Keala's 7th Birthday!

Yes, We got back from Amsterdam this Tuesday morning after an 8 hour layover in D.C. Jet lag is still killing us... but onto bigger things - Keala's Birthday! (vacation photos will wait!.) Here we go...

We took Birthday pictures in the morning. (I was going to make them a gift, but not enough hours in the day for this Martha!)

Keala sure was excited to be the Birthday Girl!  We ran to the store before school so she could pick out the cupcakes she wanted to take to class. (We're not allowed to bring home-made treats anymore.)

When we came home, she walked into a room decorated with balloons, flowers, and little chinese-take-out boxes full of suprises. This was the best birthday EVER!

Before we came home though, we went to Target to pick out her presents. She got Birthday money from Auntie Cindy, Gran'pa Ross, Gran'ma Joan, and good ol' mom. Thanks everyone!

She loves these toys she bought from the store, AND she picked out this beautiful shirt. What a great shopper! Kai was even privy to a small toy that Keala bought him - such a nice sister!

Keala asked for pizza for dinner. So mom made G.F. pizza dough from scratch (exhausting!)... and then we went onto the party!

Gran'ma bought Keala a big ball and Barbie that she asked for. Then she dove into all the different colored Chinese-take-out-boxes hanging from the ceiling. It was so exciting I tell you!

Somehow mom was able to roll up this shirt and stick it into one of the chinese boxes. (Yes, somedays I amaze even myself!)

Keala had phone calls all night long of birthday wishes.

 (And thanks to everyone for the cards too!)

Of course, there were party favors - we are party animals!

Marina decorated the cupcakes and Keala absolutely loved the beautiful butterflies we put on top. So much Fun!

Drumroll Please...

So, we all congregated in Keala's room to put our guesses of Austin's mission call on the World Map.

(Austin gave us one stateside guess and one foreign guess.)

Gran'parents were hoping Austin would be sent to the Netherlands.

Austin's friends Tyler and Mickelle joined us!

We could barely all fit in Keala's room, but we loved guessing!

So after we placed our guesses, Austin opened up his letter with Gran'ma Joan on the phone.

(Joan is still in Maryland with Rachel for another week or so.)

And the final announcement is... South Africa, Johannasburg Mission!

He was so excited! We were all stunned! (I kept waiting for him to say he was kidding... but no!)

Isn't Tristan getting so tall!  I made tons of food- (Yeah mom!) Pizza, chicken fingers, veggie tray, cheesecake...mmmm!

Mickelle stayed for food and fun with the fam, but best bud, Tyler had to run.

Ryan likes the pizza! (No one liked the tomato juice!)

Marina won the guessing! She was the closest guess and the only guess in Africa!

All the grandparents were so excited! As well as the siblings! It was a great party - and a great memory!

We are a Happy Family!

More updates...

Stay tuned this week for Austin's mission call! We expect it to come in the mail on Wednesday and we are freakin' excited! We are all going to pin up some guesses on the world map in Keala's room (which she asked me to take down this morning!) Uhm... no! I told her not until Austin gets his mission call!  If anyone wants to join in the guessing, just add it to your comments! Our guesses are all over the globe. So far we have  Swedish, Russian, and Spanish guesses, along with a few stateside guesses. Anyone, anyone...?

So, this weekend I had Jack spending the next (with Socks), and another dog (Bella) stayed with us all weekend, the 3 step kids were home, and Tristan and Marina came in and out (on occasion, sometimes with the usual neighbor friend in tow.) I am thinking my house is the "HUB", which doesn't all feel that bad for the time being. But I might have a different opinion come summer time.

Updates on Hans... he was NOT unconscious when the explosion hit him, but learned from the very beginning that he lost his legs by hearing what his team members were saying. They also kept thinking he was dying and were about to pull out the shock paddles when he kept telling them "No, not those!" At some point he was administered pain killers and the rest is history, but he still was having surgeries all throughout last week.  He is very glad Rachel and Joan are with him.  They are really busy getting settled in and staying available to be with him.  Other organizations come to help the family members at the hospital and have been very helpful to Joan and Rachel. So far, so good...

