Congo Nights, Skiing, Paris....and LOTS of studying

Greetings everyone! Sorry we've taken so long to update you all. We've had our noses in books, as I had a full week (yes WEEK) of exams several weeks ago and Patrick is now enduring his own.  I'll give you a few snippets of life and updates through some pictures....

We recently had a wonderful 'Congo' night with a Congo food feast, and fellowship with all of the other families here who are also moving to the DRC. Michelle Doran (to the left of Anna) will be joining our team in Nyankunde as an OB/GYN. Dave and Ashley Peterson (top right in green and red) will also be in Nyankunde with us as MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) missionaries.  They have a son Daniel who is 2 months younger than Miriam. The Rices (the couple top left and their daughter bottom left) and the Potters (bottom right) will be doing medical missions in Vango in West/central Congo. The Lynds (bottom center) will be working at an administrative level for MAF in Kinshasa. 

I finally had the chance to leave the kids with Patrick and ski for the day.  Aside from the whiteout blizzard conditions in the morning and the fact that Miriam refused the bottle all day, I had a great time :)

The kids continue to grow and thrive here.  Luke has been nothing but sweet to Miriam and cherishes times that he gets to hold her.  It's adorable!

Luke's love for Miriam has come in handy when we've needed to get somewhere quickly in our life without a car!  He loves holding her in the Bob stroller as we walk or run somewhere. 

Luke got to dress up as a cowboy for a local festival, and we went with out new friend from Holland who just moved here to volunteer in the nursery.  She also happens to be in the French class I was in, so we've had fun sharing many french speaking meals with her.

Miriam is so fun.  She's almost 6 months.  She is happy virtually all the time and appears to love the French language :).  My french class mourned the fact that my leaving meant that they don't have Miriam around anymore (though she was starting to talk so loud in class that it was becoming a bit disruptive....)

Ashley (in black) and Michelle (in blue stripes) will both be living in the same town in Nyankunde, DRC as we.  Ashley lives here with her husband Dave who is a pilot with MAF.  Michelle is currently learning French in Switzerland and will practice as an OB/GYN in DRC with us.  Its been fun to start to envision our lives there.

Last weekend we went to Paris.  It is an amazing city, but not quite the easiest place to be a tourist for a weekend with 2 small kiddos.  Patrick's parents and sister met us there and will be with us again this upcoming weekend in Albertville.  It was fun watching them enjoy nutella, cheese, chocolate and other french gems!

In the great city of the Arc de Triumph, the Eiffel tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame, Luke exclaimed at the end of the day that the playground was his favorite part.... not surprisingly from a 2 year old's perspective.

Patrick's youngest sister, Susanna, has been taking French in school and had a great time practicing her skills with real native French speakers, she did great!  

 Many Blessings in this Holy Week!