wonder twin powers activate

We made it....

We made it back to Prague a bit tired but happy to be home.

Yaya's Birthday!

LOVE this woman. Kind, caring, thoughtful, loving and precise. She loves her family well, she cares for her friends and she is intentional in all that she does. She is a fantastic grandma, a wonderful mom and the BEST mother in law. Happy Birthday Mom!

Dad made (with helpers) his annual angel food cake...
Durning present time Clark kept kidding with Mom that we got her a turtle. Although they really didn't get her a turtle she probably almost wished they had because for Yaya's birthday they took her to the movies to see Chipwrecked. Popcorn and drinks included. She was a great sport and they thought it was grand that they took her out!

We LOVE you Yaya!

Happy Birthday!

New Years in Charlotte

We got to go to Charlotte for two nights and we had a BLAST! We stayed with our friends the Rogers which was so. Our kids LOVE them and their dog Maggie. They seem to ease back into fun and conversation as if no time has ever passed and that is what you hope for when you live far away. The weather was amazing and we played outside ALL day, we played the wii, we chatted and just ran around. It was glorious and so refreshing for us all.

New Years Eve we headed to the Kruger's house to ring in the new year with a few others. Sweet Love

Campers... these were some of Lucy's bunkmates at camp last summer. We saw them at church and of course that turned into an impromptu lunch!

Refreshed and Encouraged a great way to start the New Year!

worlds colliding

Many friends have moved away since we have lived in Prague and it is always so fun to meet up again. Our sweet Belgian friends the Van Hout's moved to DC for Mark's job in the summer. Piper and Gust went to preschool together and Liesbet and I lived a lot of daily life together book club, zumba, multiple drop offs and lunch at Cafe Giraffe. So when we heard they were moving we were sad, but when we heard to where it seemed to make it a little easier, since we knew we would see them each time we were back in the US. We met up halfway between Richmond and DC in Fredricksburg at Chuck E Cheese. It was a new experience for all of us. The kids had fun running, playing and climbing and we picked up really where we left off. It was hysterical to hear about American culture through their eyes. I loved all of the stories.
We moved our party to Chick Fil A. And like good Europeans we were their for about 2.5 hours. It was long and leisurely (who knew fast food could be) and the kids played and played and played. They were so excited to see each other.

We also got to see the Lyles. We have seen Laura and Eva on previous trips but this was the first time we got to see Tim since they moved back. They made the drive to Charlotte from South Carolina. Eva is so cute and I think if Clark could have he would have brought her home with us. It was so great to catch up with them and see them face to face.

I heart Davis Christmas

We played the Wii - everyone got involvedlove Dad and Uncle Bob here!
Piper, Kate and Lucy are trying hard to keep up with Loretto
Annual Bowling tournament

Some discrepancies in who the winners are

Lunch out... we make quite a scene

Bop-It

Night of dinner, presents and OOH! AAH! OOHS!

Uncle Tom's fantastic shirt

Paper Wars

Happy Feet

more Christmas celebrations

While in Richmond we also sat in the sun and ate ice cream with only a fleece on... unheard of how amazingly warm it was
Clark the magician and his beautiful assistant performed many magic shows for us
Nerf gun wars
Botanical gardens Christmas lights... so beautiful lights everywhere and the Richmond Club of Barber Shop Quartet serenading us with Christmas carols as we walked through the grounds
Lazy mornings in our bathrobes and pjs playing games and working on projects
dinner at Uncle Archie and Aunt Elaine's
Learning the fine art of lottery scratch tickets
and special times with friends like the Shoemakes

Christmas part 2

Christmas morning was lots of fun and very exciting! The kids were still jet legged so they got up super early to see what Santa brought. The big pressie this year was a Wii. Lots of cheers. We had a great morning opening presents, eating chocolate, and playing with our new goodies, taking naps on the couch, watching movies and just being. It was wonderful!

Merry Christmas!

This is our little tree. I love it so much. Decorating the house for Christmas with things and ornaments we have made or collected over the years and then sitting with all of the lights off and the tree lit is so magical. It is the hope of what is to come, reflection on what has passed.
We got to spend Christmas in the states this year and it was FABULOUS! Yaya and Papa are great hosts. It is so great that our children get to have this concentrated time with their grandparents. It is a time for reading, games, watching movies snuggled up, the tickle bed, making cookies, sharing, nerf gun wars, and just being in the day to day. My children are so lucky to have such wonderful people in their lives.

Merry Christmas!

Worship Night

We have several members of our community who are very musically gifted. The Lord has blessed them not only with amazing voices and mad skills but with a heart to serve. Some of these people got together and put on a free concert in order to raise money for a non-profit here in town called Teen Challenge. It is an after school program that ministers to Roma children. They provide a safe place to be after school, warm meals, English lessons and the Gospel, both emotionally and physically. Teen Challenge is in the middle of a building project and they are trying to raise funds to finish it.

The music and evening were amazing. And so many people gave so freely to it that they raised about 1000 dollars for the House.

Christmas Parties!

We had a lot of Christmas parties - here is a sampling of them...

Staff Christmas Party
Lucy's Class, complete with decorate your own cookies and a very fun white elephant gift exchange.
Clark's class party including dancing and pick a parcel.
Piper's Class party lots of games and her favorite part was getting a lolly.

Greek Week

Amidst all of the Christmas celebrations the Year 4 had a special Greek day to celebrate all they have been learning about the Ancient Greeks. They dressed up, had the Greek Olympics, a buffet of tasty Greek foods, and performed a few skits representing some Greek Mythology. Lucy and Vivi are really so fun together.
Here is Lucy as King Midas and the Golden Touch.