Good Friends & Good Food

This is the first year since being married that we have not had plans for Christmas Eve. We have always been home or made plans with friends who were also away from home. I thought we would just have a quiet day at home. However Matt and i both woke up yesterday feeling homesick and sad (I know we are pathetic, we have so much to be thankful for). It wasn't that we weren't thankful for our many blessings. Just sad to be so far away from family. So I began thinking what would make the day more fun. Back at home EVERY Christmas Eve my mom makes Cioppino. It's a seafood stew and before you turn your nose and say "gross" let me tell you about it. It is the best meal ever. My favorite by far!! These are few of the ingrediants... Butter, onions, celery, carrots, tomatoes, chicken broth, white wine, bay leaves, basil, oregano, thyme...and the kitchen sink (there is more but you get the idea). Once all that is ready you add crab legs, scallops, shrimp and clams. It's so fun to eat because you get to dig in and peel everything apart at the table. So, yes, its amazing! So back to my story. Yesterday I decided I would make it myself and see if any of our friends were without plans too. Some dear friends of our were!! The Martins and there 2 boys came about 7. It was so nice to watch the kids play (Dodie and I met when we were both pregnant with our oldest kids, who are now 6). I had fun getting the house "ready". You know setting the table, making place cards, etc. Here are some pics. I forgot to take one of the group but you get the idea. Merry CHRISTmas!! (Oh, if your wondering why I am up on CHRISTmas morning posting a blog...my kids are still sleeping and it's almost 7:30. That NEVER happens!!)

Ready for guests to arrive.

Here are the table settings. I know I'm a total dork, but I had so much fun putting it all together!

Yummy seafood ready to go in the pot

The pot waiting for seafood

I guess it's time to wake up the kids. Matt just got back from feeding our friends dogs. I seriously can not believe my kids aren't up!!

Forgotten Pictures

I was reminded recently of these pictures. They were taken this summer while Matt and I were away at summer camp (helping with youth). She stayed with a sweet family we know (thanks again Nease Family). I just thought they were cute...The first is from the Grace Museum. The second one is the one I saw just the other day! I thought the story behind it was funny. Lauren had gone to the bathroom and she came back wearing this hat. Apparently it was pretty high up hanging on the wall in the bathroom. And while Lauren was taking care of business she thought "I have to get that somehow." Belinda still is not sure how Lauren was able to reach it...enjoy!

The 80's were like, totally radical!!

Although I was born in 1981 I still was old enough to enjoy the "fashion" and big hair!! At MOPS last week we had 80's day. I was so excited. I decided to go for an 80's rocker chic look. I had so much fun getting ready. However once I got to MOPS ALL the moms were dressed more like flashdance! So they were all in comfy cloths and I was wearing tight skinny jeans, pink leg warmers and 5 inch yellow heels (and fun makeup). Needless to say it was probably pretty entertaining watching me walk around. I had to take baby steps so I wouldn't fall. Then after 30 minutes I changed into my UGGS (they were popular in the 80's too). Here are some pics from my day!

Flashdance vs rocker chic

My best rocker pose...not very believable!

When we got home Hailey grabbed my heels and walked around the house for a while!! And it must be said...she was better at it than I was!!

Our little swimmer

Lauren has been swimming since age 2. She has always loved the water and as she has gotten older she has enjoyed it more! This summer she joined the Abilene Tidal Waves. It a USA swim team here in Abilene. It has bee amazing to watch her learn new strokes and improve on her times. Here are some pics from her first swim meet (this was about 2 months ago...sorry).

This is LC right after her first comp swim!!

Cheering on her team mates.

Not yet...

As we celebrate this time of thanksgiving we are blown away by how much we have to be thankful for. Last night as Matt and I lay in bed we talked about all that we had been blessed by in the past year. What blessed us the most was our realization of growth. As husband and wife, as parents and most of all our walk with Christ. We have walked through pain, loss, joy, triumph, and a call to missions knowing that God is sovereign and He knows all things. Being called to missions has been the biggest growing experience in our lives. Over the past 5 months we have been stretched in ways we've never experienced. God has covered us with His grace and supplied us with His strength when the enemy attacked (and he did!!). Today we received an e-mail from our consultant. God's timing is perfect and He is all knowing!! Matt and I have been praying for an answer from the IMB. The next step would be to go to conference, have face-to-face interviews, and get our assignment (in a nutshell). We have been preparing ourselves for a "not yet" answer. We both feel we need to take care of somethings here before we go overseas. Part of that is finances and part of that is finishing our degrees. The e-mail we received today said "not yet". I thought I would be upset, but I'm not. We are both relieved knowing we have more time for God to work in our lives, draw us closer to Him and we don't want to go a minute before He desires us to. Although it would be exciting to go now, we both want what God wants and in His timing. The IMB said to contact them in 6 months and let them know our progress and they will reconsider us at that time. Please be in prayer for us as we continue to follow His call on our lives... and PRAISE God for answered prayers!!

