Yard, Bikes. and Ice Cream Galore

Our first couple of weeks here have been great, and we have been enjoying a lot of time outside and the open open spaces!

The boys have been asking to go to Boo Park since the last time they went a couple of years ago, and one weekend Mark and Betty took them. It's a park about an hour and a half south of here, that was dedicated to a boy that died in a car crash as a teenager, and he loved dragons. It's a really nice park and the boys were happy to be back.

They also visited a little science center close to the park, and Benjamin rode a giant cow around the mall, haha!

This park is a nice park near my doctor's office.

Enjoying time in the back yard  playing, helping grandpa and grandma, and roasting hot dogs and s'mores.

At the nature trail by the house, throwing duds with grandpa and grandma one evening.

They have had their fair share of ice cream, and are sampling all the good places in town. When Betty and I do water aerobics a couple of evenings a week, Mark and the boys have 'guy time,' which usually entails ending the evening with ice cream. Lucky kids!

One afternoon we went down to Mark's work, and they boys had fun feeding all the puppies dog treats.

They have made friends with a couple of the boys on the street, and like to ride bikes and play with them when they are out and about.

Mark and Betty take bike rides several times a week and the boys like riding down to the airport with them when they get done with their rides.

And having lots of water gun fights!

Another weekend we went to Carlyle lake and the boys rode across the dam while we walked.

Walking their bikes across the suspension bridge.

It was a beautiful (and very hot) day.

We ended the afternoon at the park and had a picnic.

We are very happy and thankful to be here for the next few months.

And excited to meet Baby Girl in about 10 weeks!

Swim Lessons

Our first week here, the boys had swimming lessons for an hour each day. They learned how to streamline, properly dive from the wall, and the basics of free style. 

Since swimming is over, we have enjoyed a lot of time at the pool and the boys jumping off the diving boards, which is new for them this year now that they can pass the swim test!  

Lots of swimming fun this summer!

Southern Illinois...here we come!

They boys and I are headed off to IL about 6 weeks early, because I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and put on insulin at 26 weeks pregnant, and State Department requires you leave at 28 weeks. The time to wrap up things at home and at work went quickly and was a bit stressful, but thankfully the boys had summer camp and were well occupied during this time, and we were excited to get to America!

Nathan unfortunately has to remain in Jordan until mid-August before he can join us, but we know the time will go quickly, and he has plenty of things to keep him busy outside of work. And hopefully he can enjoy some extra sleeping in, but we know the quiet is enjoyable for so long.

The boys love their daddy!

They were great travelers on the flight over, and Mark and Betty greeted us in Chicago. We are so thankful to be here for the summer with them, for the extra time with the boys, and to have the opportunity for a healthy and stress-free rest of the pregnancy. Next posts, start our time in southern IL!

Baby Showers

My office and church threw nice baby showers for us before we left Jordan. The office shower was supposed to be later in the summer, but with my short notice departure, they threw it the week before I left. It was a delicious home brunch and sweet time with friends.

We are so thankful for our good friends, who are truly our family away from home. Joe and Nadine, and we love their girls Eve and Elle:)

Victoria :)

Leilani, and she was kind enough to host the shower a her house.

Nurse Joan

Dan and Sarah - Caleb and their son John Joe are good buddies and had kindergarten together this past year.

Janine

Hubby!

Our crew :). It was a nice day and we are so thankful for our sweet friends.

The next day, our church hosted a shower for Melissa and I. She is 7 weeks ahead of me, and is having a baby boy. Melissa, our pastor's wife, is a dear friend and has been such an encouragement to me over the years, and we are so thankful for their family's friendship. She is holding up 5 fingers because this is baby #5, and I'm holding up 3 for baby #3!

Our friend Cindy and Ruth gave nice devotional messages to the mamas-to-be.

Wendy and Remona

Mary Anne and Ruth

We played some fun games, the one was charades and it got a lot of laughs!

It was a nice time of fellowship together, and I am so thankful for our church family who has loved and supported our family over the years, and especially for these sweet ladies!

Dead Sea Summer Fun

Following the last t-ball game, we hit the road and took one more family trip to the Dead Sea before the boys and I went back to the US. The Sea is only 40 minutes away from our home, and we are thankful to have an easy getaway place where we can relax as a family and have fun. The pools were a bit warmer this time around too!

As usual, the sunsets are gorgeous.

The next morning, we all floated in the Sea, then hit the pools again.

We told the boys this will be our last time floating as a family of 4 :).

Caleb especially loves swimming in the sea and he will go from one end to the other of the buoy boundaries.

Benjamin is getting more adventurous in the sea, and he wanted to swim to the other side to see his cousins.

Twenty-six weeks preggo.

We had a great time and look forward to another trip after baby girl arrives, maybe in the springtime.

Until next year T-ball - Go Team Hala Chips!

In early June, the boys had their last game and finished the t-ball season. It was a really fun time for them and they all learned a lot and had fun. We are grateful for the patient and caring coaches that ran weekly practices and games for these sweet 4-7 year olds. The boys learned a lot about hitting, throwing, and fielding balls, and truly had a fun time learning how to play the game and making new friends. Here are some hits from the last game.

Benjamin's last hit of the season, ending it strong.

Caleb - towards the end of the season, the coach would pitch to the kids if they wanted, and Caleb usually wanted to give it a shot. Great hit Caleb!

Individual baseball pictures:

Team photo with coaches and team mom. The boys were out of town when they took the official team photo and the baseball commissioner was so kind photoshop the boys onto the ends - Go team Hala Chips!

After the last game, they had a closing ceremony for all the teams and the sponsors. The boys were thrilled to bring home a backpack each filled to the brim with Hala Chips.

It was a great season, and we are looking forward to another spring t-ball season next year!