Oh the pressure.....

So, my husband informed me the other day the he thought, "our readership was down" on the blog and maybe I could try to post more often. Well, first of all, I didn't realize I had quotas to reach on this thing and second of all, I'm lazy. I love reading about and seeing pictures of other people's lives, but to document ours means walking all the way in the other room (we live in an European apartment remember) and getting the cord to hook up the camera to the computer. I mean really, people, what does this man expect of me? But in the name of making my wonderful hubby happy and perhaps the "masses", too, I'll try to post more often.
Here is an update of what we have been up to lately. Jake is about to take his last German class at the Deutch Akademie. This will conclude 9 months of intensive language study. I am so proud of him!!! I am looking into a tutor to futher my German learin' (sorry couldn't resist). I have also been sewing a lot. I've made a pair of pants for Abby, 12 dresden plate quitl squares, a skirt for myself and am working on a dress for Abby. When we moved here I shipped a ton of fabric and patterns so I'm trying to use some of that stuff up.
Abby is beginning to speak much more German, too. I've heard her speak complete sentences with other people, but mostly will just use a few words with us at home. She is totally into dogs and most any animal. She pretends to be a dog most of the day, I'm sure people on the bus think she is some sort of weirdo, but she's pretty cute. She also recently developed a keen interest in letters. She is writing her name now, too. Let me insert here that we have not been "teaching" her to write or read, she just started doing it on her own. I say this mostly to reassure myself that I'm staying in the guidelines of "developmentally appropriate practices". Can I get a holla' from any early childhood educators out there? Any hoo, back to recent happenings. Last weekend we went out to eat with a 2 Austiran Christian couples and had a great time. We met one of the couples on our survey trip in 2005 and the other we met more recently. We went to eat at an awesome pizza place and sat outside. It was an incredibly beautiful day. Then this last weekend we went to a BBQ at the home Martin and Sue. They are also Christians, and have 2 kiddos, a little girl Abby's age and quite possibly one of the cutest little boys ever!!!
That is pretty much what we're up to lately. Keep the blog post comin' I love "spying" on everyone :)

Flowers

Last night we went to eat at one of our new favorite places, Fresco Grill. It is a little like Chipotle or Mo's, and is the best choice for fresh Mexican in Vienna. Granted, there aren't a whole lot of options for Mexican in Vienna, but it is still really good. Afterwards, we walked around Votiv Kirche and enjoyed the awesome weather. For a few weeks now, all over Vienna, flowers have been showing up in flower beds, in yards and window boxes. I love tulips and they are in no short supply right now. Above is a pic of Abby sitting on a flower bed near Votiv Kirche.

Hannah Update

Here is a recent picture of sweet little Hannah. She is growing still, and up to 4 lbs. and 5 oz. She is recovering from an infection she had recently, and Claire said she is better, but not quite back up to where she was before the infection. I ask you all to keep praying for little Hannah and her parents.

A Moment of Truth

I am sitting here on my couch looking at what is currently occupying the top of my coffee table. The items include a bottle of ketchup, a bottle of salad dressing, partially folded laundry, a new pair of shoes for Abby sent by Nana, a daily Bible, a broken bracelet Abby refuses to let me throw away and a plate from tonight's dinner of schnitzel and fries. If you're one of those analytical types, feel free to analyze the current state of our lives. If you're just someone who ever feels like you never get done all the things you want too, well, you're not alone. Now, I could jump right up and clear the coffee table, do some dishes, put away laundry, etc. But quite frankly, I'm tired and instead, I think I'll watch a few episodes of Scrubs with my hubby and hopefully get to bed at a descent hour tonight. So what's on your coffee table right now?

Easter Pics

The last one is a movie. Click on it to play.