Our Big Birthday Boy!

Patrick Allen turned 8 yesterday! He is getting to be such a big boy! Again the days pass so quickly. 8 years is quite a long time on the other hand. It sounds contradictory I know, but thinking back on when he was born, the place, what we looked like (good Lord…Ha), what we had gone through at the time…thankfully it is all in the past.
It was a good time, to be sure, but I was never one to be too nostalgic over the past and brood to long over times gone by. I don’t think there was ever an instant when I wanted to go back into time and change some things, even to change wrong doings. I figured if they happened, they were meant to happen, and my part was to learn form the experience, and move on.
Anyway, He seemed to have really enjoyed his day. We went to a wax museum saw some pretty true to life wax figures and others that looked just like…well, wax. (Sorry weren’t permitted to take pics..)There was also an interesting mirror maze that we had to go through in order to see the rest of the gallery. It was an interesting illusion. The mirrors were tilted at just the right angle in order to not reflect our images. At the suggestion from a guide we were advised to walk through with our hands and arms outstretched. It was sound advice, at a few intervals Patrick, a little over confidant, bashed himself against a few mirrors, he had assumed the role of our guide down the maze and so went ahead of us. It was a good thing as he had been quite reluctant to go in, in the first place. He is a very cautious child and leery of doing anything just for the thrill of the thing. In some ways a mature train of thought, but at others a serious handicap. It prevents him form experiencing some fun things in young life, and has a tendency to lean toward the cowardly.
After the museum we went and had lunch at Pizza Hut. We enjoyed two pizzas immensely, quite the treat! Well, it was either Burger King, or Pizza Hut, both had great deals. In our small family we prefer Burgers over much else, but Patrick was content to try something else for a change…not that I know of too many people who will put down the offer of a pizza—except children. For the simple fact that Pizza Hut does not afford the simple commodity of a jungle gym! Children will be children!
Then it was back to the house to a home made cold fruit pie, as per Pat’s request, and jello! Then we watched “The Wild” and uncle Andrew made the kids de-cafe Frappe’s with Oreo’s and cream—the long awaited “adult treat”, that we had promised them we would make a “child” version of, therefore the de-café.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT!!!

IT has been quite a while since we have posted something. An apology is in order…Sorry. Our modem got fried about a week and a half ago during an intense tropical thunder storm. For all those out there living within the equatorial reach, will know what that is like. Beautiful in its own way, with magnificent lightning bolts clapping, each trying to outdo the other in an awesome display of power, light and electric energy. None the less the aftermath is not exactly what we, mere mortals, desire in any way-- charred modems just a small example of our inconvenience.
Anyway, we hope that the problem has righted itself after spending more then a week trying to get the new modem installed and “talking” with the wireless router…IT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED! (hopefully it will last)
We hope to be able to be posting more in the near future! (one never knows…Ha!)

Attached is picture of lightning over an ocean, not one taken from here in Veracruz but close enough to what one would experience if one would take the time to look outside the safe confinements of the four walls of your house.. Ha!

Good morning to all of you out there! Here are pictures of our dearest treasures on earth-- Patrick, Jessica and Brendon (in the arms of his Mother). I don’t know if it’s the same for all those of you out there that have children, but since ours were born the years seem to have flown by and not given us a moment to catch-up! HA! Some times I am not sure whether to be grateful or not.
It’s true that I would not trade the years, and the experiences gleaned from them for anything. It’s just that I wish there had been a few more of those restful and quiet moments…Hana is always telling me that I should appreciate this time when they are little, especially the fact that I can still boss them around, HA! She is right!
I do have to say, though, that I enjoy the children a lot more now that they are getting a little older, I feel there is more for “Dad” to do with them, then there was when they were young and depended so much on Moms “milk-station”.
Our oldest is 7, soon to be eight, on the 29th , and he is such a fun little person to be around. All of our children were extra attached to their mother. It seems just a short while ago that they, our oldest son and daughter, got used to the idea that Mom was not the only person in the universe that was any fun or that understood them. Yes, Dad was here too! Ha! Our youngest still has not gotten weaned so he is still there, with “Boob-station” on demand.

Hi there, this is us! Well, this is our second try at a blog. hope this one works.

We wanted to creat a blog for our family and friends, especialy those that we left behind in Europe, so that they can stay informed of our lives, our dreams, and our joys.

We lov eyou all so much and hope that this will have the desired effect--A smile to your face and a boost to your soul. We love you!