Happy Birthday, Michaela!

Our baby turned 4 yesterday. I can't believe it! We started out the day with Birthday Pancakes, then had storytime at the library, a birthday lunch, signed up for karate, and finished the day with cake and presents. She was very excited to get all the phone calls from family, especially her older cousins that she looks up to SOOO much.

This family is NOT above bribery

Our new living arrangements mean the girls are sharing a bed. Michaela thinks she and her sister are having a sleepover everynight. Nadja thinks this is pure torture. For an entire month we have heard nothing but little wimpers coming out of the bedroom-that would be Michaela. Then we hear "Shhh! Be quiet!!!"-that would be Nadja. This goes on usually until about 10:00 at night when they both finally pass out. The other night, Michaela came dashing out of their bedroom all excited that Nadja was going to give her candy after school if she is quiet and goes to sleep. It worked like a charm, and we couldn't be more proud of our little negotiator.

The Annual Primary Program

We had the Primary Program in our new ward today. It was cute, but I couldn't help but think of all the children I had come to know and love in our home wards, the Warren & East Shores Wards. I had been blessed to be a part of those children's lives as I served them for the past 2 1/2 years. I love them, miss them, and hope they are excited for their own primary programs. I was almost in tears as I listened to the primary songs sung by children I have never met. I wish I could be in Michigan just one more week so I could be there to hear the songs sung by children I do know and to hear how their testimonies have grown over the years. I love those kids!!

The beloved iPhone 3G

I cannot tell you how much I love this phone. How I ever lived without it, I don't know.

Exposed to new wildlife

While at the bus stop with Nadja the other morning, an armadillo crossed our path. I was so excited! I chased after him to try and get a picture with my phone, but it was too dark. (I had to steal this picture from the Internet.) They are the neatest little animals!


Here is another not-so-cute animal, the nutria. They look like beavers, but are actually semiaquatic rodents! Gross!! Nevertheless, Michaela enjoys feeding them at the park. :/

The view from here

Mike & I have both had a few people ask what Texas looks like. Here it is from our view on the 17th floor. Chances are, when you talk to one of us on the phone, it's one of these views were are looking at at that moment.

We have a balcony in our bedroom. If you look to the right you see this, the golf course from the country club behind our building.

If you look straight out from our bedroom, this is the view. If I zoomed, you could see downtown Houston on the horizon right in the middle of this shot.

This is the view from the balcony in the living room. It was foggy this morning when I took these pictures.

Another living room shot. Also an extension of the golf course.

My favorite view. The Houston Texas temple.

Can't remember where I got this

but isn't it funny? I just found it in my documents.

Our last days in Michigan

I went to dinner one last time with my very good friends, Jessi & Jodi. Unfortunately, since The Boy came, he has taken over all photo ops. This is me with baby Andrew.









Nadja with the boys in the hood...Donovin, Austin, and Matthew


Mike & I with one of our best friends, Lisa












Nadja & Austin. These two have been best friends since they were about 3 & 4.

Rachelle (Mike's younger sister) with her husband, Matt, and Mike.














Mike had all the kids in the neighborhood playing freeze tag. It was so fun to watch!







Cousins, Collin & Michaela


















Cousins

Connected at last

We have been living in a house with 5 people and 1 computer (gasp!). My mom could not find her password for us to log in to her wireless network, then the adapter for my laptop was surged. So FINALLY, we are back online in a house with 5 people and 3 computers. Ahhh...to be connected again.