Living Large and Enjoying the Small Stuff

We are having fun enjoying the States together. Today I took the kids to a pond for a picnic. It was beautiful! The kiddos were especially happy that there were so many dandelions to pick and blow. Other fun stuff that we have been doing are: cable t.v., fast food, slow food, the hot tub, Walmart and fun in the sun.

It has been fun to get caught up with our friends here in town too. It was especially great for Timothy to meet an email pen pal of his named Deven.

Art Show

Hey, I forgot to mention that I had an interview Monday in front of a selection committee who chooses what artists can have shows at the RSC (student center) Gallery on campus. Tuesday they offered me a solo show for next semester, actually the first one next semester. It will be up from August 13th thru August 24th with an opening reception on the 13th. I think it is cool timing because school doesn't start until the 16th. That means it might get some people extra like parents dropping their kids at college or attending orientation. The gallery is across the hall from Chic-Fillet. Anyway, it's pretty cool for me and the paintings are of all us kids as kids so that'll be neat to see all hung up together. (Might be worth a visit from Omaha;)

A Fun Weekend

Here's the traveling foursome. Saturday Ali and I drove to Tulsa where we met up with Angie and Tyler. We arrived in time to hear her preach- in Spanish. Ali and I wore headsets that received the translation into English. That was a surreal experience. Then we made the five hour drive to Saint Joseph (despite difficulties with toll stations) with a dinner stop at the Iron Skillet and had a nice break and a yummy meal. Allison would tell you we "pretended to knock on doors" meaning we told knock-knock jokes. Ali was good at making up her own, at least it made us laugh. We got into St. Joe just after midnight and went to the late service at church on Sunday. Then we shared sandwiches at Schlotsky's (their French-Dipsky was really good actually). Joyce showed up later in the afternoon and then it was time for me and Ali to head back to Wichita. We had a blast and I wish I could've stayed longer and had late-night knock-knock sessions. But being two weeks to the end of school I am running out of time to get my 15-page politics paper finished (which I am taking a break from right now).

Angie, I can't wait to see you again. Shawn, we gotta try to get all the cousins together. Lucas, how do you make Au Jus?

I love you all. Hopefully will see most of you over the Summer.

Hawaii

our church is having a Hawaii theamed pot luck
kind of challenging. so if anyone has an idea for a dish. let me know.

Sasha is experimenting with new foods. she loves yogurt. and today i tried cooked carrots dices up. she did awesome. but she doesn't show any interest in dringking from a sippy cup and she doesn't care for water or juice. bumber.
she said ninight (sp?) last week when we were puting her to bed. she is very good with communication. we took her to her 9 month check up last week and she is 55% for weight and height so she is now average. (as opposed to the 90% that she was hitting). she is developing very well, the only problem is this darn caugh that she has had almost since she was born. :(

Family Photo

Hey, my photography teacher has generously agreed to take our photograph on the day of Kent's open house. That is, if everyone is going to be there as hoped. Is everyone coming? Will DaRonn be in town then? Smith clan? Lucas? It'd be awesome to have everyone including the kiddums.

Weather

Hey, I wish I were in Bolivia right now!!!! I hope it warms up here for the weekend, we're going to the drag strip and if it's like it is today BRRRRRRR!

New Look

Hey there family! Trying to increase readability and freshen things up. What do you think about the new look?

Mom I emailed you at your gmail account :-)

the map

By the way,
did anybody notice the visiter map? Someone on the East coast has been to the sight, anybody know who that might be?

happy Easter from the Smiths

happy Easter every body!!
Loved the pictures. You guys did your eggs the way that I wanted to do eggs, but the only eggs that I did were with my class. They look really cool. And the esparagus looks awesome.
We had a wonderful church service. Worship was totally transendent. We spent some time with Nicks family but mostly we stayed home and just spent time with our own little family. Mostly because Sasha has really needed her rest.
Yesturday was a big day for all of us. We had the funeral and spent the whole day with the Smith clan from accross the country. It was nice to see them all. And oddly enough it was a really good day. Thats strange to say about a funeral. Sasha has a seccond cousin named Jannessa who is six days younger then her. They had a nice time together. They were instantly connected. It was a really good day.
But it is a little bit sad to not be with all the "Houtz" clan on the Easter Holiday. We love you guys.
-Shawn, Sasha, and Nick, (who will soon be blogging, I hope)

New food

Here's for all you who like to cook. I actually thunk this one up. I wanted asparagus for easter and while walking by the croissants at the grocery store I put two and two together literally. Here is the result. They were very pretty on the table and the guys seemed to especially like them (even Kent). I used garlic flavored croissants for extra flavor and because you know I love garlic. It was simple and quick, maybe good for a party appetizer too. :)

Easter Eggs

We all had fun coloring easter eggs. Allison was a little disappointed that she didn't get to paint them directly but we sort of tie dyed them in bags. They turned out really cool and stained the inside of the egg too with polka dots. The stuffed eggs were of course yummy and we even had a bunch left over, believe it or not. Hope you all had a fun easter too. Wish it were warmer here though. :)

Washingtons US trip 2007

Yes, as promised the Washingtons are coming to the States this month.

Angie (and Tyler) will be in Tulsa the 20 and 21 to speak at a women's conference in Victory Christian Centers Spanish Ministry.

DaRonn will bring the other three kids up the week of the 23rd and they will all converge in Saint Joseph.

DaRonn will stay in the States for two weeks - just until he can celebrate his birthday at his restaurant of choice.

Angie will be in the States with the kids until the end of May when they will travel back to Bolivia with a group that is coming down to minister. They will help her with the international travel with the kids.

Angie and the kids will be in Wichita for Kent's graduation and to celebrate Mother's Day.

We are tossing around the idea of a trip up to Omaha during our stay.

The only phone that we have in the house is my cell phone. Here is the number:
Country code: 591
Optional city code (depending on your carrier): 4
Cell phone number: 707 - 366 - 37

I can also be found on Instant Messenger through Yahoo (angielwashington). If you have a webcam then we can talk and it is free.

I just got done talking with DaRonn in Argentina with our webcams. Those things are great!

Also - let me know what you think about the gadgets that I added on the side bar.

comments

Those were some great comments guys. Thanks Angie for the condolences I will let Nick know. Mom, I made a "quilt". You would be so proud. Its one of those chenille quilts. I have washed it a couple of times but its not done shedding yet. So Sasha has not gotten to use it yet. But I am quite proud of myself because I did binding along the edges. Dad, you are totally right about perspective. Its so hard to comprehend how big God really is. Emily, thank you so much for finding those songs for me, they are so cute. I especially like the one with the dinosour in it.
What's this I hear about comming to the states in 3 weeks? Washingtons? We need to hear more.
Sasha is sick again, so please be praying for her. This is the worst that its been in a long time. She is sleeping in our room right now because her caugh is so bad that she chokes and has trouble breathing right. The doc said that it could be RSV again or a version of Influenza or just some random virous but either way we can just treat the simptoms and wait it out. She had been healthy for almost a week since the last bout of RSV. I would just love if my poor baby could just feel better and stay that way.
Oh, by the way, my friend Jess found our blog online. (Hi Jess.) Makes me wonder who else might be out there reading along. Hmmm...
I have to go give Sash more meds. I will keep you all posted on her condition.
Love you all.

An Email from Raimy

Raimy mentioned coming to the USA in 3 weeks! I'm sure we will be hearing more. I got so excited that I picked up t he phone and dialed this number01159144453069. Your number must have changed. The recepient of the call didn't speak english and didn't help me find Angie or DaRonn or Raimy. Oops! What is your new number?