Finally, An Update!!

Well. Sorry it has been sooooo very long since the last update. Life has been busy, and I just simply did not take the time to update everything. However, I thought that the pics of Marina playing in our latest snowstorm were just too cute to pass on.

Marina is now 15 months old. She is running everywhere. She is signing quite a bit and is learning words to go along with the signs. She has a decent vocabulary: Mom, Dadee, Pop, Baba, Ball, Balloon, Please, Down, Up, Lala (for Elmo), moo, ABC's, and a few others. The newest word is Thank you. She has also started to link words together, like: please, up and then thank you. She has about 12 teeth and they just seem to pop in every few days. Her hair is getting really long and I can't wait to put it in different styles for the summer. :-)

We took her outside twice during the snow. She loves going out, oh that is another one of her words. :-) She cries when we bring her in. She discovered how to make snow angels all on her own, as you can tell from the one picture. She has also developed an "ohhhh" face, and you can kind of see it on one of the pics. She had fun toddling around in that big, puffy snow suit.

Well, I have got to run. I have school work to do and housework, and lots of other stuff, and you know a nap only lasts so long......

lots of love,

Pam, Lonnie, and Marina

Our First Holiday Season With Marina!!

Marina didn't think it was funny that we were playing dress-up and take her picture! :-) Check out the major--I am not impressed look on her face.
We thought we could save time and money by doing our own Christmas photos. This one wasn't too bad.

Here is the winning phot. This is the one that we used with our Christmas cards. We were pretty impressed with our photography skills. Doesn't she look like a little doll. We thought that this hat was great. So, daddy posed wtih Marina all bundled up to go off.
Hey---everyone--look at me---I like to make funny faces 'cause this crazy family of mine keeps taking pictures of me in this wierd get-up. :-)


Season's Greetings Everyone!!

I know, I know--It has been quite some time since I last posted. And, believe you-me, I have been hearing about it. Well, here I sit at the computer with a few free moments, Baba and Poppy have taken the munchkin for the afternoon. So, I decided to take the time to update you all.

Marina is doing very well. She continues to amaze us with how fast she is growing and how much she learns every day. She is now walking---I think that eight steps is her max. right now. But, we think that she will really be tottering around for Christmas. She says a few words: Mama, Dada, Baba, Hi, and a few others. She mimics everything that we do and is into everything. She loves the Christmas tree, it is about 14 feet tall this year. And, she particulary likes Uncle Kerry's present, as it is the big one under the tree :-) She had fun going to look for our tree. Uncle Kerry let her pet the smaller trees.......she liked the ones that were her size :-)

Thanksgiving was a blur. We had a great meal at Marina's Great Grandma Nomi's house. The entire family was there and she loved being passed around. She has done lots of Christmas shopping with Baba and me. We are gearing up for her first birthday on December 15 and then her first Christmas with us. I think that I am the worst....I am so excited to see her during the Christmas holidays.

Not too much else going on. My Christmas cookies are baked, the tree is up, the gifts are wrapped, the Christmas cards are mostly in the mail, and we are enjoying spending time with M. However, I try to remain cognizant that we must focus on the real reason for the season and instill that value in M. I sure do love all of the above, and it sure keeps me busy, but among the hectic time, I want to remember the birth of our Savior....I hope that among all of your wonderful gifts this season, you all take time to consider your greatest blessing.......the love of Jesus!!!

God Bless,
Lonnie, Pam, and Marina

We Are Home, Happy, and Having a Blast!!

Hello Everyone!!

Sorry that it has taken me awhile to update the blog. Life has been crazy busy, but a good kind of crazy. :-) I was home for a week when we returned and then right back to work. So, between work, getting the house baby proofed, doctor's appointments, visits, and showing off Marina to everyone---there just hasn't been much time.

