A wonderful month with Ama & Grandpa Buz

We had the blessing of Kim's parents coming to Lithuania to be with us for 5 weeks! Now that we have a spare bedroom & an extra bathroom, we had plenty of space so we were all comfortable here together. The best part was all the time they got with the kids -- they are the first family to meet Isak! And it wasn't until their 2nd week here when someone at LCC asked me if we had them come specifically to help us during the busy start of the new academic year that I realized how perfect the timing of their visit really was. With my (Kim's) new job as Vice President of Student Life, the start of the year was incredibly busy & demanded long hours at LCC. Having my folks at home with the kids & then coming home to a home-cooked meal from mom each evening was a tremendous gift!!

Some of the special events Ama & Grandpa Buz were here for:

• the start of Ieva's 2nd year of preschool
• the start of LCC's academic year
• Isak started to smile often, started holding his head up & babbling a lot
• Ieva's 4th birthday
• the re-start (after a summer break) of our church, the International Christian Fellowship
• Isak's baby dedication in our church
• the start-up of a ladies Bible study that my mom attended with me
  

It was a WONDERFUL 5 weeks together!

September 1st - the first day of school at the celebration in author's square

In Kim's office

His shirt says "That's it! I'm calling Grandma!" :)

The beautiful flowers we got at the market

An armload of love

The quilt Ama made (one of her 1st!)

playing in Sculpture Park

Ama was really good at getting Isak to smile!

Looking all grown up...in Mama's shoes

the kiddos

fun with Grandpa

Corn-holing with Sophie & Dad at LCC's Community Day celebration

double zonked

enjoying one of the last sunny & warm days at an outdoor cafe

Ieva & Grandpa watching the Intercultural Olympics at the velodrome

feeding birds from the ferry with Erik & Becky Johnson on the way to Nida

all smiles

playing together

Happy 4th birthday, Ievute!

starting the wallpaper project in Ieva's room (which ended with the insulation & drywall being replaced due to wetness & mold!)

Steve Dintaman led Isak's dedication

at the International Christian Fellowship after the dedication

apple picking in the Dinatman's yard

Ieva turns 4

Last Friday, September 25th, was Ieva's 4th birthday. Where has the time gone? Having baby Isak to compare to now makes her seem even taller & more grown up. She's as smart & as strong-willed as she can be. She loves to sing & dance & draw & paint. She can write her name already! Where has the time gone? But this blog isn't a lament of time lost, it's a celebration of another great year passed & the anticipation of another great year ahead.

It's been really special for Ieva to have her Ama & Grandpa Buz here with us this month, and especially to have them celebrate her birthday with her. On Friday she took birthday muffins to the kids in her preschool, and then had a family birthday dinner at home that evening. We gave her family presents -- the best being the pink scooter from Ama & Grandpa -- just what she's been asking for! But she was also thrilled that Ama & Grandpa hand-delivered presents from her cousin Eli & Grand Aunt Shelley as well!

Thanks for the Madeline books, Aunt Shelley!

On Saturday afternoon we had a party at an indoor play area in a mall. We've never gone this route before, but since many of Ieva's friends are pretty high energy kids, we thought it would be the safest & most low-stress option. And I'm SOLD!! The place was fabulous! It had a big carpeted room with an play structure and 2 small party rooms on the side. We could order-in pizza and then we brought our own cupcakes & juice. The place decorated our room with balloons & colored flowers all over the walls! Ieva & her 6 friends played their hearts out for an hour while the parents happily sat & chatted. After two hours, the kids were exhausted, we were all stuffed on pizza & cupcakes and we came back home to an un-touched apartment. It was a fantastic party -- for both kids & parents!

Ama & Grandpa Buz outside the party room. Notice the nice blue booties all the grown-ups had to wear over their shoes?

Pizza in the party room - yum!

Isak got to sit up in the front of the stroller for the 1st time to watch the action!

The party crew: Charlotte, David, Ieva, Sophie, Sonshyne, Hevenlee & Erik

Happy Birthday, Ievute!

Isak Update

We realize it's been WAY TOO LONG since we last posted photos of baby Isak (& his big sister, too). It's been a busy past few months for us, but enough of our excuses...

So here is a chronilogical look at our kids since the end of June. Isak is now a healthy & happy 3-month-old & Ieva will turn 4 at the end of the month!

Ieva & her friend Avery in Vilnius before coming home to Klaipeda.

Isak's first bath at home. Ieva got to help!

3 weeks old.

His first outfit (it was Ieva's first, too!)

The way he spends 80% of his time!

3 weeks old with his big sister

Such a serious face...

In Sculpture Park, July 20, 2009

Ieva (3 & 10 months old) & Isak (5 weeks old)

Ieva & Isak

Isak's Temporary Residency Permit (TRP) card photo

Ieva "doing her hair" in July

Isak & Kim in July

Ieva helping Isak have his 1st bottle @ 5 weeks old

His 1st smile!!! (6 weeks old)

Isak & his kitty-brother, Asti. Who's bigger?

Big Boy!

Trying out some tummy time

Big Yawns & Happy Smiles

Kim, Ieva & Isak (8 weeks old)

Big smiles at 11 weeks!

fun in the bath at 11 weeks

Andrew & Ieva, late August 09

Grandpa Buz is here to visit! Isak, 11 weeks old

Ama is here, too! They're the 1st family members to meet Isak!

Trip to the beach, late August 09

Popsicle mouth & bundled boy, Sept 2, 2009

sweet face...just 3 months old

zonked.

September 1st...the first day back to preschool for Ieva!