visiting our new apartment

Yesterday afternoon we drove over to our new apartment (it's about a half hour from our current place).  The inside isn't much to look at right this minute.... that's the kitchen (to-be) in the photo below.  The wall behind Julianna is coming down, which will open up the kitchen (living room behind the wall, dining room to the left). 

You have to be good at visualizing, and planning, and making decisions to do this kind of a task.  It's not going to be a cake walk for me (or us), but I think we'll LOVE it once we get all the work done and move in. 

With so little to admire inside the kids bored quickly and we decided to do a little outdoor exploring.

Much much better. 

We ended up meeting some new friends and the girls jumped right in like they already lived there.

The game "eagle - chicken" (rough translation), is a big favorite around here... the kids play with friends in our current complex too.  Our new complex has a nice large playground (by Asian standards - playgrounds aren't a big commodity here) and a big basketball court/badminton court too.  Such a treat! 

This little girl kept begging me to take pictures.  She was 100% more precious than she looks in the picture.  Hard to believe, but true.  She's a feisty little one, and I promised I'd get some of the photos developed and bring them the next time we came by.  With a personality as big as hers, I bet we'll be able to find her again.  Plus, it's not a super large complex (again, by Asian standards).... so it shouldn't be too difficult. 

Luke, once again, was the crowd favorite.  People cannot get enough of his blond hair, blue eyes, and chubby legs.  It's an irresistible trio that makes Luke the equivalent of a baby supermodel. 

He covered a lot of territory - there's plenty to entertain a toddler (and no cars above ground... all underground parking! .... which was a big request we had as we shopped for new apartments). 

Now to just get started on the construction.  We are definitely diving into new waters with this project, but I can't wait to move in and get settled in our new place (although we're probably 6-8 weeks from moving day). 

all seven again

Matt is home.  He got in later than we originally hoped (and missed seeing the kids) but boy were they excited to have Daddy greet them this morning!  I was pretty excited to let him do the morning greetings and stay in bed late too!

It's inevitable.  I run high-energy the whole time Matt is away.  I stay up late (really late).  And within about 15 minutes of him walking in the door (no matter what time of day he arrives), I'm exhausted.  I love that feeling, the security of having him back, no longer singly responsible for some many things.  And I sleep, oh such great sleep!

We decided last week to postpone our family Mother's Day celebrating for a week.  With the crazies of the past few weeks (apartment looking, contract signing, etc) and Matt arriving back home the evening before Mother's Day we went for the low stress option of celebrating a week later :)

Tonight Matt and I have a "date night in" (after kids are asleep at our kitchen table!) to talk apartment details.  We hope to sign a contract with a contractor this week and get this ball rolling!

And we might start tossing around a few dates for a summer trip back to the area Matt just left?!?!?  He's anxious to get the whole family up there.  The kids are busting to go.  I think it would be incredible.  We'll see what God has in store....  

[sorry the picture is small and squished.  I don't have the time to figure out how to make it bigger but not too big right now.  click on the picture for a better view.]

Matt's morning

I told him we wanted a picture of a yak.  And I'm hoping we get it too :)

But we'll settle for this in the meantime......  While we wonder why he didn't take us along!  

singing in the rain

This afternoon the skies opened up and the rain poured down.  Buckets and buckets of rain.

Julianna was anxious to get out and get wet.  And sing.  She sang at the top of her lungs, dancing and splashing in the courtyard. 

Rain like that isn't held off by an umbrella and it just slowed her down so she ditched it.

Hello, drenched. 

 

 And oh so happy.

Biggest little brother was in on it too.  I wrung heaps of water out of that fleece jacket.  Totally reminded me of life in our old city where we got lots of summer rains that were perfect for playing. 

And Lydia?  She took the tamer route and opted for the warm water (indoor) shower while her sibs were getting silly in the courtyard.  

Matt is way up in the high mountains (I think they are higher than anything in the continental U.S.) and our rain was his snow.  He's got plenty of warm clothes and LOVES this kind of adventure, so it's a happy thing for him.  Honestly, I'd love to be there too.  [He's actually in a gorgeous area that the two of us traveled together while we were dating 11 years ago.  I haven't been there since.  He's been multiple times.  What's wrong with this picture? ha!]

