Happy Birthday, Alix

I can't believe that it has already been 17 years. I remember that she was born on a Sunday. It was the Life Chain Sunday, being held just down the street from the hospital. We are so thankful for this LIFE that God has blessed us with!

What NOT to take into the Embassy...

Alix and I recently made a trip to the US Embassy in order to get her passport renewed. When you first enter you have to turn over your cell phone and other electronics (Items 1, 2, and 3). They then x-ray your bag before finally letting you enter. After x-raying my bag, there were a few questionable items that they wanted to explore further:

#4 - Pepper Spray - which they removed (of course)
#5 - Alix' current crochet project - they let us take this with us
#6 - I don't know what this is, or how it got in my bag, but they decided to remove this too. It must be something quite dangerous.

#7 - Mini-tripod - They let us keep this.
#8 - They also let us keep Alix' book. I think she would have rather they held her book and let her have her iPod, though.

Happy New Year 2009

Nothing like finally getting a picture of the kids the day we take the tree down. I am a true procrastinator...

Happy New Year!

PhotoHunt: Reflection

PhotoHunt

Happy Birthday, Alix

I can't believe Alix turned 16 today! At least I can pretend she is not really driving age, as it is 18 in Costa Rica.

Alix,

You are a blessing and you bring such joy into our lives. We love you! Happy 16th Birthday!

Busy Summer

We have had an incredible number of people make their way through this summer. Constantly flowing, constantly a different combination of people. Alix has loved all the college and high school students that have come for extended stays. Life is sure going to seem dull when it gets back to normal. Wait...is there a normal???

Ever been shopping with a teenage girl?

We have Grandparents in town and they wanted to take the kids Christmas shopping. We went to the Escazu mall. The boys picked out toys from the toy store and then it was Alix's turn. She decided she would like a new pair of jeans.

Anyone who has ever been shopping with a teenage daughter (especially one as picky as mine) can realize what a stressful event this might end up being.

We haven't purchased any clothes here so I don't even know where to look. But we are at the mall, right? There's got to be something! We go to American Eagle and Guess...I went into sticker shock looking at price tags of over $100 a pair. Alix said, "Mom, let's go somewhere else..."

We ended up at the Levi's store. Ok, these are only $50 (Grandma says this is ok, I'm still in sticker shock). She tries on one pair..."Mom, these are too low at the waist. Are there any higher?"

We find another pair...she thinks they might do. But..."Mom, could you go get dad so he can look and tell me if they are too tight?"

She finally found the perfect pair and I was incredibly blessed by this shopping trip with my teenage daughter. Not only was she concerned with her sense of modesty...she still wanted to make sure her dad would be pleased. Double checking her standards against his in recognizing that her senses may have conformed ever so slightly to this culture that we live in.

May she always care what her daddy thinks.

Famous Quotes

Seth: "Murphy's not a dog, he's a spic -r- spaniel."

Nathan: While coloring an Indian picture, "I know there is Indian on dad's side. That makes us half Indian and half pirate!" (Blackbeard is on my side of the family)

Alix: "Now, which dishes did you want me to wash?"

Christopher: I sent a funny email to my mom which she read aloud to Chris. He says, "I didn't know my mom was funny. I've never heard her say anything funny before."

Spencer: I hear this as I am listening to phone messages, "Hey, the phone is going straight to voicemail. You might want to listen to messages."

Alix (again): after falling off my bed, "It's higher than it was before!" my response, "Well, it's not any more narrow!"

Alix's Birthday

Newest Members of the Family

Alix and Carly