Who knew I could decide spontaneously to take three children out to see fireworks, at 9pm, in their pajamas?
Who knew we could find the public display by just weaving around the roads till we saw a bunch of parked cars?
Who knew the kids would be fussy in the car, and I would lead us along the dark path to sit outside with the crowd ... still in our pajamas?
Who knew that momma's lap would just be too small for two squirmy children who want to stretch out and cuddle simultaneously?
Who knew the little girl wouldn't be scared of the booming noise?
Everybody knew the seven-year-old would love every minute!
Who knew a five-year-old could fall asleep while watching fireworks?
Who knew I could carry the two-year-old while pushing the five-year-old in the stroller?
Who knew that there would be a lot of crying when she had to walk up the stairs because her brother was completely asleep?
Who knew that it would be worth it anyway?
Tima is FIVE!!
For Tima's fifth birthday, we had a small gathering... since three of the families we would have invited are out of town, I was worried it would be too small. But we ended up with 11 kids and 12 adults! Pictured from left to right are Tony (arm) and Addie Dormish, Danya and Tima, Clyde and Tess Kertzer.
Tima was absolutely hyper from receiving so many gifts. Since I'm the person who remembers that it's appropriate to bring gifts to birthday parties once I'm there, I was surprised that everyone brought him something! And it's a good thing his big brother is well-practiced in assemblying toys. Bionicles, Legos, Transformers... we have enough spatial manipulation to make engineers proud. Maybe this is why it's such a male-dominated field!
Just a note to say that Tima started acting like a five-year-old a few months ago. He has become very helpful, especially with Ella. Often, if she's upset, he'll hug her, or run and get the object she's throwing a tantrum over. He's started to really be interested in how things work, and imagining solutions to problems (the solutions are usually quite fantastic). It's official, too, that he knows all of his letters, though N and Y are still sticky.
Tomorrow we're going to participate in a kids' fun-run in Erie, CO. At bedtime, Tima said that he would win because, "I'm going to use my super powers and you won't even be able to see my legs!"
From the Black Hole
In case you wondered, we have been swallowed up in a black hole. This transmission is reaching you with the greatest effort!
To catch up: In May, we traveled separately back to Colorado. The kids and I flew early, and every thing went as good as could be expected... for traveling alone with three kids... and the international flight being canceled! Seriously, I just had to focus on not getting anxious, since everything looked terrible, but worked out just fine. We arrived in Colorado one hour later (and the flight time was two hours shorter!) than planned. We went through the usual jet-lag stage, which is never fun. But my parents really helped and I got a two-hour nap each day! Eric arrived 10 days later, and experienced no jet lag at all. We spent wonderful time with both of our sets of parents, my sister and her family, and friends. After about 5 weeks of new-week-new-home living, we were very ready to settle into Dani and Daves' home. They are graciously letting us stay for a month, and it felt good to unpack! Although we also are experiencing the burden and stress of how much space our family of five takes up. But we are so thankful that God has provided a comfortable place to live through them, and also a wonderful car.
Now, we are in a pretty busy rhythm. Hence, the black hole of email communication! We are spending time in swimming lessons, doctors and dentist appointments, spending time with dear friends and family, keeping up with our responsibilities with the Russian campus ministry, and, oh, trying to raise support!
It is a challenge to trust God to provide for our needs, but we know that He will enable us to do that, to which He has called us. And, we are also learning how we can live on less like so many people in this economic downturn.
We have only the month of June in the Boulder area, as July will see a trip to Texas, Colorado Springs, and then two weeks of conferences. We leave for Russia on August 5th in time to go to our conferences there! How can two months be so short?
Overall, we are learning to be grateful for what we have. (I've had to apply this phrase to myself after repeating it hundreds of times to my kids!) And that applies to time, as well. We look forward to spending as much time as possible with our friends and family here, and be grateful that God has given us so many communities around the world which are dear to our hearts.
To catch up: In May, we traveled separately back to Colorado. The kids and I flew early, and every thing went as good as could be expected... for traveling alone with three kids... and the international flight being canceled! Seriously, I just had to focus on not getting anxious, since everything looked terrible, but worked out just fine. We arrived in Colorado one hour later (and the flight time was two hours shorter!) than planned. We went through the usual jet-lag stage, which is never fun. But my parents really helped and I got a two-hour nap each day! Eric arrived 10 days later, and experienced no jet lag at all. We spent wonderful time with both of our sets of parents, my sister and her family, and friends. After about 5 weeks of new-week-new-home living, we were very ready to settle into Dani and Daves' home. They are graciously letting us stay for a month, and it felt good to unpack! Although we also are experiencing the burden and stress of how much space our family of five takes up. But we are so thankful that God has provided a comfortable place to live through them, and also a wonderful car.
