Mother's Day

Hi everyone,

We have been enjoying a wonderful Mother's Day. We are also potty training this weekend, but more on that later...

Mother's Day.

Last night I had a wonderful time with some dear mommy friends out here. As we sat and enjoyed some delicious chocolate fondue and some wine, I was struck by how all we really talked about was our children. I have been thinking a lot about this lately... mommy-hood is just such an all consuming adventure. And, the more I do it, the more I realize it is the most important job, task, adventure, occupation, filler-of-time that one can do. No other thing in life holds the weight that being a mom does. We are shaping the lives of the next generation. We are leading, molding, and releasing people into society. It's a big job! I know I am often caught up in the monotony of it at times, and can even lose sight of the bigger picture. But, the big picture is right there, in front of you... I mean, it's in the mirror. It was our mommies who brought us this far and have been examples of what we are raising.

So, here's to ALL the mommies out there!
Thank you for all you do!
Love
Me

Last weeks of T'bird times

Hi everyone!

It has been a wild month. We are preparing to say farewell to our wonderful friends who have shared this amazing graduate experience with us the past 20 months. It is really hard to believe that it is coming to an end and in less than a week we have so many friends who will be back in their countries or states.

Here are a few pictures of the last of things:
The Last of the Tuesday Dinners:




The last of our playdates at Clau's house:

Last playdate with Bella:

There are a few more lasts but for now this will do... we love our friends so much and are so thankful for their love, support, and fun!

Easter! He is risen!

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heavenly king, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which he endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky he’s king, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! Praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
Praise him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

We had a wonderful Easter with friends! A little taste of "home" out here with Aunt KD, Aunt Ali and Uncle PW!

And, here are my Easter bunnies:

Holy Week Traditions

This week leads up to what has grown to be my favorite holiday -- this is mommy typing. We have several Holy Week traditions... some we hope to begin again next year (Seder dinner) and some we have continued... We color Easter eggs, we spend time with friends outside and playing in the grass at the park, and we will attend Good Friday services and Easter Vigil/Easter Celebrations. We enjoy a good 1 or 3 Easter egg hunts and J especially loves the eating of the candy. We also make Easter cookies... YUM! Who says baking cookies just has to be at Christmas? Not us!
Here are a couple pics from the fun we have had! J with buddies, Bella and Sebastian:

The babies!
Giules after one of our Springtime morning walks:
J at the Thunderbird Campus Easter Egg hunt:
And our two cuties!

Holy Week and Easter have become my favorite holiday because it is the crux of what we believe as followers of Jesus. He is God's Son, he gave up his kingship to be here on earth. He entered Jerusalem and was sentenced to death. On Friday we will reflect on his sacrifice.

14 Weeks and 14 Weeks

We thought it had been a little while since we had done a side by side comparison of the two Greto wee ones. I think these are a couple of the closest pics I can find of the two of them at about 13 weeks.

Do you think they are related?
Baby G #1:

Baby G #2:

The Weekend

The weather has officially become GORGEOUS here in the valley. We have been walking, hiking, and BBQing for about a week now. In fact, one day last week I actually got a bit of a sunburn on my shoulders (this is Meg, by the way, not J).

Weekends are great though because we get to spend time together all four of us! This past weekend, we went to Dim Sum with some friends:


We also love the weekends because we really enjoy our church. Gg went to the nursery too and had a great time. She was able to show off her new purple bow... mommy is trying to desensitize her to wearing bows since she is not really a huge fan:



And, since we are in the home stretch of time with many of our friends, we have started having weekly gatherings... here is a shot of the Daddies with all the kiddos:

Two Special Days in March

We know you have heard of St Patrick's Day but many people don't realize that similar to St Patrick's Day where the Irish (and those who wish they were) wear green, St. Joseph's day on March 19th is celebrated all over the world and folks wear red! Today is Joseph's Saint Day. In many cultures, your birthday is celebrated on this day and it is a holiday in Italy. And it is FEAST day!