Many Changes on the Horizon

As a continuation from my last post...
Tristan and Marina are now here, staying at Gran'pa Bill's while Gran'ma Joan and Rachel fly to Maryland. The Marine's changed Hans' therapy plans from Germany to Texas, and then from Texas to Maryland. (Quite the run-around!) But he is in Maryland now, and Joan and Rachel will join him today.  So far, his amputations have been just above the knee on both legs. His arms seem to be ok. Hans worked on a special team deactivating bombs in Afghanistan. He was wearing all of his bomb gear when he and his leader were disarming the bomb. The primary device was deactivated but a secondary device was activated hitting Hans with the full force when it exploded. His hands have extensive injuries, with minor injuries to his upper body, shoulders, and head. He was knocked unconscious when the bomb exploded. 

Tristan and Marina will continue to work on their home-schooling while they stay here. So far we plan on including them in our family routines for the next few months while Rachel assists Hans in his physical therapy and recovery plans.  He will stay in Maryland until he is fully recovered and able to manuever with his artifical limbs.  I will let know what his updates are. Please remember to keep their family in your prayers.

A Special Family Fast

Our family would like to ask if you would think of Rachel's husband, Hans, as you pray today. He was in an explosion last Friday in Afghanistan and lost both his legs and maybe part of one arm.  He is currently undergoing surgery in Afghanistan this weekend, and will be transferred to Germany by the end of the week. We are having a special fast for him today.  This was their wedding picture from just last May.  G'ma Joan and Rachel will fly to Germany this weekend to see him. It is possible that Tristan and Marina will be coming here to stay with us while their mother works through this season. We humbly request that you remember our family in your prayers today, especially Hans and Rachel.

Thank you all.

Oh Happy Day-O!

On January 22nd, Kasey turned 21 years old!  Austin gave her a card that had a beer mug on the front and inside said "I just wanted to see you with a beer in your hand"... the only one she'll get!

(Then he bought her a pack of root beer... cute!)

Keala wanted her to open LOTS of presents so she kept wrapping random gifts for her. This was a yellow flower made out of tissue paper. One box was empty and Keala said the gift inside was any favor that she wanted Keala to do for her, she would do... cute. (But funny!) We ate dinner Friday night as a family at Tepanyaki - a first for Kai and Keala. They loved the show!

Awwh! Such sweet sisters!

But most of Kasey's birthday fun was spent with friends...

I watched Kasey leave all dressed up with her friends.

She said to me "What?! Its my birthday!"

They all went to see 'Beauty and the Beast' in 3D, Kasey's favorite childhood movie!

What?! Her girlfriends had to dress up too!

 (You know, so Kasey didn't feel left out.) Lol!

Christmas Mayhem

Friday before Christmas we opened a few presents as a family.  I realized Christmas morning the kids wouldn't have time to play with the 'BIG' gift having to be wisked off to church and then to their dad's. So we all took turns opening some wonderful winter hats!... Don't we look striking!

It appears we may have opened a few other trinkets and treats...

And here's the 'BIG' gift!... A Wii!    Kai has been begging for one for the past three years!  It was a big hit! In addition to that, he had all night and the next day to play before Christmas morning!

(Smart thinking mom! I know, I know! Some days you got it!)

Here are Santa's gifts to Keala. I dunno if you notice in the red bag, the image of 'Justin Bieber'. She begged Santa at a family party for a 'Justin Bieber toothbrush'... I didn't even know they existed! (Thank goodness for 'Walmart' is all I have to say!) She loves puppies by the way, did I need to mention that?

Kai scored with bows and arrows, a dart gun with scoreboard, legos, and a pillow pet.

(All from Santa! I used to like Santa, but now I am re-thinking my dedications!)

Its a little early in the morning for some people. But Kai and Keala actually slept in til 8am! I consider that pretty lucky! (Except we woke up an hour before them and wished we were still sleeping!)

Packages and presents were divided and the hour was filled with suprises and screams.

(I had to silence my son a number of times which only backfired on me as I let out a few cheers of elation myself... hey it was for a workout video that I've come to love!

All I have to say is Michelle Opperman kicks butt!)

At each end of the room we had someone collecting the wrappings in black plastic bags. (I sware next year I am stapling the presents in brown grocery bags! Not kidding!) I hesitate to confess, all the pretty colors of different wrapping papers were sure fun to look at.  We consider this Christmas our last 'BIG HIT' as next year brings considerable changes with Austin preparing to leave on a mission, Kasey patiently waiting a boyfriend to come home from a mission, and no idea where the future leads Ryan.

Next Christmas could be much more quiet!... unless I find some more exciting workout videos?!

It could happen!

Oh! Sooooo Cute!