Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Some winter time fun

This is just a way for me to get out all of the random pictures I have collected from the past couple of months...I hope you enjoy seeing pictures of us all and some of the ways we spend our free time.

Gwangi still loves his Legos and he brought back a bunch of them from KG and has been slowly putting them all back together. He saves all his instruction booklets for just this kind of thing.

Sissi and I have spent some of our free time learning how to do water color painting. Definitely some fun mother and daughter time each week.

Sissi needed a desk, so we picked one up on Amazon, but we of course had to put it together. Miss Clara had to sit right in the middle of the project.

I just love her face and expressions!

This is where Sissi was doing her school work before hand.

This is her new desk and school area.

This is how we repurposed her dormer window nook. Super comfy and all set up for cuddling and reading.

Gwangi and more of his Lego sets.

The Etsy necklace that we ordered for Sissi after her bunny, Winnie, passed away over Christmas back in Kyrgyzstan.

Road trippin' down to South Carolina and doing school in the van.

We went down to meet up with the boys' friend, Levi.

Indy and I just had Sissi for the weekend, so we did a few special outings. One outing was getting all the sushi!

When we went back down to pick up the boys we spent a couple of hours with our friends having a picnic lunch.

I spent some of my Christmas money to get a Mickey head waffle iron on sale at Hobby Lobby. It's going to be a family favorite, for sure!

The boys spent 30 hours online over 2 weeks learning all the "driver's ed" stuff.

It was rough, as we weren't planning on having to do this, but instead just going into the DMV when they are 18 and getting a license, but due to COVID, the DMV isn't doing the driving test right now and so driver's ed is mandatory now.

My sweet girl, all finished with her school work for the day.

Our precious kitty, Clara.

Our adorable puppy, Vera.

We ordered some author copies of Krypto's book to have on hand so that we can give a copy here or there to a friend.

Getting out for a hike on a lovely January day.

We met up with our friends, the Weltons, and their dog.

Couldn't keep going on the path, see how it's under water?

While out we were searching for a couple of letterboxes. We got to introduce our friends to the really neat activity of searching for them and adding them to our notebook.

Group photo!

Emily and I, after finding our 2nd letterbox.

This is our old, and original, letterbox "stamp" that we made back in '08 or '09. It's an eraser that we carved the "S" and the "prop and wings" into.

Just a fun "screen shot" I tool from the Liberty University Parents group. I'm so glad I've been able to join and start to hear and see all the information/traffic. It's going to be a great experience up there for the kids.

Started our annual tradition of the "14 days of Valentines" where we put hearts on their doors with things that we love about them. This year Sissi and Krtypo have added quite a few by themselves to everyone's doors.

For a few days we had my dad and Isabel visiting and also my brother, Ben, and Lynsey. Some good food, fellowships, and games were how we spent our free time together.

The kiddos with Ben and Lynsey before they left.

Indy and I with them.

The fireplace/mantle all cleaned up from Christmas.

Another fun outing with Dad and Isabel...bowling.

We think it might have been the first time they can remember going? We might have gone 10 plus years ago back in Colorado, but none of them can really remember ever bowling.

Dad and Isabel.

The kids.

Indy, all ready to set a new record!



Christmas 2020

We tend to start our decorating and baking and family gatherings for Christmas just as soon as the turkey is off the table from Thanksgiving. This year was no different. We were taking treats to neighbors and having friends over all through the month of December and it was so fun!

Our packages of cookies and treats that we made for our neighbors and friends.

Look at all the yummy goodness! We ended up going through a couple of baking days to get everyone covered.

The outside of our house this year! Love it!

Our living room with the fireplace and tree all decorated for Christmas.

The kids putting on the ornaments.

Visit from our friends, the Weltons. We can't go a year without seeing each other, can we!?

Game night!

A few rounds of Taboo is definitely fun with this group!

Selfie on the stairs before heading out to see some Christmas lights.

Traveling around the local neighborhoods to see the Christmas lights.

Then, we got on the road to Indiana and stopped in Virginia to see Terry and Monique and their family.

Then, a stop in Kentucky to see more friends and get some cases of Ale8!

Southeastern Indiana was a visit with the Faughns.

Then, we were in Valparaiso, and Krypto got to go with his cousin to get some running shoes. His first pair to ever be fitted, just for him. I think it worked to invest in some better shoes because he runs most every day now!

He probably tried on (and ran around with) about a dozen pairs of shoes.

Lots of customized time and experience in this room.

We did a bunch of baking over the holidays...when you're cooking for 12-13 people most days, you always double the recipe.

We also got our fill of relaxing and watching all the Hallmark movies.

And the boys caught up on their Sci Fi and old Western films and played lots of videos games together.

Family time in the living room.

Our boys, looking out the window and wishing for a bit more Indiana winter.

The tree!

Yes, we got him the traditional college pennant for Liberty University.

Star Wars is still his favorite, so a Disney pin and Wii game.

A Disney pin for this guy, also...it's a compilation of some of the Disney villians.

Ahhh, sweetness, Eeyore for Christmas.

She also wanted some Liberty merchandise, so she got some earrings and a hair scrunchie.

History books and plaid shirts for this guy.

Sissi found some cool things for her cousins. These were gifts she picked out for Penny.

More Star Wars Armada for this kiddo.

Books we found for him in Asheville at the used book store. He loves to read!

More RPG stuff...GURPS and Star Wars.

Miniature rules for Indy.

Sissi for this sweater for Lara.

And, more Armada...

She loves to be eco-friendly, so now she can travel with her own bamboo utensils and not use the disposable ones.

A cute shirt that Sissi found for Ruth.

Woohoo! The special dinner!

All the yummy goodness - Carrot Souffle, Brussel Sprouts, Mashed Potatoes.

Indy and I purchased this game for Jon and Maria. We didn't get a chance to play it together, but it sure looks fun.

All the boy cousins together.

And, the girls!

Sissi playing guitar for grandma.

Gwangi, Krypto, and Indy got in some Armada gaming sessions over the next week.





And, Sissi and I did some more baking.
Lots of fun for Christmas and New Years! We were so excited to be back in the US and all together for this one. Not sure if that will be the case for several more years.