Now, the second special event this week was Giules' 3 month birthday yesterday! Here she is! Growing like a weed as you can see next to her owlie toy:
We are pretty sure these baby eyes are staying BLUE!

Hello out there! Check out my crazy neck, tummy time skilz!
And lastly, here at 3 months, she loves to suck on her hands... we think she might eventually find the fingers she wants but we shall see

Big Brother and Little Sister hanging out

Here are a couple shots of the two of them. They have a lot of fun together and J really is a wonderful big brother! He is sweet with her and only when he hugs her too tightly do we have to intervene :-)


And watching Sesame Street together the other morning:



And lastly, J is developing a very sweet tenderness for friends when they get hurt. Just Sunday at the park his little friend got sand in his eyes and was crying. J stopped what he was doing and ran over to ask if Seb was OK? It was very sweet and melts our hearts to know that we have such a gentle souled little one. So, last night when he wanted to get his "owie star" for Thomas' friend I was a little puzzled. He ran to the fridge and grabbed his cold-pack star for a character in his Thomas the Train coloring book. Toby the Tram had a sad face because he derailed and J wanted to comfort him. Tooo funny and at the same time sooooo sweet!

Funny dinner conversation

Lately, in the evenings, Giules has been going to bed about 5:30. This means that dinner time with Joseph is quite a nice treat and we have many fun topics of conversation. It typically revolves around the construction site that is all around our apartment. The state is widening the highway right outside our complex... and there are many wonderful BOY things to watch. We have diggers, loaders, cranes, and all manners of construction going on outside our parking lot.

Our evening chats are usually about these things. However, the other night Mike made us a couple of Old Fashions (our "signata" drink), and Joseph said, "Mommy, I need some bourbon." Just as plain as day and as flat as if he had asked for a glass of milk.

He is funny...

P-Day!?! It's a BIG one!

We know you have heard of D-Day and V-Day but have you heard of P-Day? P-Day like these other two days, is riddled with tears and small victories. You are probably really curious to know what we are writing about... well ...

We are an officially toddler-pacifier-free home now! On Saturday, Feb. 20, the "last" paci broke at bedtime. The little comforting tool was on it's last plastic thread. Mike came in and we had a quick chat about how we worried if he sucked it off he could choke. So, at story time, when Joseph was asking for his pacie, we explained that it was broken and we didn't want him to choke. We said it was time to throw the broken part away and he pulled it off. He put it in the trash can, but then walked toward his door. I asked where are you going? He said, "Mommy, I have to go to the store to buy more pacies for me. They have them at the store." We tried really HARD not to laugh! But, he was so serious and intent on just walking out to the store. Well, we talked how it was late and stores were closed. We explained that he could still sleep with his pacie handle - only in that moment the only name for that part of the pacie that came to me was "pacie stump".

A few minutes later, he was in his bed with his usual suspects - Elmo, Stutsey (a bear from Stuttgart), Cookie Monster and his Panda (Tian Tian from National Zoo) AND the now named pacie stump! The stump made a couple tumbles off the bed while he was trying to sleep. At one point, we heard his bedroom door open, he didn't say anything. Mike peaked in the hallway and he was under his toddler bed searching for his pacie stump. He had opened the door for some light to get his new little comforty. We went in the room and got his stump from under the bed, got back in bed and redid prayers, songs, and cuddles. By 8PM he was asleep, soundly and didn't wake up once!

Here are a couple images of the new "pacie stump". Here it is waiting in bed like a good pacie:
Just waiting for Joseph to come to bed...


The stump:

One more closing note of how J has been handling this BIG CHANGE! At naptime on Sunday, Feb 21, I was laying with him and we were reading stories and singing... he had his stump and would lay on his back, place the pacie stump on his mouth, and just lay there really still, feeling the pacie on his mouth. Poor guy... but we are SO PROUD of him! He went to bed with no issues and not once has he asked to go to the store for more pacies!

Now, the next challenge, POTTY training. I think it will take more than one day to get that feat accomplished. But, you never know. I really thought getting rid of the pacie would take a long time.