Snow much fun!

This past week we had several snow days. It was such a treat to watch the snowfall from up high, and to play in the snow. Such a pretty view from our kitchen!

We took a snow break at lunch time because the boys really wanted to go sledding.

It was still snowing when we went down to play. 

Over the years, we had a few small dustings in Jordan, but nothing significant, so this was a big deal for the boys. They had so much fun sledding for the first time and throwing snowballs at each other.

Of course Benjamin was doing handstands and cartwheels!

By the afternoon, lots of kids were outside sledding and playing. You can’t tell from this picture, but there is a good sledding hill below, and most of the neighborhood kids gather here to play.

Eliza also wanted to play in the snow. This is how she came out of her room ready to go, what a sweet little girl. She definitely has her own sense of fashion, something the boys never seemed to care about, especially at this age! 

Rushing to the sledding hill again!

Eliza was a bit apprehensive of the snow at first, but she warmed up to it. She kept saying, “I’m dirty!” She does not like having dirty hands. She is also very particular about her clothes and did not want to wear her warmer snow pants, jacket, and boots. We finally got the jacket and boots on...

Snow much fun today!

This girl loves ice cream, and decided the snow on the branches makes a great everlasting ice cream cone!

We got more snow another day. The boys were staring out the window to watch the snowfall, waiting for school to be done so we could go play outside. It snowed all day this day!

So, so pretty!

This was the best snow day, it was so soft and powdery. It was only a few inches, but it was perfect for sledding and playing.

Over the weekend, it snowed again! One evening we all went outside for some night time sledding. We finally convinced Eliza to wear her snow pants and gloves, and I think she was much happier. The kids all went sledding and had so much fun together.

Daddy and Eliza had fun sledding too. He is teaching her from the school of hard knocks...

Another day over the weekend, we went to an even bigger hill near the house. Nathan took the boys there earlier in the weekend to sled and build ramps. It was a bit icy that afternoon, but the kids had fun and enjoyed more sledding.

The weather has been very cold lately! The lows have been in the single digits and highs in the 20’s...so last night Nathan challenged the boys to run a lap around the playground in the shorts. They were excited to go down themselves while we videoed from the house. These boys are tough, I was cold watching with the window open! Nathan’s parents said he did not like wearing a coat in the cold, so now we see where the kids get their desire to go outside underdressed from. And they also got his running genes, look at them hustle. Maybe the 18 degree weather had a little to do with it!

It was a fun few days playing in the snow, and we look forward to more snow days ahead!

All about Eliza...

This post is all about Eliza and how she makes our life so sweet. She is a girly girl, yet can play rougher with her brothers and she enjoys all the things they do. She loves babies, cats, puppies, all things pink, cooking in her kitchen, and giving people bandaids when they are hurt. She is sensitive and curious about how people feel, and always wants to know, ‘what happen to x?’

Eliza is getting quite independent. She likes to try to dress herself and change her clothes multiple times a day, brush her teeth, she is good at taking off her diaper and tries putting a new one on.

She also recently learned to climb out of her crib. The last couple of days she has surprised us when she popped up in the kitchen in the morning or after her nap. We will be taking the side of her crib down very soon.

Eliza has her dad’s sleep gene, she loves her zzz’s. She takes a solid two-hour nap each day and sleeps between 11-12 hours at night. She especially loves opportunities to nap with daddy (and her baby) on the weekends in our bed.

Eliza is funny and sassy. She loves making people laugh and goofing around. She likes playing a game where she makes funny faces and wants you to copy what she is doing.

She loves playing outside and has lot of energy. Whether it’s playing on the playground, kicking balls, playing hide-and-go-seek, or running around with her brothers, she enjoys it all.

Eliza has recently learned how to command Alexa to play Twinkle Star. It is so cute to watch her talk to Alexa!

Eliza is learning how to say a a prayer before dinner. Sometimes when she eats a snack, we catch her saying a prayer. It’s pretty cute.

Eliza is a good little mommy to her babies, and takes good care of them.

We are so thankful for Eliza and for the sweetness she has brought into all of our lives.

Happy 2021!

What an interesting year 2020 has been! Despite the pandemic giving us all a run for our money, we have been very thankful for the slower pace of life, lots of time together as a family, and for our health. This year we concluded our fifth and final year and Jordan. We loved living there, learning about the culture, and we are thankful for the many experiences, growing opportunities, and wonderful friends we made there. 

