Happy Birthday, Matt!

Today is my brother's birthday! He is a wonderful brother. We probably butted heads the most growing up, now we can't handle going a week or so without chatting on the phone. Danny, me, and the boys have been able to stay in Matt & Sherina's home off and on last year while on furlough. What a chance to make memories... for the boys too. They love their aunts and uncles on both sides of our families.

God truly has blessed us with great siblings. They've all married well and I'm enjoying the journey!

-Krista-

Matt holding Nate in NICU


Matt & Sherina


Me & Matt in Manila


One of my favorite pics... that's our real parrot! He really liked Matt.

After a long day...

...is this not precious?!?

Zaylee pictures!!!

So I am finally in possession of some adorable pictures of our niece, Zaylee Ann. She is now 6 weeks old--today. We can't get over how cute Zaylee and Anna are and wish we could see/hold them! So I hope you've enjoyed this week and all the cute, cute pictures of our newest family members on both sides of our families!!!!!

-Proud Aunt-

VACATION!

Wow!

The FREE 2 day/1 night mini-family-get-away was just woooonderful! The place was so nice, family friendly, relaxing, close (just an hour drive), and much needed for us. Here it is in pictures. Our room wasn't ready till later in the afternoon so after a walk and lunch in the center of town (it's a small town) we were able to get our towels and robes then head to the ParkTherme (thermal park). Of course, we were unsure of what we were getting in to, but it turned out to be so much fun! It was a bit of an overcast day, but the sun came thru for the most of the afternoon. The boys played non-stop and after just a couple of hours, Micah took a nap. The water is warm and the air was surprisingly chilly. For cryin' out loud, it's July and we were cold! So I wrapped him up and he laid so still and fell asleep for an HOUR--outside, with kids playing/splashing all around. Then up to go back to playing. We took a break and checked into our room, the boys chilled out and watched some cartoons on tv, then we went to dinner, and back to the pool till 8:30pm-ish. We had snacks in the room and the boys went out for a good solid night's sleep! This morning we had to wake them up, go to breakfast (which we made a faux pas at--showed up in our ready to hit the pool gear, everyone else was dressed kind nice--oops! lesson learned.) and then back to the pools. We checked out of our room and hit the road...

Nate said our vacation was so much fun that he didn't want it to end. He suggested we go to the Brinlee's house. We compromised and said we'd call them and see if they wanted to meet for lunch. We were so close to the Slovenia/Austria border already so we went to the mall there (it has a little store that carries some Yankee candles--my favorite kind of candles!!). Anyway, lunch and a walk thru the mall, a visit to the grocery store there (things a very slightly cheaper and we were already there....), a ride on a big monster car and headed home. The boys had an absolutely wonderful day. Danny & I loved it and wished it was a day or so longer. It was a much needed break. We will definitely be visiting again.

So to Rob, thanks so much for the gift. So glad to hear the wedding went well and know that we miss you over here!

-Krista for us-

More Anna..

Well, first of all... I am a bad aunt. I misspelled my little nieces name :( Anna René is the correct spelling. Here are a few more pictures of her from my parents camera and Zach & Jill's.

In other news, Danny & I were given a free overnight stay at a hotel about an hour away for our whole family. It's got a thermal pool and kid play area, etc. So we're excited to have our first family vacation--even though it's only one night and one day. I am so very excited! I hope the place is nice and all it's supposed to be (we've been told) either way though, it was FREE! We're aiming to have a long weekend in August with some friends. You know me... there will be pictures in a few days. So we leave in the morning.

Have a great week!!

-Aunt Krista-

ps-- Yes, we have another new niece, Zaylee Ann on Danny's side of the family and I posted the ONLY pictures I have of her. So I'm not playing favorites ;)

Anna Renee!!!!

Ok. I am proud to announce that my baby brother has a baby girl! Anna Renee was born July 20th at 7pm. She weight 7lbs. 3oz. and she hadn't been to the nursery yet so no length yet. But I am so excited for them. Jill looked great and Zach couldn't have looked prouder! These pics are from my ichat with them. I had been on ichat with them since my 9pm (their 2pm) when they said she was a 10 and ready. If you didn't notice she was born at 7pm ;) Soooo, me and whoever was in the waiting room chatted and I watched people eat, stare at walls, etc. haha! Is technology not cool!?? The hospital had free WIFI. What a blessing.

So now I'm off to bed. It's 3am and I'm so glad we chose tomorrow to be our 'day off'. God is so good and though I'm so heart broken I couldn't physically be there to hold her like everyone else, I'm blessed to have "walked" into the room when everyone else did. God is great!

ps--Nate is in one of the corners of the ichat photo because we promised to wake him and just in case he remembered in the morning we wanted to keep that promise... but I don't think he was thrilled at the time... he will be tomorrow!


