February-March Pictures

Evie's independent sense of style:

Featured here is a jacket ON TOP of another jacket

This is pretty unique - Evie pulled tights from our give-away box (too small) and put them OVER her clothes and wanted to wear a reindeer bib all day.

Two wonderful families at our home.

On the left are Shane and Trina Eia from PA.

They are volunteers for GFA, and Shane was on the same India trip we were on.

We told our new friends that we met on the trip that they were welcome at our home anytime they were in TX, and they thankfully took us up on our offer!

They stayed with us for a week in February, took a week of their vacation time, and volunteered in the offices at GFA.

The Poweziaks are the other family, Cari and Joe. Pictured is their daughter Harmony. Their son Josiah immediately hit it off with Simon and they were probably playing in Simon's room when we took this picture.

They are former GFA volunteers from Chicago, but now they are on staff and have moved to Carrollton!

One huge blessing about the delayed timing (swine flu) of our India trip was getting to go with the Volunteer Team. They were just as amazing to us as the brothers and sisters on the field. God's given us great grace to know so many 'heroes' in the faith.

Sharing some gluten-free love for Valentine's Day!

Simon organizing his cars and army men per vehicle quota.

Nacho Libre (Simon) and Superman (Timmy) chaperoned my little butterfly's (Evie) trip to the park.

I knew Home Depot hosted free children/parent workshops, but I just found out that Lowe's did, too.

One Saturday I took Simon and his friend Hudson (7) to Lowe's to build a robot that also turned into a car.

I am so thankful Hudson was with us!

I incorrectly thought that the Lowe's personnel would be taking us through it step by step, and it was more of a do-it-yourself workshop.

I am NOT a visual person and it was actually HUDSON who figured most of it out and helped Simon and I!

Evie's benefactor Emma (hand me downs) came over one day!

That night, her whole wonderful family came over for dinner.

We're experimenting with stir-fry on our Thursday 'company' nights.

The Buscemis are a FUN family to have over!

We love them!

One of Simon's clues for a treasure hunt we did one day after school.

Simon was so convinced this clue led to a cd player or mp3 player or other music device ... but it was actually a clue to his lamp, where his 'treasure', a one dollar bill, was taped.

The other night Simon was drawing a picture of his plan to build a table and put it in our yard to sell beverages for money.

He wanted to sell milk and his plan was to ask $5 for a glass of milk.

Here is that conversation.

Simon: I'm going to ask for $5.

Matt: For a glass of milk?

Simon: Yes.

Matt: Simon, no one is going to pay that much for milk.

Simon: How about $10?

Matt: Maybe you could ask for fifty cents.

Simon: How much is that?

Matt: Two quarters.

Simon: Whoo-hoo! Do you mean I could get TWO QUARTERS?????

Evie wearing a Snoopy Hat from Matt's childhood dress-up Snoopy collection.

Simon loved the goggles that they gave him at Lowe's.

Letting my little mono-sick boy play outside and paint one day, using an IKEA's drain platter as a palette.

Simon and I made some signs for our yard.

Game night one night with some dear friends at the ministry.

I love Evie's pose here.

Evie loved Regina who just sat and read books with her, and Evie also really took to Troy (far right). It cracked all of us up that she would bring baby wipes into the living room and try and wipe off his tattoos.

Simon trying to read his clue by himself.

Great motivation for reading!

Simon's friend Caedon was so sweet to invite him to Medieval Times for Caedon's 6th birthday.

The Johnsons are another wonderful family that we've recently gotten to know who are new here at GFA. We'd love to get to know them better. One night, Caedon went with Simon to Karate on 'bring a buddy' night, and Caedon was so sweet and so serious about karate (Matt and Caedon's dad, Mike chauffered the boys to class one night while Jessi and I stayed at our house and enjoyed some fellowship with just the girls.)

The other day our neighbor who is in 5th grade came over. She is so sweet and delightful. And I'm not just saying that b/c she helped us clean out the garage.

Anyway, she was thirsty, so I sent Simon in the house to get her a bottle of water from the pantry. He is the conversation that followed.

Simon: Here you go.

Jazelle: Thank you.

Simon: I was hoping you'd say that, because I wanted to say, "You're welcome."

Thanks to my industrious and productive friend Kellie, I grew some cilantro and parsley from my kitchen window (from seeds!)

I transplanted them on Thursday afternoon.

But now, I fear they may be dead as it snowed 4-6 inches last night!

On the first night of SPRING!