Marina has been to the doctor and has been declared a very healthy baby!!! She is growing taller and gaining weight. She is learning to adjust to a carseat, as it is not her most favoritest thing!! :-) Her two bottom teeth are really coming in, and she looks just like a very cute jack-o-lantern. Her appetite is still good, as is her humor. And, she is not spoiled at all---just a ton!!! Thanks to baba and poppy, mostly. She plays pat-a-cake, so big, and peek-a-boo. It was fun when we took her to the eye doctor when he tried to cover one eye--she kept moving to play peek-a-boo. She loves books and has her favorite pictures that she kisses. She likes music and even shakes her booty sometimes. She is walking along furniture and getting into everything. The dogs have adjusted well and they give her lots of kisses, slobbery, gooey, sticky kisses.
She has a bear named Timothy Sergei and Ryan, namesakes from her friends in Kazakhstan, and she greets them with a hug and kiss every morning.

Right now, she is not being spoiled by Poppy, as they are literally hopping around the loft as I write. She misses Uncle Paul and Aunt Kim and also Aunt Lena, too. They helped take such good care of her. We heard from Ceil today, and it was great to receive the communication. We hope to talk with both her and Susan soon.

Not too much else to report. I will try to update the blog occaisionally, as I get time, so that you can see pictures of Marina as she grows. Mom has been on my case to update it., I am home today, as I have a sinus infection thingy and was to the doctor. So, thought I would take advantage of a free minute!!!

Love to you all,
The Weidmans

All Smiles from Karaganda!!

Hello Family and Friends,


Notice the pictures show Marina all smiles. We are all quite happy lately, as we will soon be on our way home. This will probably be my last posting until we return State-side.

Marina has been a real trooper. Her gums are swollen and bumpy, but she tries to be happy--and she usually pulls it off. She has learned how to pull herself up to a standing position in her crib. So, mom and I have to lower the setting so she can't fall out. It is amazing to see how far she has come in such a short time.

Our day was quite typical. We walked outside a bit, took a short trip to market, I had to go to the grocery store to pick up a few odds and ends to pack to take with to our next destination. Then, we had pizza with friends of ours. I must say that the pizza tasted great. It was the best food that we have had here. We all attacked it, closed our eyes, and imagined we were home in a pizzareia (spelling:-) Anyhoo, it tasted good :-) We are going to be sad to leave our friends, as they have been wonderful to us and we enjoy sharing time with them. But, they won't be here too long after us.

Mom has been packing and piling. I am trying to organize our suitcase, as I am determined to return home with only one suitcase. We can only carry so much!!! Tomorrow evening we want to have most all of our stuff packed away. Don't worry Lonnie, I remember that you want me to pack the one cooking pot and spatula thingy :-) That is his souvernier from over here :-)

Please continue to keep us in your prayers---that our travels will go smoothly and safely and that all appointments and paperwork will get done in a timely fashion.

lots of love--can't wait to see you all,
the three of us

Ole, Ole, Ole

Hola!

Today's pictures feature Marina doing and Ole dance of sorts.

Baba is at the crib, cause Miss marina thinks she has to learn how to stand. So, she is dictating this blog entry to me......

It won't be too long and I will be a grandma back home. I am looking forward to dressing marina in more than four outfits (hey, that is one more than we have). Also, can't wait until she can crawl on carpet with padding, these floors over here are bad for babies heads. We are still waiting for a tooth to push through. Considering how it must hurt, Marina is a real trooper. She cries and smiles at the same time--sort of like her mother. :-)--who is more anxious than me to get home now, if that is possible.

We have met a wonderful couple over here, who we have deemed as marina's aunt and uncle and we just enjoy their company so much; they are good people and have much wisdom. We will truly miss them when we leave.

Pam and I have started packing, trying to determine what to leave behind and what to take with to our next destination. Pammy keeps singing--I'm leaving on a jet plane to Marina---I have heard it about a million times.

Someone might want to check out our houses for us and get our men busy cleaning---cause after a seven week tour, we better come home to clean casas. (houses).

Counting on your prayers.....love and hugs from --

Babushka, Pammy, and baby Marina

Bad Hair Day in Kazakhstan!!

Hello All!

