Update

So we bought a house in November and since then our life has picked up so much speed, we did not even noticed that we've neglected our blog for MONTHS. This is my appemt to catch us up to date.

So many things have tricepired since then. We moved, and with Papa Branner's help started a gazillion of projects we are still struggling to finish. The wall that was taken down by Dad is now completely patched and painted, which is as much progress as we've made. Well, we did do some small things like caulking the bathtub, painting and repainting a couple of rooms. Just to make a point of how slow things are moving along, we are still in the process of ordering the carpet that should have been in by Thanksgiving. But I have to say we have been busy and not just with the house. Matthew, Summer came to visit us just days after Dad left to go home (and rest from his labors) They spent Thanksgiving with us. That was a welcome break from an intense 10 days of working on the house. They left and we practically shifted into the Christmas gear, buying presents, planning trips and still working on the house. Alla and Vanya came to visit us for a few days which was very fun. They took us to the airport on Christmas. We flew to Portland for a fun filled time at the Branner house. The cousins had so much fun playing together and the adults had fun busying themselves with all sorts of activities from shopping, to participating in the tallent shows to skiing, and doing a whole lot of talking. It was so fun, busy and noisy. We loved it.

From then, Paul and I packed our bags and flew to Egypt, leaving our kids with the grandparents. We has so much fun there and will write about the trip later in specifics. But I have to say it was quite an experience to stay in the hotel right at the foot of the Giza pyramids. We could see them out of our bedroom window. Paul spend a few days in conference while I visited some tourist sights with wifes of Paul's collegues. Then we has some time to spend together, riding camels, visiting a whole bunch of Egyptian temples in Luxor. It was an unforgetable trip.

It was brutal getting back into the swing of things at home. Paul and I were jetlaged and therefore tired and later on sick, for what seems like forever. Only now life is starting to resemble some sort of normalcy. We have been so blessed to get a chance to travel so much recently. But, still, there is no place like home, even when you still sleep on blow-up mattresses.