Mall Madness..........

We were so happy to have visitors! Ryan, Sam and Kenzli Lambert came to visit us for a week! The weather was so beautiful before they got here and as we were at the airport waiting on them it started to rain and it seriously didn't stop for about 4 days. So this is what most of our days and night looked like.............

Ryan watching SpiderMan with the kids.

Until the next morning we all got dressed and went to the mall to let the kids see something else other than our four walls.

They have an incredible play place in the mall for little kids. You have a card that they put minutes on there and you just have to swipe your card at each ride.

One of Coop's favorites! Well besides the little Harley motorcycles.

The girls were so cute riding most of the rides together.

I love this face of Kenzli's. She looks so happy!

I think this could have been the kids favorite one.

The Cinderella carriage.

I know Kenzli, it isn't Tinker Bell!

This picture is hilarious! I just love it!

Then later that night, the kids were back to their seats on the table watching a movie!

We had so much fun getting to see the kids having a great time on all the rides. It was definitely mall madness as everyone watched the crazy gringos in the mall.

"Burning Energy"

The weather has been beautiful lately. Some rainy days but just beautiful when not raining!

The kids were so excited that we were getting to go to the park in our neighborhood. Avery thinks she is so big now that she has to walk on her own to the park!

I love the pathway to the basketball court!

Avery loving the swing! She thinks it is so funny when Darin pushes her.

Cooper goes to this thing every time.

They have so much fun together when playing at the park. I don't like how fast they are growing but do love to see Avery getting older where she is able to play with Cooper.

A few attempts on trying to get a picture of all 3 of them:

I think this is such a sweet picture of the two of them. I don't think Cooper was very comfortable in the tree but it made for a cute picture!

Is he not one of the prettiest boys you have ever seen?

Our blue eyed princesa #2!

Darin trying to push Avery on Cooper's bike. Only problem was she couldn't reach the peddles when they were all the way down.

She was so proud though!

Me trying to ride with Avery. Problem was that I was way too big for the bike!

It is so sad to see that my hips are the same size of my husband's. He still loves me though ;)

Momma's girl! I love it!

3 of Our Many Blessings.......

We are so blessed with 3 beautiful and healthy children!

We have had some many changes since August 2008. We started in Richmond, VA for mission training. It was the first time for our kids to be in any kind of daycare. Avery was only 4 months old. Believe me, that first day I was not the only mama crying having to leave their baby for the first time. I was able to walk back and forth to feed her though. Then in October of 08' we moved to Costa Rica to go to a language school. We were there until August of 09'. It seemed like forever at the time but now seems like it just flew by. We had all of Avery's 1st there. Her learning to crawl, walk, Thanksgiving, Christmas and even her birthday. We made so many friends there and so did Cooper. He hated having to tell all of his friends bye. We then came to Guadalajara, Mexico and this is where God has currently called us to be until August of 2011. We even were blessed of giving birth to little Aslyn here. Her mexican name is Ashlyn Kate Mercer Mercer. That is right, two last names. Since Lacey was not on my passport, because we take our husbands last name in the states, she had to go by Mercer twice.

But here are a few cute pics of our little blessings!

She still has the cutest face when she is upset!

Please PRAY for our little blessings as they are always dealing with change. Cooper is more and more confused as he has had to deal with death recently of my grandfather and Darin's father. As teams come and you make friends with them and then they leave. As the Ostertag famiy, a family also serving here, leave for stateside next week for six months. Cooper plays great with their little girl and I know he is going to miss her so much. Then the Haynes family is leaving us for an entire year! They will basically be gone almost our entire last year. When they get back we would be leaving about three weeks after they return. So please PRAY for our kids as they deal with change so often. They truly don't understand the meaning of a "missionary kid."

El Dia de Amistad

We loved having Valentine's Day here in Mexico. It is so different than in the states. It is all about people you love like your family, friends, neighbors and church family.

Here is Darin trying to help me make some cake mix cookies. I didn't think they were going to be very good but thanks to Darin and my mom they turned out pretty good.

This is one of the few pics I could actually get of Avery smiling.

Poor Ashlyn, this is what she did while we got the cookies and lunch ready!

Like I said, my mom helped us out. I called her to tell her that my motor on the hand mixer smelt like it was burning because the batter was so thick. So she said to just mix it with your hand. So Darin gladly helped out with that part.

Here is the last pic of Avery people happy ;) She is even saying, "CHEESE"

This was Sunday after church. Thanks Baga for the Valentine attire. They all looked adorable.

Avery is so upset because I wanted to take her picture. The girl means NO, when she doesn't want her picture taken! I just had to show Baga the shirt she got her. Don't think it is a picture that should go in a frame though.

Cooper was so happy about some of the treats he got at church. Everyone was handing out candy and notes.

Here is Avery........ still crying!

Since I am his Valentine I thought I should get a picture with him. I can't believe how big he is getting. He is standing on a table but still, he is growing so fast.

WOW! A picture of Avery crying and then Darin doing this.............

Cooper loves his sisters so much!

Our little photogenic baby. This is how Avery was when she was smaller. I hope that doesn't mean Ashlyn is going to dislike cameras as much as Avery does now.

Those beautiful blue eyes and long eyelashes. Every time we meet someone new that is what the comment on, our children's eyes and eyelashes.

Cooper thought he would sit in for Avery. So here is little Avery and Ashlyn! Our boy is such a little nut ;)

We had such a great Valentine's Day. We woke up, went to church, had a lunch at the church after the service and then later we had dinner at the Outback thanks to the Ostertag family for the gift certificates. It probably was one of the best sit down meals as a family. The kids don't know that you do sit down at places anymore. All the restaurants here have play places in them or some even have childcare. But we all sat down together and just enjoyed each other. Thank yo Lord for such a wonderful day with my family. We are seriously so blessed to not have only love for each other but a deep love from You.

Up On The Mountain!

There is a church up on the mountain that has a feeding center for kids and some families. They try to teach them good hygiene, have a small bible study and play with the kids. We love going there and seeing all the smiling kids as the get a good warm meal.

Here is the soccer field that has an awesome view!

You can see the city in the background of the picture.

Cooper thought the soccer was too rough so he decided to play with a stick!

This is what Avery did most of the time we were there. Well, until all the kids starting touching her!

Here is Darin, Landri and David playing soccer with the kids.

The kids take soccer very serious but I think Darin might have taken it more serious.

Cooper with a few of his buddies.

Cooper took this picture. I think he did pretty good.

Here the kids are all lining up to get some food. David is in there too ;)

Such a sweet little face!

Cooper finally found some friends to play soccer with.

Here is the soup they were serving. The had the entire chicken in there. I mean, the entire chicken. They even tried to offer Cooper the chicken feet which is supposedly a big deal. We explained to Cooper before that the food was for the kids and families. It also helped that he just ate some goldfish in the van.

Here is one of the tree tables in the church filled with hungry and excited people.

Here is another view from the mountain.

Thanks to the US and a church there that supports this church on the mountain to be able to feed these people every Saturday. We are so blessed to have food on our table every day. Thank you Lord! Please continue praying for these sweet families as they are learning the truth and also for the church on the mountain to have strength and excitement every Saturday to want to wake up, prepare the food and teach these young kids. Also, give the Lord all the glory for EVERYTHING, even some things that we just take for granted.