Christmas Puzzle and Kids

This was a quite Christmas. 

The Browns visited for a few days the week-end before. 

We played games and talked and ate some yummy food with the Johnson's.

Their trip a little too short! 

This is our traditional puzzle this year I missed Justine helping me... 

Emric and Amelie helped a little but I pretty much did it all by myself!

On Christmas Eve, we watched - I mean, I and Amelie watched - "It's a wonderful life"

Emric and Mike watched an old Star Wars!

We watched also a short version of 'The Nativity'

But the BEST part was getting to Skype with Justine for an hour!

She is happy and doing well and it warms our hearts!

Then after Christmas, Alexi and Heavena came. 

They brought a little cooler weather with them,

(80's and 100% humidity was too hot and weird in December!)

Houston Fine Art Museum

Special exhibit:

Shadow Monsters

We walked in front of white screens and our shadows were projected into Monsters 

that would appear on the wall above us.

Our very own Monster shadows! 

It was really fun!

Papi loved the Pre-Colombian Art!

I loved the african Elephant head...

Food truck for Lunch across the street.

Papi had never seen such a huge copious TEXAS Hot Dog in his life!

Souvenir Photos

We only saw less than half of the exhibits. 

A whole day can and should be spent there!

Thursdays are free and have extended hours till 9pm!

We had other plans that evening;

Like a Halloween/Chili Cook Out at our Church!

Justine's Mission Call

A couple of Months ago, Justine to our surprise, 

announced that she was open to the idea of serving a mission!

We got really exited for her.

I told her that if she decided to go, she would never regret it!

Both Mike and I had wonderful experiences serving in the England Coventry Mission.

We loved our time there and have very fond memories.

A lot of those memories are serving together in Birmingham - where we met! :)

She got everything done in Hawaii as far as meeting with her bishop and Stake President.

And getting her papers ready, they were sent from there.. 

We got her assignment letter a few days before she got here today.

She opened it right after Emric got his Patriarchal Blessing.

  Alexi and the Johnsons were also present.

Justine had just gotten off the plane!

So here she is, opening her mission call:

Baltimore Maryland Mission reporting the 11th of February 2015 to the Provo MTC

We are so HAPPY for her!!!!

Like 2 Peas in a Pod

Alexi & Heavena

Alexi

Here are my favorite pictures of Alexi.

I love my firstborn.

The first to teach me what it means to be a mother.

Stretching my capacities to love, care & protect another more than oneself.

Freely forgiving me for my mothering blunders and shortcomings.

I loved his long morning hugs as he woke up, it was the first thing he did: 

Hug his mommy.

I don't remember when those daily hugs stopped.

Alexi as a kid, always had a curious-fun-inquisitive-quick mind,
knew what he wanted and gave it 100%.

Now a man, dealing with a lifelong disease, he is an example of quiet courage, endurance and hope.
Oh and still has a fun quick mind! :)

In Search of the "Perfect" Family Picture...

Trying to take the perfect family picture is an adventure to say the least!

Ask any family, well, I should say, ask the mom of any family, 

because she seams to be the one - and the only one - who really cares.

Everyone else has to be bribed, dragged and begged to be there.

It can be quite stressful - for the mom.

Among the stresses:

Clothes that need matching. 

Zits, that later will need editing. 

Siblings who annoy each other. 

Hair that looks all wrong. 

Participants not looking in the camera. 

Individuals who can't stop talking. 

Intentional and un-intentional funny and/or weird faces.

The wind that picks suddenly up.

 Closed eyes, half closed eyes.

And I could go on and on... 

Besides all those challenges, in my opinion, one of the most important component of a great family picture is the location!

I obviously have not found the right place here in Houston!

And this place was all wrong!

I really do not like this background...

I  R E A L L Y do not like it.

Almost worth getting everyone dressed up again and dragged and bribed and begged again.

N A 

It will have to wait for another year or 2...

 This is the reality of Family picture taking.

And this is an 'in between' capture.

Love it!

New Year's Movie & Family Time

As tradition would have it, we went to see a family movie on New Years day.

At the Dinner and a movie theater.

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"

A Great Refreshing Beautiful Family Movie.

We LOVED it! 

I also lOVED spending this day all TOGETHER!

(we were a little squished in the 5 seater car the 6 of us! Emric was at a new year's party with freinds.)

We are so blessed to have such a beautiful Family!
I am blessed to have such a wonderful life companion...

 Sisters

Alexi & Heavena

My 2 favorite pictures from the shoot! :)

Impromptu Photo Shoot

Heavena joined us yesterday for the rest of Alexi's stay until the 9th.

She left the freezing cold up north to hang with our family in warmer temperatures.

We are happy to see her, especially Lexi! :)

We took a few pictures in our back yard.

I like this weird photo!

Trying to get one good picture where everyone looks Perfect: IMPOSSIBLE