bummer

i needed shower gel. i didn't know what the label would look like or say, which makes buying things particularly tricky. i started reading a label of a bottle that looked promising.

i understood the first sentence. could it be?

i kept reading. i kept understanding. what i had in my hand was shower gel with vitamins and protein and hydrating elements. i thought i had been given the gift of tongues b/c i definitely don't know those words in this language.

then i realized i was reading the spanish. the other language was down below. i had no idea what those words were. but it's good to know that apparently i'm fluent in spanish. who knew?

a new home

in case you've been trying to check up on us and wondering what in the world happened to us, we've been doing some moving :). we got to our new home last sunday and were without internet for a week, but we're doing well and having a good time so far. we're still feeling some effects from jetlag and have no idea how to go about buying a plunger, but we're enjoying ourselves. the kids are doing great, and their blonde hair is a very popular attraction. here are a couple pictures of what new things our eyes have been seeing.

here's rachel and all our worldly possessions having landed safe and sound in our new city. all of our bags came with us! amazing!

across the street from our apartment :)

a beautiful place

keep checking in. i have more pictures to share!

our life...

...is currently packed in 7 1/4 suitcases. 3/4 and a surplus of pounds to spare. it's amazing how much more simple life is without stuff.

this is our last night here in richmond. from here we see my parents, chuck's parents, friends, and then an airport on saturday.

if you're in the area and/or are interested to see our beauteous faces before we fly away for a long time, you are cordially invited to come to us this friday at any time during the day. we'll be staying with friends in the raleigh/knightdale area and we'd love to see you. we are not, however, going to spend our day driving around the world to see everyone. you must come to us, i'm afraid. it's easier for us, especially easier for our kids, and we figure if you really want to see us, you'll make it happen. we love you guys, but come on, there's a lot going on right now.

shippin' out

the time is quickly approaching. in a week, our feet will officially have left american soul (and will be hovering over the atlantic... i try not to dwell on that too much. i have issues with anti-gravitational things.)

i feel like we've lived a whole live since we moved here at the end of the april. we've met some amazing people, heard amazing things, and grown in the Lord in amazing ways. over all, it's been a very good time. i've started trying to brace rachel for the reality of leaving her teachers this week, and each time i bring it up she's about to burst into tears. these kids have had an absolute blast.

flashback (take 2)

yes, we're still alive.

we're getting on a big airplane next week.

here's a picture of rachel from last halloween as alice in wonderland.

quick update

because i know you're all on the edge of your seats, i just wanted to let you know that my children are healthy and went their classes today! (which meant mommy and daddy got to go to theirs... together!)

poor, poor babies

the dreaded rotavirus has broken out across our little campus and kids are dropping like flies. this is the ideal place for a virus of any kind of to run completely unchecked, since this is the epitome of communal living. please lift up all the precious little ones that are feeling so sick, and all the mommies and daddies that are feeling so tired and impatient.

poor lucas has had diahrrea for a few days now. he isn't acting like he feels sick, which is great, but nobody likes an upset tummy. poor rachel pamela threw up before bed tonight, which is the first significant symptom of rotavirus. both babies are sleeping exhaustedly now, which is great. no school for rachel tomorrow. we'll most likely be headed towards a doctor's office (she's in for a rude awakening).

this is definitely not a fun place to have a sick child and so many of us here do. it makes it nearly impossible to learn all the things that are available for us to learn (and complete all the homework we're assigned!). being sicky is super icky.

so it begins...

just to let everyone know, we have arrived at the training for our new job. we'll be here until june 18th and i don't expect to be able to post much at all, due to the limited time and internet access.

but just know that we're here, we're very busy, we're very excited, we're very scared, we're very blessed.

hopefully i'll be able to pop in here from time to time, but don't hold your breath. give me a few months and i'll be back with all kinds of whacky pictures and stories. i'll do my best to knock your socks off.

bubbs

bubbs is 14 months old today.

i honestly have no idea where his babyhood went. i feel like i can hardly remember rachel's babyhood even though she was my first child. i remember poor lucas's even less.

yesterday, he decided to become a full-time walker.

he'd been toying with the idea for about 3 weeks now, but still crawling most of the time. he is one darn fast crawler. who wants to slow down long enough to learn something new?

you may be wondering where his nic-name "the bubbs" came from.

i came up with it. and to tell you the truth, i don't know what it means or where it came from exactly. i just called him "bubbs" one day. now, i may not know exactly what a "bubbs" is, but have you ever seen a face that looks more "bubbs"-like? i think not.

i also have two other names for him that i use from time to time.

the first is another word i made up to describe my son (something about this child inspires me to expand the english language): boughes, pronounced "boo-ges" (the g has a "j" sound). why don't i just spell it booges? because that's not my word. i know in my heart of hearts the correct spelling is "boughes."

again, i don't know what it means, but i have narrowed it down to having something to do with how much his cheeks jiggle when he crawls fast (and now walks fast).

"boughes" is a very versatile word. it can be used as a noun or a verb depending on the context. here are some examples:

noun usage: He has boughes.

verb usage: He boughes a lot.

his other name he's grown accustomed to answering to is "moobs." moobs is short for man boobs. enough said.

the last two nic-names mentioned are often used together to create a delightful ditty for bubbs-entertaining (and big sister-entertaining) purposes. it has many variations, but here is a basic example:

he boughes, he boughes,

he boughes a lot.

he's got boughes

and he's got 'em a lot.

he's got boughes

and moobs a lot.

he boughes and moobs

and he boughes a lot.

how can he NOT grow up to be creative when he is already inspiring such creativity in every day life? he sure does make me proud.

4 days til the move to richmond...

...in the mean time, for your enjoyment...