Stateside Time and A LOT of pictures!

So far we have had a very full schedule the past 3 months we have been in America.  Todd had knee surgery, Ian started going to FBBA's Pre K, the kids started T ball and Coach Pitch, the kids were in a parade for the Tulsa Driller's opening day, we've traveled to Texas for a Rangers game with some of our extended family, we've been to Kansas a couple of weekends to see Kelli's family, Ian turned 5, we spent a week at Disney World, and Hobs turned 6 last weekend.  This weekend starts our marathon of speaking engagements every Sunday for the next 6 weeks straight.

 Ev got to go to an OU softball game where she got to announce the OU players during the 3rd inning.  She had the time of her life meeting the players and getting their autographs.  Hobs got to go to a Rangers game where he got a game ball and Derrick Holland signed his baseball hat.  Ian has been able to go to the Tulsa Zoo with his class. 

All of the kids have been enjoying being on baseball teams.  Ian and Hobs play T ball and have been loving their time together.  Hobs and Ev play coach pitch and they have really enjoyed getting to play ball with the other kids on their team.  Both have been able to get a game ball for doing great. 

Todd's parents went with us to Disney World and his sister and her husband joined us for a few days too.  The kids loved Disney.  They really were at a perfect age to have the time of their lives.  Their faces and excitement was what we enjoyed watching. 

Here are just some of the pictures from the last few months. 

The kids finding out we were going to go to Disney World.

 Across the street from where we are staying is a Target.  I can't say how much I've enjoyed going to Target we just don't have anything like this where we live.

Kids walking in a parade and got to go to the game on the opening day for the Drillers.

 

The month of March we had doctors appointments the whole month.  This is from when the boys got their physicals.  They were trying out a water fountain for the FIRST time!

Some of the kid's practices got rained out so the Coach Pitch team went to the batting cages.

We've been able to see some of our extended family. 

 

 During a T ball game, Hobs in action at 1st base.

 

March 14, 2014, we celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary

 

The first week of April, Ian started Pre K.

 First visit to Kansas

 



Enjoying our time with family.

 

The kids love the Deanna Rose Farmstead in Kansas.

First round of celebrating Ian's 5th birthday.

 



The family watching our Coach Pitch team.

 

 We went to our first Texas Rangers Game.

 

 

Our good friend, Trinity, took our family pictures and brought her family with her.  My kids love her kids.

 Trin did an amazing job on the pictures.

 The OU softball game.

 During the 3rd inning Ev announced the OU players.  The boys and I were at home watching on the T.V. and heard her voice!

On our way to Disney World!

 

 

 

 

 



January

Usually in January things slow down for us here.  We started off the New Year with sickness and hospital visits but hopefully we can make it through the remainder of January and February.  The countdown to traveling to America has begun.  Less than 2 months!  We have been doing home school since June so we will keep going and will finish our school year just in time to take our summer vacation in America.  That is what keeps the kids going with home school these days.  :)

Elijah had some trouble with his asthma when we all had the flu so we had to get an oxygen tank to help him during his coughing fits.

I cut my hair.

Elijah's first tooth came out.

Kids have been playing a little ball inside the house because it is way to cold to go outside. 

Holiday Traditions

The day after Thanksgiving is when we decorate the house for Christmas.  We doing it while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade.  :)  This year I bought two small trees for each of the kid's rooms.  The boys now share a room and we've divided our home school room in half so that Ev can have her own room.  I gave the kid their ornaments and let them decorate their trees as they wanted and they turned out pretty cute and I got to decorate our large tree how I wanted. This year I put the tree in front of our large window. When you walk into our apartments our window is what you see so our tree is what you see when you come into our building.
For Advent this year the kids we are doing a Jesus tree for the first time.  We are using the Birth of Jesus Grapevine studies to daily draw out the story together and we are praying for other unreached people groups.  As we prepare for Jesus' birthday we will spend the day celebrating Jesus with a birthday party and lots of activities.  We really love keeping Jesus' birthday free of presents and focusing on us.  In the past years I have made a scavenger hunt through our house for the kids to find baby Jesus.  One year they were wise men, last year they were shepherds and I think this year they will be travelers on their way to Bethlehem.  I'm excited to see how this year turns out.

Thanksgiving Recap

We had full house of 24 people celebrating Thanksgiving this year.  It seems like each year we top the last with the amount of people and food.  We enjoy hosting and having our friends hang around the house enjoying a second helping of food.  We moved Todd's desk, and the kids desk into our family room and moved some furniture around to accommodate enough seating for everyone.  As a family we spent the month sharing what we are thankful for.  I made little trees for each kid this year and it was sweet to see their own handwriting on the leaves.