May 2021

As May approached the COVID cases are growing quickly and so I assumed we would have some lockdown restrictions. In preparation I sent Luke out to get the supplies for some house projects I had in mind that we could work on while we were home more than usual. 

The kids love helping on DIY projects. 

In the downstairs guest/play room there is a trundle bed. The bottom bed rolls out on a board set on wheels. I put the mattress up on the top bed and we painted the wood board on the bottom. 

We counted the kids lego sets and they helped me plan a cityscape that would incorporate all their sets with land, sand, water and road as needed. It turned out great and the kids play with it every day! 

We also built floating shelves to display the kid's bedtime stories on in their room. 

The kids loved painting a couple of accent walls in their room. 

We hung stars on their ceiling and wall as well as hexagon name signs and cork boards to pin up their favorite photos. They are so so happy with their fun new room design. I really love it too. 

Ezra is very kind to join Madelyn in tea parties. He is in it for the chai and cookies. 

The kids are such a great helpers in the kitchen. We tried a new recipe that has brownies on the bottom (being made by Ezra) and chocolate chip cookies on the top (being made by Madelyn). 

Giving our dog Sadie a bath out back. 

One of our favorite outings to go to the Chocolate Room for fondue. Since all the restaurants are closed, we ordered their set online and have been having making fondue at home. Its not as fun as getting out but it is still delicious! 

Madelyn lost her first tooth! We celebrated with tooth shaped sugar cookies. 

Madelyn's class had "career day" where each kid chose what they wanted to be when they grow up. Madelyn decided she wanted to be a chef. We have been watching Master Chef Junior with the kids so I think she is inspired. 

Mid-May the kids go on break for a month and half and our tradition is to celebrate when they go on break and when they start back up with cake. This time we had cake, samosas, burfi and jalebi. All our favorites! 

With school out we have had more time for playdates with friends. 

I usually take a morning jog around the neighborhood. One day I walked in to find these two praying together after their morning Bible reading and had to snap a quick picture. 

We have an area upstairs that we use to play golf and Luke designed this fun little sign to hang up. 

I ordered seeds and soil online and we planted seeds before. Some of them have begun to sprout so we transferred them to bigger pots. Madelyn especially loves working with plants. 

Making the eggs and bacon for breakfast.. I'll be out of a job soon! haha 

We started a plan where the kids earn some pocket change for reading. They collect stickers through the month and then at then end of the month 10% is for savings, 10% is for giving and 80% can be spent. We went the last day of the month to spend their hard earned money on some fun crafting supplies and they loved it! 

 

April 2021

We landed in India April 1st. Our friend came over with us and it was so much fun to experience the travel together and show her our city. 

A couple of days after arriving was Easter. 

I had brought some special treats from America for their baskets. 

We decided to order lego kits and split the pieces into their different eggs for their Easter egg hunt. It was awesome. Ezra's eggs were blue and Madelyn's were pink. 

3 days after arriving the kids started back to online school for their new school year. The timing worked out really well. Online school isn't as good as in-person but it will be a while until society is comfortable sending their kids to school. I'm just thankful to have the teachers teaching them each day instead of me. 

We had a chai tea party and introduced our friend to all our favorite snacks. 

The kids enjoying the golf simulator we brought back with us. 

I always love buying new plants. 

Madelyn also enjoying working with dirt and plants. 

We were so thankful to get back to work and meet with friends and partners. 

Some even welcomed us back with cake and celebrations. 

After months of riding electric scooters, the kids learned to ride their bikes without training wheels within minutes. 

Minigolf in the house is a favorite of theirs.  

We also started making pizzas on the weekend. 

The kids got lots of legos for gifts while in the States so we broke them apart, bagged them and packed them. Then, when we arrived here, the kids had plenty of lego sets to put back together. It was like begin gifted with them twice. 

While we were in the States we dreamed of the Pirates of the Grill restaurant. 

It did not disappoint. 

Cookie making with my little helper. 

While we were gone, a Hard Rock Cafe opened in town. 

More sweet photos with sweet friends that we were finally able to see again face to face. 

The end of April is Madelyn's birthday. We started the day with a stack of bacon.. her favorite. 

We had planned a big birthday party for her with all of our friends but the COVID cases began to rise and we changed plans for a smaller family party with our best friends who live down the street. 

Madelyn chose a Paw Patrol themed party. 

She was so excited for a tea party with her new fancy tea set with her best friend Nysa. 

Madelyn has really come out of her shell this year and has been so excited to go out with us to new places and people. 

After a hot days work, a milkshake is a great reward. 

We also started the kids back in their golf lessons. 

We love the Chocolate Room in town which has a lot of great food including fondues. 

April was a busy blur of reconnecting with people, getting into a good schedules and adjusting back to this pace of life but it was full of great memories. 

 

March 2021

We spent most of March with friends and partners in Nashville. We love road trips and were excited for the adventure and fellowship. 

The kids are so big now that riding in the car is a breeze especially with a DVD player and headphones. 

Our friends welcomed us to Nashville with Tennessee themed gifts. The kids especially loved their matching Volunteer shirts. 

We stayed with dear friends who were so wonderful. D had a whole garage with tools that Ezra was in love with. They cut spare wood and made a doll house. Ezra loved it! 

There were trails in the neighborhood and beautiful Spring weather. 

We finished the school year and went out to celebrate! The kids school year runs from April through March. This was a hard year of lockdowns, online school and tons of travel. I have never been more thankful and proud to complete a school year. 

We started a new tradition of annual Mommy/Daugther and Father/Son trips. The boys went on adventures around Nashville and Madelyn and I went for a trip to Denver to visit my high school best friend and her daughters. It was so great! 

We found some snow to play in. 

We have been making memories for over 15 years. What a precious blessing. 

I love this picture of Madelyn and I. 

There are few things better than hot cocoa, cake pops and friends. 

The girls snuggling for a sleep over. 

Back in Nashville we took our friends out for some good Indian food to celebrate getting our Indian visas. 

Sweet memories with D

And also with Kat

We found a great bakery in downtown Franklin. 

After a few weeks of sweet memories we went back to Texas to spend time with family before we headed back to India. 

We celebrated Easter early. 

The kids loved egg hunting. 

We also celebrated Madelyn's birthday early. 

Some last pictures with my side. 

We went down to Luke's family before flying out. 

We celebrated Luke and Madelyn's birthday together. 

And we did another egg hunt. 

After last goodbyes with family we packed our bags and headed home to India!