November 2019

We began November returning to India. 

All of our 8 suitcases arrived. We've never had an issue with baggage yet which is amazing considering how much we travel. 

On our first days back we try to be out and active as much as possible. 

We also try to remind the kids all the great things our city has like parks, malls, arcades, trampoline centers, movies, friends and great food. They've never shown any preference for America versus India but we like to be proactive in supporting a positive outlook to both places. 

At the arcade in our nearby mall. 

Ezra and Luke after a kid's golf tournament in town. 

The kid's started school again and their winter uniform is so cute. It includes ties and vests. 

Our friends were in town having a baby and we made it back just in time to welcome their new son. 

We also put the new tree up with all the new decorations. It is beautiful and I love it. 

The guys who sell things at the traffic lights were selling these fun styrofoam airplanes for $2 each so we bought several to play with. 

I love this photo of Madelyn practicing her roti making skills with a friend of ours. 

Our church has an annual picnic during the amazing fall weather. 

We helped them plan games and it was SO fun! 

Love these sweet girls and the friendships that God has blessed Madelyn with. 

Some new friends moved nearby so we enjoyed a bonfire at their house one evening. 

They have a trampoline which our kids approved of. 

I love this picture of Madelyn and I at the plant shop. We were getting some new plants to replace some that had dried up.

At the driving range, one of our favorite spots. 

Sweet photo with their friend Nysa. 

My friend Laxmi and I welcoming another friend's new baby. 

The kid's school has an annual sports day, I made these over-the-top badges for Luke and I to wear. Our kids were not the fastest but they had the loudest fans.. haha! 

Playing some silly sight words games on a Saturday morning. 

Our kids get asked for pictures all the time and I love how willing they are to take a few because it makes others happy. 

A fun birthday party for Madelyn's school friend. 

Precious friends from our neighborhood that also go to our church. 

This girl loves to dress herself and she has got some sweet style. I told her to get ready for the park and this is what she considers "play wear". 

Now that the kids are speaking more in Hindi we are able to be more creative with their Hindi class. 

Madelyn and I went to a classmates house one evening for fun. 

Our friends came into town to stay with us over Thanksgiving week. We took the kids see the new Frozen 2 movie. It was great! 

Madelyn loved playing with her friend Briley. 

We had a great crowd for Thanksgiving at our house. 

We made all the traditional food and then some! 

So much to give thanks for! 

Once Thanksgiving was over we were ready to move on and start celebrating Christmas. 

I made a Christmas tree shaped brownie and the kids decorated it. 

What a sweet November full of good memories and great friends. 

October 2019

On the first day of October we landed in the States for a month of meetings and family time.  

Our first stop was Target to take in all the beautiful things and walk off some jet-lag. 

I went to Hobby Lobby as much as possible and ended up bringing back an entire Christmas tree with beautiful ornaments and ribbon. 

Our first several days we had some meetings. We stayed in a nice hotel and the kids were great at getting the school work done even while traveling. When we leave for a month or more at a time, I get a list from the teachers of what I need to cover with the kids so that they return to school up to pace with the other students. 

The kids went to Chuck-E-Cheese for the first time. We were the first ones there so they had to check all the machines. This meant that the kids were able to play every game for free. They ended up with a lot of tickets. 

Madelyn is in a huge unicorn phase and she was so cute when she asked if she could have this huge unicorn at the store. What's a mom to do.. 

The kid's first donut wall experience.. they are fans! 

We went boating and tubing with some friends one afternoon. It was a ton of fun! 

On the plane to Grandma and Grandpa's house. 

These kids are incredibly easy on planes, trains, cars.. anything!

They are great travelers. 

My parents live on a lake which I grew up on so I love sharing these moments and memories with the kids. 

Madelyn makes a really cute fisherman. 

One of Luke's great catches from the week. 

Our neighborhood was happy to share his tree swing. 

This is totally Madelyn.. all dolled up and playing with minnows. 

Fishing with Daddy. 

Ezra loved the swing too. 

Canoeing fun

Can you tell that we fished a lot..? 

Ezra explaining Hindi to my dad. :) 

Nothing says America like baseball in the yard. 

My kids favorite thing to do at Grandma and Grandpa's house.. ride the lawn mower. 

I collected Beanie Babies growing up and had hundreds. Now the kids love to play in them. We even brought a few back with us to India. 

We got out for a beautiful day of putt-putt. 

One of my favorite things to do in Mabank is meet up with my best friend from high school and her family. Her daughter and Madelyn are basically the same age. We love to get year to year updates of how they have grown. 

We went to a Fall Festival at my parent's church. 

After several days with my parents, we went to Luke's family's house. 

It started up with new toys and lots of hugs and kisses. 

Ezra loved to make breakfast for everyone in the morning. 

Playing with cousin Gage is also a favorite. 

We went to a car show in town one afternoon which was very fun. 

We also play lots of golf! 

The kids enjoyed another Fall Festival. 

For Halloween, Ezra was a policeman and Madelyn was a unicorn fairy. 

This was their first Halloween to celebrate in the States. 

Making pumpkin cookies. 

Madelyn and her unicorn with their matching pjs. 

Luke grew up going to Gattiland for pizza and arcade games so now we love to take the kids to pass on the tradition. 

Halloween night we went to cousin Gage's house to trick or treat with him. 

We had such an incredible October in the States. It was a quick trip filled with a million wonderful memories.