GRASS

Above are the before shots of our yard, taken 2 1/2 months ago. Lots of dirt, glass, over grown stuff, trash...then Jon got ahold of it :)





For over a month, Jon has been diligently watering our grass 3 times a day to get it to grow. His dedication paid off. On Sunday the yard dudes came and cut the grass. What a huge difference...well, for us it is a huge difference. Already Kolby and Gabby were out running around in it and climbing the trees. Good thing Jon is so disciplined...he never complained once about how much time it takes to water grass 3 times a day! Amazing what helps make our house a home.

By the way, yesterday Kolby told us that when he looks out over his balcony he can either see the city or the "stinkin' trash".

Gabby's second birthday

We celebrated Gabriella's second birthday and our friend Kian's third birthday together one night (her bday was June 6). The kids played in the little baby pool we have and with water balloons. (Elianna, Kian, Kolby, Gabby, and Kaedren)

Yeah, I made that cake! Thanks to bettycrocker.com and my mom (who brought all the candy, cake mix, and frosting for it!). It's supposed to be a purse with a coin purse.

Singing Happy Birthday and blowing out candles. This is my pregnant friend Susie (she is 5 weeks ahead of me...it's her first baby give me a break! I know I am bigger than her!) And also my good friend Veronica. Thought I would throw this picture in for a belly shot.

Okay for real I am done blogging now!

Our Growing Baby

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment. I really wish I could take the camera and take a picture of his office. It cracks me up. He has a desk that we sit at while we "talk" for about 20 minutes (mostly in English thank goodness!). Then he takes me through a door to his little exam room. It seriously looks like something you would see about 30 years ago in America...minus the ultrasound machine. Here you have an ultrasound every time you go to the doctor. The schedule is different too...you go every 4 weeks no matter what trimester you are in. So the next time I go, I will already be 30 weeks. That is hard to believe. Also you have to go to a lab to give blood before going to see the doctor...EVERY visit. This last week I had to give blood for about 4 tests and also the glucose test. Then you pick up the results and take them to your doctor appointment. I am a pro at giving blood now. I didn't even bruise this time. I got to see our baby BOY (it's been brought to my attention through emails that I have been bad at sharing this news. Sorry!) He weighs 985 grams and measures at almost exactly 26 weeks (which is what I am). We are sticking with Kyler Joshua (the name we loved before Gabby was born). Kolby is super excited for a brother! He randomly comes up to me and asks if he can see him. Then he lifts up my shirt and touches my belly. It's cute. Okay, there are my updates for the day!! Look at me blogging. Gotta do my homework for language class!

Off and On

I'm trying to think of how to describe our life these days. Here is one thing that is consistent!

Things that are OFF or ON around here:

1. The flipping water!

2. The heat, then wind, then heat, then wind (which leads to sweep the dust off the floor, sweep it again, and again...you get the point).

3. The air conditioner (it works, it doesn't, it works, it doesn't).

4. Our truck (it's in the shop, it's out, it's in, it's out...)

5. Gabby (sassy on, sassy off, sassy on, sassy off!)

6. Our brains and language learning (this is the first time I've taken an intensive language course. It's from June 15-30 and it's 3 hours/day. Jon will start his intensive June 29- July 24, 3 hrs/day. By the end of my 3 hours I can't see straight! Especially the days I have my other tutor for 2 hours.)

7. Our good attitudes. (We wonder where they go sometimes!)

8. The internet.

(Now for some happy ones!)

9. Our dryer and dishwasher! Yeah!! It's great to have them ON!!! What a HUGE blessing.

10. Isn't it nice that Jesus is always ON? :) It's just me that turns that one off! Humdullah (praise God)!

Our Father's Day

My husband is so easy to please, what can I say? He requested a trip to the coffee/pastry shop in the morning, cookie dough for snack, and time playing with the kids and I for his father's day gift. Yesterday Kolby made him a card...then he wanted to make a card that said, "Happy Kolby's Day" then another card that said "Happy Spiderman's Day". Every year I put a page or 2 in a special album that is Jon's Father's Day album as his gift. Really, this project gets more fun every year...which memories do you choose when you have fabulous kids and a fun dad? Geesh! The options are endless. Our internet turned back on (after a week of being down) just in time for us to wish our own dad's happy father's day. Jesus is nice to us like that. It's hard being so far away on days like these...just hard to let people know you love them when you take away the gift shopping, internet, and resturants you could eat together at! Happy Father's Day to you Dads that work so hard loving your families, providing for them, and wearing so many different hats as you walk through life reflecting God to those around you by being "Father". Jon, you do so much for us...always fixing whatever breaks next, putting kids to bed and putting them back in bed, always learning, always striving, always apologizing for things I should be apologizing for, always buying me and the kids stuff that we don't really need but you know it will make us happy :) ...oh and so much more! We love you!

Wiving and mothering

"The family is at the heart of what really matters to all of us. If things aren't well at home, every other area of life is affected...(I admire) the willingness of women to be givers and nurturers of life. These women have chosen life by bearing children and they are choosing life every day...with every meal they prepare; with every load of dirty clothes they wash; with every trip they make to the grocery store, to school, to the dentist, to piano lessons, to soccer practice, or to the store; with every scraped knee they bandage; with every encouraging word they speak; with every night hour they spend rocking a sick or scared child; with every dispute they arbitrate; with every moment they spend building Legos, coloring, helping with math problems, reading a Bible story, or listening to a husband or child describe his day; with every moment they spend interceding for the spiritual growth and protection of their family...Day in and day out they are building a home; they are being life-givers; they are laying a foundation and building a memorial that will outlive them for generations to come; they are honoring their Creator in the greatest possible way."
(Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss)

It's just nice to be reminded sometimes.

Dumb things and new house...

You know how sometimes when you are pregnant you just do the dumbest things? And break things? For real, I don't even want to be around myself these days! I seriously just grabbed the hot stove with my fingers...this morning I made lattes for our friends over the wall and totally forgot to stir them...I spilled the spaghetti sauce all over the oven...oh it's so annoying. Oh wait is that pregnancy or just me? And I have broken 3 glass cups in a time span of about 2 weeks.

This morning we walked to our new house (which was supposed to be ready on May 1. Surprise it's not, but it's almost ready!). I realized last year when my parents were here they had to endure with us living in our current house while men drilled holes in the walls for air conditioners. This year when they get here our air conditioners will already be in a new house. Oh Lord, let this be the house we will stay in for awhile! Moving is not fun. Here are some before pics...

1. The left side of our yard, and yes, that is a huge piece of broken glass.

2. Our living room, landlord, and the stairs that go upstairs to the bedrooms.

3. Our new kitchen...a little different than the one we have now! But hey, there are no rats in the ceiling (at least we don't think so!)

4. The blue bathroom...oh wait, it gets better!

5. The pink bathroom...and yes, Kolby prophesied that our new house was going to have a pink bathroom!

My favorite part about our new house is three of the four bedrooms upstairs lead onto balconies which is pretty sweet as long as we can keep our children from climbing the rails. We are real safe around here. We also will now live in a stand alone house (meaning there are no people living above or below us). We now have a place to park the truck inside our gated yard...humdallah (ask Erin and Ian about that word...or actually Amelia can say it pretty well!). Oh yea, and let's not forget that now we can plant grass!!!!!

So hopefully by next Saturday we will be settled (I'm not sure if you can ever be settled here...hmmm...) into our new place and life can move on! Kolby seems excited to move so I am thankful for that. Gabby just likes that she can hide in the closets.