Merry Christmas!!
I have been MIA - 2010 has come and almost gone - it's been a busy year of many travels actually - all good of course, but busy. I've just posted a Photo Album I just completed quickly for my Dad's upcoming birthday - so take a peek at that below here for an overview of our 9 days in Hawaii last month. My camera was stolen at the end of our trip, so it was a rocky-emotional time coming back home without it... Jason has since replaced it, for which I am so grateful!
Anyway - here's an updated photo of my children for you... I was not on the ball this year with Christmas - really didn't do any baking, didn't organize a bake exchange, Christmas seemed to arrive while we were away in Hawaii thinking it is the middle of summer with what we were experiencing there - so much going on, I didn't get cards out this year or anything. So from our HOME to YOURS - Merry Christmas and thank you for your greetings that we've received so generously from so many of you!
I'll upload a few photos from this month to share with you:
Jason surprised the kids with a turtle ornament each like this, that he sneaked as souvineers from Maui - totally representation of our trip and super cute I think!
I attended a "sharing class" with Sam and Gabi last week; the class was a parent-participation class to show what they are doing and enjoy it with them
I assisted Elijah's class on a fieldtrip to a local grocery store where each child was given $10, which their grade had worked for by collecting the schools recycling, to buy groceries for the Food Bank - it was so awesome! The 3 boys in our group had fun choosing appropriate foods and seeing how it worked to dwindle the $10 down - then we went to the Food Bank to deliver the groceries; talk about a great experience!
Last week Sam had a little concert in his preschool for Jason and I to attend during his last class before vacation...Sam sang his heart out and knew every single word; it was adorable!
Then that night Elijah had his Primary Concert - this he had to wear red since he's in grade 2; he had a part in playing the Triangle for one of the songs they performed
I also joined Elijah's class for a Craft Morning - in a group of 4 children and myself, we went to 6 stations doing a different craft at each one - again, so thrilled to be a part of that!
Last Friday we drove into a nearby city and found 3 amazing light displays that we have never been to before - this one pictured below, included a free horse/carriage ride around the park, and free pony rides which were the highlight (we get asked sometimes if Sam and Gabi are twins - this picture kinda makes you believe they could be:)
Sam wrote his name for the first time this week! Not in order, and one letter backwards, but hey, all on his own! Makes me so proud! Oh and this is his turtle; he's been drawing lots of turtles lately inspired by Hawaiian memories!
My Girlfriend Pamela came to visit us a few days after arriving home on 'furlough' from Missions work... the kids just adore her
And finally - I was feeling so guilty for not having a good Christmas photo to send out this year, so I snapped a few at least at the School before the concert - EJ wasn't into it very well probably because people were entering the building as we were there snapping photos, and I think he was thinking this was HIS night to shine so I should be taking his photo in his school; Gabi was soooo "on" and loving this photo shoot
Elijah insisted on having a photo by himself - so here's my big boy
Merry Christmas All - it's been a fun season full of memories and lots of visits!
I received an email from Dayspring this week and it had this little bit on it... 12 Things God wants you to Remember in 2011:
Jason surprised the kids with a turtle ornament each like this, that he sneaked as souvineers from Maui - totally representation of our trip and super cute I think!
I attended a "sharing class" with Sam and Gabi last week; the class was a parent-participation class to show what they are doing and enjoy it with them
I assisted Elijah's class on a fieldtrip to a local grocery store where each child was given $10, which their grade had worked for by collecting the schools recycling, to buy groceries for the Food Bank - it was so awesome! The 3 boys in our group had fun choosing appropriate foods and seeing how it worked to dwindle the $10 down - then we went to the Food Bank to deliver the groceries; talk about a great experience!
Last week Sam had a little concert in his preschool for Jason and I to attend during his last class before vacation...Sam sang his heart out and knew every single word; it was adorable!
Then that night Elijah had his Primary Concert - this he had to wear red since he's in grade 2; he had a part in playing the Triangle for one of the songs they performed
I also joined Elijah's class for a Craft Morning - in a group of 4 children and myself, we went to 6 stations doing a different craft at each one - again, so thrilled to be a part of that!
