happy 4th of july.

we had a relaxing 4th of july eating burgers with friends by the beach. you know me, i had 4th of july plates in napkins (planned ahead when we were in the states.) scott even got a dr. pepper. good times. scott would want me to include that he won the water balloon toss and the watermelon seed spitting contest. so glad he is still a kid at heart.

conversation of the day...
ella (holding and american flag): mom, this isn't my flag.
me: what?
ella: this isn't my flag. this flag has too many stars. my flag has only ONE star.
(in case you didn't know, the moroccan flag has one star. don't worry, i did explain that she is an american but we live in morocco. she says she is an american and a moroccan.)

roasting marshmallows. notice ella is using an american flag to roast her marshmallow. hmmm...not so patriotic.


a REAL roasted marshmallow (jet puff from america. not the nasty kind they sell here.)


dirty bird after the water balloon toss.


scott and b. i know, he needs a haircut. i just can't bring myself to cut his curls.

First love

Every time we pass the beach (which is often) Beckett points and screams in delight. Today we had a little breakfast by the beach, so we had to let the "man cub" roam the beach. Can you see the happiness?








-- Post From My iPhone

year in review.

i know, i know. you are supposed to do the whole "year in review" thing in january, but i wanted to do one on the school year. scott's last day of school was last friday. he had an incredible year, or in his words, "i just kicked the crap out of this year!" and he did. his students were sad to say good bye and even more sad that he would not be teaching next year. in fact, three of his students took him golfing just yesterday at a really posh golf course.

it is crazy to think that a year ago exactly we were at training in new york, getting ready to make the biggest move of our lives and be forever changed. the Lord has been so good to us. here are some of the highlights from the last 10 months...

on august 12th we say good bye to our family and friends and move to morocco. (quick side note...that is my due date with baby #3. how crazy is that?!)

we make new friends.




our first time to be on the beach.


we are quickly introduced to ramadan (fasting sun up to sun down) at the beginning of september. we enjoy moroccan meals like couscous and get henna tattoos.


ella turns 3 moroccan style on septembr 18th.


the smurf. so small that i can parallel park it anywhere and also so small that beckett's car seat doesn't fit behind scott.


in october we visit marekesh.



we start leading the youth group and enjoy game night. who doesn't like a good game of twister?


my tink and my pirate. a full on party with caramel apples and trick or treating.



family reunion with lulu and papi in november! they came with lots of love and american goodies!




thanksgiving.


surprise! expecting baby #3.


moroccan holiday eid kbir. the slaying of the sheep.


christmas in spain with aina and caleb! aina even brought christmas to us. seriously, she even packed the stockings that have hung over my parent's fireplace. they were filled with goodies! not to mention all the presents! what a treat! not to mention that spain was great and we got to have dunkin donuts, starbucks coffee, and shopping!

ella and aina reunited.




new years in casablanca.



quick train ride to marrakesh. have you been to aina's to see their rug?


lots of love.


scott coaches basketball. the funny thing about the games was that the coaches yell at the refs, but the refs don't speak english, so the players have to translate. comedy.


my moroccan princess at the moroccan festival.


beckett turns 1 superman style on march 3rd.


oarzazate.



festival of the arts.




soccer season.


return to america! we are so, so happy to see family and friends. we are also excited about chick fil a, dr. pepper, lucky charms, blueberries, pf changs, and the list goes on! (sorry no pics! aina has them on her computer!)

ella and b love to swing.



prom. scott was a junior class adviser meaning that he had to help with prom. he was the dj. there's nothing like some "house" (techno) music to get the moroccans movin.




a new car to fit a family of five.


evenings on the corniche. ella gets a pony ride and scott gets corn.



outdoor restaurant with kefta (beef) and rides.


talent show.




graduation.

the girls hit the west cost

aina and i took ella and charlotte with us to california to see papa. beckett was in good hands with lulu, papi, and uncle gus gus...all hands on deck! it was a whirlwind trip (left sunday morning got back wednesday night) that can only be summed up like this:


airport at 6:45 am. arrive at orange county. go get rental car. wait forever because aina lets a group cut in front of us. finally get in the car. ella pukes. clean ella and the car with wipes. go to the condo to wash ella along with her clothes. the girls rest. go visit papa. the girls put a smile on papa's face. ella keeps going into joyce's room to see the stuffed animals. back to the condo. the cousins come over. cousin daniel reads to ella. the wee ones go to bed. yogurtland - blueberry tart with fruity pebbles. sleep - the first 8 straight hours of sleep i have had in almost 2 years.

