Furlough, Friends and Birthdays

I am sure many of you were wondering if I was ever going to post again!  It has been a long time.  Even though furlough has been busy (we've been from MD to GA and are now visiting churches in the beautiful state of ME) and I have also been trying to finish school (and prepare for the upcoming school year), the main reason I have not posted is because I...ummm, well, I lost my password book.  I don't know why I didn't just update everything sooner - it only took me a few minutes.  Oh, well.  

It has been a difficult furlough.  All I have wanted is to be home...in Ukraine.  But it always is refreshing to meet up with our supporting churches.  We have the best!  It is overwhelming how generous they have been to us, how much they pray for us and really keep up with us.

We have enjoyed making new friends and meeting up with dear, old friends.

  

Sammy turned 4...

I went "over-the-hill" and turned 31 (how did that happen?!)

And baby Abigail *sniff* is now 1 year old!!!

This past year has sure been exciting!  But with this guy around, how couldn't it be? ;)

Lydia is 5!

How can it even be possible?!  Only yesterday you were a little bundle in my arms with hair that looked like I styled it...my perfect little baby doll.  How I have enjoyed the years with you!

For the most part, you are

 

Though  you definitely have your silly, noisy moments ~ ESPECIALLY if you have one on one time. :)

We started the day with birthday spanks/kisses.

Then the hunt was on.

The wrapping is becoming part of our tradition. ;)

 It's always interesting to buy English toys in a foreign country.

All of the kids were busy playing house while Daniel and I prepared the birthday meal...well, I prepared.  He was too busy digging into the cake to help cook.

You requested a green, chocolate cake.  It's hard to see, but it is a light green.  And one of the candles was one of those ever-flame candles.  That always makes it more exciting.

Poor baby Abigail was sick all day, but she got lots of love still.

We finished of the day with a tea party.  With three girls, we have plenty of those.

Happy Birthday my Lyda-bug!

Sammy is 3!!!

Because Eric had worked late at the church Sunday night, we woke up that morning still undecided what we were going to do for his birthday.  The girls were trying to convince Sammy that he wanted to go to the indoor park place with the BIG slide and balls - but Sammy didn't care what we did.  He was just happy.

Eric had other ideas.  He had seen an advertisement to rent a house with a pool in the city.  Knowing that I had been wanting to get away for a little while, he called and booked it for two nights!  You can probably imagine the excitement in our house!

The kids could barely contain themselves.  Can you guess what was the first thing they wanted to do? 

Go swimming! :)  (Everyone that is, except for Daniel...who still HATES water and usually still cries at bath time.)

In the evening, I blew up balloons ('cause, like the kids say, "it's not really a birthday without balloons!")  And this time a little something special added to the celebration...party hats and noses. :)

I tried to get a family photo.  It's pretty blurry, but can you see the family resemblance? :)

Then it was present time.  The girls have been getting a small allowance each week for chores and each bought Sammy a gift.  They were very anxious to give it to him.  Lydia is hugging hers.  Excuse the wrapping.

                                                                        A frog!!!

Now time to open Lydia's gift.

Some new sunglasses!  Daniel broke his last ones and Lydia would not settle for giving him any other gift and after not finding them in the store, we had to search the open air market for them.

Now time for Anna's gift.  Anna spent her entire month's spending allowance, but had to give him that airplane.  I don't know who was more excited about the gift - Anna (because she found something he'd REALLY like) or Sammy.  It doesn't fly, but it does make airplane noises and drives around the floor.

We had a wonderful couple of days and I think I know what the other kids will be asking to do on their birthdays.

Daniel is 1!

January 10th, 2012

One whole year, my sweet Daniel!  It hardly seems possible, and yet it seems like you have always been a part of our lives.  I love your cute, scrunchy nose smiles, the masculine way you crawl...though you don't do that much anymore, you're growing up so quickly!  I even love your messes.  Everyone blames you for everything - even when the tree fell with no one in the room, it was Daniel's fault.  You kinda did that to yourself, though, because most of the time it was you. ;)

You were thrilled when I came in to get you singing, "Happy Birthday".  The kids were excited too - until they came out and saw that the floor was not covered in balloons, nor was there even a banner.  Anna matter-a-factly told me, it couldn't be your birthday because of those important missing items.  I am sorry, poor Daniel.  I just could not locate them.  You did not notice though, you were too thrilled about the apple oatmeal muffins waiting for you.  Oh!  How excited you were!  I wish I had recorded it!

Following breakfast, we all got dressed and headed to the mall.  The kids had plans on what we should do, but Eric and I did not decide until we got there.  The mall has a big play center on the third floor.  We started by taking a little train ride.  You are so quiet in public that I am not sure what you thought.  I know what you thought of the play place - you insisted on being held, especially after I went down the slide with you, as you seriously watched all of the noisy boys running around.

Then we did it, we broke the diet and went to McDonalds.  You had your first chicken nuggets and fries.  That, I think, made your day.

We walked around for a little while, you sleeping comfortably amongst a soft bed of coats in the back of the cart, looking for a baby gate (nice birthday present, huh. hehe).  But, there was known to be found.  Everyone just looked at us like we were crazy.  Then, we bought cake AND ice cream - much to the delight of your brother and sisters- and headed home.  When we got home, I started looking for candles and found you a balloon!  How much fun you had!  While you were playing with it, I lit the candle and we all started singing.  You were like, "Oh.  That's nice."

"Now where's my balloon?"

Until Papa blew it out and you discovered...

IT SPARKS BACK UP!!! (Surprise for Mama too.)  How intently you stared, waiting for it to spark back up!

How poorly mama captured it, but your reaction was too priceless not to share.

Time to cut you your first piece.  Mama sat waiting and ready for you to dig in so she could get some cute, messy pictures.

We all waited...

and waited...

and waited...

but there was no way you were going to dig into that!  Papa decided to take matters into his own hands as all your siblings, were by now, dying to get a piece.  The spoon didn't even get fully into your mouth before you decided, it was not for you.

Sorry, buddy (Sammy's nickname for him).  We tried.  Guess we should have stuck with the Apple Oatmeal Muffins.  We decided to go ahead and give you your present so you had something to do while we enjoyed your birthday cake and ice cream (which you didn't like either).

Lydia moved her arm up, so your face is blocked, but I LOVE the open mouth.

Happy Birthday, my baby boy!  My daily prayer is that someday I'll be rejoicing over your second birth.