A New Year

Okay, 2011 is already underway, so it is time to recap what happened during 2010. We will start with the kids and what has happened to them since they started a new school year.

Layne, age 9, is in the 3rd grade and has made many new friends and has adjusted to a new school setting. She really does not like homework, but she does like art, music, and playing with her friends. A big celebration for Layne is that she entered an art contest for school and won. The students were asked to submit a black and white picture, all drawn with no assistance that represented the school and had the title ‘Hillside Elementary School-2011’ on it. Layne won the back cover and a 2nd grader won the front cover. Her name is listed on the inside of the front page and she was very proud of her accomplishment. We, of course, are very proud of her work and that she won as well. She also drew a picture on a big piece of packing paper and the images and scenery she drew were so well done, that we framed the artwork and put it up in her room. Layne has also come to enjoy reading books and her favorites are Ramona Quimby, The Little House series with Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Layne also had her first sleepover party for her 9th birthday. It was a wild time, but she really had lots of fun with her friends. Layne is very loving girl, with a strong-willed spirit (that has its challenges), and loves to discover things that are odd and hilarious. She has the best laugh and it is fun to watch her discover jokes and ways to be humorous.

Liam, age 6, is in the 1st grade and has enjoyed the new challenges of learning much more, but of course, like Layne, does not care for the homework. Liam has also adjusted well to a new school and has made many new friends. He had a great birthday celebration, his first ever in the States, at Chuck E Cheeses and loved it. Liam joined Cub Scouts and is a tiger cub and has enjoyed the opportunities to be involved in the community and being part of a boy’s club. He recently participated in the Pinewood Derby tradition, where you shape a piece of wood into a car shape, paint it, add wheels and race it with the other cars made by the scouts and enjoyed the environment of racing his car. He also received a bicycle for Christmas and is now able to ride his bike with no training wheels. He is very excited about this accomplishment. Liam starting losing his baby teeth and loves the frequent visits from the 'tooth fairy'. Liam also loves to read and is determined to figure out new words on his own. Liam has a very tender heart and loves silly tickle games and still loves board games.

Brenne, age 3, is staying at a home daycare while I am at work. She has thoroughly enjoyed the time away and being with a small amount of other kids in a home setting. Brenne really enjoys Disney princesses and loves the small pocket size dolls that she received at Christmas with her princess dollhouse castle. She loves to dress herself, although she doesn’t always match, but it is great to see her independence. She loves to carry around a purse of multiple trinkets and absolutely loves lip gloss and calls it ‘lips’. She is a bundle of sunshine, loves to dance, sing, and be goofy and silly whenever she gets the chance. She really enjoys having sleepover nights in either Layne or Liam’s room, and sometimes with Mom and Dad.

As for Mark and me, we have kept ourselves occupied with work and our short time with the kids. Mark has enjoyed being home with the kids when they get off school and helping them with their homework. I have enjoyed my work at Capital One, but recent events have unfolded and my contract will not continue with them for the long term, as they will not be offering me full-time employment, therefore I am currently searching for a new job. I am still with Capital One until they have found a permanent placement for the role I am currently supporting. It has been a challenge for us to get settled here, as it just a busier place to live, so we haven’t really gotten involved with a church or with the neighborhood the way we would like. We have made a few friendships and have gone out and explored some of the Northern Virginia area and Washington DC. Hopefully, with the new year, we can get out and explore a little more and get more involved, but there are lots of other options we are considering at this time, so we will see what happens.

Thank you to all our family and friends who have kept in touch with us.  We love sharing our stories and hearing about your comings and goings as well.  Happy 2011 to all, may it be an adventurous year!!

It's For Real!!!

Okay, my chance to update has somewhat diminished.  Especially with pictures.

Our move to Virginia is now officially happening.  I had an interview with Capital One the last day in June, got offered the position on July 2nd and I start working as an Executive Assistant in McLean, VA on Monday, July 12.  July has started off in a whirlwind.  I leave for Virgina on Saturday (that's tomorrow). WOW!!! This is really happening.  My family is going to be back together, with a small temporary delay.

To help with getting adjusted and situated, my kids will be spilt between the grandparents for the next two weeks.  This will give me the chance to locate daycare/summer care for the kids.  We have located a rental home in the Ashburn area and plan to move in at the first of August.  Thank you Lord for such wonderful parents between myself and Mark.  1)We are so grateful for their generousity and willingness to take care of our children for a lengthy period of time, and 2) That they only live about 20 minutes away from each other, and 3) That Virginia is a border state and our new town is about 4 1/2 hours away from Raleigh.