wake up and go visit papa. surprise ella with disneyland. meet mary poppins. peter pan, alice in wonderland, its a small world. corny dogs. charlotte gags and then pukes on aina. buzz lightyear ride. ella asleep in stroller, charlotte asleep in the backpack. shopping. girls wake up for the parade. pirates of the caribbean, yes with the girls. pinnochio, tea cups, buzz lightyear again. go home. girls go to bed. dinner with tio paco and cousin jimmy. yogurtland - strawberry tart with fruity pebbles, sprinkles, reeses pieces. sleep.

wake up. pack. donut shop. visit papa. ella meets dorothea with an amputated leg and starts to play with her pant leg. proceeds to ask about the missing leg and foot. shopping. corner bakery. ferris wheel. back to see papa to give him one last hug and kiss. girls sleep in car. in n out burger. airport. back on an airplane. ella watches bolt. papi pick us up. bed. ella sleeps in until 9:30.

pics of our trip to follow.

i heart morocco

before i leave for america, i wanted to share some reasons that i love morocco...

1. life is simple. we have learned to take joy in the little things, like randomly finding blueberries or seedless grapes at the store. we are easily entertained with a group game of basketball, baseball, or an occasional game night.

2. soccer. moroccans love their soccer and i do, too. i grew up playing soccer and in texas it isn't really appreciated. here, everyone plays. my morning walk around the track with the kids is usually interrupted by a group of boys ranging from 1st-4th graders who rush down to play a game before school starts. they don't pick teams or make kids sit out, they all just start playing. even in the poorest of villages you will see a soccer field outlined in mud, rocks, or sticks.

3. affection. greetings are with a kiss on each cheek. men sometimes greet this way, too, and it is not unusual for men to shake hands and continue holding hands for a good minute or two. women also walk arm in arm down the street. it isn't looked at as how you think it would, friends just show each other affection. i think it is sweet.

4. hospitality. it is not uncommon to be invited to a moroccans home for a meal and stay for a good three hours. we went to a friends house and her mom made us traditional couscous, then mint tea and dessert, and lots of great conversation (with some much needed talking slowly and translation.) just last week scott and beckett enjoyed some tea and bread with najate and her family.

5. fruit and veggies. it would sicken you to know that i can buy 2 pounds of strawberries, apples, bananas, yellow and green peppers, and carrots each for $1.50 or less! and i guess you could say they are organic because they are straight from the ground or tree...dirt, bugs, and all!

6. friends. we have gotten to know some of the coolest families. we have had a blast hanging out watching movies, playing sports, or watching sporting events at the school. we are a tight group. we have also met some of the sweetest moroccans through work, conversation group, and from around town.

i love the beach. i grew up going to the beach every summer. my children have no choice but to love the sand and the water. scott doesn't like the sandy mess during and afterwords, but i think it is worth it. every morning i get to look out the sliding glass door and see the waves breaking on the shore. it is wonderful...now, if i could just get there everyday then that would be awesome.

special time with daddy.






beckett explores the sand.


sweet smile.


daddy and b


"oh yeah! oh yeah! wanna fight?!" ella and ezra fight the waves.


b is mad at the sand on his face.


ella, ezra, and leul running from the waves.


playing volleyball...yes, that is me. how do you like our rigged up volleyball net?


catie (ella's most favorite babysitter!) plays volleyball with us.


kamel shows us his killer serve.

happy birthday charlotte.

happy birthday to you!
happy birthday to you!
happy birthday little charlotte,
happy birthday to you!

little charlotte,
it was exactly a year ago (our time) that we got to finally meet you. ella stayed up late, waiting in the waiting room in her pajamas, just waiting to get a glimpse of you. we were so happy that you were a girl and that ella would have a sister cousin. we were all so excited to see you and hold you, especially ella. you have always had your mom's good looks and your dad's temperament, and i am sure you always will.
we hope that you had a great day celebrating your first birthday in california. i am sure you enjoyed your delicious birthday breakfast. we wish we could be there to celebrate with you. have you gotten your birthday present from us? we hope you will like it. we love you and we can't wait to play with you. see you in two weeks!