Now, we are in a pretty busy rhythm. Hence, the black hole of email communication! We are spending time in swimming lessons, doctors and dentist appointments, spending time with dear friends and family, keeping up with our responsibilities with the Russian campus ministry, and, oh, trying to raise support!
It is a challenge to trust God to provide for our needs, but we know that He will enable us to do that, to which He has called us. And, we are also learning how we can live on less like so many people in this economic downturn.
We have only the month of June in the Boulder area, as July will see a trip to Texas, Colorado Springs, and then two weeks of conferences. We leave for Russia on August 5th in time to go to our conferences there! How can two months be so short?
Overall, we are learning to be grateful for what we have. (I've had to apply this phrase to myself after repeating it hundreds of times to my kids!) And that applies to time, as well. We look forward to spending as much time as possible with our friends and family here, and be grateful that God has given us so many communities around the world which are dear to our hearts.
I eat dog
When leaving our friends' house last night, a teenage boy told our kids a joke:
"I saw a skunk that was dead on the road. I won it. ... You say, "I two it."
Danya replied, "I two it.'
"I three it."
"I four it."
"I five it."
"I six it."
"I seven it."
"I eight it."
"You ate the skunk!"
Our kids thought it was hilarious. And all the way home, they attempted to recreate the joke. But, not content to just repeat it, they tried to make up new endings. So we had all kinds of dog 'jokes' with punch lines like, "I elves it."
Then Ella spoke up, "My turn."
And she told her first joke. "I eat dog."
"I saw a skunk that was dead on the road. I won it. ... You say, "I two it."
Danya replied, "I two it.'
"I three it."
"I four it."
"I five it."
"I six it."
"I seven it."
"I eight it."
"You ate the skunk!"
Our kids thought it was hilarious. And all the way home, they attempted to recreate the joke. But, not content to just repeat it, they tried to make up new endings. So we had all kinds of dog 'jokes' with punch lines like, "I elves it."
Then Ella spoke up, "My turn."
And she told her first joke. "I eat dog."
Fun with Cousins
Aunt Dani and Tima, trying to fly a kite without wind.
My parents beautiful yard, complete with sandbox and improvised climbing device!
My sister, Dani, getting the three cousins ready for the pool.
Ella, Mae, and Adi, having more fun than it looks like!
Colorado and family
The kids and I are loving being surrounded by family, soaking in the Colorado sunshine, and enjoying the perks of life in the States--like rec centers, bikes and town fairs. Last night Dani and Dave hosted their annual bbq, and I got to see many old friends, plus my grandmother and aunt and uncle. Today we went to my parents' church in Erie, and relished the small town feel of the community, plus the beauty of the old steepled building.
Last night, everyone slept six hours straight for the first time. Ella is having a hard time going to sleep unless I stay with her, and she wakes up crying most of the time. (That's been happening since all the construction noise in our St Pete apartment, and all the new places aren't helping!) But the last two days, she's fallen asleep at naptime with my mother there instead of me. So I'm hopeful!
Eric really enjoyed his time in Budapest with our new local leaders. Now he has two more days in Moscow, then a day of travel. We'll see him Wednesday night!
On Friday, we'll go to Eric's parents for a few days, so if you're local and want to see us this week, give me a call! If you don't know the number, just comment on this or email me:
kara.coe@promail.ru
The Adventure Continues
Here we are, in the middle of four travel days in four weeks. Danya just said he's excited to 'be' in Moscow but doesn't want to have to travel there. This is the third Sunday or Monday when we're travelling. And next Monday, we'll have another flight...this time to Colorado!
Last night we were actually packed, apartment cleaned and had time to watch an episode of LOST. In a few hours, we’ll fly to Moscow and enjoy a week of Local Leader Conference and STINT debrief. And then, May 11th, I’ll fly alone with all three kids to Colorado. Eric will catch up to us on May 20th. So, the adventure begins… or rather, continues! It’s been a crazy week since we returned from Irkutsk.
Could I ask for you to pray for us and our kids’ health? Ella got sick in Irkutsk, 10 days ago, and is just now getting better. She is still clingy and demanding, especially if I’m around. It’s like having a colicky-newborn again… (or a dairy-reacting one-year-old again—maybe she just needs to get really fussy once a year). I am a little anxious about flying alone, 10 hours to Wash D.C. and then three more to Colorado. Please pray for no delayed flights, good behavior for the kids, strength for me, and health for all!
For those in the Denver/Boulder area, please contact me if you'd like to get together. I'll be staying in Erie with my parents. Reply here or email! I'm excited to see you!
Last night we were actually packed, apartment cleaned and had time to watch an episode of LOST. In a few hours, we’ll fly to Moscow and enjoy a week of Local Leader Conference and STINT debrief. And then, May 11th, I’ll fly alone with all three kids to Colorado. Eric will catch up to us on May 20th. So, the adventure begins… or rather, continues! It’s been a crazy week since we returned from Irkutsk.
