Bath Time!

When we were in the states traveling and speaking at churches people often asked us more questions about how we do life overseas with kids than they did about ministry and our "work". I kept that in mind and have decided that I really want to blog more about everyday life here and what makes living here so unique but how we make it work. Keane and Gracie LOVE baths! In America it was SO easy...just walk to the tub turn on the hot water, fill the tub, drop in some toys and let the fun begin! In Nepal we still do bath night every night but there are just a few more steps involved.
1. We don't have a bath tub (most people only have showers here) so we bought an inflatable pool and use that as our tub for Keane and Gracie. We have to move it in and out of our main bathroom each evening at bath time because we only have hot water in one bathroom (it is heated through a portable gas tank, most people here do not have hot water in their home at all. Many people don't even have running water in their home!) and we need to take showers in the same bathroom in the morning. After we put the pool in we fill it with water from the hot water shower.

2. Water that comes out of our taps is not clean though so we have to put iodine in the water in case Keane and Gracie decide to drink some of the water (which they LOVE to do). The iodine kills any bacteria that would be in the water and would make them sick. I have to wait a few minutes for the iodine to work. In the below pictures the water looks a little brown. When it comes out of our taps it is clear but the iodine gives it the brown tint.

3. This picture is out of order but this is Keane smiling for the camera after his bath! He loved it. While I am doing all of this I have another pot of boiling water on the stove that I add right before the babies get in the water because by now the water has cooled off a bit (not cold but too cool for a bath). I add the water and then they are ready to get in and play!

4. To them a bath is a bath and they sure love them. They really are troopers.

5. Once the bath is done and we get Keane and Gracie dressed in their pj's and ready for bed, we dump the bath water down the drain in the floor and store the pool in our laundry room until tomorrow! It really doesn't take as long as it might sound and it is worth it to keep them healthy and happy! Happy bath time!

Milk

This is a picture of the box of milk that we drink here. It does not have to be refrigerated before opening. It costs about $1 a box and the babies drink one box a day...a half a box in the morning and a half a box in the evening!

We are back in Kathmandu and one of my biggest fears before arriving was that Keane and Gracie would not like the boxed milk that we get here after having milk from America for a few months. I was so concerned about the transition. Although the milk is completely safe to drink and isn't that bad, Ryan and I definitely like American milk better and think that the boxed milk tastes so different. I am SO thankful and happy to report that they LOVE the boxed milk...maybe even more than milk from America. They chug it down and always want more! I am so thankful that God answered my prayer!

As you can see from these next few pictures...one morning Keane and Gracie decided to have a little fun with their milk while I wasn't looking. I had my back turned cooking breakfast and Ryan was taking a shower. When he came out of the shower all I heard was, "How in the world???" and he was laughing. I turned around and saw my two COVERED in milk. I had forgotten to put the stopper into their sippy cups so they were just free flowing and Keane and Gracie took full advantage of it. It was quite a clean up but it made for a great morning laugh!