Julianna begged and begged to go along.  I told her we'd wait til she was ten years old.  She would be such a great fit for this kind of trip (of Matt's) and I think she'd love getting out there and finding friends - and maybe do a little singing in the snow?  

double whammy

Tomorrow morning we'll take both Matt and Granddaddy to the airport.  Matt headed off on a trip, Dad headed back to America.

It'll be brutal.  That's all there is to it. 

(more pics from Dad's visit soon.... off to eat some late night watermelon with him and Matt before bed!)

one (of many) things to look forward to

We signed the contract on a new apartment.  Moving day in early July (hopefully).

There is a lot of work to be done... it's a brand new apartment and in this country that means it's very unfinished.  "A concrete shell" of an apartment.  Walls, but no doors.  Open pipes and drain holes in the floor = this must be the bathroom.  The floor is concrete (for now). 

There's fun in all this (we've already decided to eliminate a closet so we get a roomier 4th bedroom) and there's plenty of dreaming (taking out a kitchen wall to open up the floor plan), but there are LOTS of decisions to make, which can be pretty overwhelming. 

But I have plenty to look forward to. 

Including a fourth bedroom (woohoo!) which will double as a guest room / school room.   And where I hope to relocate much of the crafting activity that takes place in this home :)

It's not that I don't enjoy paper, and paint, and markers, and sewing needles, and stickers, and stamp pads and glue sticks.  But it complicates table-setting when the stuff is strewn all over the kitchen table and the dinner hour is fast approaching :)

Especially when the paint creations are still wet!  

my soup pot

I got myself a new soup pot.  My old one (which used to seem soooooo big) is no longer big enough.

Just one of the 'signs of the times' around here.  I have five big eaters, and a very active husband.  We consume a lot of calories on our own.  And we love to host - - -

There were years when I always had frozen meals at the ready - it was so easy.  Every time I made a 9x13 I split it into two smaller square pans.  One for dinner, one for the freezer. 

Not anymore.  We practically finish a 9x13.  Doubling recipes is normal.  I cannot imagine what feeding this crew will be like in ten years. 

apartment hunting

Things are definitely heating up in the apartment hunting realm.  After months and months of deliberations & weeks and weeks of scouting real estate, I think we're narrowing in on a great option.  God is so faithful to lead us.

We hope to sign a contract this weekend.  And the place is needing a lot of work (more on that to come) so we're still six to eight weeks from a move-in date.

It's starting to sink it, this moving.  I am excited about more space (!!!!) and closer to conveniences (!!!!) and sharing a complex with some of our dearest friends (!!!!!) but it'll be so hard to leave our current place.  So. Very. Hard.  We love our apartment (itsy bitsy as it may be for our growing family) and we dearly love our neighbors. 

I'm going to start doing blog posts highlighting some of our favorite neighborhood friends.  They are so dear, so sweet to our family, such gifts to us as we live this two-cultures lifestyle. 

So excitement.  And sadness.... both on the horizon with this big transition.

outdoors (with Granddaddy)

Late this afternoon we headed over to the badminton courts in our complex for some outside fun.  We have this really cool pop up soccer net and a gym-coach-esque net bag full of balls.  Dad worked on teaching the big three the essentials of a bounce pass. 

But the biggest ball-lover of the family is definitely the littlest guy.  Luke L-O-V-E-S to play ball. 

A ball is always his first choice toy.  And his second choice.  And his final choice :) 

At least he's consistent, right?

Hopefully all the outside fun helped get everyone nice and sleepy - tonight the big three are "camping out" with Granddaddy on the living room floor.  Dad (on an air mattress) and the bigs in their sleeping bags.  Should be good times - as long as morning doesn't come too early!  ha!

their faces

Everyone thinks their children are beautiful.

And they're right. 

Children are beautiful.

 

 

Oh these precious faces.  Melt my heart.  Beautiful. 

(I know, missing Julianna.... I'll work on it!)

with his Granddaddy

Luke is happy to be with his Granddaddy. 

 
And I'm happy Luke is with his Granddaddy.

And Granddaddy is happy to be with Luke.

