January 1-12

January 1:

Lazy day around the house enjoying family!

January 2: Bullers of Buchan Ellon (all closed down... never mind) :)

January 3: Back to Aberdeen... minus a sick JR (Naomi likes me to take photos of the items she likes.)

January 4: Mom and I got away to Ellon for the day, but the men and the kids stayed home and worked on lessons and LEGOS.

January 5:

Since my parents won't be in town for Naomi's birthday, they gave her her gift from them early.

And... on my parent's last Sunday in town and my Papa preached. ;)

January 6:

My parents caught the 6 am flight out of Aberdeen and headed home, the kids went back to school, and I de-Christmased our house.

January 7:

Naomi decided to have a "Frozen" party, so I designed her invitations and she addressed them for the kids in her class.

 Plus, the kids had TONS of pent up energy and it was wet, dark, and cold outside.  So, we pulled up the YouTube "Just Dance" videos and got our groove on!

January 8:

Look how pretty the sky was as the kids were coming home from school! (photos don't do it justice)

I love my Wednesday night class!  (I teach the 10-14 year olds.)

(not pictured are Georgia, Levi, and Toni)

January 9:

We are getting back in swing with our chore chart (in this post... keep scrolling).

(oh, and check out this weird "e-mail" I got...

I got nothing from no one from January 1, 1970!

January 10:

The kids and I headed to the Doolan house for a fun evening (and G had a sleep-over).

G good-naturedly posed for this photo before I cut the corn off the cob for "poor toothless". 

January 11:  

JR and I enjoyed a "date night" starting our foray into the joys and intrigues of "Sherlock".

January 12:

This weekend I was privileged to read the draft manuscript of a dear friend's novel.  It was a great read!  I can't wait until she gets this published so everyone can read it.  Seriously.  It. Is. Good!  I love having crazy talented friends.  (and in her case... she is crazy... and she is talented... and she is crazy talented)

I have accepted Kelli's challenge to take an Instagram photo for every day of the year.  You can follow me on Instagram.  My username is:  daishalynne

Thanks for keeping up with us!

~Daisha

This Past Week...

 Since last week, we have had our first encounter with National Health Services, been to the kid's "Family Friday", enjoyed the outdoors, and so on...

Gideon's hives got worse this week due to a virus that left his entire body covered in a different kind of rash.  He stayed home from school one day last week, but his hives are back under control and he's feeling better.

While feeling poorly, however, he fell out of his bed at night (didn't wake him up, though) and got a nice shiner. :)

Friday I was reminded of the "Family Fun Day" by a lady I met at the Mothers and Toddler's group that morning.  (so glad she reminded me!)

So at 2:30 (or "half 2" here in Scotland), JR and I got to have our kids show us around their new school. Both kids got glowing reports from their teachers.  Here are the photos...

 This is the story Naomi wrote and illustrated.  (She did the writing on her own!)

 Gideon showed me where they had set up an Eye Doctor's office.  (He was really distracted by his happiness to see us... and... it only being his 8th day of school there, there wasn't much "work" for them to show off.) :P

On our walk home from school, the kids got an invitation to play at the playground across the street from our house with Holly and Hannah Strachan.  So we hurried home and changed.

The 12 yr. old twins picked up our kids and took them to play while JR and I enjoyed getting some things settled for our evening plans.

JR went to the teenagers "club" time at the church building, and the kids and I joined our friends at Aden Park for a picnic dinner.  (You have to take advantage of the sun when you see it!)

Saturday I got to pick up my new bike.  (There is no photo yet because we still have to adjust the seat so that my knees don't bruise my abdomen when I ride.) ;)  But it has a basket!!!  This will help me get around town SO much faster!

Yesterday was the first morning where JR and I were both teaching classes.  I started a Primary age class for my kids and any visitors who come along, and JR is teaching the adults.

After services, we went to the Waverly Hotel for lunch with the Strachans.  It was a lovely time and a lovely meal... however, I don't think it set well with Naomi.

She insisted she wasn't feeling well enough to head to services last night, so I stayed home with her.  And I'm glad I did... she threw up 3 times (a first in her life).

She is at home with me today as she is not allowed to attend school for 48 hours.

So that's us... pluggin' along...

End of the 2012! {December 21-31}

December 21:
The kids enjoyed having lots of freedom.  We let them watch movies in bed at bedtime.  They chose to be in the same bed.

December 22:
 There was a lot of playing in the backyard...

Spray-painting "light sabers"...

And in the evening... "Sorry"...

December 23:
We joined our family at Meridian Woods.  It was great to see familiar faces.

Then we were joined at Momo's by Cheryl (or as G used to call her, "Teacher").  We love our Momo's. :)

The rest of the day we continued to take easy.

December 24:
After midnight... in the early hours of Christmas Eve... this is where I found JR... playing with the train set all by himself. :)

There's nothing like playing outside in pajamas!

The kids can swing on their own!!!!!!!!!! (finally)

We had Craft-time...

Gingerbread houses...

We got to web-cam with Kelli, Brent, Simon, and Rachel.  It was their Christmas morning.

We enjoyed the rest of our evening.

December 25:

We open gifts... played...chilled...

December 26:
More playing...
G's Lego Academy creations (for ages 8-12)

December 27:
JR had a "Man-Date" with Matt at Monks.

December 28:
My 33rd birthday...
I woke up to breakfast in bed (a la "Lady Grantham") which included a HUGE peppermint mocha from Starbucks.

The family watched "The Avengers" dvd that Gideon got JR for Christmas.

JR took me out for bison steak at Ted's Montana Grill before we saw "The Hobbit" in IMAX 3D.

It was a great birthday.

December 29:
More "chillin'"  (which is one of the reasons we love going to Debby's...)
... and a huge bubble bath...

December 30:
Our last day with Debby...
JR preached at Meridian Woods...

Then we played and chilled... and JR took some photos...

Naomi "helped" with the Cal-Tex-Mex-Mix...

 After G's haircut at SportsClips, he was looking really "big" to us.  (sniff sniff)

 Last cuddles with Grandma...

December 31:
We loaded up early and headed to Carrolton, GA to visit with the Mosiers...
The kids started playing together as if it was still an every-day thing.

We played out the last few hours of 2012 with Wii and darts, brownies, and laughter.

And... of course... there were Brian's fireworks...

Happy New Year!