Jonah and Ava playing "nap time" today. 

This morning I asked Jonah what he is going to buy me for my birthday next week.
"Do you want socks, Momma?"

Tonight I went out to dinner with my sis in-law, Heather. While we were there I got a call from Jon saying the car wash had broken and he needed me to pick the kids up at the station and take them home with me. So, I get to the station and Jonah is really bummed that he can't ride home with Daddy. He told me very loudly that he wasn't ever going to ride in my van again and that he wanted to ride home in Pop-Pop's truck (Jon has been driving Jerry's truck since the flat tire for his truck is on order).
Then, just a little ways down the road, Jonah says to me, "Momma, I'm reawwy sorry I said that to you. Will you forgive me?"
It was so sweet!
I mean, how fast can a mother's heart melt?

This morning we went out to breakfast and when we first arrived, there was a whole table full of firefighters eating together. We told Jonah that they were firemen, and he was staring at them in awe. Then as the firemen were leaving, one of them came over and gave Jonah and Ava each a sticker "badge" (so nice). After he left, we asked Jonah if he wanted to be a fireman when he grew up. This is what he said:
"No, I'm gonna be a driver."
Elisabeth: "What are you going to drive, Joe?"
Jonah: "I'm gonna drive a Chevy truck!"
We noticed most of the tables around us overheard it and were laughing, too. :0)

Jonah went to preschool today and when he walked in his teacher said, "There he is!"
Jonah responded, "Yeah, I grew up! "
Then, less than a minute later, he said, "Teacher Sharon I have Jesus in my heart so I can die now." :)

"Hey, mom! Look what I did!!"

The sweetie part of the chocolate cake. (cheesy, i know) 

A portrait of what could have been had Jon become a hockey player. . .

Jonah trying to make "blacked out" teeth... 

Our neighbor Pat brought over some chocolate cake for dessert tonight...it was all downhill from there. :) 

Yesterday I was writing Ava's name on the growth chart in her room:
Jonah: A-V-A. That spells Ava!
Elisabeth: That's right, Joe. How did you know that?
Jonah: Cuz I'm so smart.

Seen "Napoleon Dynamite" yet? Perhaps only a couple people from our Life Group will understand this pose... (Ben and Sarah??)

Learning all about the fireman uniform! 

This is a firetruck bush! 

Sitting in the drivers seat. 

On the back of the firetruck. 

Today we visited the fire station for our neighbor Marcus' birthday party and Jonah got to spray the water hose! 

Last night right before dinner...
Jonah: "I can't eat dinner cuz my tummy hurts really bad."
Elisabeth: "Why does your tummy hurt?"
Jonah: "My tummy hurts cuz Jesus lives in there."
Jon (after we stopping trying not to laugh): "So you don't want to eat this roast Momma made?"
Jonah: "No."
Jon: "Do you think you could eat some chocolate?"
Jonah: "My tummy doesn't hurt anymore!! I can eat Chocolate!"

A windy and cold day in San Sebastian, with a couple of our teammates and some locals who went through the program a few years ago. (L to R: Megan Walker, Chris Probasco, Jon, another Jon, and Hizaiah) 

In San Sebastian with some students. Mikel, the one dressed like a chef, was playing in the Tamborradah festival (imagine hearing beating drums, all night long).

Here are some pictures of our trip! (courtesy of Chris Probasco) This is at the Sideria with all the students who came to the states last summer. Itziar is right across from Jon and her father and mother are on either side of her.

Jonah attempting a: double-hand-free-head-stand-flip-from-the-edge-of-Ava's-bed.  

Avie bein' silly. 

Playing doll house this morning... 

Just now I put Ava down for a nap. On the way up the stairs Jonah yelled out, "Goodnight Potato Head!"

Jonah pretending to be Captain Cookie. Aarrgghh... 

Jon bein' silly. I guess Chevron finally drove him over the edge.

Jonah likes to dress himself.  

More nicknames for our girl: Avie-bean, Aviator, Avie, Weazie, Avie-baby, Rella or Rellie (she loves Cinderella).

Chubby-cheeks eating her breakfast this morning. PopPops and Nana gave her the nickname "truck stop" because she can fit so much in her mouth!

Jonah: "I missed you a yot for a yong time, Mommy. I am glad we are in my house again."

Hey everyone!! We just got back home late last night. We spent 9 days in Spain, 3 days in France, 2 days in London, and 2 days in California. Now we are home and can sleep in our own beds!! We missed the kids so much and they missed us. We are so happy to be a family again. I don't think we will be doing a trip like that again any time soon. It was so hard to be apart from our kiddos. My grandma Grace died while we were gone, and we were so sorry to have to miss the funeral, and the family sharing times. That has been really hard on me. Plus while we were gone Jonah got sick and had a double ear infection (we didn't know why he was being so cranky--we thought he missed us). He had it for a week before it was diagnosed by our friend Mindy and she was able to get him to the doctor and get him some antibiotics.
While there we had some great opportunties to talk about our Father, and were able to stay with our Basque daughter's (Itziar) family in Spanish Basque Country. That was the BEST part. Another great experience was sharing in their schools about life here in the USA and how they can come over and learn english here (and go to Young Life camp to hear about the Lord) this summer! We had a lot of students come to the interested parent meeting, so that was encouraging.
Overall it was a very hard trip. We learned a lot about relying on our Father and trusting in Him for everything (it was very hard for me to do under all the circumstances). I have also learned to ask "What are you trying to teach me through this?"
Thank you so much to all of you who kept us in your prayers. Please continue to pray for us as we readjust to life here: having to discipline again; as we begin to process the grief; dealing with jet-lag, too.
Thank you!!