-krista-

Giving credit where credit is due...

Nathan will say things like:

'What a sunny day... God made the sun and it's hot!'

'God did a good job on making that... (whatever it might be)'

Well, today was no different. While waiting for lunch he was looking thru the free little magazine by Lego that he got at a recent visit to a toy store. He was asking me to "check it out, Mom!" or "what is this spaceship called?". Then I hear him say, "Wow, God made all of these and they're so cool, aren't they?!?!".

So as much as I hated to burst his bubble....we had to have a very short recap on what God, Himself, made and what He gives people the ability to do. I'm so proud and think it's just so sweet how Nate automatically gives God credit for everything around us. Something I need to remember everyday.

God, our Creator. The Creator of all things. All praise & honor belong to Him.

Just the boys in pictures...

Just a few pics of our week:

Nate wanted to help make grilled ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch one day


He did very well... don't worry I was right next to him and the pan ;)


Micah taking a break at the park--his idea of cheesin'


Nate on the rock wall


Micah is yelling his version of 'cheese'--it takes his whole body :)

Cardboard Testimonies

Today was a nice, cool, really almost chilly day. The weather has been so weird. It's been really hot then when the rain comes it cools down fast. Normally, the rain just barely cools down the summer heat wave. Anyway, today the clouds rolled in and the wind picked-up, but I still took the boys to a playground at the community sports complex. We had it all to ourselves for the 2 1/2 hrs. we were there. When we left Micah's little hands were actually chilly. I should've brought light jackets--or have we adapted to being here and how Austrians think (they put on jackets for every little breeze)?!?! haha! Danny had a quiet house and got lots of work done today. I even managed to get BOTH boys to sleep for their "quiet time"----at the same time! WOW! Yes, you can call me 'Super Mom'. hahaha! I'll have to post pics of our day sometime. The boys play so well together now that Micah is able to keep up, climb, run, and more importantly keep his balance once he has arrived to wherever Nate has climbed :)

I thought I'd share this video I've received a few times via email. Many of you have probably seen it. A church decided to share stories of their people who's lives have changed from before Christ to after Christ.

Have a great day!

-krista-

Surprises!

In January we met a family that had just moved here to Graz for just 3 months while Pete (the husband) was working at the Chrysler Plant. They were Christians and looking for friendship and people to study God's word. Stacy and I hit it off and had many play dates with our kiddos. She knew another friend of mine (Karen) from their visit to the Baptist church in town that most of you know we worked with for our first 2 + years here. They left the beginning of April and we've missed them. Nathan and their daughter, Lily really played well together.

Well, today we received a package from Stacy and her family! It was so sweet. Since she lived here briefly she knew of a few things that we can't get and though our lives can go on without them it's so very nice to have for a treat. Karen is coming tomorrow with her girls to play for a bit and we'll divvy up the goodies :)

It's so great how God sends us those little surprises via friends or family. My mom and Danny's mom send us packages a few times a year and oh how we love those, but other than that not too many surprises come in the mail (haha) and so to Stacy--thanks so much! It made our day!

-krista-

The package


Pete, Stacy, Lily, and Elijah

Nate-isms

Ok, I was told by a dear, dear friend that the blogs about things Nate says are the funniest. So ironically he's been saying all sorts of funny stuff (or I'm just paying attention so I can write about it-ha!).

Playground

One day as I was picking Nathan up from school I walked out to the playground to see him pulling a little boy in a wagon (the boy was riding on a duck-looking-bouncy-thing that was IN the wagon). He seemed to be really struggling and was looking side-ways at a table with a bunch of girls sitting there. When he saw me he dropped the handle to the wagon (the kid in the wagon was fine) and ran to give me a hug (I guess I'm still the most important girl in his life...ahhhh).

Nathan: "Mom, that is my new girlfriend."
Mom: "Oh? what's her name?"
Nathan: " I don't know."

He is now walking over to her and taps her on the shoulder and quietly says in German-"that's my mom." The little girl grins and looks shy and goes back to playing with her friends.


Climbing into the car to be taken to school.

Nate singing the Transformers theme song: "Transformers, more than EATS the eye!"

Mom: "Nate, I think it's "meets the eye".
Nate: "No, Mom that's not it. I just watched it and I know it"

Being a big brother:

When Micah was a baby I would sing "Star Sweeper" when he was really fussy-- and he was a fussy baby!! Well, the song is from Lady & the Tramp and just popped into my head one day when he was crying. Some how that song has stuck as the calming Micah down 'hum'. It starts out, "Lalaloo, Lalaloo, oh my little start sweeper. I'll sweep the stars for you. Lalaloo Lalaloo..." Well, Nate caught on and for the last 21 months of Micah's life when he's crying and just won't calm down, you'll hear Nate hum or sometimes sing, "Lalaloo, Lalaloo" over and over. He'll even do this while he's in his room playing with cars and Micah is crying in the living room or hallway. Talk about brain-washed! haha!

