Zeb in a Box

Zeb playing in the crockpot box trying to fish out some papers and his sippy cup. He had a blast.

Going Outside

It usually takes a few people and a good amount of resources to get ready to go outside. This time we were getting ready to ride a friend's electric scooter around town.

Playing with Zeb

Zeb and Kayleigh playing on the carpet together. Zeb getting a little frustrated. Kayleigh enjoying the camera.

Highlights from the week.

As May 8th quickly approaches we are trying to spend some quality time with our friends here before we leave for 3 months. The kids and I have started to have a weekly picnic with our friends the Rupps as well as Marianne and Sarah. I have yet to remember to bring my camera outside to take pictures of this event. Hopefully this week I will remember. Other than that not much has happened around here. We are certainly enjoying the spring weather and spending every minute we can outside. Below are some pictures to highlight our week.

We found Zeb playing in the crock pot box in John's office. He apparently really likes to play in this box.

When I was in elementary school we used to play the parachute game. John has decided to create his own parachute game with the kids. They both lie on the bed while John throws the blanket up and down on top of them. Zeb just screams in delight! He loves this game. Above is Kayleigh playing the game with Zeb. Below, John is in charge which means there was lots of laughter and kicking!

Kayleigh found her Dad's tarheel hat and decided to wear it. She calls everything with UNC on it "Go Heels!" So for instance she will ask me..."Mommy can I wear my "Go Heels!" shirt today? I think it is so cute. We have trained her well.

Baby Sarah

When you live overseas and you aren't able to see your family very often the friends that live around you become your family. Right now Kayleigh and Zeb have several people in their lives that are basically like aunts and uncles to them. These special people love on them all the time and Kayleigh even goes to some of their houses to spend the night. Just recently we had an addition to our little family over here. Her name is Sarah Dean and Kayleigh just loves her. Kayleigh basically mentions Sarah on a daily basis. Like today she was comforted to know that if she had to take a nap Sarah was mostly likely doing the same thing. Since Sarah is only 6 weeks old I could confidently tell her I was sure she was going to nap today. Kayleigh has even asked to spend the night with her which I kindly told her wasn't the best idea especially for her parents. We are all so excited that she has joined our family and can't wait to watch her grow!



Even though Sarah was not in the best of moods here, Kayleigh is smiling from ear to ear because she is holding her.

Writer's Block

I am sure most of you have been wondering why there has been so few posts in the month of March. It is not because I have been too busy or because I haven't even thought about the blog. On the contrary I have thought about it a lot but haven't felt like there has been anything going on in our lives worth blogging about. John reminded me that at least for our parents they just want to know the day in and day out things that happen with their grandchildren. So I'm back hopefully for good with some consistency to finish off the month. I thought I would give you an update on our family.

John has been really working hard this semester and we hardly see him these days. We leave for America May 8th so he wants to finish out his semester and time here well. I am so excited about going to America and it consumes my thoughts a lot as I think about all the things I need to do before we leave. By the time we set foot on American soil again it will have been a year and 8 months since we have been there. I am so ready. Mine and John's parents are the only ones that have ever met Zeb so I am mostly excited for my family to meet him. By then he will be a year old!
Kayleigh is doing great and is getting more and more talkative everyday. My sister and brother-law are coming May 1st and flying back with us to America. Most of our conversation has been consumed with what we will do with them while they are here. Her plan at least for now is to take them on the paddle boats at Green Lake. She also talks about riding on the "big sucker" to go home to see her Nanna, Poppa, Grandy and Grammy. This term refers to the big plane we will be flying on. John and Kayleigh sometimes watch You-Tube videos of planes and John refers to some of them as a "big sucker". She has picked up the term and uses it often.

Zeb is 10 months now almost 11 and I can't believe it. It feels like yesterday that he was born. It is so true that the days can sometimes be long but the years are short. He is in the process of trying to crawl which means that I can't leave him alone for even a second. He usually finds something to get into that he is not supposed to be in. Despite that he is ALL boy he is still likes to cuddle which I love.

Well that is basically the update of our family. Hopefully you will see more of the Greenes soon.

Afternoon Play Time

There are those moments in the day where I look over to see my kids playing together without someone getting hurt or mad. This happened to be one of those moments. I am so glad that Kayleigh has a brother to share life with. As I watch Zeb react to her every move I am so glad that he has a sister that makes him laugh. I know there are going to be plenty fights and moments of learning to share but I hope one day they will be really close friends. Below Kayleigh is trying to read a book to Zeb. Unfortunately, Zeb interprets it as "keep the book away from me" game. He happens to be smiling in this picture but he got really mad after a while because she wouldn't let him have the book.

Below is Kayleigh's version of the "peek a boo" game. She throws a blanket over Zeb's head and laughs until he figures out how to get it off.

A Tar Heel Prayer

John and I are of course huge Carolina fans but living in another country I wasn't sure if I could teach my kids the love of the Heels like we have. I think I might be wrong. The other day we were having Bible time and I asked Kayleigh to pray. John told her she could talk to God just likes she talks to her mommy and daddy. So this is how the prayer went: "Dear God, thank you for David and Marianne, their house and GO HEELS! ( jumping up with her fist in the air). John and I just busted out laughing. John told her the Heels needed a little praying for since we had just lost to Maryland. I think the thought process from this prayer went back to when we went to David and Marianne's house to watch the game. I guess we are teaching our little girl to love the Heels as much as we do.