Could I ask for you to pray for us and our kids’ health? Ella got sick in Irkutsk, 10 days ago, and is just now getting better. She is still clingy and demanding, especially if I’m around. It’s like having a colicky-newborn again… (or a dairy-reacting one-year-old again—maybe she just needs to get really fussy once a year). I am a little anxious about flying alone, 10 hours to Wash D.C. and then three more to Colorado. Please pray for no delayed flights, good behavior for the kids, strength for me, and health for all!
For those in the Denver/Boulder area, please contact me if you'd like to get together. I'll be staying in Erie with my parents. Reply here or email! I'm excited to see you!
Irkutsk
I'm not going to even mention how disappointed I am that I haven't been able to write in so long... oh, whoops!
We returned from our five days in Irkutsk on the 26th. It's hard to summarize our time there, but it was definitely saturated. From morning to night, we enjoyed time together with Homoon, YoungJa, Ju-eun, Ju-hui and Ju-an. And everyday we also saw other friends and neighbors. I wish I had the time and energy to tell you all the emotions. At first, I really felt I was in shock, like there were so many things I thought I would feel, but I was just numb. The last day, I took a run in the woods, and felt that was the best thing I could have done to process, to grieve, to enjoy the place we lived for years. It felt like the woods was a person with whom I had spent many hours, watched each other change through the years. I was so grateful that so little had changed since I left.
I put our photos on Facebook, but can't seem to receive the email to myself with the address for non-Facebook users. Hopefully next time!
So, now we're in the vortex of laundry from the last trip and packing for the next. In three days we fly to Moscow for a week-long conference, and then straight onto Colorado for the summer. Trying to wash and store away all the winter coats and wash and pack all the summer clothes at the same time is proving to be a challenge!
We returned from our five days in Irkutsk on the 26th. It's hard to summarize our time there, but it was definitely saturated. From morning to night, we enjoyed time together with Homoon, YoungJa, Ju-eun, Ju-hui and Ju-an. And everyday we also saw other friends and neighbors. I wish I had the time and energy to tell you all the emotions. At first, I really felt I was in shock, like there were so many things I thought I would feel, but I was just numb. The last day, I took a run in the woods, and felt that was the best thing I could have done to process, to grieve, to enjoy the place we lived for years. It felt like the woods was a person with whom I had spent many hours, watched each other change through the years. I was so grateful that so little had changed since I left.
I put our photos on Facebook, but can't seem to receive the email to myself with the address for non-Facebook users. Hopefully next time!
So, now we're in the vortex of laundry from the last trip and packing for the next. In three days we fly to Moscow for a week-long conference, and then straight onto Colorado for the summer. Trying to wash and store away all the winter coats and wash and pack all the summer clothes at the same time is proving to be a challenge!
Ella Posing
With just over two weeks at home until our departure from St Pete for the summer, I've realized we better wash the summer clothes. It's hard to imagine, since we just cracked 40F today...and it felt freezing, with a cold wind and hidden sun.
Ella wants to put on every item of clothes that she sees, sometimes all at once! She especially loves hats, shoes and dresses. She wanted to put on a wet dress that I was hanging on the line, and I convinced her to accept this shirt instead. And then she posed in front of the mirror. I grabbed the camera halfway through, and love the images!
Dad, I think your photos last summer weren't accidental--I think she was posing even then!
Replacements
Our skyline. The strange building is some scientific computer lab/office, we think. It's not on all the maps. To the right is the southeast corner of our lovely Pinetree Park.
I've counted 25 working smokestacks. I love them because they're very useful as a windguage. Click on the photos to see them enlarged, and check my count.
That's our replacement couch/bed in the boxes. And the kids loved to climb into our blanket-on-the-floor-bed the next morning.
And you ask why the bed is still in its box? At 10:00pm, the night before, we started to put it together. When we finally reached the 'bed' section, Eric thought to check out the springs. On the first one, they were popping off from the first day. But, it turned out, the new one had it even worse!
Those white plastic clips are supposed to be holding the metal springs onto the wooden frame. Guess somebody either made it poorly or dropped the whole shipment!
After two nights on the floor, we received and assembled our new couch/bed. It's not as pretty or comfortable as the previous one in couch-mode. But much more so in bed-mode. Maybe not having broken springs helps.
We've had quite a crazy week of household crises. Last night, I had to get up every two hours to change the drip bottle for the leaking radiator. For weeks it's been dripping. But at 1am, it started pouring. At one point, it filled 20L in 2 hours. Today, the plumber was here for 2 hours to replace the valve, known as the "Amerikanka" (female American). Interesting. I wouldn't mind being replaced for a few days so I could catch up on sleep!
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