Feb 2012

Lots of snow in Febuary this year.  Weston loved the wet sticky snow of Iowa.  It is so fun to roll into balls.  It leaves a bare patch on the grass as it rolls forward and it makes a crunchy sound too.  :) 

Valentine's day was fun this year.  Weston and Sierra made their own cards for friends.  Weston made snowflake cards that had heart cutouts and Sierra chose a Hello Kitty print with a heart to color.  We added some smarties to each and the kids really enjoyed their class parties. 

Valentine's Disney Day

Next time you see us in real life, you'll have to ask to see this because the HD video cam we have made a beautiful picture but we can't post it here at a high quality. :(

Birthday and Weekend in AZ

We had a great weekend in AZ. Peter taught at one of our supporting churches there on Sunday morning and we were able to stay with family.

I had the last of my birthday dinners. I had one at my parents on the 16th, one at my house on my birthday and one at Peter's family's on the 25th! I ate well on my birthday.

I got a new watch, birthday money, a painting, some hand painted things from the kids, great book I'm looking forward to and some other great things. I'm so spoiled.

In AZ, we had a wonderful visit with family. We had lots of nice meals, when to the park, dad and Peter cleaned the car and headlights.

There was a wonderful balloon festival. I really like hot air balloons and it was cool to watch them inflate and fly away.

Peter taught from Matthew 16:13-20. It was an encouragement to remember that Jesus said that he would build his church and that Satan will not prevail against it. He has conquered!

Christmas Mania

My favorite day of the year- Christmas Eve and the chance to play Santa.

Piles of presents...

Tetherball for our big boy

Shoes long overdue for Peter.

The wonder of a new perspective...

bouncing bouncing bouncing!

Thank you friends, family and Jesus for this wonderful Christmas season.

Our four year old.

Here she is in her new birthday dress. Weston gave her that gold purse full of gifts.

There are all the treats on the morning of her birthday...

Hot chocolate tea party and our traditional homemade donuts.

Four candles for the birthday girl on her breakfast bday party!

Two of the cutest kids ever!

December 2009

Final day of 2009 review.
It was really fun for me to walk down memory lane and remember what happened by looking through my pictures. What a treat.

Here's a few new pictures from last month.

Playing at home!
Sierra in my shower cap. Weston in a Santa beard. Weston made it himself with the cotton I had around the nativity!

November-2009

Sierra ducking down and hiding like Wall E.
Flying kites
Enjoying science bean experiments
His science journal drawings.

July

July was a good month. Time for swimming at least once a week, fourth of July hot dog roast, Naadam (sport holiday), and daily walks with the kids.

Here are some more shots, I've posted some of them before from July-Dec there are less new shots since I blog more when I'm here!
Back in the dirt where they like it!

Wrestling
Getting clean after a trip to the river and wearing their new robes I made for them.
Sierra and I making 4th of July crafts!

2009 Picture Review

I'm copying my sister here! She put one picture from each month!

HOW DID YOU DO THAT SHAUNA?

I couldn't do it! You are awesome! I had to put TONS of pictures on so-
the first 12 days of January will be my 2009 picture review -
here are January 2009 pictures:

This is our family vacation to San Diego. I love family shots like this.
I'm always thankful that everyone is present and accounted for with this many wiggle worms!!
This picture is priceless.
Seeing my kids with their grandparents and cousins is worth more than gold.
Such precious times together last year with family!

Then we went to speak at churches and visit friends.
We didn't realize that we're going through Napa Valley--- this is what we saw!
Next time, we'll stop!
We stayed at hotels on the way and Weston went from floaties to no floaties on this trip.He can swim and hold his breath forever, however, he can't lift his head for a breath yet-
a major component of swimming!!!- breathing~
(Kerri this is the pool at the hotel where you stayed. We went there to swim! Weston needs a pool and a spa so that he can warm up. That boy has no fat!, our hotel's spa was broken, so they gave us a pass for the other hotel! )
This was an afternoon on our rest/hotel day at Pismo Beach! It was stunning. Sierra didn't like the walking on the beach and we CARRIED here the whole way. This is when I decided to ask for a jogging stroller for my birthday!
Staying at our friends house in Northren California-
Peter entertaining them in a wheel barrow!
Dad of the Year award!
After our trip up north, we hopped into the car to get to Disneyland on time for my birthday. We were near San Fransisco and our plan was to drive halfway to Anaheim-
but after our meal on the road at Carl's Jr., the children fell into a deep sleep. Peter was exhausted! This was our last big trip, and I have to admit I was so tired of traveling and being on the road. Like I said yesterday, I just needed to feel settled. So I took the wheel and drove STRAIGHT to our hotel in Anaheim, across the street from Disneyland! We had a wonderful two days together exploring the Disney hotels, Downtown Disney and enjoying a gift certificate from Disney for my bday and inauguration day!
This was an impromptu lunch at Applebees!
For some reason, we I have very fond memories of our time together.
We all shared those mini hamburgers- sliders.
This is my favorite picture of Weston EVER!
Our little James Dean!

One thing I remember from reviewing our photos, is that we were SOO busy! There were even things that I didn't include here!

Wishing you a chilly new year!