Coronavirus hit Jordan in mid-March and we had a very strict lockdown for 3 months. School went remote, as it did for most of the world, but we all adapted and in May Caleb finished the 2nd grade and Benjamin the 1st grade at the American Community School. They had a great three years at that school and two years at a local school prior. In June, we were fortunate for internal tourism to open up, and we were able to escape to the Dead Sea, Petra, and Wadi Rum one last time. It was very unique to visit those places with no tourists, and it felt like we had them entirely to ourselves. The boys were also able to attend 7 weeks of summer camp at the Embassy while cases were low enough for camp to operate, and coming off of a 3 month lockdown it was a treat for them to go swimming and be with their friends every day. A few weeks before leaving Caleb turned 9, and we celebrated at home with a few friends.

In late August we moved to Ankara, Turkey, which will be our home for the next 3 years. We are enjoying the change of living in a high-rise building, and we are very lucky to have lots of green space and parks in our neighborhood for the kids play, a forest across the street to explore, and a great view from our apartment. Turkey is well set-up for a pandemic, and we are lucky to be able to be outside as much as we can.

During our quarantine period, Eliza turned 2. She is growing fast and talking up a storm, she loves playing with her brothers, babies, all things pink, and having us home together.

The boys started 3rd and 2nd at Oasis International School. They have been doing school almost exclusively online, aside from a one-month stint when they were able to attend twice a week in person. After the new year, they will resume school online until at least mid-February. I have been fortunate to not work during this time to do homeschooling, but here’s to hoping that they can go back to school this year!

Before Turkey went back into a second lockdown, we were able to visit a Mediterranean beach to celebrate Nathan’s 40th birthday. Benjamin turned 8 in October, and later that month we visited a National Park and saw beautiful fall colors, drove through the mountains, and along the Black Sea coast. 

We had a quiet and relaxing Christmas, and were treated to the first snow of the year on Christmas Eve. 

On New Year’s Eve, we ate pizza and ice cream, played games, and watched movies. The boys and Nathan stayed up late, and they went to the playground a little before midnight. This was Caleb’s 3rd year making it to midnight and Benjamin’s first year. It’s a fun tradition they will have in the years to come!

We are thankful for all that has transpired this year, and have tried our hardest to stay positive in the ever changing circumstances, find joy and the silver linings (there have been so many), and relish in these slower days together. Going into next year, I know I need to stay the course, and the word I have been meditating on these days is endurance. God has been good and faithful in the years before, and I know I need to trust Him even more this upcoming year. While I can let these things out of my control weigh me down, I am choosing to trust in Him. I want to be more present, more patient, and remember that God’s plans may not always be my plans, but they are always good. My prayer is to run with endurance, remembering the promise and hope that comes with faith in Christ.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witness, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with endurance that race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfected of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ~ Hebrews 12:1-3

Happy 2021! I pray for a great year ahead, health, and new adventures for everyone.

75!

Happy 75th birthday to my dad! He is a very special father, grandpa, husband, and friend and on December 26, 2020 we celebrated his special birthday (remotely). When I think of my dad, I think of his love for my mom, us, flying, and rock-n-roll. He and my mom have been very happily married for almost 54 years, and they have loved and supported each other and my brother and I though all kinds of life over the years. Before I was born, my dad was a pilot in the Air Force Reserves, and his love for flying has stayed with him throughout his life. He has retained his pilot’s license so he could fly and enjoy the skies.

My dad in his old uniform.

My dad also loves rock-n-roll and playing guitar. Growing up, he had lots of guitars, and he enjoyed playing them all. I used to love listening to him play when I was younger, and he instilled a love for good classic rock in me at a young age (though I didn’t appreciate it then). My first concert was Joan Jet, and I remember vividly riding with him in the old Mustang GTs listening to The Rolling Stones, The Cars, ZZ Top, and many other great classic artists.

Above all, The Rolling Stones are my dad’s favorite, and a couple years ago he was able to go to the farewell tour with my brother in LA!

Here are a few old pictures of my dad from when he was maybe a teenager or young adult. I can really see my brother in him.

My dad loves the sun, I see where we get it from :).

My parents love trying new things. For their 25th wedding anniversary, they went to Denver and tried skiing and white water rafting for the first time. Throughout their almost 54 years of marriage they continued trying new things and following their dreams, which has lead them to some exciting places.

My parents have loved living in Hawaii the past 7 years, it was a long-time dream to move here after retirement.  They loved being locals exploring the beauty of the island and slowing down the pace of life. They are planning to move back to Florida later this year, to be closer to family and friends, and will have fond memories of their time in Hawaii.

Grandpa Art loves his grandkids, this is him with everyone as babies. Caleb.

Benjamin

Eliza

With our family living overseas for the past almost 8 years, that has also taken my parents to Kuwait, Jordan, and hopefully post COVID to Turkey. I love this picture of us from his and my mom’s visit to Kuwait in 2014.

As a gift, we had a photo collage made for my dad, full of memories from over the years.

Happy 75th birthday dad, we love you and wish you many more years ahead!