Our Time in the States

Being in the States for the first time in 2 years was very weird at first. I would say I definately had culture shock coming home - not sure of how things go in the States - even though that is my home country, we've been living outside the US for 5 years! On the other hand, it was wonderful to be on a break from the normal stresses of living in Honduras and the crazy schedule that we live. It was nice to not worry about security issues and to not be doing 20 things at once.  

Our trip started in Arizona for the wedding, then we went to LA to visit our friends Lucas and Vanessa, drove up to the Bay Area and spent time with friends and Tristan's side of the family there. I went for a quick weekend to see my friend in MN and also got an evening there with my cousins and aunts and uncle -that was a treat! We then drove the 10hour trip to Oregon and spent a week with my family - the first time all us siblings have been together in 2 years (our immediate family has now grown to 15 people!  so every meal, every moment was a loud one :) ). On the way back to the Bay Area we stopped in Sacramento for lunch with my brother and sis-in-law. Then we had a few more days in the Bay to finish up things and get packed up for our trip back home. 

I am amazed at how many people we were able to see in the almost 6 weeks - pretty much all of our family - almost all our aunts and uncles and many cousins. My aunt even flew in to see us for a few days in San Fran. Now when I look back at all the people we saw, I understand why we were on the go most of the time! Thank you to everyone who made time to see us - we were so blessed by being able to be with you. you were an encouragement and a joy to be with!

While home we spoke at a bunch of really great churches and met with kindred spirits who encouraged us and hopefully we encouraged them. It's pretty special because I'd say we have 5 churches that we feel very at home at and at some point in time have been a part of that church - of those 5, 4 of them are coming to work with us for a week in 2013! 

 Aunt Jenny with her 2 nieces / Ali kickin' it in Papa's chair :)

 oh yeah we're stylin' /   Ali at the Oakland Zoo- she wasn't too impressed, she slept most of the time.

 Oakland Zoo - Daddy looking at the map while Maddy's looking back at the animals / Mommy and Maddy risking it on the water walk

 The carousal!   / Maddy and Ali in their cool headbands ;)

 This is a Mohagen tradition passed down from his grandpa! yikes! Ali loves it - she starts to giggle while standing on Daddy's hand.

 Halloween - we went trick or treating - maddy went up to the doors and meow'd and then would take 2 candies -one for her and one for Ali.

 We visited Papa (Bruce Mohagen) at work one day - the girls were spoiled by all the attention and maddy liked Papa's big desk!

 These are my friend Chelsea's 3 kids and Ali - while I was in MN for the weekend! It was so neat to get to know Chelsea's kiddos!  / Maddy, Ali, and their cousin Hannah

 Great Grandma Plotz with 4 of her 5 grandkids - Hannah, Maddy, Isaac, and Ali  / Grandpa (Terry Plotz) with the girls.

 Maddy and our friend Lucas had a trick - he helped her walk on the ceiling!  / 4 generation picture - Trisan's great aunt Mary (94 yrs old!), Shanon, Tristan, and the girls :)