Cute Elise Phrases

This girl, ya'll.  She makes us laugh.  A lot.  These are some of the current "Elise-isms" she's throwing around these days...and we totally dig how adorable she is when she says 'em :)

"olib oil" - olive oil

"I'm jor-jus"- I'm gorgeous :)

Calls her watch a "watcher" and the vacuum a "vacuumer."  For instance, "Mommy, I want to wear my watcher."

When I tell her she's my favorite two and a half year old she responds with "I'm two years old half."

"astanau" - astronaut

"What do you want to pray for, Elise?"

- "Jesus, and Mary, and Joseph, and Grandma, and Grandpa, and Memommy, and Gigi, and cows..."(hahaha)

"I like your...armpit." (big grin)

"I have a fro-ing pain." - I have a growing pain.

Love this lil chickie.  Love, love 'er.

Things I've Learned Living Overseas

We leave in a few short weeks to head back to the states and it's been the source of some reflection for me.  I wanted to think over the last few years and compile a list of some lessons learned.

This is by no means a comprehensive list...it's only meant to be a list to remind me in the future of how God has molded, shaped, and allowed me to be challenged over the past three years :)

*Learning A New Language - this has by no means been a piece of cake.  Slavic languages are NO JOKE.  So being a challenging language in the first place, then add in the birth of two babies and becoming parents, and well, I'm just glad I've been able to get this far :)  I'm thankful I've learned to communicate and can get around town with my Slovak.  God's grace, for sure.

*How To Be A Family - we've had lots of time just the four of us to learn and grow.  There hasn't been much help (not like having family nearby) and at times we've felt alone, but it's also strengthened us as a new family.  J and I have really learned to work together as a team, which has been a good thing.  Of course this is a process and we'll continue to learn how to work together as a family, but these three years have been important ones.

*Driving Manual - Haha! I was so nervous about doing this in the beginning, but thanks to Sonya and the hubs, I slowwwwwly gained confidence and can now say I'm a legit manual driver.  Now, it's still not my favorite thing to do, but I can get from place to place and feel generally ok about it.  That's success in my book!

*Contentment - I've been learning to strive for full contentment in Him.  I think this is a lifelong lesson, but I've been consistently reminded of the importance of contentment in Christ over these past three years. 

*Navigate A Large City - When we first came I was so intimidated at the thought of getting lost in the city.  I was oh so nervous about catching buses, trams, trains, etc.  It was intense for me having come from a city (and country) where everyone just mostly drives from place to place.  But slowly I've grown confident in my city-navigating skills and now fearlessly can get from almost any place in the city to another.  Yesssss!

*Appreciation of Technology - Man, technology makes the world a smaller place! Thanks to Skype and my iphone, we've been able to keep in touch with our family and friends from around the world...I don't take technology for granted these days.

*His Plan Is Bigger - The biggest lesson I've learned while being over here.  And I, again, think this lesson is a lifelong one as well.  It's so easy for me to have plans in my mind and heart, but at the end of the day I realize all over again that I am just plain and simple, not in control.  He's got it planned out and I am but a small, small part of it all.  I'm sooooo still learning this and will continually be, I think.

Some of these lessons learned are simpler, others are a bit more heartfelt, but either way I've been learning a lot.  Bottom line:  We've experienced challenge, joy, hardship, love, fun, friends, disappointment, and a whole plethora of other things during our time here...and we're thankful for it all.

Life Lately...

In just over a month from now we head back to the states.  To say things are pretty busy and slightly overwhelming might just be a true statement ;)

So before I forget, I wanted to post a few memorable pics from the last month or so (they never made it to the blog for one reason or another...probably because it's hard for me to find time to blog these days! yikes.)

I love me a good toddler smile...and this chick has it down pat.

See, more toddler smile proof...(above with her good friend Lea)

And this little girl is in the throughs of not being able to express herself very well, poor babe...which means squeals and tears and mini tantrums (she's only a year old!?!?).  But I mean, come on, look at that little face! I could eat her right up (after she finishes squealing, that is ;)

With some of our sweet friends...who just happen to have two daughters the same ages as ours.  Cool, huh?

And we spent Easter visiting with these lovely peeps that we miss (well, only one of them is pictured).  Aren't those eggs fun?  Tie-dye and glitter for the win :)

So how's that for random?  But that's kinda how my brain feels these days...filled with a gazillion random things I need to accomplish.  Thankful for God's grace during this season!

Nora's One Year Party!

We kept it small, simple, and sweet for Nora's first birthday party.  We didn't invite too many people anyway, but in the end, quite a few weren't able to make it (not going to lie, I was kind of bummed), BUT it was fine and we were thankful for those who were there :)

The most important thing:  we got to celebrate our sweet girl!

 This was the invitation we sent out, but it had details on it, of course.  I created a blank one because we plan to have another small party with family and friends when we're in the states in June! :)

Isn't Nora's cake AMAZING!?!?  Our friend, Zuzka, has made both of E's cakes and now N's too.  I told her she HAS to open a cake business.  She's great.

This is the best shot we could get with our Zuzka...(one year olds are super wiggly :)

Told ya, really simple food.  But good, nonetheless.  I think the kiddos liked it all, haha.

Love this lil family of mine.  N wasn't scared of the singing, nor the cake...and I have to admit, I was surprised.  I was thinking she might be...but nope!  She handled it like a champ (I think she just wanted to eat the cake, haha...chocolate lover like her mama :)

Proof.  The aftermath.  She was a big fan of the cake.  Mmmmmmm.

And the last photo is of E pinning the dots on the ladybug.  Quick, fun game.  

Loved celebrating our little lady...but one year flew by wayyyyy too fast!

Nora Rose: ONE YEAR!

The time has come.  Nora Rose is one year old.  Hard for me to fathom (though I know I sound like a broken record each month, it just always baffles me how quickly the time flies).

She's a little light and joy.

At one year old she:

~ Repeats/copies/does just about everything her sister does.  It's just the cutest thing.  Elise coughs, Nora coughs.  Elise claps, Nora claps, and so on.  Adorable.

~ Eats well, generally.  Loves carrots (with a touch of cinnamon), yogurt, bananas, and bread...green veggies still not her fav.

(Not the greatest photo, but still sweet of N exploring her sprinkle pancakes and candle :)

~ Naps two times a day still.  10 am and 1:30 pm.  Seems to work pretty well, though she's not a long sleeper.  At night she goes to sleep at 7:45 and still consistently wakes up at 5 am...but will then go back to sleep until about 6:30 am.  Ah, our girlies are not known for their amazing sleeping skills ;)

~ LOVES playing with shoes and taking them all over the house.  She also thinks it's the coolest thing ever to get ahold of the wipes and take them out.

~ Has started climbing up on the couches, which is both really cute and a bit nerve-wrecking too (we're afraid she'll fall right off, even though she knows how to get down feet first).

~ This girl never slows down and keeps us on our toes.  She's a little cute ball of energy (and a big part of the reason we're tired at night...but it's worth it ;)

~ Is starting to demonstrate her own opinions.  Is not too happy if you tell her no or take something away from her.  Hehe.

~ Still doesn't have much hair, has three teeth on bottom and two on top with two more top teeth coming in, and wears generally between 9 and 12 month clothes (though more 12 month now).

Nory girl, we don't know where the time has gone, but we know it's just going to keep flying.  Life with you in it is so much sweeter.  We're thankful God allowed you to be "ours" a year ago and we pray for many more years with you.  Keep true to your name, little, and be that light He made you to be! Happiest Birthday, We love you!