First three weeks in the States

Today is marks three weeks in the States.  How are we doing?  How has it been?  What is strange?

Well, surprisingly, we haven't had too much shock.  We took the first week to try and adjust and rest a bit, do some shopping and settling, my sister visited, and we ate some great food.  Other than adjusting to the time, it was a nice week.

Nathanael and Eva love the space here at my parents' home in Kansas.  It is novel to them.  They have a new level of freedom.  But most of all, they love being with family.

I turned a year older this week.  I can't complain about my DQ cake!

We've had funny moments of forgetting cultural norms (like my greeting people with cheek-kisses instead of hugs or handshakes), and we've smiled at the cultural differences such as how friendly and talkative waiters and clerks are.

In most ways, Vienna is our home now.  It's all our kids really know, so they are really freaked out by wearing their shoes in homes and riding in cars everywhere, and they find big yellow school buses and lines of semis strange.  All of this has been mostly expected though.

One surprise has been how encouraged we have been by the times we've spent with ministry partners.  We have really wanted to be a blessing and encouragement to others, but we have walked away from each gathering feeling so abundantly loved and blessed.  On top of that, our kids have really enjoyed getting to know these special people, and they're regularly asking when we get to go visit more people!  Thank you, God, for this gift.

The Whirlwind Month of January

So January was simply crazy for us.  Our kids ended up doing a lot of this:

Gregory was in the hospital for a couple nights for testing.  The kids and I got the flu a week before our flights to the States.  Oh yes, and then there were all of the preparations to be away from home for almost seven months.  What a month!

In the midst of that, we celebrated Gregory's 35th birthday.  I barely pulled off baking a gluten-free peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake, just before collapsing with illness.  It was delicious, but we threw almost half of it away because of the flu and flying. :(

Flights were much better than we could have imagined, thanks to in-flight entertainment, snacks, and lots of walks around the plane.

Neither kid slept on the eleven hour trans-atlantic flight, but that was no surprise.  We ate at Chili's in the Chicago airport (chips and salsa!!!) and then passed the remaining 2-3 hours playing in their awesome play area.

Once we boarded our flight to Kansas City, Eva completely lost it, wailed for about five (very long) minutes, and then fell asleep.  I was barely able to wake her to get her off the plane, and then she ran immediately into Grandpa and Grandma's arms (to their extreme delight)!  Both kids slept the entire two hour drive to their home, and then began the long week of trying to adjust to the time change!

Nathanael got in!

Look who was accepted into the Vienna Bilingual School system!!!

We are so proud of him!

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I mentioned back in Autumn that Nathanael and I visited his grade school's Open House.  Well, on Monday, January 11th, he had his interview for the bilingual school system, and we found out on that Friday that he was accepted!  We are so excited for this awesome opportunity for him to learn with other English-German speakers.  We are also proud of his progress this last year in developing both in school-readiness and in his pronunciation in both languages.  He'll attend first through fourth grade here, Monday through Friday, about 8am until noon.  In the afternoons, he'll still have time to keep being the crazy, energetic, creative, social kid he is.  I can't wait to see what these next four years hold for Nathanael!

At Heldenplatz for the National Holiday in October

Time for a Photo Shoot

While in London, Auntie Angie and Uncle Andrew humored us and took some pictures.  Considering how quickly we did them and with little preparation or forethought, I think they turned out alright. :)

A wee bit of snow

It was bitter cold when our first real snow fell.  The dusting last month didn't really count.

I finally took the kids out two days later, and Nathanael persistently attempted to build a snowman in the melting snow/slush.  Of course, his name was Olaf. ;)

My little snow bunny

Christmas in London

What fun it is to have family in Europe!  We spent Christmas week in London with Uncle Andrew, Auntie Angie, Cousin Desmond, and Opa and Oma who flew over from Detroit!  What special memories we made together!

I was horrible at taking photos this year, but here's what I came away with.

(This one is Angie's photo, but it's too cute not to copy here!)

Cousin time!

Watching something together on the ipad

Auntie Angie bonding with Eva

Enamored with the sweet outpouring of gifts from our family

Homemade eggnog and a Christmas story on the Eve

Oh yes, and flying back home to Vienna

All the way from Boston!

Oh my, what a delight to receive a BIG Christmas box from our friends at Hope Fellowship Church in Cambridge, Mass!  Seriously, unpacking and unwrapping all these items was a true highlight of the month for our kids (and for us as well)!  Each item was full of love and sacrifice.  We are so grateful.

Yes, those are Wheat Thins!!!

And three awesome Lego sets!

Sheer excitement over Winnie the Pooh items and, wait for it, an Elsa dress!  (Cue children singing loudly, "Let it Go")

Playing with the new loot

Seriously, folks, we feel so special.
Thank you.