Happy Birthday Marz!

Our beautiful 17 year old!

Her party at the dorm. 

If you keep doing those faces, your face will be stuck like that. ;)

It's never easy being away from your child when it's their birthday...  Thank goodness for Skype and FaceTime!  And thankful for knowing God is in control of the master plan!

Happy Birthday Marz!  Love you, love you, love you!!!

Happy Hair Cut!

It didn't even take much suggestion... Gav wanted his hair cut! :D

Yes, he has some hair left! ;)

Ta dah....  I think it makes him look much younger. :)

Independence Day 2015: Indonesia

Independence Day is a highly celebrated day in Indonesia.  Chris and I were expected at all the events. Most of the events are below, however, the UG ceremony will get its own post. 

The Independence Day celebration was kicked off with a dinner Saturday night. These are some of my besties. :) We sure do clean up nicely when we are out of our workout clothes. ;)

Aug. 17th "The cutting of the rice". 

Not a great picture, but across the field all the departments line up for the ceremony. 

The marching band entertained us. 

Not the greatest picture, but this was one of probably 5 outfits we had to change in to for the weekend. The top was suppose to be a Kebaya. However, it was freezing that morning and we had to sit outside. So I improvised. ;)

After the UG ceremony, we were back at the soccer field for the flag lowering ceremony. The clouds were moving in... But still no rain!

To end the day, we had a formal dinner at the Lupe. An Indonesian rock band, Stryker, was to play the next night so they joined us for dinner and I got my picture taken with them. I am sooooo cool! ;P

First Day of School 2015

Summer 2015

Today is our last day hanging out with the family. Tomorrow we start the long travels back to Indonesia and Malaysia. SLAM ON THE BREAKS!!!! That was written almost two weeks ago!!

I have been trying to get a summer post don for many weeks, but there is always something going on!

So here it is in a nut shell...

We arrived in he US June 7. Twodays before that my brother and his wife welcomed baby Hestin to the world.

The same day baby Hestin was born, I got to pick up my two babies from the airport. I hadn't seen them for two months!  I am shrinking!!

Ahhhh.... Landed in Bismarck and the first thing we do is Dairy Queen!! 

We now have two legal drivers!! Yes, they both can now drive without parents in the car!!  Eeks!!!

Made a trip out to Mt. Rushmore. 

Five years ago...

Today....

Finally made it to Arizona!!  Chris flew in from Indo so we could all be together and go to a professional baseball game. 1st one ever for the kids!  Sooooo much FUN!!

Chris' birthday!  The first time we celebrated together in 5 years!  He has always been in Indo...

Another baby!! This is my other brother's baby whom they adopted in April!  Now read his shirt!!!  The Dr's said it was unlikely for the mom to get pregnant...  But guess what, God is GOOD and God is FAITHFUL!  

The babies will be about 10 months apart!! Ha ha! I laugh!! :)

Our Aussie friends visited... Well, Danella's Engligh...

And what do we do??? Go Shopping!  In Glenham!

Such a long story, but the guy we took a picture with is supposedly an Actor. He was hiding out. I guess it worked, because no one had any idea who he is... And probably still doesn't. I don't. ;)

Gavin and his friend Zedd went fishing. 

Zedd went planting with my brother. 

Kate and my nieces wrestled with my dad. 

Q and R chose us to be baby Hestin's Godparents. :)

Trying to tent with a major storm coming! Crazy boys!

One last reenactment...

5 1/2 years ago

Present... Now Q and R are shrinking! ;)

A picture to reenact in 5 years... We added a few nieces and nephews! Even a Great one. :)

One last wrestling match... And I have to go buy underwear. 

This pretty much sums up Gabby's summer. If there was a baby, she was there. 

So that's it in a very small nutshell!  When you live overseas, you leave so many things to catch up on in the months that you are home. It is just a really busy time!  But we are so thankful that we are allowed the time to get home and reconnect with family and friends!

Now, it's time for a vacation! ;)

Father's Day Fishing

Once again we are away from Chris for Father's Day. That is one of the downfalls of expat living. You just aren't together for some of the special day celebrations. 

So we had to make due and go fishing with my Dad and brothers and sister and all their families. :). Well almost all of them...  I was the lucky one and got to stay behind with baby Hestin. :)

My brother had a small boat and a paddle boat so the all the boys jumped in and went fishing. Q1 had to go "rescue" the paddle boat boys because the wind took them up the river towards Pollock. :). Here he is pulling the boat back. 

My brother snagged the biggest fish!  This one was thrown back!  It's a Notthern Pike. 

It was a very successful day!!  Many many walleye were caught!  The fish fry over the 4th will be great!! :)

We finished up the day with a BBQ before my sis and her boys had to head home. 

Glad I could be with my dad today!

To save the best for last...

The ultimate Daddy to my kids... He is working hard in Indonesia and will be here in a week. So Happy Father's Day Chris, aka the bestest daddy in the whole wide world!! :)

Height

Well, well, well... Look who is taller... After a many moons.