This week...

Enjoying::  my yellow tulips

Looking forward to::  Homemade pizza tonight

Putting away::  All things "winter"

Reading::  One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp

Sometimes wishing::  that I lived on a farm

Thankful::  that after 2 more visits to the hospital, the Dr's decided that Luke's leg would not have to be drained :)

Baking:: chocolate chunk cookies

Checking out::  THIS 

Happy Weekend to you! 

Signs of Spring...

:: baseball caps instead of stocking caps

:: puddles instead of snow

:: tennis shoes instead of boots

:: blue skies instead of gray

:: swinging

:: flowers

:: teeter tottering

::  rolling around in the grass

:: and more crazy fun swinging!

Abby's Party...

 On Friday, we celebrated Abby's birthday with a "cooking party".  The kids created chef hats, wore aprons and got their hands dirty making pizzas and decorating cupcakes :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Three of my most favorite people have birthdays this week!  :)
Happy Birthday Brad, Abby and Memoo!

Scenes from the weekend...

Friday::
Our weekend started by welcoming Abby back home from her ski trip (in one piece I might add)
and then we were off to Luke's school for their International Family Night.  I asked Luke what he wanted me to make, as we were supposed to bring foods that represented our home country.  Can you believe he wanted cornbread! :)  So we made cornbread muffins, paired with some chili.  Pretty American, don't you think?

Can you find me serving up the chili to the masses...

Along with bringing food, you could also wear traditional clothing. 
Here is our good friend, Whitney representing her home State~

 

that shirt speaks volumes doesn't it?

Saturday::
Levi was invited to a fun birthday party
and Luke sat around the house, continuing to let his leg heal

the highest point in this picture is his knee, and that big colored bump is the hematoma that is continuing to stick around.  If it is not significantly decreased in size by Thursdsay, then they are talking about having to aspirate that fluid from it. ouch!  Please pray that the swelling continues to go down.

And as per usual on Saturday, I did some grocery shopping.  See me with my granny cart...

(I thought my shadow looked pretty cool...)


Sunday::
We started off the day right with cinnamon rolls

Levi was certainly excited!

After breakfast, Luke continued to work on all of the schoolwork he has to make up

Milka lounged on the couch

Levi worked on a puzzle

and Abby played with her dolls

then since the weather was so nice, Brad put the kiddos to work on the terrace...trying to get it ready for Spring...which is coming by the way!

A lovely weekend of playing, working and resting and now we are off to church!

It feels like Spring!

and I like it! :)

Weekend Update...

This weekend was a lovely time in the mountains!  The retreat was a nice mixture of fellowship, studying, worshiping, eating and playing.

Brad and Abby were home just long enough to unload and then re-load the car, and then they were on the road again.  Abby's class left by train this morning for their ski week near Salzburg, and because we were still on our church retreat Abby needed to be taken by car this evening.  Brad will spend the night there (as it is about a 4 hour drive) and then return in the morning.  Abby will return back home by train on Friday.  Can you tell that she was excited? :)

Budding photographer and the latest on Luke...

 

  I was clearing the photos from my camera and I came across these.  At some point in the week, Abby played photographer!  She has a pretty good eye. :)

This last picture of Luke says a lot.  This is how he has been spending his days...camped out on the couch or in his bed with his leg elevated.  He has been listening to a lot of audio books and has been trying to stay caught up with his homework (he missed this entire week of school).

Yesterday, Brad took him back to the hospital per Dr's orders, and after removing his cast they determined that he needed another one.  His leg continues to be quite swollen and painful.  They also did another x-ray, and it was the same as the last time.  I do not understand how the x-ray is inconclusive, but yesterday's Dr. seemed to think that something is in fact broken.  Luke will return to the hospital next week for another evaluation.

So, even though we were hopeful that Luke would be on the mend enough to go on our church retreat this weekend, it seems that it will not be possible for him to manage the trip.  Thankfully, some of our dear friends, the Mason's, have offered to keep him and his bum leg for the weekend :)  He is actually looking forward to hanging out with his buddy, Andrew and he continues to be in good spirits!

Thanks for your prayers.  Keep them coming... for Luke's leg and our church retreat this weekend.

Celebrating 14 years ago...

Exactly 14 years ago yesterday, Brad asked me to be his bride.  Obviously, I said "of course I will" and it has been an adventure ever since!  We try to make time for dates...but we aren't so good at it!

Last night we made the time and had a wonderful dinner at Eulennest and then we had Fondue at Süssi.
Both of these restaurants are located on Operngasse, right next to our church and we highly recommend them if you are in Vienna!

Every time we make the time for a date, we always say "we should do this more often"!  It makes us better spouses and parents :)

A look at our calendar....

* Last week, we celebrated Lindsay's 25th birthday

* Today, Luke still remains home from school as a result of his leg injury :(

* Tomorrow, our sweet, fun, beautiful and smart niece turns 15!

Happy Birthday Elisabeth!

* This Weekend, we are headed to the mountains for a church retreat

* and Next week, Abby will be skiing with her class ALL WEEK!