Notice the pictures of Marina showing off her wonderful hairdo. This is called hat-hair or just bad hair. :-) Now, we know the real reason she doesn't want to wear those hats, why just look what they do to her hair.

Mom and I are counting down. We got our tickets to fly from Karaganda today. I did an actual dance in front of the hotel and in front of a bunch of wedding guests, who were at our hotel. Mom, quite aggresively, grabbed the tickets and shoved them in her bag, in an effort to put an end to my celebratory dance. On of our friends here thought my dance quite entertaining. :-) Mom has been packing up our supplies and moving stuff from here to there, in an effort to feel like we are really packing. We still have just a couple of days for the real packing to take place. But, in does feel good to put stuff on piles. :-)

Marina is fairing well. She is teething, so she is a bit cranky. We are hoping the teeth bust through before we get out the planes. ahhhhh!!

Not too much going on today, so mom and I compiled our top ten things we can't wait to get home to:

10. Ice!!
9. Being able to drive our cars!
8. Wal-Mart, baby!
7. Olive Garden, Cracker Barrel, Red Robin....etc--no more beans, noodles, and rice
6. US dollars, not tenge!
5. English on TV!
4. Fresh water out of the tap....goes good on a toothbrush :-)
3. More than one room in our dwelling!
2. More than three pair of pants to wash and wear!
1. Friends and family!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers, as our time here in Kazakhstan draws to a close.

love-us

Bad Hair Day in Kazakhstan!

Hello All,

Today we celebrated because we are so close to the countdown for home!!! At the moment, mom keeps making piles for when we pack. She has a big, cheesy grin on her face! :-) Even more exciting, we got our tickets for our flight to Almaty this afternoon. I did a happy dance in front of everyone outside of the hotel, including the people who were there for a wedding. Mom grabbed them, none to lightly, out of my hands and tucked them away--thus ending my celebratory dance. (The other Americans here like my dance :-)

We just ate french fries that were cold and not quite done, but at this point--who cares!!! Mom counted down all the food we need for the remaining days. Oh, the thought of home and all of our friends and family is just wonderful!!

The pictures of Marina today feature her wonderful hat hair!! She doesn't really want to wear a hat and we have to keep one on her when we are outside. So, as soon as we come in, it is off. Here is her beautiful harido after the removal of the hat!! I should have taken a picture of her screaming, as her teeth look like they are just about ready to break the bottom gums, and she is none too happy about that. It must be bothering her because she has been cranky, she slobbers a bunch, she gnaws on everything, and her cheeks are all red. We are in trouble for the flight home!!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We hope and pray to see you all soon!

love-
us

Hangin' Around In Kazakhstan!

Hello Everyone!
TGIF--our last Friday in Karaganda! Today is passing quickly, as we have been out and about quite a bit--and have kept ourselves very entertained. Notice the pictures of Marina playing in her crib. Now, she not only knows how to sit up all by herself, which she does immediately upon waking up (lucky us), but she is learning how to pull herself up to her knees in the crib. She just thinks that is a terrific new trick, and as soon as she gets up to her knees, she yells to get our attention, so that we might appreciate her talent! :-)

Today, mom and I got to travel to market with our friends. We wanted to take one, last trip before we head home. And, we don't like to travel that far without being in a group. So, we headed off and got our shopping done. We picked up a book for Marina and a few souveniers. We also purchased Marina two outfits--we needed pants to put on her for the plane ride. Mom was so happy that the one set came with little pink booties. We keep looking for booties, but can't find any here. And, tonight we have plans to eat out at the restaurant with our friends. It is like being real-person again. :-) Although, there is very little that I really like on the menu; I think I will get french fries (big surprise) and maybe the fruit salad. Mom is hungry for spring rolls and rice, but they have been out of spring rolls lately, so she might have to settle for fries. Anyhoo, it is a night out--just not on the town. :-)
We are counting down the days until we are traveling to Almaty, as it brings us that much closer to home and all of you--our friends and family. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, and if you get a chance, drop us a line, please!!!!

hugs and kisses,
usins