Surprise!!! We are in Brazil!!

 Now some people are going to be really disappointed because they knew we were going and on top of that information they still expected some cool surprise.  Sorry!!  This was it.  The reason I've been so tired is none other than getting ready to go, trying to wean Nadia (not fully but some) and being genuinely concerned about the lives of other people we care about.  Well, now that we are here (half a world away) I must say that it becomes easier to give things over to the LORD but our thoughts and prayers are with you during these difficult times.  Man, this life can be tough but it only makes us long even more so for Jesus' return. 
Here is our first picture at the Vancouver airport - it snowed the night before we left and I have a whole story about those events that I wrote on the plane but I don't have the document with me right now so I will publish that one later.  Needless to say, it was VERY hard to leave the children - for both of us.  I was not expecting that from Will but it's good to be surprised and see the softer side of one's husband.  Will just returned from a meeting and I'm running short on time here so I'll just quickly get this first day done and hopefully tomorrow...I can get the rest done. 
It's been surreal being here and the things we have seen and done are just so different then our lives back in Canada.  Now that we have started to experience life here I am very eager for the children to come and also see how they are so blessed and how much they take for granted.  I will relay all the differences tomorrow (similarities too!) but for now you shall just have to see the boring airport pictures and know that more are coming :).  We love you all and miss you even more!!!

Eating breakfast before our first flight - that's not me folks (although it looks like it) that's Suzanna, my cousin.  She is on Mission Board with Will and I am just the tag along.  



Last Post Before Surprise

Nadia Turns One!!

November 12th was Nadia's birthday but we had her birthday party on the 13th.

You always get help when you have older siblings!!

I asked Will to take pictures of the gifts so I could remember the day, not so I could show off all her cool presents. Here Nadia is opening her first gift of a duplo building tower. She loves to play with it.

As you can see!!

The tissue paper is more fun than the gift.

This gift is special for the very reason that Nadia is named after my one and only cabbage patch doll: Nadia Greta. Will did not like the flow of the middle name so we made it Nadia Lynn.
Call it wierd if you want - I always loved the name and he picked out Aleana's name so there you go :). This little Cabbage Patch dolly's name is Marie Ingrid.
I'm sure you will see more of her in the future.

A cute outfit from Mom and Dad - far too practical and uninteresting!!

She did like the book though.

Nadia is very kinesthetic.

The candle and perhaps our boisterous singing scared her.

I don't remember what I was doing here.
Singing???

"I still don't like this Mom"

"I don't want to blow - I want to touch it!"

Poor girl was not allowed any cake because of her wheat allergy - I was not organized enough to make her a special one (sorry Nadia). Instead, I allowed her to lick icing off her fingers.

I think she's feeling better now.
We love you and are so thankful for all the blessings you have given us in your first year.

We thank God for you and your special presence in our lives every day!!

In awhile I hope to publish Nadia's birth story as told by her doula.

I have to do some other important things first :).

More Dolly Days and Pumpkin Puree

Today I shall have to do a double post (not so hard because I download all the pictures at a seperate time) to make up for yesterday - I apologize to all my dear fans - tehe.

Just to keep you guessing, tomorrow shall be my last post before the surprise and there may be a few days before I get to blogging for a very good reason.
So here is Nadia with her newest trend.


I can't get enough of taking dolly pictures.
I still have to capture the wiping her mouth moment - with a sock in this picture, but anything will do for Nadia!!

We pureed some pumpkin and I loved the orange so much I took all these pictures.

It looked better in person :(.

I thought maybe the white contrast would help but it did not.

Instead, it attracted the attention of this little girl.

I think I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves.

This is the part where I stopped taking pictures and took it away.

What a bummer for Nadia!! !