Moved

After 3 months of packing and sorting and worrying and buying we made it safely to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Viet Nam.  We arrived mid July  2013 celebrating Jett’s 5^th birthday with a lovely, expensive, Betty Crocker box cake.  Mixed up by our prearranged house helper (cook too) Mrs. Huong.  We were so lucky to have Huong to help us communicate with locals, ease me into the shopping, cooking etc, watch the kids so I could find my way around town and be a friend in this strange new place.  Kid’s were difficult to manage and tempers were flying round the clock to say the least.  Everyone hated Mom and never wanted to speak to her again because they didn’t get anything they wanted (another hour of tv or something).  I have always been careful about hours of tv watched, but this circumstance definitely changed some family rules for about 2 months which was why they were so bratty I suppose.  I was defiantly embarrassed to go out with such demanding children.  I promised myself I would never have kids like that . . . we don’t get everything we want I guess.

I supported Marty as he struggled to find his feet in a country where “saving face” is more important than telling the truth and meeting people socially is more important than doing good business.  Our eyes stare straight and wide when people talk to us.  Trying desperately to understand what they are saying to us, just to realize finally that they are actually speaking in English.  Ha!  So funny.   We feel really dumb not knowing the language here, even though most everyone here makes huge efforts to learn English.  I feel so lucky to have English as my home language.  I see blessings like this everyday.  Things I never thought about back at home.  I see Celie, especially, noticing the mountain of blessing we have and taking it to heart.  Such a beautiful,wonderful place we found.

Celie turned the big “8” !

“These are a few of her favorite things!” ♫

light blue is the favorite color now and I think here to stay

tight waist, I mean really tight waist-ed clothing

long summer skirts

early mornings to quietly work on goals

dreams of being an author and illustrator

likes her hair short (low maintenance)

teacher’s pet

loves to do what everyone else is doing

loves church attendance

is dedicated to piano practice

loves excelling in gymnastics

gives the best FHE lessons

is obsessed with time planning

forces a laugh for 20 minutes until she is hysterically crying; every month or so

likes the dentist

loves animals more than anything

is a great runner

loves ice cream

likes to sing

adores her little sister Mirra

loves her friends

loves to hang and climb on her Daddy

Her baptism was wonderful.  We were lucky to have both sets of grandparents there to celebrate with us.  Celie got to have her baptism with Daryl her best friend.  They both looked beautiful.  

Breakfast

I looked over at Jett sitting at the table with his freshly poured bowl of cereal.  His ear was tipped close to the crackling cereal with a very concerned look on his face.

Jett:  "Mom!  A frog eat my food!  Frogs eating my food all gone!"
Mom: "Can you hear them?"
Jett:  "Yes!"

Ready for Christmas

 Jack at Gymnastics

 working on Celie's Christmas present - a balance beam.

Newsletter 2011

Marty Allsop Family Newsletter  2011

Mirra had her 1st birthday in August.  She was going on the potty before she could crawl.  She is our "Pre-Madonna Princess".  She is attached to her binky and now a new stuffed animal named "moo-moo".  Yes, it is a cow and we now call Mirra, moo-moo.  She has learned signs and words and her smile is hilarious.  Another nickname from her loving Father was created; "Buck-tooth Beauty".  We love her.

Jett turned 3 during our month long trip to Utah.  He calls Celie princess and he loves to sleep long naps.  His dancing skills are improving, but awareness of others laughing is too.  He misses "my Jack" when his brother is gone, but he and Mirra get along very well.  He loves to make her laugh.  He practices gymnastics with kids at home and is almost as good as Jack.

Jack turned 5 in October.  He loves working on reading at home and does his chores very well.  He loves a good salad, riding his bike and cuddling in the morning.  Jack did swim team, moved to level 3 in gymnastics and learned the difference between a baseball and a basketball, yea!  His dribble and catch isn't bad.  He has taken the role of the older kid at home and carries responsibility well.

Celie is still on Team 3 gymnastics, top grade student, good time manager, and a great babysitter.  She has learned about the gospel and is ready to get baptized in April 2012.  Her teacher can't say enough about her good behavior at school.  She begs us to get up at 5:30am so she can get her work and studies done in the morning and play in the afternoon.  She received "hardest worker" award on her swim team, memorized some of the Articles of Faith and is singing solos more confidently.  We are so proud of her.

Marty and Melanie are serving in their Church as Ward Clerk and 2nd counselor in Young Women’s.  The family climbed to the top of Mt. Evans in Colorado, spent a few days in Yellowstone (except for Marty), had fun in Wyoming at an Allsop reunion and went to Sea World twice!  Marty's job assignment is the same and Melanie is busy with kids.  They love to work outside, dance crazy, have headstand competitions and spend time with friends. Or greatest joy is family time church service.  We find joy through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Quotes

Jett is screaming in the car (like usual) as we are passing a car accident.

Mom:

“Look Jett.  When you scream it can make Mommy get in a car accident!”

They all look at the accident and things quiet down a bit.

Jett starts up again.

Jack:

“Jett please stop yelling, I don’t want to get hurt”

He decides to stop.  Thanks Jack.

Driving in the car the day after a discussion on how we give to those in need.

Celie looks out the window and notices a Jeep with plastic windows.

Celie:

“Mom I think those people are poor.”

Mom:

“What makes you think that?”

Celie:

“Because their car doesn’t even have window.  So sad.”

Kids

 Mirra loves to "brush" her own teeth.  She can spend a lot of time here :)  If I am willing to clean up of course.

 

For those of you who have yet to be privileged to see Jett's full dancing performance, this is his starting position of choice.  Yes, he is awesomely good! 

Probably Celie's last time in "princess" pj's.  Isn't she so grown up?

Moo Moo and her big smile.

Thanksgiving 2011

 Purchased a gun and shooting for fun!

 Still attached to the binki

 Alligator farm hike (it was a little bit too long for jett)