Jo's the Bomb.com

Yeah, I said it and it's true.

We got to watch Joanna play volleyball yesterday and it was so fun!

A couple things.

1. She's pretty awesome.
2. She starts.
3. She's can spike it.
4. She's got an awesome overhand serve.

Here are some pics - courtesy of Paul, because I was busy holding/chasing a toddler!



About to get an ace! Seriously, I would say, she's one of the best servers on the team.



The 'ready position'. Ignore that guy in the foreground of the picture.



Her fans (minus Paul)! Chase and Julie apparently were really into the game! I apparently was excited about the icecream we found!



Beckett exploring!

Way to go Joanna!

Domestic Me

Prior to living in Nicaragua, I cooked approximately 4 times in my life. Well, not really, but I didn't cook all that often. David and I would cook together or he would cook.
I know, I married well.
AND, get this? He did ALL the grocery shopping. He even cut coupons. I know, I know - you're jealous and wish you had such a great husband. Sorry, he's taken.
Anyways, since living in Nicaragua, I am growing and learning in my culinary skills. For many reasons. 1. I am now at home all day and he is working all day. Only makes sense for me to cook and go to the store. 2. The grocery stores here are great, but they don't have tons of pre-made foods. For examples: no cut&slice cookies, no frozen pie crusts, no meals in a bag.
So all this to say, I am becoming more domestic! Who knew I had it in me???
This is what I did yesterday.

It started like this - all sticky and gooey and full of this magical stuff, yeast.



Grew to be like this. Yeast, I tell you, amazing stuff!



And then this


And then turned to bread. Which we promptly ate!



And then later on, I made lasagna! My sister-in-law Erin, makes the best lasagna. Ever. It wasn't Erin's lasagna, but I think it was pretty good!

So yeah, I am slowly, but surely becoming more domestic!

And, I hate to admit it, but I kind of like it!


On a completely different note, we liked to send a birthday shout out to this guy! We love you Hudson! Happy 1st birthday!

Gig 'em!

He bleeds maroon.



Waiting for Dad, looking out our window.

Independence Day

I love Nicaraguan Independence Day for several reasons.

1. We (meaning David, but me too) get 3 1/2 days off school, resulting in a 5 day weekend. Ahhhh, glorious, I tell you!

2. I always learn something about Nicaragua that I didn't previously know.

3. Nicaraguan dances are tons of fun to watch! Especially if your cute husband is involved.

So every year NCA puts on a huge Independence Day Celebration. The day begins with the 4th-6th graders reenacting some sort of scene from Nicarguan history. Horses are brought it, machetes are out, and guns are fired. Such fun

While this is happening, the 7th-12th graders are frantically putting together their tent. The theme for this year, was Nicaraguan art. So each grade has a tent that they must decorate somehow revolving around Nicaraguan art. For example, the Seniors decorated their tent to look like a common market here. They had hammocks, paintings, jewelry - everything that you could find in a market. They also must do a short presentation to the other grades, administrators, and teachers. The class with the most impressive tent and presentation wins a pizza party!

And then after this, comes the DANCING!! Oh, it's so fun (and hot!)! Every class gets a chance to shake their hips! It's pure greatness! Apparently though, you must be born Nicaraguan to really dance well here. Just saying!

And last but not least is the feast! No Independence Day would be complete without carne asada, gallo pinto, tostadas, and queso! So good!

I love this time of year!



The soccer field full of tents.



The Senior class.


Beckett was there to offer moral support and climb through the palm branches.


9th grade's theme was all about Nicaraguan money.


The chapel/cafeteria/all purpose area decorated for the special day!



World's cutest little girl, Lola.



High school girls dance. On the left, in red, is our pediatrician's daughter. We love them!



These are my 1st graders, who are now 3rd graders. Weird how that happens!



Check out these dresses!



Here's my cute husband. Yeah, he's got a machete in his hands - don't mess with him!



And the finale!



I'm at the akward stage of pregnacy - just looking sort of plump and thick. I know it's obnoxious to say, but I just have to. Pregnancy is weird - you can't really control how you look. That is all, done with my rant.

So there you have it. Nicaraguan Indpendence Day 2010.

Our Newest Russell

Here she/he is!

That's the head. If you look hard you can see the eye sockets, nasal cavity, mouth, and chin!


And here's her/his arm. I know it's just a arm, but I think it's a super cute arm!



Yes, we officially decided we aren't going to find out. Sorry, you'll just have to wait, like the rest of us!

Ohhhhhh, how we love surprises!

What do you think? Will Beckett have a brother or a sister?

Power - My Friend and Foe

When the power is on, life is awesome. I mean awesome. We have fans galore, light everywhere, Beckett can start off his nap with a little bit of A/C. It's glorious. When the power is on - it's my best friend.

However, when the power is cut off, we are not friends. We are enemies. I hate the power - or lack of. It's incredibly still, you can't see a darn thing, and my sweet baby is hot in his crib.

I know I being dramatic. And it's not really that bad. It doesn't go off too much and usually not for a long time.

Last night it went off for 4 hours. 4. Hours. From 5PM to 9PM. Right smack in the middle of cooking dinner, putting Beckett to sleep, cleaning up. Last night me and the power were mortal foes.

I took a shower by candlelight. It looked like this.



This was our room. Good pictures, huh?



And this me, so sad that it was hot and sticky and dark. (with a flash, of course)



This ends my rant. I am done with the drama. I will choose to be thankful for the times we do have power, which is most of the time! :)

Junior/Senior Retreat Time

Joanna (David and Chase's youngest sister) is living with us this semester. -- Not sure if I told the wide web this important piece of information.-- She is studying this semester at NCA as a junior.

I'm real impressed that she would leave the comforts of American life - air conditioning, mom's cooking, good friends- to live in Nicaragua for 1/2 a year. Especially as a 16 year old. She's having to adjust to living with a baby, people speaking Spanish all day, having limited privacy, etc. So yeah, I'm impressed with her.

But that's not what this post is about.

Every year at the beginning of school, the junior and seniors go on a Spiritual Leadership Retreat. They leave on a Wednesday afternoon and return Friday afternoon. So it is in the middle of the school week - meaning they get to skip their classes. I think it's great that NCA puts such a high emphasis on building leadership skills and maturing in faith. So much so, that they are willing to have their student miss classes.

This year, because Joanna is a junior she got to go as well! She said it was good!And everyone knows that when you go on retreats, hiking trips, mission trips that you bond with people and get to truly know them. So I'm thankful she had this time!

Here are some pics of her time there.


Jo in the pool!


Every good retreat has to involve some sort of nasty dare. This one was blending up a McDonald's happy meal.


The victims of the dare.


Soccer must be played - we're in Nicaragua for crying out loud


Worship time. We have some really talented students here that can lead their fellow students in worshipping the Lord.


Just a cool shot of Danni spending time in the Word.