Apparently too much for me to write about? I’m usually one to do a lot of processing here, in writing, but I just couldn’t quite get there.

I think it’s been a long enough break. So time for some catching up:

1. We went to Mexico City at the end of October and it was amazing. Not because it’s a super glamorous place, or made our hearts go pitter-patter, but because we both felt deeply that it was the place we had been praying about. And the partnership.

2. I didn’t bring my real camera, because I hadn’t quite figured out what it would be like to care for my kids well in that crazy mega-city, and thought it best to be undistracted by things like aperture and shutter speed. Little did I know, the lack of those options could be equally distracting! I have some pictures, and I’ll post several… but they leave something to be desired.

2. Penelope loved Mexico. She still thanks God for the “orange train” nearly every night.

3. Arthur hated it. In an all-consuming, unhappiest-we’ve-ever-seen-him kind of way. But when we came back, he hated California for a full 2 weeks too, so we think it may have just been a phase.

4. After Mexico City, I increased my hours at work to help another department. It meant cool things like a raise and benefits, all while my kiddos are napping in the afternoon, but you know… that’s a couple less hours in my day. Life is a little busier, but not in a bad way.

5. Next up came an evaluation having to do with our little girl. We still haven’t wrestled through what it looks like to respect her privacy, and still be transparent about our lives, but we’re working on it. We learned a lot about our quirky (ahem. awesome) Penelope, and some unique challenges that she’ll have… just in the way she’s knit together. It’s the kind of thing we need to dive headfirst in to – gathering info, figuring out what kind of support and help is going to benefit her most, and what that means for our family. Our kind and compassionate missions agency agrees. They want us to put everything related to support-raising on hold for six-months. They were kind and quick to reassure us that we are 100% part of the reach global family, and they want to support us through this journey – but that it’s most important at this point to take care of sweet Penelope.

6. Number 5 is really, very hard for us. But we’re learning (again, and again) to trust. And hope. And wait. Pray with us?

7. Then came Thanksgiving. At just the right time, truly. We shared a meal in the barn, and then played shuffleboard in our hallway. Obviously.

8. At the beginning of this month, Casey finished the final lap of his degree. Oh the sweet, sweet feeling of completion. He technically graduated yesterday. There was much dancing in the streets.

9. Now we prep for Christmas. Isn’t this just the best time of year?

10. Why you all check this thing – pictures of the kids. Here’s a random smattering:

The compound pumpkin carving contest. We attempted (successfully) to bribe the judge. Yes!

barn shuffleboard: first edition

turkey table

zoo trip

stirring some dry beans very seriously.

Look for a full newsletter later this week, and more regular blog updates!

I’ll also refrain from pointing out any resemblance between Casey and Luke Skywalker when he destroys the Death Star.. although that comparison might not offend Casey. I won’t talk about how he likes Star Wars, either, because some things you just don’t publish on the internet, you know?

Well. Let’s be honest. This whole post probably fits under that not-for-public-consumption category, but I can’t help myself. The man has 37 electrodes attached to his scalp and has to wear a helmet when he stands up. That’s just not something you see everyday. And the wires are just so colorful. Besdies, he cut class today, and might need some proof.

Did I ever tell you the story about how one of Casey’s professors found my blog? And subsequently took us out to dinner? I had to go back into the archive and delete the post that mentioned Casey not enjoying his class. And I stopped posting my dear husband’s opinions of professors, courses, et cetera.

But I didn’t stop posting all sorts of other personal details. Like these pictures:

All kidding aside, he’s in a pretty incredible facility. They’re set up to catch a seizure in as controlled an environment as possible. Poor guy is sleep deprived (purposefully), but enduring quite well. We feel strange hoping and praying for a full-blown episode, but it would just give the doctors so much information, we can’t help ourselves.

Now that we’ve survived potty-training bootcamp, I’ll be back to blogging. Thanks for your patience. The hiatus was quite worthwhile.

chasing a crazy, giggly girl.

watching a sweet boy nap in the grass.

holding my guy’s hand.

cool breeze.

warm sun.

life is good.

(please excuse the cell phone pics)

Ten of my favorite aspects of not-trying-to-juggle-a-million-things living:

• Casey is now proficient in Penelope-talk, and only very rarely requires a translator.
• We eat together.. and even cook together, sometimes.
• That nagging “there is something else I should be doing” feeling has disappeared.
• (Exhausted)Casey took a nap and didn’t wake up stressed.
• Family day trips, and even a couple of overnight trips, are on the horizon.
• I get to see my guy love on our kids every single morning.
• Date night is never cut short by a looming quiz or paper.
• We have time to talk about fantastical plans for the future.
• We take long walks in the middle of the day.
• We can stop and laugh, excitement in our eyes, when we realize he only has one more year to go.

because outside it’s only 19 degrees…

the snowy village manor..

another favorite passtime is somersaults. i use this term with the loosest definition possible… you’ll see what i mean when you watch:

general silliness:

her pretty dance. this is the tame version, but she is still pretty shy about dancing for the camera:

…and in baby news:

well, the good news is that baby is doing great! unfortunately, though, i’m measuring the same as i did at  40 weeks with penelope. normally this wouldn’t matter, but because of the extra stress this is putting on the scar from my previous c-section, it means a vbac is becoming less likely. under typical circumstances a vbac has very minimal risk, but certain factors can make it less safe.. including induction, which would be the other logical alternative. while a repeat c-section isn’t our first choice, we’re both really thankful that the safest option is becoming more obvious. if nothing changes in the next week or so, we’re looking at a 2/5 birthday!

yeah. that’s two weeks from friday. (insert freak out here)

the hospital has been working on their wireless internet for patients, so we’re hoping to live-blog again this time, and keep everyone up to speed on that day. there are gender bets that need to be settled, after all :).

…and in casey news:

classes start next week! he’s taking hebrew syntax and exegesis, hermeneutics, and worship leadership. this schedule keeps him on track for a summer ’11 graduation date. can you believe it?! of course, it looks like there is more school up next.. but at least we’re already in that mode.

okay. i planned to write more, but i am officially out of steam. baby is already wearing me out :)

it’s gotten to the point where i am SO behind, i don’t even know where to start. a few persistent (and far away) family members have threatened my life inspired me to get blogging again. i’ll just start with the most recent and fill in the gaps here and there.

casey’s school puts on a huge fall festival every year. it’s for the entire seminary community, and everything is free. penelope and i had a blast.

check out her FIRST lollipop:

so i put it in my mouth?

(processing)

where have you been all my life?!?

at the end of the night, she was a very sticky girl. but i digress.

the carousel was also new territory. she was very contemplative, and not sure what to make of it. had she ridden it a second time, i think she would’ve enjoyed it.

at sunset they handed out little glowsticks, turned out all the lights, and started the fireworks show. penelope is one brave kid– she loved the show! not as much as glowsticks, however, which she still hasn’t parted with. they are lifeless clear tubes, and she still plays with them.

and that’s that. we came home, she took the best bath ever (glowsticks included), and collapsed into a pile of exhaustion. such a fun night.