the last few months...

Well, once again it's been a while since I've written or posted pictures. I thought I'd be better but I guess I've had other things to take up my time... Laszlo, other kids, friend, family, and my man... so yea it's been awhile. But now I have a few hours as I sit here early in the morning waiting to check in for my flight home. And speaking of home, home or rather family came to me this May but now I am able to go home to them too! It's been almost 2 years since I've been home and 3 years since I've seen my Grandma. And so I'm soon on my way! About one more hour til 5 am and then I can check in. The past few days I've been trying to stay a bit more on top of things, but still it was a crazy rush to get to the bus on time, throw my stuff in my case ( I hope my clothes kind of match while I'm home :) and get some goodies for family and some to leave for Laz along with notes from Mama and photos of him and me. Oh my...I hate goodbyes. I love that kid and it was harder then ever to leave this time. I hope the next time I head home he can come with me. I already said goodbye about every week for 2 weeks as my family left at different times... I'm not sure what is worse, all at once or 1 by 1? I watched the sunset as I left Marghita and had some prayers and tears for my baby. Then I slept a bit and thought about the things I forgot and the things I hoped I remembered. Regardless, it will be good to be with family again! I hope to see as many friends as possible while I'm home but also have time with the family.
So, as I think back to the last few months I would say it was filled with spring blossoms that smelled so lovely as I walked up my little hill and rounded the corner to my place; rain and thunderstorms, the friday market which I love...but in May it was shopped by my Mom and Sisters! Lots of fruit and veggies, flowers, fresh basil, and aprons were bought and also fresh made cheese - Brunza! There was a trip to Greece with the Boyfriends and sisters...Athens and the Beach...would for sure go back again! The Sea was amazing and it's been so long since I've been there. Then it was anticipation for Laz for hi Grandpa and Buni to come ( grandma in romanian)...he was oh so excited!!! Plus, since Grandpa got there before Mama got back from Greece, he was able to come to the small airport in Oradea to pick up his Mama and all his aunts! He was a bit overwhelmed, but he did get to see real planes for the first time. And it was only our plane that flew in...I guess maybe just one flight a day! There were bike rides and wheelchair rides, lunch together and the park with Buni. A tour through some of the lovely mountains of Romania and lunch by a river, rock throwing and skipping, wadding and splashing and pretend fishing :) And then Laz and I had a day on our own...a day on the moon! His favorite story that Buni reads to him is when 'Little Bear goes to the moon'. So we made a moon and stars and space helmets, painted our faces, built a tent and flew to the moon! It was a very chill, very fun day just us two! Oh, and we also went swimming with Aunt Allie...that was a nice day too since it had been so hot. Then we left her at the train and waved goodbye...so planes and trains Laz had now seen.

Ah... Spring!
Waking up to sunshine. Birds singing in the morning. White dotted fields with little lambs. Tulips and Daffodils for sale at the market. Baby Chicks. Parks full with kids playing after the emptiness of winter. Flowers beginning to break through the dirt - waiting to display their loveliness. Winter coats exchanged for Spring jackets. Grass turning green. Rain. Buds on the trees waiting for leaves and cherry blossoms to open. Walks. Joy. Beauty. Color. Spring!

pictures over the past few months...oct - feb. Enjoy!

saturday morning

This morning we are just home and have been making breakfast... Laszlo loves to help in the kitchen so I had Oatmeal on the stove and he was stirring and said look Mama, Bubbles! It's making Bubbles! Oh, they are hiding. Then I put the lid on...why are the Bubbles hiding? So then it was time to eat and Laz wanted a piece of ice to cool down his Oatmeal as usual but the ice was moving everywhere he said :) Then he wanted to help wash the dishes or rather play with the soap on the pan. He said he was making fireworks ... he loves them! His 7th birthday cake was also a firework cake made with gummy worms. It was a bit ghetto but he loved it and helped make and decorate. I did not get my mom's cake decorating skills... so I usually make cup cakes which is much easier and each child can decorate his own.

