Aquiarum

we went and took the gang to the biggest Aquarium in the world. It is amazing and we had a good time exploring the underwater world.

Different pics from Turkman/Rupic visit

Here is a bunch of different pictures from the Turkman/Rupic visit.

Visiting the Zoo

One sunny saturday morning we visited the Zoo. We saw tons of animals and also froze a bit but enjoyed it for the most part:)

Christmas Program at School

Girls love to sign and every year they are better with singing in front of other people. Emma loves to lip sign though and it is funny. Nora doesn't mind the attention and loves to show off. Emma was playing Mary, mother of Jesus this year and was very excited about her role. She hated her head cover though because it kept coming off and distracting her while she was to sing:) She loooked cute though!

Turkmans visit the World of Coca Cola & Olympic Park

Mateja and the fam are visit with us during the holiday season. They came this week and are staying through New Year's. First stop was World of Coca Cola and Olympic Park.
Here are some pics.

Living Room

We have moved to our new home a month and a half ago. We have slowly settled in. There is so much decorating to still be done but the main area is slowly coming together. I had a great time shopping with my friend Hannah, who was so helpful in brainstorming with me on ideas, colors....I bought some new pieces for the main living area. Most of it i got at CB2 (a contemporary branch of Crate & Barrel) and some pieces of course i got in IKEA. I am still waiting on rugs, curtains, fire place decor to come together but things are starting to look good and lively. We have enjoyed it!
I will post more pictures as we add things to each room.

Visit to the Zoo!

Two weekends ago, it was beautiful weather so we went to the Zoo again. Since we have the membership it is fun to go every once in a while. This time we got to see Gorilla's real up close. We saw 2 tiny baby gorillas and this giant male gorilla just eating his lunch. We finished the visit of course with a zoo train ride which is always fun. And i even got a chance to get a picture with the girls. I don't have many with both of them.

Nasa Balerina-Our Ballet Girl

Emma recently started ballet classes and she is loving it.
She especially loves her pink leotard and skirt!

At Eddie's Attic with Sandra and Derek (in case you didn't recognize them)

 
 

Gratitude

Expression of my heart towards God these days as we try to make decisions about so many things. Asking God, Trusting God, Hoping for Peace...

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .

Home pedicure and manicure

 

Are words even necessary? Too cute!

 

Beach Vacation

This past week we spent in Seagrove/Seaside Florida for our beach vacation. We enjoyed the sand, the ocean, the pool. Girls had a great time. Chris' family joined us as well. Faith and Ruth came from Washington. Unfortunatelly I do not have any pictures of Erfon but there are some pictures of Jonathan-Faith's now fiancee:)
There is tons of pictures here so be ready:)

Happy Birthday Emma & Nora!!!!

This Saturday we celebrated Emma's 4th and Nora's 2nd b-day. Emma's actual birthday wa on 27th and Nora's on 26th o why not combine.They love to do everything together (most of the time) anyway. They have been watching Dora the Explorer a lot in the last year and therefore wanted a Dora cake for their b-day. Chris and I were working hard the night before to make it happen. We think it turned out great and everybody enjoyed it. Party was lots of fun. Both girls invited a few friends from school plus our family friends. Nora was very happy that her friends Rachel and Becca will come to her house. It was cute! Rachel and Becca have been in Nora's group since they all started when Nora was about 6 months old. Emma was a bit shy at the beginning and overwhelmed with all the people but she got over it. She is a wild one but she has her introverted side and it comes out when there is lots of people.

I can't believe my girls are so big. They have changed o much recently. Emma is a big girl and i can't believe the conversation we have. She is a great observer and nothing misses her eye. She loves adventure and is not afraid to try anything. She desperately wants to do gymnastics but we are doing swim class during the summer months. I am planning to put her in gymnastics when fall comes. She still loves to read and now that is bigger loves to read a few books before she goes to bed alone. We love hearing her tell stories out loud as she does that. She loves Jesus and prays for those that do not believe in him so they can go to heaven with us one day.

Nora is our sweet little bean. She has always been petite so we still call her bean.Nora loves people. She loves to give hugs and is our cuddly child. She loves to be tickled and laughs so hard and loud when we do that. She is very neat and loves to be clean and things to be clean. If she gets anything on her clothes she wants me to change her immediately because she is dirty. We joke that God better start making that perfect man for her now and get him ready:) She love her babies and playing with them. She feeds them, carries them, soothes them, take them on a walk in the stroller. That is her every day routine. She loves to read books also and there is never enough of them read to her before she goes to sleep. She loves her pacis for sleeping and would love to have a bed covered in pacis if possible. She sleeps with one in her mouth and 4 in her two little hands. As many a possible she can hold at the same time. It is cute (hopefully when time comes to get rid of them she will be ok:))

We thanks God each day for the beautiful blessing these 2 little beings are in our lives and all we can learn for them. We are humbled a we parent them and pray for God's grace to cover over all our mistakes and still make them into great women who will love and serve Him. Thanks to all of you friends out there for the role you play in that as well.

Enjoy some pics from the b-day. I hope to have Chris post a video of everyone singing to the girls too so you can see how they were so excited and nora wa just beaming with joy and enjoyed attention.

p.s. Leann thanks for the beautiful dresses they wore on their party day:)

Sisters!

Snow Days!

Last Sunday night we had 6 inches (10cm) of snow. We were totally snowed in for 2 days, the girls were out of school all week long. We had a blast playing in the snow. We all loved sledding down the street. Here are some pics of the fun: