Passing the Time

Winter Break is passing way too quickly!!  It has been such a nice break.  We've spent lots of time outside, seeing friends, and just chilling in our jam-jams!  We've watched our fair share of movies and vegged out in front of screens!

Out of the blue Noah started pulling up pictures on the ipad and drawing them.  Pretty soon Justin and Callie got in on the act.  I think they sat at the table for a few hours drawing and coloring.  I was pretty impressed with their abilities.

Meanwhile...

This little princess got into the makeup and got busy ruling her kingdom!

We have a family of 6 coming over in a little bit.  Then tomorrow we're going out to the village with our neighbor!  We are so excited!  

Alisa Meyra

This is a picture of my closest local friend's daughter posing with a puzzle that we sent her for her 2nd birthday.  Their family has pretty much adopted us and we love them so much!  Now that we've moved, we miss them so much!

Anyhow, I just want to praise the Lord for this beautiful, healthy girl!  Just look at that smile and those curls!!  She is absolutely adorable!

She was born with a severe skin disease.  When she was a baby her skin looked like a pruney old woman.  She couldn't sweat and they had to rub her down every other hour with a special prescription cream.  They had to put special drops in her eyes because she couldn't even produce tears.  The prognosis for a normal life was not good.  

But we prayed with them, cried with them, and begged the Lord to heal this precious baby.  Meyra still has the skin disease and suffers from a few mild symptoms.  But, for the most part, she is completely healthy and certainly happy and beautiful!

Thank you, Lord, for healing this precious child!!

Frozen Picnics

I had the genius idea to have a nice picnic on the seashore and then head to the park for more playing.  Unfortunately, the weather decided to actually act like February weather and it was COLD!  We shivered through breakfast and made a valiant attempt to enjoy ourselves.  But after less than an hour we were packing up to head home and thaw out!

Hard to collect shells when you are wearing gloves!

Even the best laid plans can easily come to ruin!

Babysitting

We are watching our teammates kiddos so they can get away for a few days before their third baby arrives.  It is so fun, and tiring, to have toddlers in my home again.  I miss this stage sometimes- busy, but uncomplicated!  So a few days with these precious babies should hit the spot!

We took them out to our school to see the animals.  They loved the ducks- wish we'd remembered to bring some bread to feed them like Gamma always does!  The groundskeeper gave us some duck eggs to bring home.  Unfortunately the kids were super grossed out and terrified that I was going to accidentally use them in the cookie dough.  I eventually just tossed them to silence the masses!

The little pony was out grazing so we got to pet him.  Lucy made sure that they followed all the rules of horsemanship.  I'm afraid she's a bit high-strung in this department!

I was so thankful for more beautiful weather so we could spend the entire day outside!  Praise the Lord for naptime and 8 o'clock bedtimes!  Ha!

Sunday Sneak Peek: Life Lately

Friday night = Family Fun Night... and everyone knows that you have to have pizza on Family Fun Night!  It also helps if you are wearing jammies!

Noah has had several soccer games over the Winter Break.  He has gotten to play in most of them.  But, they won't let him play in the close ones.  It's a total bummer!  But, we are trying to be thankful that he even gets to play!

This field right next to Noah's soccer club has a sign that reads:

Pouring your hazelnuts onto the soccer field is prohibited

(Once you harvest hazelnuts you have to spread them out an dry them in the sun.  Pretty much every single flat surface in this entire town is covered with hazelnuts the last week in August- sidewalks, streets, parking lots, gardens, parks, seriously... everywhere!)

The subs passing the ball around and shooting on Noah during halftime

The weather has been absolutely beautiful lately!  Today was so beautiful we took a walk down by the sea, came home for a few minutes, and then decided to go out and walk some more. 

Fight the Beast

This time last year we were fighting the battle of our lives....

LICE!!!!!

Running Errands...

is so much more fun when you're riding around on this thing!  (Justin drives it, of course!)

And when your view looks like this...

Thankful Thursday

We are cruising through winter break.  In the past we have gone on road trips but not this year.  So, it's been a bit quiet and uneventful.  I am so thankful!!  We've hung out, watched movies, played outside, walked along the coast, played soccer, and spent time with friends.  Perfection!!

Noah's soccer season had started.  The license thing is still a bit "iffy" but they are letting him play the second halves.  They won their first game 12-4 and today they won 16-0!  So, I'd say they are pretty good!  I am happy because I am a nervous wreck when Noah is in goal!  My parents made it look easy back in my day.  But, YIKES!  I hate it when the ball comes his way!  Ha!

Warming up at halftime with his coach.

The ball is finally on his side of the field... cringe!

Free kick!  Noah caught it with ease.

Noah's team

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a soccer mom!  It is the most fun!!

I am also thankful for my friend Ayşe.  She must have been cooking for days to produce this spread!  I was over there so long today that Justin started texting asking if I was ok.  Ha!  I am thankful for sweet friends who can cook yum-o food!

Rollin' Down the Boardwalk

It's a beautiful day for rollerblading!  Yaaayyyyy for winter break with spring-like weather!!

Joy Comes in the Morning

You know when your eyes pop open at 6:35 and you begin to panic that you overslept.  Then all of the sudden you remember that you are on winter break and roll over for several more hours of blissful sleep.  It's the best feeling in the world!!

I love winter break!

Zzzz

Sunday Sneak Peek: Noah's First Game!

He had to sit the bench the first half because he doesn't have a TFF license.  But he played the entire second half and did great!  They won 12-4!

National PB Day

Today is National Peanut Butter Day!  Yall, I LOVE peanut butter!  It might be my second favorite food, behind turkey sandwiches.  I'm not exactly sure how to properly celebrate National Peanut Butter Day.  But I'm pretty sure one of these recipes would suffice!

What's your favorite peanut butter treat?

Report Card Day

Well... my babies have grown up and completely outlawed my traditional report card picture. :-(  However, I am super proud and pleased to say that they did great!  They got the equivalent of all A's and 1 B between them.  Their grades are fantastic!  I'm so proud of my kids!!!

School started at 8:45 with our normal morning assembly.  Then they were all released to go to breakfast.  They were serving crepes and the kids were so excited.  Yum-O!  After breakfast they went to their classrooms.  Then their class advisors gave out their report cards and winter break homework.  Afterwards they were released to go home.

The teachers all went out for a big brunch.  It was fun to hang out together and nosh on a yummy breakfast.

Thankful Thursday

I am so, so thankful that tomorrow is the last day before our two week winter break!  PTL!  I survived my first semester!  School sort of fizzles out here.  Today only about 1/4 of the middle school students even showed up.  We pretty much watched movies and played games in the gym all day.  It was fun to goof off a bit with the kids.

I am also thankful that 99% of the students and faculty ride the school vans.  Can you imagine riding to school with your teacher?  When school is out everyone scurries off to their vans and heads out.  The place is a ghost town in about 15 minutes time.  So, there's no pressure to burn the midnight oil or spend ridiculous amounts of time hanging around school.

I am thankful that we've got two weeks of relaxation ahead of us.  We have no plans.

Noah has a soccer game on Sunday.  We are all so excited and praying that they will let him play.  He has really gotten good.  A few days ago one of the teachers at school came up to me and was like, "How on earth is your son so good?!  He saved every one of my shots yesterday!"  I'm pretty proud of him!  I am so thankful for this chance to play soccer.  Noah loves it.

I am thankful that the kids have adjusted really well to their new school.  They are all doing really well.  I expect excellent report cards tomorrow.

I am thankful for the beautiful weather we are having.  It is cold and crisp but also super sunny!  My favorite weather!

I am thankful that I am getting to know my colleagues and neighbors better.  Our friendships are growing and I am feeling more comfortable at work and at home.  I am so thankful for friends!

Together Again

Justin got home yesterday late afternoon from his cross country motorcycle trip.  It took him two full days of riding to get here!!

He had great stories about thick freezing fog, a tired hiney, and frozen fingers!  Poor baby!!

We are so happy to have him home safe and sound!