The Years are Flying By!

When we left Korea we obviously didn't take much time to keep up with this blog.  For lots of reason (excuses) that I won't bother mentioning.

Lots has changed in the past 2 and a half years ... most noticeably, the size of our family.  We have grown from a family of 3 to a family of 5!  Esther will be 5 this summer, Elijah is 2 and a half and Isaiah is 5 months old tomorrow.

We have a lot going on these days, but who doesn't, right?  In the midst of the busyness I would like to do a better job updating this blog in an effort to share with friends and family what is going on in our lives.

Little did I realize how appropriate "The Great Adventure" was as the title of this blog.  Kudos to Cory - he must have known that our adventures would last way beyond our first few years of marriage.  I sure am thankful for him and for the children we have been blessed with!

We'll share with you soon a little more about the adventure we are headed for next!

Reading to Mr. Bear

What a cute kid ... but I am biased

After a catnap on Daddy's shoulder Esther woke up on a old fashioned San Fran trolley!

Esther loves to catch up with her grandparents on the phone - but SHE insists upon holding the phone!

Hanging out at the park on Labor Day - it has a splash pad and it was definitely warm enough to enjoy it!

Helping Mommy in the kitchen wearing the apron Aunt Mandi made!

Getting creative with her toys ...

Our Trip East ...

Heading to the "East" used to more than likely refer to Asia for our family.  These days, it means the East Coast of the good old U.S. of A!  After 10 years of living in the Eastern Hemisphere we have now been back in the States for almost a full year.  Time sure does fly!

Cory and I had been talking about visiting WV during October so that I could finally introduce him to my favorite time of year - the Forest Festival!  I don't know the last time I got to go, but as a kid our family went just about every year.  It was kind of a family reunion time as well as a week + of fun festivities to attend.  The trees usually are around their peak for the Fall season which always adds such an awesome element to the event, in my opinion.  My plan to finally take Cory to witness all of the great aspects of the Forest Festival was thwarted ... by baby #2!  How could I complain?!?!  

Needless to say, plans to travel in October were cancelled as this new little Dyck is due the end of that month!  Instead we decided to travel this summer.  Cory is doing a lot of business travel and my sister in law (Josh's wife) is due in July.  It just so happens I got to throw her a baby shower, so the timing actually worked out just right!  Esther and I stayed for 3 1/2 weeks and Cory came in the middle for a week long visit.

Esther got her first official 4 wheeler ride!  Grandma Larkin and I were supposed to go while I was in but the weather just never cooperated with us on the right day.  Next time, Grandma!

Esther warmed up to Gig and Grandpa VERY easily!  They came and visited us in March but I was concerned that it had been too long for her to really remember them.  When Grandpa picked us up at the airport she took his hand and walked out to the parking lot with him like she knew exactly who he was!  How sweet! 

She also learned a thing or two from Grandpa ...

While in WV we also got to spend some time with Aunt Mandi and Uncle Josh!  Esther LOVED eating watermelon at her house, but unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of her WITH them!  Here is one taken by my Aunt Anita of the expecting parents/aunt & uncle.

Esther Turns Two!

Esther got to celebrate several times - in WV with family and then with us here in Cali on her actual birthday!

Farmer, Conductor, or Fashionista?

Esther can't quite decide today what she wants to be ... we haven't been outside yet to put her farmer skills to work (we'll head out this afternoon with our shovels and rakes to work in the garden).  She has played a lot with her train this morning, but the thing that she has been most interested is the pair of black heels she found in my closet.  SHE picked them out from a row of shoes - I think it's impressive that she picked matching ones!

Here you can see her "clopping" around the house!

Here are a few other pics I've taken in the last week or so ...

Valentine's Day Treats

Esther received a package and a card from her grandparents which we let her open up on Valentine's Day after dinner.

Thanks, Gig and Grandpa!  The dress fits perfectly!

Caught on Camera!

