So Long Ordinary

We celebrated Paige's 5th Birthday on the 14th of December.  I truly cannot believe my baby is already five years old.  Where has the time gone?  Just like it was yesterday, I can remember that night five years ago that I spent wide awake watching it snow outside, wondering if I was ever going to go into labor.  Turns out, yes, I went into labor early that morning of the 14th and she was born around 11 a.m.  In between contractions I was watching "I Love Lucy" and giggling.  I like to think that is where Paige got her awesome sense of humor! She's a wild little thing who spends a lot of time hollering and trying to be heard over her big sisters. She is also my most affectionate little girl who still loves to be held and cuddled.  She's getting long and lanky - she's nearly as tall as Madison who is two years older.  She often gets mistaken for Madison's twin by Indonesians!  But even if she is getting big for her britches, she still has the c...

First of all, you may have noticed some odd goings-on here with my blog and also with Sean's.  Somehow, we got a virus-y type bug on our computer that was making blogging nearly impossible (plus, we were just insanely busy so it has taken us awhile to even be able to sit down in front of the computer).  Anyway, Sean figured out the issue and now we're back in business!  Woo-hoo!  We are still busy - and will be - for the next month as we prepare to go on furlough in late January, but we're both trying to catch up with our blogging.  Be sure to check back in here and also regularly visit Sean's blog for even more pictures! More than two months ago, on October 7, we celebrated our Madison's 7th birthday.  We reserved a room at the local "fancy" hotel with direct access to probably the cleanest, nicest pool in the area.  It was a special treat for all of us! For as long as I can remember, Maddie has been a huge fan of pie crust.  She'll steal it fro...

In the busy-ness of the past several weeks, we celebrated some big days.  13 years of marriage for Sean and I.  3 years in Indonesia. And... Sigh... Somehow it happened without my being able to stop it.  My oldest girl turned 10.  Ten.  The big 1-0.  What?! We celebrated with a morning with friends at the local waterpark, followed by homemade strawberry cake at home.  It was the best day ever!   Honestly, Sean had the most fun of all. As usual, here is Brooklyn's birthday interview.  I was secretly pleased to discover that although my little girl is growing and maturing so very much, she is still essentially the same little girl who loves, pink, American Girl anything,  and wants to be like her parents.   What is your favorite activity?  Reading, writing, playing on my iPod. What is your favorite color?  Pink! What is your favorite toy?  American girl dolls and my favorite stuffed animals Who are your best friends?...

I t's hard indeed to believe that our little Paige Abby is already four.  It seems like just yesterday that I was laughing at "I Love Lucy" in between contractions one wintry Sunday morning in December.  Now, here she is almost as tall as her big sister Madison, and every bit as funny and precocious as Lucille Ball herself.  Paige was the quietest and easiest baby we had.  Now, she's probably the rowdiest and most difficult four-year-old we've had (and trust me, her sisters were plenty active as well).  She keeps me on my toes!  Some days, she'll disappear and I'll find out she went next door to our helper's house to steal back some shoes we gave them.  Other days, she's right in the thick of things, driving her sisters nuts as they try to finish their schoolwork.  She can give the biggest, wettest kisses and can throw a  wicked mean left hook.  She's wild and sweet and imaginative and quick-tempered and adorable and super...

My little "Ecuadorian" Redheaded baby!  (at 8 weeks) My little Ecua-Indo-merican Toeheaded Girl!  (at 6 years) What is your favorite activity? "holding Bugsy, playing, eating ice cream, opening presents, feeding a few of my animals." What is your favorite color? "Purple!" What is your favorite toy? "My stuffed tiger." Who are your best friends?  "Reece, Audrey, Catie, the Rogers boys, sugar gliders, Brooklyn, Duchess, Princess, Mommy, Paige and Poppy Dog *giggle* .....Daddy!" What do you want to be when you grow up?  "A vet!" Why?  "I don't know." What are your favorite books?  "the books I'm reading in school" What are your favorite movies?  "Dumbo, MacKenna Shoots for the Stars, Thomasina, and Princess movies" What are your favorite foods?  "cake, cupcakes, brownies, banana splits, cereal, sandwiches, a few of Mom's baking including cornbread!  and hot dogs, kettle corn, s'm...

I can't believe my little girl is NINE YEARS OLD! We adore this little girl and are so proud of her. She's so sweet and outgoing. She had special birthday wishes from friends of all ages on her special day - kids and grown-ups I didn't realize she'd made such good friends with were stopping by with gifts or sending texts just for her! That's just Brooklyn - making friends with anybody and everybody....and making sure they know when her birthday is. ;-)   Brooklyn loves her family and she's not outgrown us yet, thank goodness! What a joy Brooklyn is to her father, sisters, and me. She's thoughtful and sentimental, a huge help around the house, and a great big sister if a touch bossy (but only because she cares so much)! She struggles sometimes because all of her best friends live in other areas of Indonesia and the world but she's really got a TON of friends right here in Palangkaraya, beginning with her two adoring little sisters. Seriously, the...

We celebrated Maddie's fifth birthday yesterday...here's what she had to say about herself.  So cute! (I think Sean has been a little over-zealous in indoctrinating these kids in future career choices.  It's time for me to step up my game, apparently....) What is your favorite activity? Getting presents for my birthday.  Play with my other toys that are special. What is your favorite color? Purple. What is your favorite toy? My unicorn. Who are your best friends? Caleb, Reece, and Abby What do you want to be when you grow up? Pilot! Why? Because it's awesome. What does Daddy do all day? Go fly airplanes. What does Mommy do all day? Take care of kids. What do you do all day? Play. What are your favorite books? Puplicious and my Bible and my card that has two pages What are your favorite movies? Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, Dumbo, Nemo, Pinnochio and Tinkerbell What are your favorite foods? Umm...healthy food?  Watermelon, grapes, blueberries, cherries, strawbe...