Elli turns 4!

Elli turned 4 on the 20th, but we waited to celebrate until Gogo arrived to celebrate together.  And in her mind, she didn't turn 4 (regardless of date) until she blew her candles out.  She chose her meals; waffles with strawberries for breakfast and "chicken and crunchy bread."





I have determined that I am not a cake decorator.  It is so stressful to try and make these masterpieces to match the dreams and expectations of my kiddos.  Luckily she turned out at all; she baked for at least 2 hours (in a new to me oven); we couldn't find food coloring at the store, so we used writing icing to color our frosting; the entire top of the cake (the part with the dents and details) came off in the pan.  My kids are gracious when the cake doesn't turn out quite like the picture.  But I sure wish I had thought through what I was setting myself up for when I started the birthday cake tradition with the Lighting McQueen birthday cake!

The bleeding Lightning McQueen cake that started all of this!

There were several fun gifts as we celebrated Elli's birthday:

• To have a Grandparent here, even when we leave so far away.
• A Strawberry Shortcake Pan; borrowed from a friend of Gogo's after a post on facebook
• Lots of dear girl friends to celebrate with; friends that we know from home and have missed so much.
• Fresh strawberries for a little girl that has been dreaming of a Strawberry Shortcake birthday since the week after her 3rd birthday.  
• Gifts sent from family and friends back in the States.
• Special pictures, with birthday signs and balloons, from her buddies back in the Valley.  

She definitely felt celebrated and loved on.  Happy Birthday Elli!

Keeping math fun!

We're trying to faithfully chug along in home-school, knowing that when the baby comes we may need an extended spring break!  One of the little units we've been doing is pictographs.  I deviated from the examples in the teacher's book.  Why not do math about Darth Vader's light sabers?

He did find it more interesting that his facial expression captures!

Of course Ethan had to have the most!

Instant growth spurt

Remember the shaggy mullet?  Right before we left the capitol, I successfully found some scissors and Elias got his first big boy haircut.  No more hair, lapping over the top of his collar.  It's amazing how fast a little hair cut can change a baby to a big boy! 

 And he started sitting with us at the table.  Up until now, he's been too eager to dump his plate.  So he's been sitting back away from the table as we've slowly placed things on his tray.  He sure loved being big enough to sit at the table like his brother and sister.  Bummer where we are now only has a high chair; one step forward, two steps back. 

Look at that hair free neckline!

Leaving on a jet plane

Weather permitting, cause yes it is snowing again, we are planning to fly out at 5:30 Monday morning for Istanbul.  And we'll be in a new, temporary living situation.  Would appreciate your prayers for the travel (Elias will be on Austin's lap- not a very comfortable 5 hours in the early morning hours) as well as the initial days of getting life settled and set up there!  I'll try and blog there, though it does require some new "hoops" to do so.  So we'll see how it goes. 

Quotables

There have just been too many funny things that have been said in life, I had to share them.

1. We've been eating Osh every Tuesday lunch at the office.  I've tried to bring something for the table, to help stretch the food; since my kiddos can eat their weight in Osh.  The Grandma type that helps cook and clean the office always goes on and on about how I'm so "heavy" (the local way of saying "very pregnant") and should not bring anything.  This week, however, she announced to the table that I had brought the chocolate cake to celebrate her new dentures!

2. We're sharing the guest house with an older guy, here on his own.  He matches my stereotype of a rough cowboy (more the Southwest kind of cowboy than the Texan) with lots of epic stories.  Elli, is her own very strong communicator.  Yesterday in the kitchen, while Glen was talking, Elli asked "Are you talking to me or yourself?"  His reply "Well, are you listening?"  "Yes."  "Then I guess I'm talking to you!"

3.  In response to Ethan saying he was excited to play with Keller V. Elli says "Mmmm, he is a handsome boy.

4. Several weeks ago, when we were living with a young couple without kids, we were sitting around the dinner table listening to them tell a story.  They were co-telling the story, taking turn filling in gaps in the details.  Ethan and Elli were intrigued by their style of telling and both explained "You shouldn't interrupt each other!"

5. After the family sonogram viewing, we were talking about what they saw of the baby.  Elli explained, "Mommy, it was hard to see.  I don't think the light was on."  To which we responded, "Do you think Mommy has a light in her tummy?"  The logic of her comment dawned on her and she just started laughing.

6. Also following the sonogram, Elli explained to our guest house friend Glen;"Did you know that Ethan and I were good babies in mommy's belly.  We had our head's in the right way.  Elias and baby E are disobeyers and their head isn't in the right place."  I was kind of nervous where this story would go, but luckily it ended here. 

7.  I told Elli she had to stay in bed for her nap until the clock said 2:22.  At 2:17 she came in to tell me "Mommy, I think the other 2's got lost."

Cold Snow Days

I think it has snowed at least once every week this winter, but last week it just dumped 7 inches and every night the temperatures ranged between 5-9F.  Our first week alone in the guest house, was a cold one.  Lots of time inside and only Mom and Dad to keep everyone entertained. 

Our very own meteorologist.  Just after Ethan and I finished a lesson on measuring with inch rulers.  Real life math!

Sledding in the office parking lot off of the snow drifts

Enjoying the Sugar Cookie Kit we got for Christmas

All approve!

At the end of the day . . . some wrestling!

Showing off our muscles

Ready for a haircut!

One thing about my dear husband that I still can't understand, after almost 10 years of marriage, is his appreciation of a good mullet.  He describes it as the "business in front and party in the back" hairstyle.  Curls or a pony tail peaking out behind the back of a ball cap, just has some sense of appeal to him.  All I know is that it is God's grace that I didn't know him when he wore such a hairdo (in high school).  I think it would have posed grave ramifications on the future of our relationship.  Maybe it's just an American culture thing I can't quite connect with.

All that to say, Elias is growing quite the mullet.  His hair is so fine, his first hair cut will need scissors; buzzers won't "cut it."  I didn't pack scissors for this time of in-between living and the thought of a local barber, which can be quite rough, sounds somewhat traumatising. 

Sporting his shaggy do and Daddy's shoes (a fun new fascination).

Notice the hair hanging well over the back of his collar!

So, in the meantime, the mullet grows.  Maybe Aunt T will have some scissors and we can trim these golden locks when we get to Turkey.  Luckily, Daddy's not opposed. 

An inclusive heart

This is Ethan's newest thing; inviting people into his life (complete with RSVPs).  So last Saturday night, Ethan invited several guys for Men's Night.  Originally his plan was to have wrestling night, but the lack of space in someone else's home led us to plan B.  Lego Star Wars Video Game Night. 

He was gracious enough to let Elli and I sit in.  With a bed time of 8 p.m., Men's Night didn't last very long.  But wish you could have seen his face when he went to bed that night.  He was glowing!  "That was a really good idea Mom.  I'm so glad they came!"  Thanks grown men, for investing in my son's heart.  It's shaping him, I know!