Chillin

The boys are doing wonderful!!! I love these little feet he loves to just sit back and chill. Kristal, no picture ever seems good enough--we need you!!!

Pit stops

Here we go!!!

Thank you, Doug, for my little treat (um, I think you drank it though). So, after years of my husband faithfully working and never a complaint- he put in his notice and we took a big step of faith. So, we are off on a trip to Wisconsin to see Great Grandma and Grandpa and then to Indy for a little time with the Kottke side. We are taking steps towards Brazil and we are coveting your prayers.

Mom and Dad, it's that Columbia River we always talk about. It was beautiful.


Just thought I would show you what 6 sleeping children look like. Its ok, I couldn't see them either. Yes, Romans lips are really that big. We really were having fun, even at this point.

The last few weeks

This had to be posted, because he is such a stink it seemed a miracle he actually let the Dr. check his eyes out. We need this memory.

We had apointment after apointment and we were often on the run ...this was a treat day after 24 vaccines. The treat for me was having Rhaquie and Grandma. What would I do without you? Love you so much!!

We have been so blessed!

Teeth, eyes, shots, and on and on and on....we had 1 more week of insurance and wow, did we use it!

Now he's on the move

Now Roro is on the move. He wants to see what all the excitement is about in this shower thing. Grandma, he misses you.

Salvador

We are in Salvador. This city is the 4th largest in Brazil.

There are apartment buildings everywhere you look. It is exploding here in Brazil and there is a tremendous need for Christ.

Friendships

There are friends that fall straight from Heaven into your lap. Regina was one of those. Regina was our pastor's wife in Goiania (where Darius and Zayin were born). It just brings me to praise God when I even try and comprehend how 2 people from different worlds could have such a wonderful friendship because of Christ. She was able to come from Sao Paulo to Recife to come and visit..it led to lots of late nights with laughing and crying.

The cupcakes

Brazilians know how to throw parties and made the cupcakes look amazing!

Karen- a sweet friend-made the fabulous, perfect, wonderful designs for decorating them. It really was the final touch that put them over the top!!!

We made 1000 and it was a few days work!! We made the cupcakes on Friday and Monday we spent frosting and decorating.

I believe this is the first male brazilian to ever help make cupcakes. : ) What a man! I was so grateful for Doug, Queta, Fernando...and a few extra hands! We had 4 recipes and it seemed each time it took a few batches to get the ingredients right, we had to bring in a different oven, and make a few trips to the store buying 20 kilos of sugar; but they must not have been too bad-we had to start protecting them and about 70 just disappeared. Darius wanted to know if it was just like Cupcake Wars--not exactly!

We made it!

Recife, Brazil had rained for several days and the roads were more like rivers.

Doug said he got more done on this flight than in the last week-he read a whole book. It was pretty exciting for him. : )

We took 30 hours to get to our destination...but really we didn't mind too much. It was fun to be together and I spent time praying for many of you.

quick update

A quick update :
We are always amazed to see how God is building His church!! Doug and I have been here in Brazil for several days and it almost seems surreal. We see how the gospel-Christ has been replaced and our burden for Brazil is confirmed, yet it will take a work of God to bring us here. To bring a family here will not be a easy thing. To cross the road even seems difficult, seriously. We are daily giving our lives to God and asking for His guidance. Please continue to pray and we are so excited to post pictures and more from the trip on our new blog leamans4brazil.com. It seems the earth is groaning for Christ's return--come, Lord, quickly come!

Friday night pizza

"I'm making holes in mine like they do at Cosco".

He took the challenge and ate the whole thing.

67

This is for mature readers only: Ok, so the bad news first. Yes, this was my Friday night. All of you young pups getting cute and having a big night out...this is real life. Organizing socks. I kept getting after the big boys for wearing unmatched socks. They were thinking this was fine and dandy seeing as their big cousins do it....16/17 year olds mind you. Fine, but really there came a point where I had to see what was going on. Then reality hit: 67 unmatched socks. I have a designated spot for the unmatched ones out of the laundry and the stack had grown impressively-hence a little extra guilt to sit and "do socks". Thankfully we are provided with hand me down socks...but still a little taste of humble pie. I really try, honestly, I really try to stay on top of every single detail around here... So, here goes: the final story. I do believe after all these years that the washing machine does eat socks. I was in denial as are most of you--especially the judgemental ones reading this blog, but you should see my washer--it's huge!!! But just in case we find one in a crack or cranny...I still have my "lone sock stash". I think I have Jaiden's lost sock, Lisee. : )

So Brave

3 stitches and all done

So brave, so brave, so brave.

"Boys will be boys". And yes they will. Sollie Thur. night banged his head right into the wall and got a little "splitting open" action.

"prison"

It doesn't look like the little ones minded that they were made a "prison". The big boys wanted a little peace and quiet, so they tried to use a little psychology to keep them out of their room and far away. It was even Titus's job every few minutes to take them more toys to keep them happy.

Thanks Billy!!!

What a fun day! We got to visit one of the the Gig Harbor firehouses. It was pretty exciting to see the big rigs pull out and have their sirens on.

That is the cutest fire chief ever.

Teething is hard

A little more cupcaking

Ok, so we are on a run here. I really do need all your help!!! Ok, so the recipe search is still on . . . but there are a few criteria: no box cake mixes and no yummy sour cream. This is because all of this practicing is for an event in Brazil that I am going to try and make 500 cupcakes for. They don't have sour cream and I can't do boxed mixes. Keep the recipes coming!

cupcake time

We are running some cupcake testing around here. We have a big event coming and I need to try out some recipes. If you have any fabulous recipes please let us know!!!

Wedding weekend.

So, we had the best babysitters and got to go out a little on the town for a wedding weekend.

Thanks Ian and Hannah!

Wedding day was a blast. . . Lukas ate enough sugar for us all and Titus didn't want to leave. I thought Titus hugged the bride a little too long personally. Later than night he asked me if he didn't get married would he turn into a monk. Darius said he would be like Luther even with his haircut. Ug.

Look whose 2!!!

Lukas turned 2 and look what he can do. Climb out of bed. Entertain us daily . . . and

He has now allowed out of the cart at costco for lunch. Yes, he fell on his head, but every single one of them has. I think I liked him strapped in better, but he was so happy.