technology

Ok, I'm not sure why but it published my latest post "The final countdown" before a previous post.  So now it's all out of order.  Sorry if you are totally confused.  It's probably an easy fix, but i'll just make it worse if I mess with it!

And so it begins

This weekend we moved into an apartment.  It's a really nice apartment, but it is a 2 bedroom.

4 kids, 2nd floor apartment = loads of fun 

Let's just say that within the first 30 minutes of moving into the apartment, management was at our door...  and no, it wasn't a welcoming committee.  There had already been a complaint against us.  

It is going to be an adjustment having people live below us.  

Why, do you  ask, did we move from our lovely home into an apartment?  Well since I have been so diligent in blogging it's no wonder most of you don't know we are moving.  In less than a month we will be moving to Germany.  Yes, as in Europe.  And yes, I am crazy.

Dudi was offered a job that seemed to good to pass up and we both felt good about, so after praying, a brand new van and promises of bi-monthly trips around Europe, I agreed.

We are actually really excited, but after seeing my van and all my worldly possessions boxed and shipped last week, it is starting to really sink in.

Is it too late to back out :) !!

The final countdown...

I don't know how, but we survived a month in the apartment...with only 2 complaints! 

This time next week we will be getting ready to board a plane to Germany. That seems so surreal. I'm not sure what lays in store for us, but I know we are suppose to go and that it will be a time that we will never forget. Everyone keeps asking me if I am nervous. My answer is surprisingly "no." I am actually really excited. We really felt like we are suppose to go. The Lord has paved the way from getting the job, to finding renters for our house, and finding a house there, etc. Another reason I'm not nervous, but extremely excited, is because I am done with apartment living!! I'm sure Liv will be excited to have a bed again too! She's been a trooper.
We did get to go out with one of our favorite couples this weekend and had a great time as always. That's one of the hard parts about moving. Although we will make friends there, we will miss our friends here so much!! Since we are coming back I prefer to think of this move as an extended vacation-it makes "goodbyes" a little easier!

So there are no pics- Dudi is asleep and it keeps giving me this weird message when I try to upload some.

The best utube videos around

I have seen some pretty hilarious u tube videos out there (and please, feel free to send me links to your favorites-really).  But, nothing out there beats the Mormon messages at lds.org.  Last night I showed 2 of them for FHE lesson-"Sanctify yourselves" and "Good things to come."  They are 2 of my favorites so far.  The kids really liked them, and the messages are so powerful.  In fact, Olivia asked if she could watch more of them today.  If you haven't seen them, go watch them- I dare you to get through them without crying.  As a mom of mostly boys, "Sanctify yourselves" was especially powerful (make sure to pull out the kleenex, Lauren :)).  They are both told by Elder Holland and his spirit is overwhelming.  I love that man.

Watch it and thank me later.

2011 edition...(and I've got proof!)

There was laughing, there was crying, there was drama and foul play. 

All the ingredients for a great novel (and this post is probably long enough to qualify as a novel) but NO, it was...

the FUN RUN!!!!!

We met up once again with our old nemesis.  

Asher had his game face on that day.

 The boy was bookin' it.  He was so adorable.  He ran the individual mile for the 1st grade and I was so proud of him (and his teammate-dad).  You can imagine my excitement, actually, no, you probably can't imagine how excited I was when I saw him come around the corner near the front of the pack-He was going to place.  (Side note:  The top 4 that finish in each grade level get a ribbon and Micah has come in 5th EVERY year.  Last year was Asher's 1st year running and he didn't realize he was racing for a ribbon (these ribbons are a big deal).  This year he wanted a ribbon!)  Back to the story...He was going to place.  Only one other 1st grader had crossed the line!  I knew he would be ecstatic. DUNT, DUNT, DUUUU.... Enter foul play.  I ran over to find him not jumping for joy, but in tears.  Dudi had faded off to let him run the last stretch by himself across the finish line, so apparently when Asher ran across the line, he ran on the 2nd grade side of the road and therefore they wouldn't give him a ribbon.  Dudi said he immediately went over and told them (and come on, they have these kids in class, they know what grade they are in) and they said he crossed on the wrong side and they can't make an exception.  COME ON!  Seriously.  He's a first grader at a school FUN run,  it isn't Olympic tryouts. Plus, they don't even practice that part when they practice at school!    He was crushed. I felt so bad for him, but still so proud.  I mean, he actually came in second out of 1st grade and 5th if he had been running with the 2nd graders. 
He did awesome. 
Of course I went and ordered him a ribbon and tried to make up for it by having a family party that night.  I couldn't be prouder of him.  Then today as I was going uploading pictures I found this...

This is proof.  Do you see that boy pointing?  He is a 5th grader in charge of showing them where to go and he showed him the wrong side!!!!!   I want his name and homeroom teacher and...

Asher was actually going where he was suppose to go and the boy steered him to the other side.

OOOH!!!

Don't worry, I'll get over it one day.

On a happier and less sensitive note...

 MICAH PLACED 2ND!

WHOOO HOOOOOOO!

 He ran a mile relay with 2 of his good friends and they placed 2nd out of the 4th grade boys!

Again, I was a proud, proud mom.  I know it was a goal of his and he did it! He was the final leg of the team and it was so fun to see him come over that line.  All the kids do such a great job and it makes me a little teary.  This year the school "raced for a cure."  They could run in memory of family/friends and the boys ran in memory of a grandpa, grandma, aunt, and uncle.  I was so proud of them.

If you are one of the few who made it to this point in the post... thank you. You have saved me a few hundred dollars in therapy. 

It's a ...

 BOY! 

Jude Nikolas was born last Thursday.

We picked Jude because Dudi is a stickler on Biblical names and Nikolas is a family name on my side (a great great grandfather).  Nikolas Petrik was born in Austria where Dudi served his mission, and he died on my birth day, so we felt like we both had a bond with him.

He weighed 7.7 and 21 inches long.

He is a sweet little guy, but gave us a little scare when he was born.

He had the cord around his neck 3 times, but after getting cleaned up, he started crying and is perfect!

 siblings think he is perfect too!

We are all in love with him!

Another season...

h

Both the boys played another season of soccer.  Micah moved up in age brackets, now play in the under 11 group.  It was a lot more challenging and so much fun to watch!  He has been really practicing his footwork and it paid off.  He was the high scorer for his team and was in charge of taking all corner and penalty shots.  It has been fun to see him excel and grow over the last few years.  He's a great forward!

Asher's team was undefeated and blew out all their opponents.  He has surprised me. He's so fast, he steals the ball and dribbles down the field, and takes great shots.  It's so different from his first year when he would just stand on the field.  It's cute to see his reaction after he scores.  He had an awesome coach again this year (Dudi), and I'll miss watching all my guys on the soccer field!

Way to go Cobras and Dragons!