July is going to be a very challenging month, mainly emotionally, with a lot of adjustments.  I ask for all your prayers as me and my family are about to open up another door of opportunity, adding new experiences into our lives.

Thank you to all you have helped me and my family along our journey and stayed up-to-date with our current situation.  I thank the Lord for the journey he has taken us on.  I am blessed to have been able to stay in North Carolina and further develop strong relationships with my own parents and my parents by love, other family members and friends.  It has enriched my life in so many new ways and I will cherish every moment and memory.  It has been a true gift for my kids to have been able to make such loving bonds with their grandparents.  I know that they will cherish the memories they have made with them as well.  I also would like to thank my brother-in-law, Eric and Jenny for being flexible with their schedules and helping us out with taking care of the kids when the grandparents were not available to do so.

For now, I say farewell for a short absence.  I would love to hear from you.  If you would like my new contact information, please let me know.

Much love to you all

More posts to come

Much has gone on since I posted on Mother's Day.  Layne's school play, 12th wedding anniversary in Washington DC, fun outings, and school is out for the summer. Bear with me as I get my pictures together and play catch up once again in a couple of days.  I need to give myself a day for blogging so I can stay current for you who follow regularly.  Happy summer to all!!

School's Out-New Look!

Before

After

Layne has sort of had a tradition since Kindergarten that she likes to get her haircut for the summer months.  This way it feels cooler during the hot season and if she decides she doesn't like it, the cut will have grown out by the start of the next school year.

She has really wanted bangs for the last few months, so a few days ago she braved a trip to the salon and had 2 inches cut off and added some bangs.  Surprisingly, she looks really good with bangs, a little older, I must say, and Layne is really happy with the result.  Along with the change of hairdo, she officially told me that since she will be entering 3rd grade, she is going to start calling me 'Mom' instead of 'Mommy'.  Oh, why do they grow up sooo quickly?!  Enjoy the photos.

Mother's Day

I had a joyful Mother's Day and Layne, Liam, and Brenne made me feel very loved and special.  I was provided with many hugs and kisses, beautiful homemade cards and gifts, and lots of 'I love you's' throughout the day.  I had gone out shopping with my Mom a few days before, so I had a nice new outfit to wear for Mother's Day.  I appreciated all the cards and loving words I received from my Mom,  Mother by love, and Mark.  I also received my all-time favorite movie, The Princess Bride in Blu-Ray format to replace my original copy.  It was a very special day and God has truly blessed me with a wonderful family.

I hope that all your Moms received a very special day as well and I know you cherish the love you receive from your children.

Outings with Brenne

I enjoy my time to run errands and be out with Brenne.  It is great to share these small moments with her.  One day, when I go back to work (which will be soon), I will not be able to go out on these little adventures with her.  Anyway, back around my birthday, I went to have coffee with Loreen.  Brenne really enjoyed having a 'coffee' cup.  So this picture was a good captured moment of what looked like she was enjoying her own 'cup-of-joe'.  It was apple juice. 

We were running errands another day at Walmart and this geese family was waddling around the parking lot.  The little goslings were so cute.  Lots of people were capturing this photo with their phones, me included.

Yesterday, after much debate and desire to say no, Brenne received her first haircut.  It was a little sad for me.  Brenne was great sitting by herself and immediately touched her hair after the cut.  She kept saying 'haircut, haircut'.  It was too cute.

Let's Play Catch Up

It seems I tend to get a little slack on my posts sometimes.  So, let us catch up with some happenings I have missed and not posted on.

Layne turned 8 in January.  Mark was also there to celebrate her special day before heading back to Qatar. She had a roller skating party with mainly school friends and enjoyed the celebration.

Jumping ahead to the end of March, Spring Break up in Virginia with Mark and with my brother-in-law and his family in Pennslyvania was a great mini vacation.  It was great to get to explore Ashburn, VA with Mark and to see the surrounding areas and where we will be moving to and getting settled this summer.  It was great to spend time with Mark.  The kids were very excited to see their cousins and enjoyed being together and being separate; boys vs. girls.  Brenne and Cole did a lot on their own, but Brenne tagged along with the girls club when she could.  It was great for me to get to see how Greg and Ashley interacted with the college students and see how they are impacting the student's lives with their ministry. Finally, right when we got back we had Easter. The kids loved hiding the plastic eggs.