Well, the count-down is on! In just two days Brawleyfam heads out for a cross-cultural adventure. The kids are staying Stateside, while Jon and Elisabeth head across the Atlantic to Basque Country (Northern Spain & Southern France) and London for a total of 16 days. We will try to post updates on the blog from internet cafes along the way, so check back.
We arrive back in PDX on Feb 2.
Please be praying for us!

today while playing Old Maid:
Elisabeth: "I won!"
Jonah: "Oh, for keeps sake, mom!" (Pete's sake)
;0)

Two nights ago while praying before bed:
Jonah: "Jesus please help me to be a good big bruzzer to my baby sister."

Then today during play time:
Jonah: "Ava, don't touch this."
Ava: "Otay, Jao Jao."
Jonah: "Mommy! MOMMY!! Ava obeyed me!!"

Yesterday:
Jonah: "Sorry I hit you, Ava."
Ava: "Your welcome, JoJo."

As Jonah says, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!"
Merry Christmas to all our family & friends.
We hope you all have a wonderful holiday!
~Jon, Elisabeth, Jonah, & Ava Louise

Jonah, looking at his dinner last night: "My tummy says 'No'."

Ava got a new "kitty" with carrier for Christmas from Jon's aunt and uncle. Ava was pretty indifferent to it until Jonah decided HE loved it. He even named it Suzie. So this afternoon, while Ava was carrying it around, and Jonah was longing to play with it, he was being mean to her. While I was talking to him and trying to explain to him that he needed to be nice, he replied, "But Momma, Suzie is my best friend!"

Just a few minutes ago I overheard this conversation:

Jonah: "You charge your phone every night, Dada!"
Jon: "How did you know I charge it every night?"
Jonah: "Cuz your favorite toy is to charge it!"

Today Jonah and Marcus (our next-door neighbor) were playing "Fire Engine" outside with a big wooden wagon.
Marcus was pulling Jonah in the wagon over the bumpy dirt lot next to our house, and it had been raining.
Next thing I know, Jonah landed in a puddle and was covered head-to-toe in mud!
He actually looked so adorable but a little concerned when I burst out laughing (I think I scared him).

I always like to get a "take-off" cup of coffee at the airport Starbucks before we go on a trip. This last time, when we were flying down to Palm Springs, I went ahead and got the kids a "hot" cocoa to share. Next thing I know Ava dumped her entire cup of cocoa on her Beary's head! Jonah took one look at her and said, "You're a trasher, Ava."

Out for a cruise along the Desert Shores 

Jonah (4) and Ava (20 mos) in the pool at Nana and Pop Pop's Casita. 

My friend Ian told me that there is a Chevron in town that has a sign posted:
"Not responsible for lost gas caps".
Oh, please.

Last night:
Jonah: "Mom, you wanna come in da hot tub with me and Daddy? It's cold! It's hot! It's the hot TUB!"

This came to our email today:
"This is so fun and only takes a minute. Sometimes when you have a stressful day or week, you need some silliness to break up the day. And, if we are honest, we have a lot more stressful days than not. Here is your dose of humor... Follow the instructions to find your new name.

The following in an excerpt from a children's book, Captain Underpants And the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants' by Dave Pilkey. The evil Professor forces everyone to assume new names......

Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name:
> a = poopsie b = lumpy c = buttercup
> d = gadget e = crusty f = greasy
> g = fluffy h = cheeseball i = chim-chim
> j = stinky k = flunky l = bootie
> m = pinky n = zippy o = goober
> p = doofus q = slimy r = loopy
> s = snotty t = tootie u = dorkey
> v = squeezit w = oprah x = skipper
> y = dinky z = zsa-zsa


> Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:
> a = apple b = toilet c = giggle
> d = burger e = girdle f = barf
> g = lizard h = waffle i = cootie
> j = monkey k = potty l = liver
> m = banana n = rhino o = bubble
> p = hamster q = toad r = gizzard
> s = pizza t = gerbil u = chicken
> v = pickle w = chuckle x = tofu
> y = gorilla z = stinker

> Use the fourth letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:

> a = head b = mouth c = face
> d = nose e = tush f = breath
> g = pants h = shorts i = lips
> j = honker k = butt l = brain
> m = tushie n = biscuits o = hiney
> p = chunks q = toes r = buns
> s = fanny t = sniffer u = sprinkles
> v = kisser w = squirt x = humperdinck
> y = brains z = juice

Thus, for example, George W. Bush's new name is Goober Chickenshorts. William Jefferson Clinton is Bootie Liverbiscuits.
John Kerry's new name is Cheeseball Girdlebuns!

And remember that children laugh an average of 146 times a day; adults laugh an average of 4 times a day."

Jon's new name is Zippy Gizzardsquirt
Elisabeth is Chim-chim Gizzardsquirt
Jonah is also Zippy Gizzardsquirt
and little Ava is Poopsie Gizzardsquirt
Have a great day!