Snow geeks part 2

For part of spring break (which none of us actually got this year), we went with a few church families and friends to New Mexico for a snow trip! I didn't snorboard this time, I just hung out with X, but we had a lot of fun! Lots of pictures too--

While Papa (with Spenser here) rode the chair lift and snorboarded,

Xaris and I played in the lodge and behaved silly.

What? Me? Silly?

Very Silly Indeed.

Trying to figure out who this guy is...

Still not sure about him?

The trip also included some "firsts" for baby X.

First time in her bear suit (It was great! I love it!)

First time next to a 4 foot + icicle too.

First Braids

First time snorboarding! We slid her back and forth several times. She never cracked a smile (snow seems to make her really really serious), but she didn't fuss or seem to dislike it. I guess that means it was ok?

Sleeping in with Papa

Snuggled in her moby and ready to go take pictures! She really like watching the skiers and boarders. Although we're gonna have to work on her attitude--she laughed when they fell.

Eating like a big girl (her favorite thing now) in the car on the way down the mountain.

SO excited to be in a restaurant (and not in her carseat in the car for awhile)

Cold Wind!

Ruling the DFW airport. Back home, back to real life.

Happy St. Patricks

Happy Moose-cakes!

First Paella

Last weekend we went to Houston for a day to spend time with Gramama and Taita. We had too much fun, and Xaris tried her first paella. Good thing she liked it so we can keep her in the family.

Peeking during prayer? Checking it out? What's this stuff they're gonna make me eat?

Trying a bite...

She wants more!

Working off the dinner with papa and the puppies.

First Arboretum trip of 2010

Not quite the first trip--but the first one we brought the camera to.

We met our friends John and Debra (and Marshall) and Mark and Leslie (and Jack) for a playdate. John and Debra have moved farther away, so our chances to get together are fewer and farther between. We Miss Them!

X had just fallen asleep when we pulled into the parking lot.

But after awhile she woke up to join in the fun

Trying out her new ride.

John, Debra, and John Marshall

Babies and Mammas

Family Shot. I'm gonna have to crop it later--notice the garbage can that a grounds crew member pushed past behind us right when the picture was being taken?

hat and fappy

Not quite fat and happy.

Definitely happy most of the time, but still not fat.

X had her weight check appointment at the pediatrician today, and she's gained weight (not much, but some--16 lbs, 2 oz). But it was enough that she's at the same percentile as she was a month ago so the Dr. is completely happy with that. She's just a puny 5th percentile for weight.

She's learned how to bend her knees to lower herself again once she's pulled herself up, and it's one of her favorite new tricks (that and either waving or clapping all the time). She had pulled herself (pushed herself?) into standing using the wall at the ped's office...and this is her in process of lowering herself. She would NOT look at the camera today, having too much fun with the wall I suppose.

We went to a playdate afterwards, and boy did she play! So much she didn't want to nurse, didn't want to sleep (yep, she totally and completely skipped one nap today), and only wanted to go go go wherever the little 1 year old boy she was playing with went. They seemed to really enjoy each other, and interacted a lot, which was fun and cute to watch. She gets another playdate tomorrow, this time with TWO boys! Fun age now that she's so aware of other kids!

Favorite toys right now: books, hands down. She will entertain herself for a long time looking at books, or she'll let me read them to her. A book will keep her from crying about being put into her carseat. A book will distract her from getting into something she is not supposed to. We love books in our house!

10

Chile

*update*

http://helpchileheal.org/

direct way to give online and the fastest way for your donation to reach those in the most need.

You've probably heard of the earthquake...huge.

And Chile was fairly prepared, they have a long history of earthquakes (I felt tremors when I lived there), and even some experience with big ones.

But, that doesn't change the fact that a lot of damage was done, and it affects some dear friends of mine. Chile is fairly prepared for earthquakes, and is closer to being a developed 1st-world country than a developing nation. But there is still a lot of destruction and tragedy, despite the preparedness.

I just found out that Pastor Nelson and his wife Barbara (some of my first Chilean friends from back in 2001) are safe, but their home was destroyed and they are camping, without food and water, and still trying to pastor and care for the needs of their church and several other friends.

A team of pastors and laypeople from the capital, Santiago, are heading down to help and to bring food, water, and financial resources in the next couple of days, and more teams will follow as needed. We would like to send some help, and are planning on sending what we can to Chile via North American Free Methodist missionaries in Chile. If you'd like to help, contact me. I know and trust these missionaries completely, and know that 100% of what is given will be designated to providing the basic needs of those severely impacted by the earthquake. And giving to the local church that is already responding to those in need is a good way to go.

While Chile is an advanced and developed country, not many people in the churches and especially the pastors have much in the way of savings, I know they will appreciate any help.

Judy once said that her blog is her soapbox...I suppose I'm taking my opportunity to share what is very close to my heart. I'm not ignoring Haiti--our church and the young adult group I lead both found ways of supporting reconstruction and aid work there. This is my way of helping another country, another need--and also some people who are very important to me.

I'm trying to find the video from the last time we were there--If I do, I'll post it! In the meantime, here are a few pictures from our last mission trip there.

The Last Supper--our goodbye meal.

My closest friend in Chile--Kay. She and her husband Leo, and their daughter Sofia (7 months old) made it safely outside their building during the quake. They are able to return home, it is structurally sound. They live in Santiago.

Nelson (back), Barbara, and Juan Jose.

Nelson and Barbara live in Lota, in the south, very close to Concepcion, and the center of the earthquake. They pastor a Free Methodist church in Lota. Juan Jose lives in Santiago.