Packin' Out

Or rather, "packed" out. All our boxes of stuff have been loaded into big wooden crates, to make the long journey via ship to our new pink house in Bulgaria. Well, except for one lonely box that gets to go by air, full of owie-pokie foam swords, 2 little yellow bicycles, and a couple of other toys. You know, the important stuff. And let me tell you, we are really missing those foam swords! In the last couple of days, we have all fallen victim many, MANY times to whackings with nice hard sticks by super-apologetic-after-the-fact Bran...just can't help himself... Anyway, it sure is empty around here! Feels kinda nice...nice and free.

This time next week, we'll be on a long flight up to VA... Doesn't feel quite real yet!

(Notice how Bran is armed with one of his nice whacking sticks. These are collected any time we're outside, and then seem to be stashed all over the place. His secret little arsenal.)

Going for rides on the dolly was lots of fun. They didn't let me have a turn.

Back to the tents, after packing up their cribs. We left them unzipped, and found them like this. Nuala had totally moved herself, her blankie, and her princess doll to snuggle by Bran. It was really cute and sweet. And her bum's up in the air, which makes it about SIX times cuter and sweeter.

Also, they aren't going back into their cribs once we get to Bulgaria! Sad, huh? We figure we might as well put 'em into "big" boy and girl beds, just let the embassy furnish those for us. So we get to do some fun sheet shopping! Nuala wants Dora or princesses, she goes back and forth, and Bran wants "owie-pokie knight" sheets. I should specify, that when Nuala's a princess, she and Bran always refer to her as an "owie pokie princess" because she is well armed and fights trolls right alongside "owie pokie knight" Bran.

Not packout related, but look at these pretty orange flowers blooming at the beginning of winter down here! Surprise, suprise!

ALSO when the aloe vera flowers are at their finest. You should see the huge spreads of aloe when they're in bloom. And you could, if I took a picture, but that hasn't happened yet. They look beautiful, though, take my word.

Two of our gardeners hard at work this past Monday. The little one is not a regular gardener, that's Bran ;) He wanted so badly to go out and work with them! He is just so sweet and cute and growing up way too fast!

I'm so grateful that I've been blessed with these little kiddos; even on rough days I'm thanking Heavenly Father for them throughout the day. On those days, sometimes it's followed with a "but..." as in, "but please help him to actually listen to me!" or "but please help me be more patient!" or "but please let them nap for about 3 hours!" Ha! As if. That one is seldom answered with a "yes." Ah, well! I'm still thankful! ;)