Well, the other day in the car Micah was ready for a nap and burst into tears when I said 'no' to something that he wanted. Suddenly--

Nate sings, "Lala-LOO, Lala-LOO".
Micah is still crying.
Nate sings again, "Lala-LOOO, Lala-LOOOOO"
Micah still crying.
Nate: "Micah listen! LALA-LOOOO, LALA-LOOOO.
Micah stops and laughs at him.
Nate: "Hey Mom, I got him to stop."

July 4th

This year the 4th of July was very different. It was Nate's last day of school! In the States by the time Independence day comes 'round we're well into our summer. So Nate went to school and then the parents met up at the school a little bit before pick-up time to get the kids ready for a surprise for their teachers. Each kid was given a rose for both teachers. It was so sweet! Some of the kids won't be back next year because they'll be moving on up. We had to explain this to Nate because we know he'll be looking for the exact same faces in September.

The kids getting ready for the teachers:

The parents waiting:

Ruth & Andrea reading the card:

Nate giving Andrea roses (she was so sweet, cried thru every kid that came by):

Nate & Andrea-his favorite teacher and one of the biggest blessings to us as he went thru so many challenges this year with his speech and learning German-a sweet spirited woman:

Nate & Ruth- his other teacher that he also really liked in the classroom and so sweet:

A new family tradition-going out to eat to celebrate! We have a new KFC and it was pretty good.



After lunch we stopped at a little toy store and Nate was given permission to pick out one toy. We really are so proud of him and all his hard work and good attitude about school. What a trooper! The boys had a little time for naps and then we had dinner at my friend, Angela's house last night. She's an American, married to Andreas, an Austrian. They have 4 kids. The two oldest are from Andreas' first marriage and great kids! They are really fun to be around. Maddison is one of Nate's best friends and Jaydon is about 7 months younger than Micah- so not quite a playmate but almost there. The night got long and so we headed home but not before they invited us to do something on Saturday morning as well.

So today Angela & I met in town to just visit and shop. Something neither of us have done in ages WITHOUT the kiddos. Her step-daughter and step-son joined us at the end for a ride home and there we met up with the Daddy's and the little kids. We went swimming at their house for just a little bit because Micah had not napped and was up late last night so he was showing signs of "this has been fun, but...." and they had something to go to tonight. We had a great weekend and even though it was so busy, it was refreshing as well. God is so good! The people that only He could've placed in our paths have been great surprises and blessings!

We pray that they see Jesus every time we meet.






-krista-

What's for dinner?!?!

Lately I've been craving some of my favorite Filipino foods. So this afternoon I marinated some chicken and then put the pieces on skewers and did a good 'ol Pinoy BBQ (meat on a stick is what we called it at our house growing up). On the stove top I had a wok of warm Pancit! It was absolutely delicious. Micah was soooo quiet during supper--too busy to chat since he was stuffing his face. After their baths both boys went back to the table (I hadn't cleaned the kitchen yet) for more!

It all brought back wonderful memories of growing up in Puerto Princess, Palawan, Philippines. Here's a map of the islands. When we lived there it was really "out there". I think there was one stop light... or was that our last year there? I know for sure it took us 7 yrs. to get a phone in our home. Palawan had some of the most beautiful beaches too. It could easily give Hawaii competition! The last I heard it's quite the city now. One of my dreams is to have my whole family go back together and visit all the places we've lived. It may be never happen and then maybe when Nate graduates we'll finally make it :) I still remember some of my friends there. Hope and Vivian. I wonder where they are some days. I think we moved to Baguio when I was 11 yrs. old. Wow... time flies.

So anyway, every Sunday night on the way home from church my parents would stop at the same little guys 'stand' (and I use that term loosely--it was more like a chicken wire over a fire with meat on sticks and a jar of sauce he would brush the meat with--let's not discuss the reality that none of this was sanitary) then home to pancit or rice. Yummm..... good times. A few months ago I found an oriental store by the train station here in Graz that sold Chippy and Silver Swan soy sauce!!!!

Soon my goal is to make Pandesal!!! A warm, soft, yummy roll. I'm not great with breads so this may be a disappointment, but we'll see and I'll let you know when I get to it.

So, to those of you who grew up over there... share your recipes with me! If you have no idea what I'm talking about click here to help you get started on Filipino foods. I've not looked at everything so don't take my word on every little recipe... I did like the explanations the author gave as well. It's been awhile for me and I liked reading about the speciality/reasoning of some of the recipes.

Here are my pics: Before, During and After the cooking.


-Krista-