Another teenager in the house!

Gwangi is now 13 and we have another teenager in the house!

So thankful that he is everything that his name means, "A gift from God!"

Krypto kissing Gwangi when he is just ten days old.

Gwangi with his friends, Krypto, and Sissi for the opening show of Avengers: Infinity War last week to start off his slumber party.

We made a s'mores pie for his slumber party...chocolate cookie dough as the crust and filled with broken cookies, marshmallows, and chunks of chocolate.

The Happy Birthday song!

Birthday boy!

Then, since it was May the 4th, we watched Star Wars IV.

An inside view of the pie...pretty awesome!

Opening gifts.

He loves Legos and Star Wars.

These friends gave him a nice card and some money that he can spend as he'd like.

Game time, playing "Spirit of the Century."

Eating pizza outside on the porch.

Then, since today is his actual birthday, we did some more celebrating! Mommy made homemade bagels with cheese, bacon, and Hollandaise sauce.

Then, it was time to open presents and do our list of "13 things we love about Nathan!"

He was excited to get a Disney lanyard pin from one of his favorite rides, Splash Mountain.

And, another Mario game because besides Star Wars, Mario is another one of his favorite things.

Sissi and Krypto got him a Mario Bros. hat!

The usual comics and activity books...he was super excited about the folded flyers and the True Life Adventures comic about lions.

Minecraft is another favorite for this boy, so getting another Minecraft set, to add to his existing village, made him super happy.

Then, we spent some time outside on this wonderful day and took some pictures.

My handsome boy.

Cute as can be!

Resting in the hammock in the back yard.

Another cute shot of my boy.

Brothers!!!

With Mommy, Daddy, and Vera.

Gwangi with Sissi.

Brownies for dessert tonight! Yum!

It's been a great day with lots of family time, some great Georgian food for lunch with friends, and now dessert with Star Wars VI! He got his own email account this afternoon and is super excited to be growing up and spending a weekend away with Daddy to talk about what it means to be a man.

This boy is a blessing, and like his "list" of things we love makes obvious, his love language is Quality Time, and he makes others feel so loved when he's with them.

Happy 13th Birthday, sweet Gwangi!

Fiddler on the Roof

This is our first year being involved in some outside activities (other than visiting the library and testing) at one of the international schools here in Bishkek, Hope Academy. It was a fabulous experience and one we hope to repeat next year. Gwangi wasn't so sure about trying out for the musical, even though he was old enough...and Sissi was so bummed that she was too young to audition. I think that in the future, they will all want to be a part of the production.

Krypto auditioned and was given the role of Lazar Wolf, the butcher. Here we are on the first night of the show, all in costume and ready to go.

Krypto really hit it off with the lead actor who played Tevye.

Also, he made friends with the guy who played Avram.

Just a few of the other characters...getting ready back stage.

Some of the moms and the students that worked on costumes.

These two girls were who I worked with back stage on costumes. They were excellent!

The two directors.

Another shot of one of the directors.

Some of the villagers.

And a few more.

Krypto with Indy and Gwangi after the first night.

Getting on makeup before the last show.

Folding the programs before the last show.

Sissi liked to hang out and help with the girls getting their makeup on.

The guys, being goofy in their dressing room.

Tevye and Golde in their nightgowns for the dream sequence.

Girls in their dressing room.

The happy family.

The Fiddler and Fyedka, the Russian.

The Rabbi and his son.

Backstage tech crew.

Beginning of the mannequin challenge.

Everyone, freeze!

Night of the last show...with his friend after the show.

Krypto with his mommy and daddy.

Krypto and Gwangi post show.

Another picture with Tevye and Lazar Wolf.

Lazar Wolf and Avram.

Krypto also became friends with some of the back stage tech crew.

Flowers for everyone...well, since we know everyone gives flowers, we gave chocolate instead.

Dress Rehearsal picture for the dream sequence.

"To Life!"

Welcome to our new girl!

Sissi always said she wanted a younger sister....well, now, she has one!

Welcome to the Stamp Clan, Vera Sasha Stamp.

Here is our new little cutie pie. She is a 4 month old Bernese Mountain dog that we found at the dog bazaar here in Bishkek. We knew we had wanted a dog for some time. It's been 5 years since we had Smokey, back in Tanzania, and particularly Indy and Sissi have repeatedly asked for a dog. Well, it was never a good time...we were back in the US visiting and on the road, then living in an apartment, then back in the US, then we got back to Kyrgyzstan and they both kept asking and talking about it...well, the mom and planner in me said, "No, we just got back...we're still settling in....it's Christmas and we're traveling...it's winter and too cold for a puppy...we're busy with "Fiddler on the Roof" practices...." Finally, the time was right.

I had been praying that just the right dog would be available when we went to the bazaar. You just don't know what will be there, it's different every week. A month ago, a good friend found a sweet puppy at the bazaar, and there were siblings, but I wasn't ready. Then, a week ago, another friend got a Bernese Mountain dog there. I saw it on Facebook and ran to tell Indy. I had always wanted one, but knew that usually, what is there one week, is not there the next week.

We had all been reading dog books, so we would know about different breeds and what to look for at the bazaar. We also took along a friend who knows quite a bit about dogs, and his wife speaks excellent Russian since she is local to Kyrgyzstan. We were trying to decide between this sweet girl and a 6 week old Labrador Retriever. We went back and forth between the two dogs, but this one won our hearts.

What a sweet face, and she is super smart and loving, and training so nicely. We've been using the book, "Perfect Puppy in 7 Days," and she's really taken to the method.

Vera, sitting on the back porch.

Sitting with Sissi in the backyard.

Scratching her neck.

A few more treats for her sitting and obeying Sissi.

Not the best picture, because when I go outside it distracts her...but, we are also getting the boys involved in her training as well, so she will listen and obey us all.

Resting in her new bed on the back porch.

So, what I've learned about getting a new puppy...

- They are more work than I remember them being.

-They have more love and affection than I remember.

-I am getting more steps in every day with walking a dog again.

-I am getting a workout with my limited Russian as it seems many people on the street want to ask me about her, but only speak Russian!

Ahhh, so exciting and we're so grateful for the Lord providing an excellent dog for our family.