Peek a Boo!

Caught Esther being cute on video after lunch - thought I'd share.

Esther loves to dance!

Esther gets her love for music honestly, but her moves ... not sure.  Here's her latest dance in the living room!  Unfortunately I forgot and had the camera turned sideways, so you'll have to turn your laptop or suffer a crink in your neck.  ;)

Christmas Fun!

Made some gingerbread cookies which OTHER people mostly decorated!  It's a good thing because I am NOT very creative.

In the Spring of 2011 Cory and I were able to go to China and visit some of his college friends who are living there.  I was pregnant with Esther at the time and picked up the smallest "Christmas" dress I could find.  She did wear it last year, I think, but this year it actually fits her so well!  Does she look Chinese to you?

 (admiring the ornament sent by Gig)

Last year we also bought her this beautiful coat (I'm told she looks Russian.)  The sleeves were a little short, but it still fit her pretty nicely, otherwise!  I suppose we are trying to make sure this little girl keeps some of her international flair!

(Christmas dress from Aunt Mandi and Uncle Josh combined with a goofy face!)

Holiday Lights at CALM

The week before Christmas one of Cory's former students (from Guam) came to visit for a few days.  She is currently a student at UCSD.

We went to CALM (California Living Museum) for their Holiday Lights event.

 

Esther LOVED the lights but was not so fond of the carousel.

We are glad Stephanie came to visit!  Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures with her on the "real" camera - you'll have to visit Facebook to see those!

Winter in Cali

The climate here is quite different from where either of us grew up - although living on Guam gave us our first tropical Christmas experiences.  It has "cooled" off a bit, especially at night, but we definitely were not looking for a white Christmas here this year.

 Our visit to CALM (California Living Museum)

 Esther's Christmas dresses ... 

Smiles

Just can't resist posting these super - cute smiles!

Loving the slide! 

Loving the dirt! 

Ready for Christmas!

Esther's Favorite Things

No joke - she plays every single day with one of the empty boxes we keep for her under the sink.  Simple pleasures!

Bakersfield, California

 I know it doesn't always work this way, but when the decision was made to leave Korea it was very clear.  Within a week Cory had a job offer here in Bakersfield, and though we tried to take some time before making the final decision, there wasn't much time to spare and it seemed evident that we were supposed to purchase a new home and embrace a new direction.

And so, here we are - just about 6 months later.  We are buying a home and moving in 2 weeks.  Many people have asked me if I (Jen) am adjusting to life back in America - to be honest I think it's been easier on me and Esther than on Cory.  I find that I am happy to be able to communicate clearly (most of the time) with others - a common language is rarely the issue!  I love going to the grocery store and being able to find ANY ingredient I am looking for, for ANY recipe I want to try out on my family!  I love being closer and more in touch with family - even texting back and forth throughout the day brings so much joy.  I love the idea that we are going to have our own home.

There are definitely things that we are finding difficult, but I feel like recently my 'cup' is overflowing.    

Moving ... Continued

In September we were able to move into an apartment.  We have been house hunting since we arrived in CA but it's been quite an interesting experience.  Esther wasn't sleeping through the night well and struggling with her naps, so we decided it might be best for us to go ahead and find an apartment until we could get into a house.  It was probably one of the easiest moves we've made - two trips with a minivan!  LOL - probably because we had almost no furniture to speak of.

As you can see, Esther likes the new place.  She is sleeping 10-12 hours a night and was taking two 2-hour naps a day when we first moved in!  She is slowly getting rid of the morning nap - it just kind of depends on what is going on for the day, but all in all she is sleeping so much better and is way more happy just about around the clock.  We are so grateful for our family taking us in for so long but I have to admit, it's awfully nice that Esther is back to a more normal sleeping schedule.

She loves sunglasses and cell phones.  This phone was one from Korea that made it back with us to the US.  She walks around "talking" on the phone - usually to Gig or Mimi!