The kiddos have been back to making crafts everyday. It's been really neat because now they don't need my help. They just get in the cupboards and pull out the scissors and glue and bring me a princess or carrot or whatever they've made. I love it. But now the table is always covered in scraps of paper and crayons for Marius to eat. Scarlet has especially been improving! I've really been amazed at her capabilities! She's really improving her talents and I love to watch it. Brighton is still in scribble mode and Marius is definitely in eating mode. It's frustrating, because he wants to join in, but he just can't help eating the paintbrush or whatever it is I put in his hand. He just can't help himself!

Greg turned 32! We celebrated by going out to dinner. I always feel so bad. Greg's birthday always comes when we're still settling into a new country or a new baby and with the kids daily distractions, it is impossible for me to keep track of it. It always seems to sneak up on me. I'm determined that when the kids are more grown, I'll throw more of a celebration for him. But wonderful Greg, insists that he doesn't care. We went to Buffalo Wings and it was actually really great! Taking the kids out for a meal is always pretty chaotic and messy.

 It was great though. The servers couldn't keep away from us because they thought out kids were so dang cute.

Marius chewin' on some chicken.

Happy Birthday Greg! We love you to pieces!

 Greg just started an online class for accounting this week! It's going to take up a lot more of his time- like 10 hours a week! I'm going to take the time, while he studies, to play the piano and read and get stuff done- like blogging and menu planning.

Seriously! My man is HOT. At least that's what I find myself thinking quite often. I get surprised that I still keep thinking it and it doesn't go away. But I'm glad. We both feel so grateful we're really inlove! We truly are best friends and each other's best advocates. We lift each other when we're down and fill in when the other is giving all they can. As different as we appear on the outside, we are so similar on the inside. We care about the same things and really think alike! We both feel like we scored and know how lucky we are.

A few days later came Scarlet's 5th birthday. 5th! How did Scarlet turn 5? That is so crazy to me! She has been awaiting this day for a very long time. She is very into holidays and celebrations. Always talking about the presents she wants to get and things she wants to do or eat. We went to a movie! But we stopped to get donuts first.

And we all enjoyed them.

 Marius has been so especially cute these days. He seems so much older. He's responding to what we say, whether it's "say good night to Scarlet and Brighton" and he runs over for a hug goodnight or I ask if he wants a banana and he nods yes or no. It's so cute! And it's really nice being able to understand him a bit more. He's not very vocal. Like at all. He only says Dadda and Mamma when he's really upset. He signs all done and more really well, which is also nice. I'm trying to teach him sleep, but often forget! He's climbing all over tables and when he's finished eating, he will stand up and put one leg over the top of the chair back and wait for me to pull him down. It always freaks people out to see him this way, looking like he's about to fall, but I see it constantly! So it doesn't make me flinch. He's a sweet heart. He's so snuggly with Greg. He loves to play with Scarlet and Brighton and gets mad when they leave him out. He is really moody now and really lets us know when he's upset! I handle it so much better than I ever did with Brighton. And Scarlet just never really got upset!

Back to Scarlet's birthday!

Scarlet decided she wanted chocolate pudding instead of cake. We talked about it for weeks. I didn't realize I didn't have the recipe (because our stuff wasn't here yet, including my cookbooks!) and just hours before I was scrambling to get the recipe from my sisters. Thank goodness I got it. At first I thought, "Pudding, how strange!" But it was so cute! I just served it up, every one of us with our own ramekin and it was the cutest thing. I absolutely loved it. I totally want to do it again! Seriously- wow, she's cute.

She got Disney princess sticker earings, which she has worn nearly everyday since. She got a CTR ring, which she has wanted for months. It is pink and has a princess crown on it. She also got a book of princesses to paint.

Scarlet is just as she always is, a very curious, patient little girl that is full of comprehension and understanding. People are constantly telling us how intelligent she is. She wants to do what's right. People are always commenting that she has the sweetest little voice and she has an incredible singing voice. She really is such a talented singer. She loves to ballet dance and Zumba with me. She loves crafts and helping me cook. She can't wait to be a Mommy. She's always saying how she wants to be Marius's mommy. She LOVES Marius. She gets terribly shy if she thinks anyone is looking at her. When strangers ask her a question she pulls close to me and looks away from them. She eats PB and honey sandwiches a few times a day, including breakfast. She loves to ride her new bike. She can read! She loves to write words down and is constantly asking me what things say- like the credits in a movie, or instructions in a manual. She's very silly and can get really loud and wild with Brighton. They always go on adventures with their backpacks and fight villains of all kinds. She loves to be tickled and loves to play Tickle Monster. She could be tickled all day.  She loves to play Go Fish, Old Maid and Matching games. She surprises us all the time with the concepts she understands and the things she remembers. She's also very sweet and forgiving. We love her very much.

Things are going really well here! All the kids just seem to be getting older and older. Brighton, is really entering a new stage and it's so cute and fun. He's just older and understands things now. It's so great! I love it. It's kinda weird that they're all getting older. Leaving the old stages behind, never to be returned to. Kinda strange! I like that life is getting easier, but I'll miss the cute things that only little kids do and say.

I just can't believe how smoothly we've transitioned here. Whenever we get frustrated with something I immediately think, "Reality check- we've only been here 6 weeks and this is the only real problem we've faced?" and it's mind blowing. I never felt this comfortable EVER in Kyrgyzstan. It was a constant struggle. It's so nice not to have that here- a struggle. It's nice just to be me and be with my family and feel my strengths again! I love having church here. What a DIFFERENCE! It really makes a difference.

The thing that's weird, is things only got good in Kyrgyzstan at the very end. Since things are so good so early here- I feel like we are about to leave! It's crazy that we're still gonna be here 2+ years and it's just going to be happy. Really crazy. I can't quite wrap my head around it. Things are really great and we still need to hang pictures. We still have boxes to sort through, we are still waiting for our CAR. Meaning, we are still technically settling in and things are going to continue to get better as all of this continues to fall into place. So we're feeling pretty good about everything.