It is a cloudy day here, I can see the yellow circle of the sun burning through the overcast. Weston always insists it is the moon! It looks like we're going to have a white new year too!

What will 2010 hold?
I have a good feeling about this one.
I'll be 33, still young right?
Sierra 3 and starting to be a little girl instead of a toddler.
Peter turning 36 handsome as ever-
Weston 6- definitely turning into an elementary student!

I feel settled like I haven't in a long time. I think settling into a life of two countries takes longer than I assumed it would.

I was chatting with other missionary women and we were telling how long we had lived overseas, one women said, "9 but the first 4 are a complete blur." I really understood what she meant. Between moving, learning a language, raising infants babies, learning all the new tricks that come with life in our home--- it really was a blur!

So I am thankful for a settled feeling, no matter how fleeting. :)

May your 2010 be filled with hope.

If Christmas Eve is my favorite day-

than the day after Christmas is my least favorite!

I'm ready for the decorations to come down- the Christmas stuff into the box and then to the storage shelf- the gifts stored away.

It makes me feel like a bah humbug- but it's boxed and gone and its 11 am on December 26. Thankfully we have just the essentials for Christmas and it fits in one plastic tub!

It is doubly sad because our families and friends are celebrating Christmas today in America, and we're not there. Sad.

The kids are grumpy and on sugar overload and spoiled a bit from all the treats and gifts- they are fighting over all their new toys.

The New Year looming and all the goals and work of the new year are not quite exciting enough to keep me going on December 26.

Maybe I need a December 26th tradition. HMM????? What could we do?

At least because we're dieting there is Christmas treats left and leftover lasagna- so I don't have to cook today. :)

The sun is shining, I'm healthy and so is my family, and we are able to look out and see the sparkling, dry snow.

And Jesus isn't packed away in my Christmas box. Mary awoke with a newborn baby- the wonders of wonders.

I love waking up to a new baby- there's nothing quite like it. Those tiny fingers and toes wiggling and the pink plump baby discovering their new world. The hope of a healthy baby for all those months inside and then there was a newborn at my side. The hope of their lives, the wonder of what they might become. The joy of watching them grow into a toddler, preschooler and a big kid. The worry for my children mixed with a wonderful awe that God gave them to us to love.

Yes, the excitement of Christmas wasn't finished for Mary. It's not over for us. That's hope.

I feel better already.

Thanks for reading. Happy New Year and a the hope and joy of Jesus the Christ child- still with us!

MeRrY ChRiStMas!!!

Just a few clips of our morning! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

Did you know Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year?

I enjoy anticipating and looking forward to things-

sometimes more than the actual event.

Today we had a nice day together.
The cutest kids in the world!
This was our cake topper at our wedding. It's fun to get it out every year!

• Chatting with family on the phone.
• Making raviolis together
• 
• Weston picking fresh basil for our ravioli sauce.
• 
• All of us working together
• 
• Having Sharon over for lunch to eat raviolis
• Lighting all the Christmas advent candles together- at breakfast, lunch and dinner!
• 
• Doing the last minute Christmas shopping and wrapping- which I love.
• I bought some funny gifts for our friends--- when you buy an ax handle, a box of cereal, and cashews for your adult friends for a Christmas gift and you are TOTALLY excited about your find (imported cereal=rare find!) - you KNOW you're in Mongolia.
• Gave the children the traditional Christmas Eve gift- pajamas! So they'll look cute in the morning gift opening pictures! :)
  
• I am cleaning the front room and waiting for Sierra to go to bed, to that I can do my favorite thing:

Put the presents under the tree! Yeah!

This ornament was from a boy, Richy, that was in my class in 2000-2001.
He came to me not knowing how to read in the third grade- he left reading.
It's funny to think he is 18 now! I hope he's doing well. :)

There was a "blizzard" yesterday. It only snowed about 5" but Mongolian schools are closed for the week.
It is supposed to be -55 tomorrow... that is COLD. the coldest we've ever seen here!
That means the country is closed down a bit.
Metal breaks at -50 so less cars drive-
we'll be snuggled up tight, opening up gifts, sipping hot coffee
and having lasagna for Christmas dinner.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Peter and I bought this ornament at the Mission Inn.
Beautiful!

Our Christmas Card

We love you and miss you all!
Merry Christmas!
If you click on the picture it will get bigger so you can see and read it better.

Sierra's Birthday

I looked through my party decor and was so surprised to find these napkins with THREE candles! I was so happy!

I set the table and put up streamers the night before, because I am such a chipper morning person! ;)Peter always makes doughnuts for the kids birthday breakfast... they LOVE them

Opening her present--- sugar still stuck on her cute face!

Her new dollhouse. She really likes it.

Her chocolate birthday cake had homemade brown sugar candies on top. I couldn't find the candles--- so tea lights worked fine!! We also had a get together on the 17th. Terri brought cupcakes and sprinkles so the kids could decorate them. It was so fun.
I love her face in these pictures--- so excited. Her gift is wrapped inside the fabric bag-- no wrapping paper large enough for the gift!
Look at her mouth! So cute! Weston can hardly hold back! He wants to open all her gifts!
Yay!

Setting it up- notice my artful cropping out of my bum--- I'm so vain!
Do you think she likes it?


Happy Birthday to our dear daughter who fills our hearts with joy and love!