Breakfast Table

Here are some sweet pictures of Kevin and Hailey at the breakfast table. It normally takes them 30 minutes to eat because they sit there and make each other laugh!!

The difference a year makes...

This year has been amazing and totally different from last year. I am so grateful for the wise advice we received from other parents who have been down the same road. With a sick child we were faced with several hard decisions. One of them was to pull Lauren out of school and focus on getting her healthy. Although it was hard we were so blessed by our extra time with her at home. As the summer ended we were faced with another decision. Do we place Lauren in 1st grade or kindergarten?? Again we received great counsel and placed her in kindergarten. I was surprised to find that she was still not the oldest in her class (there are actually 5 kids who are older). It's been great to see her thrive and excel in her new environment. Her teacher also says that she is blessed by Lauren's helpfulness and fun spirit!! Thank you Lord for surrounding us with friends who give us wise counsel and pray to you on our behalf. Thank you for blessing us with encouragement and love. In Christ's name, Amen.

Boo at the Zoo

At our local zoo they hold a candy/fall festival each year. Local vendors pass out candy and the kids get to see all of the animals. It was our first time (and probably our last). There were over 6,000 people there...needless to say it was crazy. The kids had fun but after about 45 minutes of waiting in candy lines we were ready to hit the road! Lauren was an angel (Amanda B. do you recognize the wings and halo? I beleive you had the matching set!!), Hailey was a butterfly and Kevin had plans to be a pirate but it was too hot. Kevin did come but he was in the stroller eating candy...

Pumpkin Carving

Obviously I'm still playing catch up! A few weeks ago we got a large pumpkin. The kids were looking forward to getting out the seeds and Matt and I were looking forward to eating them. The girls had so fun fun. However, Kevin didn't like the slime and kept proclaiming "it dirty"! Here are some pics from the day...

Random acts of craziness AKA the Coelho kids

There are always a bunch of random pics that don't "fit" with my other posts. Enjoy!

My kids will say they are NOT tickelish...But thses pics prove otherwise

The little ones get to enjoy 1 movie per day...here they are "in the zone"!! Lauren loves to swim. She is on the city wide swim team and recently had her first swim meet. It was awesome (I'll post it later). Here is her competition suit.

Cutie Pie!!

Awww, LaFawnDuh (we call her LaLa) is actually a boy. However we didn't find this out until we got her fixed. The kids had already named her and gotten used to calling him a her. So we still call him a her...very confusing, I know. She is a beautiful siamese cat and loves our family. We are still trying to find a way to take her with us...if not Bonnie will "watch" her while we are gone.

Kevin and Hailey started school (just 1 day a week). I am able to clean houses during that time. Kevin has started talking more and loves hanging out in a classroom full of boys!

Relaxing on the patio

He would not participate in carving pumpkins...he didn't like the slime!!

Here I am drinking from the girls princess cup....

...and here is LC "drinking" from a large princess cup!!

Hailey has a quiet and mysterious personality. It has been so fun spending more time with her (while LC is at school).

Stay tune for Part 2!!

Jackson Skate Night

Lauren could not be happier with school. She loves her teacher (and her teacher loves the Lord) and has so many new friends. This year she is not the youngest and she is enjoying the perks of following rules and it's rewards. There was recently a skate party for her school and the whole family was invited. Amazingly we ALL were able to skate (even Kevin)!! This was the first time one of us did not have to "sit out" and watch the baby...amazing. Although some were more successful, we all had a great time. Here are some pics of us at the skating place and Lauren and her Teacher.

Well Fed!!

While visiting my sister's home in California I came upon this picture. It was posted on the fridge (I'm sure at some point her daughter will be the one to take it down). I laughed at the sight of it. I had seen this picture many times before but I guess after being gone for over a year I saw it in a different light. My neice is now 8 (you can see her in my previous post) and I am happy to say she is a beautiful young lady...

...this picture has not been doctored in any way.

From what I can tell she was only 4-5 months in this pic!!! I must say, I am so proud of my sister. She has grown so much in the last 8 years as a mom. It has changed her in every way and her children are blessed by her love and hard work. Love you Kristen!!... okay now get back to work!!!

Trip back to my home land (er ...town)

As some of you know my Pop (grandfather) passed away about a month ago. I was blessed to go back to California to attend his grave side service and spend some time with family. Here are a few pictures from my trip ...

This was the first night. I had so much fun reading books and enjoyed lots of cuddle time with my neice(8) and nephew(5) (my twin sisters children).

Isn't she gorgeous?!!

Right after I landed in SLO My sister and the kids went shopping downtown. It was almost time for Farmer's and we ran into a guy and his snake. I asked to touch it, then he let me hold it...it was amazing! I think Mitchell looks a lot like Kevin....

Here is a pic of me and my siblings.

From left Rebecca, Mia, Billy and Kristen