Summer Break is Upon Us...AND I'M SO EXCITED!

This time last year I was overcome with anxiety about having my daughter home everyday after being in school full-time for 7 months.  So the title of this post may surprise you that I am actually excited to be looking forward at the next 9 weeks of having 3 very active little girls around me all day.  

As I think about this change, I think there are 2 reasons.  

First, I have come to realize that each summer the girls are at a certain age to enjoy.  There will NEVER be another summer that I will have a 5 year old and two 2 year olds other than this summer.  If I stop all the nonsense that keeps me busy or preoccupied (i.e. TV, games, straightening every item, etc.) I might actually appreciate the fun that being 2 and 5 really is. 

Also, while "blog browsing" I found an online bible study group called "Good Morning Girls" (GMG).  Since signing up for their summer study, they have put together a "For Kids" version study guide using the same scriptures as my study guide.  I have often thought about starting a bible study time with Hope and the twins, but have never put that good intention into action.  Their study guide is great with all kinds of resource links for each scripture, including a craft and songs.  The idea of doing this WITH my girls is so exciting to me!  If you are interested to use their materials this summer click here.

If you are familiar with GMG, please let me know how your experience went in the comments below.  And for others who might be interested, I look forward to sharing my experience in about 8-10 weeks!

About a month ago I started to really stress about the months of June and July because my husband is traveling out of town for weeks at a time.  Let's just be honest, having all three girls at home without him is hard work.  But then I heard myself dreading days, weeks, and months that hadn't even happened yet.  It dawned on me, "how can I enjoy today or the days to come if I am dreading them?"  I can't...but I want to enjoy them...I want to find joy in each day.  

I believe that it is up to me to change my mind from dread to joy.

And just being able to write this blog about my excitement for the summer months to come proves that as we choose what to focus on, God can change my heart for the better.

This is my enjoyable life as a traveling mother!
Jennifer

New Videos to Share

Last year about this time we unfortunately lost our video camera. It was a great little camera, and after searching through all of our bags and boxes and refusing to give up the search...I had to admit that it was gone.  We have taken a few videos with our regular camera, but they are very bad quality.  Now, thanks to a very "smart" phone, we finally have new videos of the little ones!

Click here to see our girls dancing and singing!

Enjoy!...oh, you may want to turn your speakers down a bit to begin with ;-)

What's been going on?

Again, it's been awhile since my last post...I think I'm just going to use the excuse that's it just been too darn HOT!  My western Washington bones are melting and aching for a good rain!  

So, what's been going on with us lately?  Let's start with our youngest girls.  As I write this it is 1 month until their 2nd birthday, and it is so hard to believe that they really aren't "babies" anymore.  Lately they have really been becoming little girls by saying words we actually understand, being able to ask them a simple questions and having them answer yes or no, playing at the play area on their own, less nap time sleeping, figuring out how to play with their more 'complicated' toys, loving to go swimming at the pool, and giving the cutest smiles at just the right moment!

Hope is just finishing up the 2 week holiday and heading back to school on Monday (Yea!). This 2 week break is for the water festival called Songkran here in Thailand, it's also about the same time as the American spring break.  We were able to keep quite busy these last 2 weeks mostly going to local pools to cool off or taking a dip in our little blow up yard pool.  To get me through this break from school I came up with "Hope's Daily 20's", which was a list of activities for Hope to do when she was "bored" or watching too much TV.  This is what the list included:

• 20 minutes reading books
• 20 minutes doing activity books
• 20 minutes practice riding bike
• 20 minutes cleaning/organizing/straightening
• 20 minutes of exercise (swimming or Wii)
• 20 minutes of resting

Although I do have to admit that she did NOT have 1 day of doing them all, it was a good idea to start this up and I can see it in the future this summer to get me through 2 months without going to school. Hope also recently lost her 2nd tooth by Sheraz pulling it because it was just hanging there...oh boy, there was blood and there was dramatic screaming!  The funny thing is that when her 1st tooth was loose and we started to discuss the tooth fairy, she said "God didn't make fairies, they're not real!"...oh boy we have taught her too well about the Truth!  So we (Hope & I) decided we would make believe and play the tooth fairy so she could enjoy the fun of putting teeth under her pillow at night and getting some money.  So far the tooth fairy in our house pays 35 Baht per tooth (that's about $1).  I think it's fun that she gets her money in Thai Baht for now, what a fun memory for her when she grows up! 

As for me, my last post was all about my cooking skills, but since the hot season of at least 100F has been going on, unfortunately the kitchen is the last room I want to spend any time.  To get me back into the mood of cooking, I've been trying to find recipes on Pinterest that Do Not include turning my oven on.  (If you have any favorite recipes that fall into this category, please share them!)  I'm thinking...Rice Crispy Treats!  Also, I have been trying to improve on my eating and exercise habits lately and this has been a great week.  The trick is that I have to get up early, before 7:00am to get a workout in before the temperature heats up too much.  May is a busy birthday month for us with Sheraz's on the 1st and then the twins on the 20th, so that will probably be taking up my time for the coming weeks.  

And finally Sheraz...well, it's probably the same as always...schoolwork, schoolwork, and some more schoolwork.  Currently he is researching and writing for his thesis paper, which is a good sign that he is at the end of his master's program for the TESOL degree.  

As I mentioned above, it is summer time here and at least 100F everyday, so a water festival that is a giant water fight was very refreshing!  Here are some highlight pictures from our adventure into the fun of a city-wide water fight.

Thanks for checking in on us!  Have a great week, I hope to keep my momentum of another post soon ;-).

(P.S. The air quality has improved with a few good breezy days/evenings and less burning, thank you for your prayers for our families health!)

"Winter" in the 90's...?

So it is "Winter" here in Thailand, but when the temperature is in the 90's I have to put the word winter in quotations.  

Since posting about my quiet controversy last week, I decided to post about something a little less controversial...how blessed I am to be a full-time mom!  Here are some of the highlights from this week.  

After some time of wanting to build a sandbox inside this unused water pond in our yard...I finally stopped at the sand store!

And I am very proud to share that Hope is...

Thankfully this is one of those times in life as a parent where the Lord was watching over and made sure I was ready!  You see, Hope's teacher Ms. West doesn't even tell the parents before hand when students receive this award.   From not wanting to get out of bed that morning, to having my camera with me and then ready.  I thank God that I get the chance to be there for my daughter to share these moments.