for a long time.  So easy!

Last week we had a teacher meeting at the school for both boys.  Andrew's teacher said that he is a very good listener and obeys well.  She also said he plays nicely with all of the kids but has a special friend, Samy!  She said he understands well and is speaking more and more.  She did say he needed to work on coloring inside the lines and cutting with scissors. Over the last two days we have been coloring and he is doing a really nice job.  Most of the time, he frankly just doesn't care about coloring but he is now trying really hard.  Today he had homework that he worked on and then colored the apple.  He is learning so much! Andrew said tonight after giving me a bedtime kiss "goodnight sweet love mommy."  My heart melted onto the floor.  I just love that boy!

Jacob had to sit in time out for a little artist work on the wall in our bedroom! None of the boys have ever done that before, so I was a bit surprised by his "masterpiece."  Thankfully, it was just pencil!

Yesterday we had the joy of speaking with a tour group that came through from the States.  It was a really nice time and as we ended our time together one person suggested singing a song.  The song that was sang moved me to tears as I think about family back in the States and long to be with them.  It also makes me long for the day in which all who believe will gather around the Father in worship of Him. Sweet Beulah Land: I'm kinda homesick for a country To which I've never been before. No sad goodbyes will there be spoken for time won't matter anymore. Beulah Land, I'm longing for you and some day on thee I'll stand. There my home will be eternal. Beulah Land- sweet Beulah Land. I'm looking now across the river where my faith will end in sight. There's just a few more days to labor. Then I'll take my heavenly flight.

Hada walad zayy sukkar! This boy is like sugar!

Yesterday I had the joy of returning to a school to help with the handicapped children.  It is a new location this year and it is in the OLD part of this country.  I hope to take more pictures but time didn't allow yesterday. The activities went REALLY well yesterday with only 10 kids present.  The kids were very attentive and did their very best to complete all the work.  I think it was a good start to the school year and look forward to returning in the future.

Today is Hap's 38th birthday.  We celebrated with some of his favorite foods and a guest appearance by Red during dinner tonight ;) Instead of a cake, I made peanut butter oatmeal cookies.  We sang Happy Birthday and the boys blew out some candles. We spent the evening together and celebrated Hap! Happy Birthday, Hap!!

Yesterday I worked on preparing a learning activity for the kids at the handicapped school tomorrow.  Because the ability of each child is so different, meaning some are very high functioning and some are not, I had to cut out everything and I laminated it all to keep it nice for future use.  Let me tell you, all this prep works makes me remember one reason I didn't go into teaching and instead went into nursing! Andrew came home from school and wanted to try out the game.  The game focusing on color recognition, color matching, and some fine motor skills.  He didn't know why I wanted to take a picture :) And I found it in their language online, bonus!  They will also be making a rainbow craft that will work on many skills. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and my time with the children and teachers!

We are all tattooed up around here! Thankfully they go away in 3-5 days:)

Jacob was working on his mobile office earlier.  His office includes an laptop, cell phone, and tablet ;) The kid just needs a briefcase and he will be all ready for Wall Street... well, maybe just Sesame Street!

Sometimes the house becomes very still and very quiet.  I listen, wondering what the boys might be up to!  Sometimes they are getting into things they shouldn't or they are cleaning up something they shouldn't have gotten into. But... sometimes they are having a sweet moment of brotherly bliss on the bed full of boy toys! My heart just about burst with love at the sight of these two boys cuddling together watching a movie!

Sam had his first school project this week.  The students are all learning what the information is on their ID, or in Sam's case his passport as well as extra information.  The kids were suppose to make an ID like they have and know the information.  He worked hard and made it (mostly) by himself. His finished project! He is really growing up and we are so proud of him!

This afternoon, Andrew and I headed to visit a friend around 3:30.  We had a wonderful 4 hour visit and Andrew did GREAT.  It was nice to be able to spend an extended amount of time with this family. They are also so kind and generous.  The mother made for me a desert that was different but tasty called Lebanese Nights. Two of the sisters in the family work at a hair salon and one of them fixed Andrew's hair with gel!  Andrew ate about three bags of chips, a bunch of grapes, a two cups of soda... they wondered why he wasn't hungry for the pasta that they made for us :) This little darling is so sweet and she shared her toys so nicely with Andrew.  He liked playing with her. Just a view from the roof. They wanted Andrew and I to spend the night but we just couldn't make that happen tonight.  However, we had a fantastic time visiting with them and look forward to another visit in the near future.