Hohegrete Winter Conference

After Christmas, we took off for Western Germany to attend a conference with our local area co-workers. It was an amazing time of renewal and refreshment with some pretty awesome guest speakers and break out sessions about topics ranging from language learning, to marriage and family, how to share and long term education after sharing, along with imparting the essentials of what we truly believe.

The team that came out to take care of our kiddos was incredible and so kind...led by our very own Uncle Chris, our kids learned a ton this week as well.

If you ever have need of a conference site in Western Germany, you should take a look!

This was the view out of the front gate into the village of Hohegrete. It has a one track/stop train station without a ticket counter or kiosk, so you've got to be planning to come and go from here, or else you'd be stuck...not necessarily a bad thing...

This is the main building of the conference center.

As we walked into the village, these are the kinds of homes we saw.

And the rolling hills and valleys looked a bit like this.

I really liked the trees and hills in this area, truly lovely and peaceful.

I can just imagine living on a farm like this one day.

Coming out to pick up my apples would be a big positive!

Little tree lined paths like this were all over the place.

And we often came around the corner to find another set of rolling hills and farms.

Indy was amazed at all the deer stands he saw.

One of the houses, all decorated for the season, that we walked past.

Our kids made some amazing friendships with kids from all over the area and I couldn't possibly post all of the pictures of their friends.

So thankful for the youth group and Uncle Chris' direction.

Dragging Sissi across the floor as we get ready for New Year's Eve.

We stayed up until midnight, thanks to a truly funny talent show that was put on by members of the group. Again, lots of pictures of that, but another time.

Christmas 2015

We returned from our time in Karakol and got to see the new Star Wars movie...then, it was cookie making, turkey dinner, and Christmas celebrations with family and friends. Our family had a wonderful holiday, and I think this is the first year that we actually finished our Advent reading on Christmas day and didn't have to do make ups, so that was pretty incredible!

Did anything interesting and fun happen with your family, let us know. We didn't get too many Christmas cards, letters, or updates this year, so we're all ears.

Fun with cookies! All hand made because I can't find my cookie cutters.

Fun Note:

This is one of the only pictures I have of Sissi with glasses...they were ordered around Thanksgiving, two weeks later she broke them, we reordered them, then she left them on the plane on our way to Istanbul after Christmas...do I really go for a third pair of glasses in just 5 weeks, she seems to be doing just fine without them ;)...ugh!

Opening a present on Christmas Eve...

A Star Wars Lego set that Indy and I bought over 10 years ago.

Krypto was shocked that we were able to find him another Dan Dare book. He loves them and thought he had all that were in print...little does he know, his birthday is in 3 months, and I have another one, lol! (Hope he doesn't read this blog post....)

Sissi opening her one gift on Christmas Eve as well.

Totally her thing. My little designer girl.

Reading and setting up the set.

Reading his book before bedtime.

Putting together his Lego set.

So, we don't celebrate Santa, never have...I thought it was so funny that I found this note from Sissi after she went to bed.

"Dear Santa Claus, Listen to me please. If I am getting a table and chair set, please set up the dolls and the food on the coffee table, please," with an accompanying picture, just in case we weren't sure what she meant.

So, I did, along with a trundle bed set I had also purchased on Ebay when I was home in the US in September for my sister's wedding.

Can you say SHOCKED when she came out for the Advent and Bible reading in the morning!

She wasn't even bothered by the fact that she only had 1 gift to open since the table and chair and the bed were so large and didn't lend themselves to being wrapped.

Krypto, opening his stocking.

Gwangi was also shocked to get the Tusk miniature game rule books and metal mini figures.

A new Wii game, "Tintin."

...and a movie, "The Adventurer"

Gwangi's game and metal mini figures.

Super Mario Bros and Princess Diaries were Sissi's Wii game and movie combo.

Gwangi received a Pirates game....

and some more Disney True Life Adventures.

Krypto's big gift was a new sci fi board game, "Onward to Venus."

Gwangi's big gift was another Star Wars Lego set that Indy and I had been holding onto for awhile...

See the 30th Anniversary logo on the box.

My kiddos, all dressed up and ready to head to our Christmas church service!

What a lovely and blessed Christmas season we had this year.

May the Father bless you all in the New Year!

Skiing and sledding in Karakol

After you look at these pictures, know that this is your open invitation to visit us here in lovely, postcard perfect Kyrgyzstan!

It's got snow, reasonable prices on skiing and rentals (like less than $15 per person, per day,) pretty awesome food, and the people are some of the kindest we've ever met!

So, what are you waiting for...go to your local post office and pick up your passport application, let us know your flight itinerary, and we'll be waiting for you.

Yes, this is us beckoning to you, from the Karakol Ski Resort.

It was a full and busy fall and we were so excited to take a short 4 day break before Christmas and head over to Karakol with friends for some skiing and sledding.

My happy boy, Gwangi.

At the top of one of the runs, with a friend.

Sissi did so much better this year. In the distance is her going down one of the blue runs and about ready to meet up with Indy.

After taking a break, she was ready to keep on going.

All of the family, minus Indy who is taking the picture.

Krypto, at the half way point on one of the blue runs.

Amazing view.

Sledding!

It's a really long sledding run, takes a good 10-15 minutes to walk back up the hill.

Gloves and bags, hanging and waiting for the kids' return.

"Daddy, push me!"

Working on a snow fort with friends.

He's ready to fly!

And, so is he!

With our friends, hollowing out the tunnels.

Sad, sad girl...the ice rink was cleared and so we couldn't go skating together.

On the drive home...had to wait a moment so we could pass them.

You can see a memorial in the distance, by the Lake Issyk Kul.

Are you grabbing your jacket and keys to head out the door yet...hope to see you soon!

Family Photos - December 2015

I am so embarrassed...have I really not put up a blog post since August?

In truth, there hasn't been much to write about, there's been school and language studies of course, and I worry that too often my posts about the kids and school come across as boring or that I'm bragging too much about all of the wonderful things they do (ha, see, I did it again!)...

Sissi and I did take a quick trip back to the US in September for my sweet youngest sister's wedding, but because we were in the wedding, I didn't take any photos. I've been tagged in quite a few photos on Facebook, so if you want to (and haven't already) seen those, head over there to get a view of our amazing time with our family.

We've had good news in other areas of our work, and I've shared that through newsletters and other avenues, so the blog has been rather quiet of late.

We did just return from a family ski trip to Karakol before Christmas, we had some pictures taken while we were at a conference in Germany, and then got to spend 2 whirlwind days with old homeschool friends and see some amazing historical sites...SO, if you can hold onto your hats, I've got a few posts coming up that will update you on our travels, our life, and how we're doing.

First up, some updated family photos taken in Hohegrete, Germany!

Enjoy!