My Dad would say, "this is why I came"

And I say, "this is why I'm glad you're here!'

to know they are brothers

Dad brought eight boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios, some hand-me-downs for Isaac (thanks Will and Julie!) and a new camera for me (I mean us..... although really me, since Matt doesn't spend his days with people nearly as photogenic as my companions!)

After lots of helpful input we purchased a Panasonic Lumix (micro four thirds system) - I had never heard of a micro four thirds camera before a couple of camera-savvy friends tipped me off.  If you're looking for something with almost every feature of a DSLR but prefer a smaller body, it might be a great option. 

Anyways, it's been out of the box for 12 hours.  And so far I've decided that a) I love it and b) I have a lot to learn. 

I attached the (kit) lens, inserted the battery, flicked the power button and took these.

Nothing special, but it's definitely an upgrade from a phone camera (which I've been using as my ONLY camera since Christmas!) 

And besides, I love their heads tucked together (catching ants, of course!).... these two boys aren't readily identifiable as brothers in looks alone, but here posture speaks louder than hair color, huh? 

And their big sister.  Who catches a lot of ants herself, and even has a (not pictured) "research station" where she examines her finds ...

Now that Dad is here I actually have capacity to think about reading the owners manual, figuring out ISO and fstops and the like.... and then when he leaves I'll probably put it back in auto mode for the next ten years.  Or not.  We'll see. 

Actually, I do have a list of a few projects I'd like to spend some time on over the next two weeks with Dad in town.  Normal days leave me little time for much more than the basics - but now Dad is here to take boys on walks and listen to little girls read and keep Luke out of trouble  ;)  Who knows what I'll get around to doing?!?!? 

surprise!

Granddaddy is here! 

Very last minute, about two weeks ago, Dad forked over some frequent flier miles and booked a seat.  Woohoo!!!!!

welcome poster (made by Lydia)

a fault line

We live near an active fault line.  And it's acting up..... quaking earth, that kind of thing.  But we are just fine, and praying for all those who live much closer to the damage and are still reeling from more catastrophic hurts.  [Though I will say that listening to dishes tinkling and doors rattling in door jams while thinking "what is that? a train? why is the house shaking? ack, earthquake, I'm sure that was an earthquake".... well, it's unsettling.]

Just this evening we again felt one of the larger aftershocks.  The pulls that hang from our ceiling fans start to swing back and forth a bit, that's how I know I'm not making it up, the earth really is rumbling.

The reality is that thousands, millions of people who have never heard the Gospel live near active fault lines.  So events like this... they don't make me want to move away.  They renew my commitment to stay.  Who, who is going to tell them of a God, a Hope, a Security who is rock solid - especially when the very rocks of the earth are crumbling? 

cutting hair

Monday evening I cut the girls hair.  Clearly, the best hair cutting spot for us is outdoors in the courtyard, and it's where we do all our kid hair cuts.  One of my favorite neighbors walked by and stopped to let her grandson play while the girls got their trims.  She (half jokingly) said "you can do anything" and I answered, "maybe it's just that I'm brave enough to try".  [Sure, you could argue "dumb enough" to try, I'll agree to that.]

It's true, I don't know much of anything about cutting hair.  I got lucky with the girls.  Julianna's has just enough curl at the ends that any unevenness is obscured.  Plus she wants hers long and longer - an occasional trim is all that's necessary.   

Lydia's, well..... can you mess it up?  This time I got a little braver and added in some layers.  The second side got a bit shorter so I had to go back and shorten the first side (anyone heard this hair cut story before?) but I'm happy to report the end result was an irresistible mop of curls.  

The only picture I have is this one - catching ants and looking at them with our 80 cent magnifying glasses.  We fed ants.  We drowned ants.  We squished ants.  A good afternoon for us, arguably not so good for the ants. 

Back to the hair.  I'll get a better picture of Lydia.  And I do need some tips for Isaac.  John Paul is an easy buzz cut, but I'd like a little more skill and ability to do something different with Isaac.  Might just have to get out there and "get brave". 

Problem is Isaac's hair cut tolerance is not something you'd brag about, so I'll need to be quick about it. Might just buzz it after all.

We're out of town (road trip) this weekend - Matt working, kids and I just 'along for the ride'.  So excited about the folks we're going to see :)