Last Friday we drove into a nearby city and found 3 amazing light displays that we have never been to before - this one pictured below, included a free horse/carriage ride around the park, and free pony rides which were the highlight (we get asked sometimes if Sam and Gabi are twins - this picture kinda makes you believe they could be:)
Sam wrote his name for the first time this week! Not in order, and one letter backwards, but hey, all on his own! Makes me so proud! Oh and this is his turtle; he's been drawing lots of turtles lately inspired by Hawaiian memories!
My Girlfriend Pamela came to visit us a few days after arriving home on 'furlough' from Missions work... the kids just adore her
And finally - I was feeling so guilty for not having a good Christmas photo to send out this year, so I snapped a few at least at the School before the concert - EJ wasn't into it very well probably because people were entering the building as we were there snapping photos, and I think he was thinking this was HIS night to shine so I should be taking his photo in his school; Gabi was soooo "on" and loving this photo shoot
Elijah insisted on having a photo by himself - so here's my big boy
Merry Christmas All - it's been a fun season full of memories and lots of visits!
They then had a 1.5 hour sail back to land (Lahaina) where the boating company had already arranged a Doc Appointment for Gabi and paid for a Taxi for Jason to get her to the clinic AND gave me more money to pay for the taxi from the clinic to our hotel! (hmmm, this is the States, we're thinking they are doing all they can to help us from thinking law-suit, which of course we wouldn't even think...). Gabi was brave as ever. She cried getting onto the Kayak because she didn't want to leave Sam!!! LOL. But other than that she was a trooper - even through the 10 needles they used to freeze her forehead and then the 5 stitches she received. Man. She is my first child to get stitches - unfortunately under these circumstances. We had to pay out of pocket for the medical treatment received - $325usd - but we'll be able to claim (hopefully) something when we return from our Travel Insurance. She was still hyper when the boys and I returned from our day trip... not sure what was in her yesterday!!
Here are a few shots (since I have time now and since it's actually uploading fast than 1/5-10min!!! :)
Samuel my Snorkeler with Momma's gear on
on the boat the crew was amazing a Marine Life talk and this Keikei (kids' in Hawaiian) talk about the dolphins and whales... and more:
Matt, Sam and Gabi 'surfing' the wind:
Jason and I snorkelling at Molokini:
isn't this a cool pic?! Meine Bruder, Matt:
an afternoon Siesta for Mom and Dad:
GREAT day besides the hiccup of poor Gabi and poor Jason missing out on half of the excursion... Aloha!
and Grandma and Sam above that photo... on the flight
What would we do without all these electronics?!
and arriving in Maui!!!
Princess Aurora asked the girls a question, now I have to remember what it was - something along the lines of "how do you know you are a princess in your heart, not by the mirror, but in your heart?" and these little girls said things like "b/c Jesus is in my heart", "God is in my heart" - it was soooo cute and could be a great little testimony to this Princess!
making a crown (Gabi's fine motor skills are fine at work here - she is quite advanced from my experience thus far)
What a fabulous time! My Princess and I.
cute turkey, hey? this was a make/take session we could join if we wanted, so Gabi and I did:
pinecone creations was another session available for kids
and while Elijah and Jason were on a lengthly hike, Sam participated in relays, which he just loved doing!
Food was aplenty there - seemed we were always eating some sort of huge meal... it's really great and beautiful up there!
Also known as the "first day of school" around our parts... it was a good morning and everyone is psyched! Elijah started grade 2. Samuel and Gabriella were both starting their Music Class that morning so they were excited and thinking it was time to go too and even packed a snack to have while the other was in their class...
Erin is in Gabi's class too, but that didn't make a difference for her
When the second class came (they each go 1/week for 50min.) Gabi was going to be brave (all in her head again) - but in reality started to freak out when it was time to go in... I knew she was capable, so I had to say 'you're going in or else' and she did... now she's been to about 5 classes and she is so brave and wants me to go home during the class not just for a walk with Sam. Very cute. And I am thankful!
