Packed and ready to go! We are down to the last few hours now... We are getting pretty excited to leave and it will be a great feeling to finally be sitting on the plane on our way to Moscow. Unfortunately Hudson is still sick.... not good. I sure hope he can keep things down during our travels and that he keeps it to himself, but all things work together for good and it will be something to remember our journey by. I'd rather it be a memory of healthy sleepy kids but that's ok. Thankyou for your thoughts and kindness towards us. We are so glad to be heading to Russia! This may be the last time I can write for a few days but we will write as soon as we can. Bye for now! Here we go........ 

Our last night!!!!

One more night till we head off for Russia. I'm not really thinking about it too much, and I think that might be best. I am sad to be leaving for sure but I am glad too. It is hard to believe that after all the training and planning we actually are now going. We have our bags packed. 8 bags checked, 1 double stroller, 2 car seats and 5 carry-ons. Not bad for all we own:) We are at the hotel in Chicago with Charlotte and Peter and Jon. Hudson is sick which is rather sad, got the stomach flu. I'm hoping he keeps it to himself and it goes away before we fly out! Time to eat supper, I'll write again soon...

Yay! We are all done!

We finished our last little bit of training and are now ready to move to Russia, well as ready as we are:) David, Jon and Emma are out buying our last bit of north american diapers and a bit of formula for the boys to survive our first week or so till we find fairly normal milk and know where the store is and how to buy them. We are pretty excited I think though there is so much on our minds that it isn't really forefront. We can't believe that we will be flying out in two days!!!!!!! We will drive to Chicago tomorrow and then fly out on Friday. We are so thankful to everyone for your support and love. We couldn't go if you didn't support us, but don't get any ideas !!! We will miss you too:)

Jon and Jo checking out Lake of the Ozarks. We are having very long but very beneficial days here. Jon is proving to be a great uncle spending lots of time with the kids, making us wonderful meals and even picking us up after class. We are sure glad to have him with us:) We are learning a lot and are getting pretty excited to go. We miss you all already:) One more day of class and then we drive to Chicago on Thursday. We are doing our final packing and checking to make sure we have everything we need to bring. If only we could stick all of you in our suitcases:) 

Hudson @ 3 months. 

In Nebraska!

We are relaxing this morning at Jon's place in Lincoln Nebraska. He has a great house he is renting just down the street from Mark and Mae and Mary. The kids were restless in the car yesterday but it was an ok drive. Hudson slept the whole way as usual, but Josiah was not very happy. Emma just talks and talks so much that sometimes it would be nice if she would rest a little:) It is much warmer here, nice to wear shorts and t-shirts... I think it is time to go for a nice walk, it is sooooo green and flowery already.

More car entertainment for Emma, playing on David's pocket PC. Todays toys!  

What a housefull! And everyone's laps are full too:) This was our last dinner together in our house in Calgary. We miss you guys!! I'm sure you are enjoying fitting at the table better though:) 

On the Road Again... Emma enjoying the ride thanks to Grandma Charlotte! We are at the Hampton Inn (very nice:) in St.Paul. Tomorrow we will drive to Nebraska to stay with Mark and Mae and pick up Jon. Then we will head on to Missouri for our last bit of training. We are missing many of you already and were sad to have to say good bye:( But we'll all just take it one day at a time and enjoy the ride. We'll keep in touch. 8 more days in North America!  

Some of the people we left behind in Calgary:( 

Hudson Ezekiel (3months) and Great Grandma Beatrice aka Meme 

Finally!

Sorry for the lack of baby pictures:) We have been travelling which has made it hard to set up things on hello to post pics but I've got it on now so as long as we can find places to hook up to the internet we'll be ok. So I have lots of pics to put on from all our visiting and events. We have less than two weeks left till we fly to Russia!!! Yikes!! Things are mostly coming into place... We got our visa's a couple of days ago and have most of the things we need to bring, that we know of :) We are already missing those of you in Calgary and soon we must leave all our friends here in Thunder Bay (thursday). Emma was sick! last night but hopefully we'll be able to get in some more visiting soon.

Congratulations to our friends Matt and Kayleah Jansen on the arrival of their beautiful well named little boy- Benjamin David:) Wish we could be there to give him a cuddle... Someday we'll be back and ben and hudson can play together:) 

A picture of our family, I look pretty goofy but at least I'm in a picture:) 

My Mom with the grandkids! 

Hudson Ezekiel 3 months old! Getting a little big for the sink baths... 

Robin (my bro) and Richard 

Richard Pepper at the farewell/dinner coffee house! 

Thunder Bay Folks!

Well, Dorion livers? too:) We are having an info night/farewell party for us at Lakehead Baptist on Friday night starting at 7pm. We will show a powerpoint, give some info and after snacks have some Live Music. Please come and fellowship with us and please bring lots of people! If you have any questions- ask!