Well, It's been a while since I've written anything on this lovely blog of mine that I really intended to keep up for you all that live far away and don't get to be apart of our everyday life... sorry, I need to be better at keeping up with this. So I guess I need to try and fill you in since October.
Mmm...where to begin? The autumn time was nice and full of many lovely days, walks prep for another wonderful and yummy Thanksgiving (but I did miss the closeness of my family). My lovely Swedish Man came back from working at home to live here and work alongside of our team here. We (us ladies that are on running the boys home) have been trying to make it a bit more homey and get ride of the incredibly sick cockroaches. My man has been helping too adding dimmer lighting and some fabric on the ceiling to keep the sound level down from our energy full boys :) They are 5, 6, & 7 years of age and it makes for quite an interesting house... Many funny table conversations or rather discussions about how to say Ketchup, or how fireworks sound. Boys, they are so different then girls. I have really enjoyed this age though since you can do more together... playing games, baking together, cleaning (maybe not so fun). And all of our boys are ridding bikes too and they love it! One of my wonderful friend's mother was able to get some donated and what a great way for our kids to play outside and release much of their little boy energy.
Ok, then it was the Christmas season which is always busy here as we are getting gifts and food together for those that have much less then us, delivering them to those families, preparing for the Swedish tradition of Santa Lucia to preform and sing for our friday night worship / game night for our youth, the Christmas party for the whole organization, and the old folks home which I enjoy the most! They really appreciate it and it was good for our kids too. They took a bit to warm up but then as we left each room Laszlo and some of the other would say Merry Christmas (in Romanian of course) or while singing Laz would go ask if some of the men and woman wanted him to sit by them... what a beautiful thing to see your children loving on others. And then we sang to some children... Oh Jesus, when will it change? When will parents keep their children and love them?
Christmas time... cookie baking, tree decorating (mine was a real and wonderful gift from a secret santa), cmas music, dressing up as santa, Christmas day walk to deliver cmas shoe boxes to a family we love but has much much less then us. When I walk into their one room house that is smaller then my bed room I am extremely grateful for my 2 room apartment and realize that I have nothing to complain about in size of living quarters. Christmas day was spent with my good friend Katie and her Mother and many other friends. Eating together, playing stress Uno, talking and exchanging gifts! Old friends came to visit :) and New year had come!
Then winter had come and left some for sledding and snow angels. The excitement of snow is new everyday with kids! Then we had birthdays, school free days, and gadac (cockroaches) exterminators, and vacation weekend up in the snowy mountains.
Now March has arrived and spring is on it's way! That means warmer weather with more time outside, cups of tea with friends while the kids play, walks, bike rides, baby chicks, apple blossoms, color added to all the gray, lighter steps as you walk...or maybe even a skip!
This turned out to be quite a long post... but I hope that all of those that read it and have been wondering how I've been and what I've been up to will enjoy and give it a read.
Happy Spring to all!

the cooler autumn weather has come...

Today was one of those days that I wish I had my camera with me. It was one of those days that I just wanted to capture the moment and some of the sights I saw and share them with all. It was one of those days I wish family and friends could have experienced with me and my kids. It was just a normal day really, but with a little bit of love and laughter added. Actually the last few days I've felt a bit like that...the weather change...it's good for us, I think it's changes us as well. And if you watch, I bet the seasons or more the creator of them, will romance your soul a bit with the changes and beauty of what they bring. It's the little things, the daily things that we often miss. The wind slightly blowing as it wisps our hair about and then the leaves begin to circle, falling down around us. The sidewalks covered with fallen leaves, making a lovely path for us to walk on; soft and colorful! The quite walk home in the crisp night air. The little every day things are the things that we love anyway... of course big gifts or exciting new things can make our hearts skip, but when a friend calls to say hi or drops by; or you get a letter in the mail; or your child runs up and gives you a kiss; or your kitchen stays clean; you make an amazing meal that you enjoy with family and friends; your baby smiles; you get a hug, etc... LIFE!
So, back to today, the 13th of October... I'll try to capture it as much as I can since most where not here with me nor did I have my camera. I planned to take a walk up the apple hill (as we call it here) for some fall picture taking of the fences and corn stacks, but I woke up to pouring rain instead of sun. This weather I didn't expect and was not so excited to be out in. But, when I left with my kids for school, the excitement on their faces to be out walking in the rain was enough to get me excited too! Laszlo's smile was huge and he just laughed. "Mama! It's raining and my hood keeps falling down!" So we fixed that and then went off with a skip and a run! I think we skipped and ran most of the way hand in hand, Laz just looking at me his lovely grin and freckly nose. I love him! And his new face with the wrinkled up nose...it's my favorite! And don't worry, the joy was still there when I picked him up after school, although he was a bit more tired. But then I forgot his rain coat so I got another "Mama!" But all was fine when I tied a flower scarf around him that I just bought and gave him one of my gloves. So we were hand in hand again one glove each and then laughter came again. Kids find so much joy in new things and if we watch and let ourselves be caught up in the moment, then we too enjoy them as well! I think kids are our reminders to not get stuck in mundane adult life, but to live it through eyes of children.
So, then we get to the guest house (where we eat lunch everyday) and Laz finds this bright pink comb and starts to brush out his curls...so a fro has begun! He's hilarious that kid!
And not to worry, the rain has still not stopped! Tomorrow will then be another rainy day full of umbrellas... those that actually protect you from the rain, those that old ladies have that are half broken and half blow away; there will be pink ones and blue ones, stripes, flowers and polk-a-dots. Kids will be walking to school trying so hard (well guess it would depend on the child) to not step in every puddle along the way. There will be have grins on faces as they enjoy the rain on their faces while still trying to keep their umbrellas from blowing away. Old ladies will stick their pink umbrellas under trucks, hoods will be held in place with wet, cold hands as the wind tried to blow them off and the rain comes to bring showers of water. Enjoy tomorrow and watch for those small, daily glimpses of life.

Laz...

...and his many faces! plus some photo's with mom and our fun dress up dance parties around the house and vacation time up in the mountains!

my market finds....

...and this is why i love market days!