Where did February go?

I can't believe it's March already! February sure went by fast and March is going to bring a lot of change right from the start. For one, March means SPRING! At least that's what the calendar says. We got so much snow here in New York during February. It broke records and caused for two snow days! I felt like I was back in Minnesota! 

Good thing the snow doesn't stay for very long here because New York doesn't know what to do when it gets snow like this. We don't have a fleet of snow plows like they do back home. No, instead they strap on a plow to the front of the garbage trucks and clear the roads that way. Hopefully we will see the end of the snow and the start of warmer weather. 

February also brought Chinese New Year which is a big deal where we live on 8th avenue. The avenue is closed off for a parade and everyone gathers in the streets to set off streamers,   follow the dragons from store to store as they ask for money, and spray each other with silly string. Ok, the kids spray each other with silly string but innocent bystanders beware! Here's a view of the crowds from our window. 

Of course February also means Valentine's Day. We kept it pretty low key this year. Chris brought home  tulips, (my favorite flower) made crab legs for dinner, and then we watched a movie at home. We did a lot more cooking/eating with friends during the month too. Our good friend Ashley is currently in Haiti with YWAM  helping with the relief efforts there and before she left we had her over for homemade pizza, prayer, and a game of NERTZ. FUN! Speaking of cooking with friends, the sixth and final season of LOST started at the beginning of February and since we don't get ABC anymore (sad story) a group of us get together on Wednesday nights at a friend's house (who has cable/Tvo) for dinner and LOST which is always followed by a headache and a discussion of what the heck just happened and our theories for what it all means. Any other LOST fans out there?? HOLLA!!

But the biggest thing that February brought us was... drum roll please... the closing date of the new parsonage!!! I mentioned a while ago that our church sold our building and that once the sale was finalized and the purchase of the new parsonage went through we would be moving. We have been playing the waiting game for a year and a half. We thought we would be moving back in October of 2008 and here we are, March of 2010 and we are finally moving... this weekend!!! What?! So this means that we need to get crazy packing. Thankfully, we already have quite a few boxes packed and a lot of people to help us move. There is even going to be a missions team here that have said they will come and help on moving day! I am praying that we will get it all done on Saturday and Sunday. I haven't been looking forward to the actual move but I am starting to get excited to paint, decorate and make the new place 'ours'. We have a really great apartment now with a lot of history and memories, even from before we lived in it, and it will be so sad to leave and even more sad to see it torn down but we will make the new place cool too and make fun memories there as well. 

So, goodbye February, goodbye snow (I hope!), goodbye apartment... and Hello March, hello spring, hello new diggs! 

Something Sweet for a Little Sweetie!

Four Months Old!

Catch Up #2, A Vignette

Christmas was less than a month ago but it feels like it's been so much longer. Much of December was spent cleaning, getting rid of things we don't need/use anymore, and packing boxes to get ready for our move. Piles of papers and boxes stacked on top of each other were all over the apartment. We were having friends over after Church on Christmas Day so Christmas Eve was spent cleaning out our 'orange room', organizing and packing some more, and then moving all the boxes we had packed into the orange room so we could clean up the rest of the apartment.

This year I made presents for our family back home. Our pastor's wife does beading and one night a few weeks before Christmas had my friend Janet and myself over for some bead-making.  I wasn't sure how it would go, but it was pretty fun! I had bought a pendant over a year ago at Michael's (I love Michael's, I always feel so creative when I go in there) but hadn't done anything with it yet. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity.

Before heading over there I decided I wanted to make some scones. So I did!

I've never made scones before and I must say, they were surprisingly easy.. and delicious!

 

I think I could really get into this beading thing.

We got our place clean and after the Christmas Day service at church we had some friends over for dinner. Chris made his famous lasagna again and I think this was his best yet. We have been working together to perfect the homemade sauce and let me just say... yum! Good job Chris! The day after Christmas we had more people over and reinstated our cookie making tradition that began last year. Here are some of the goodies..

What else happened in December?
A hand was discovered.. which has lead to reaching out and grabbing things!

Blafre

Our friends from Norway, Helene and Ketil, sent us some baby stuff before Charles was born. One of the very cute things we received from them was this hip little lunch box. SO CUTE!

Ketil's sister-in-law (right?) is the designer- and all the products are so fun! From wall paper to fabric to stationary (and more!).. all with bright, clean, retro styled patterns for kids. LOVE! I want to buy some and decorate Charles' 'area' in our bedroom when we move.

Check out their blog which also has a link to their website.

Giraffe

Catch Up #1, A Vignette

I began this post a while ago and didn't finish it. I came back later to work on it and when I went to post it something went wrong and all that I had just finished typing and posting was lost. So I gave up and decided to come back, yet again, to finally get this darn thing posted. This time I am not going to write all that I had written before. I'm going to keep it short. And sweet. 





Boy, it's been a while since I posted something other than pictures. I thought I would do a little rewind and share what's been keeping us busy since November.

My family came out here for a week over Thanksgiving. We spent some time here in Brooklyn and also went to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Maryland.

There was a lot of baby holding!
Aunties met their little nephew for the first time. Kisses were planted on little cheeks and many diapers were changed for thankful parents.

Grandpa and Nanna got in on the holding and cuddling and oohing and aahing as well. Hearts were filled with new love.

A family Christmas Picture was taken

In Maryland, much food was eaten and memories reminisced. New babies have been added to the family as well as a fiance. Cousins and their families were brought together.

A son was dedicated to the Lord. Parents made commitments to pray for and raise up their son to know of his Heavenly Father's love and saving power. 

Stay tuned for catch up # 2