Spring might actually be here!

Our first visitors in our yard 4/15/12

Chloe enjoying the snow-free yard 4/15/12

As I've posted before, Chloe has been dreaming and waiting in anticipation for more sun and less cold weather. She has finally gotten her wish come true with warmer temperatures and all the snow melted and gone out of her sight. What we mean by warm is in the higher 40's, lower 50's and that is warm over here. She was able to get out of the house in our yard to play with some of the other children this past weekend while we had a BBQ welcoming a new couple to Helsinki.

Chloe enjoying her friends outside at the BBQ 

Chloe being precious, as usual 4/21/12

Troy & I were asked to be sponsors to the new facility manager and his wife back in January and we gladly accepted the job and began our process of keeping in touch with them from afar until they got here in April. We told them any and everything they needed to know and helped them out in anyway possible. They seemed to be a wonderful couple and it was an added plus when they got here and we met them in person. They are Awesome!! We have enjoyed getting to know them and spending time with them. They've really enjoyed Helsinki so far and have done great as well. We had a welcoming party for them and they really had a good time, we all did. It's been really sunny, and nice outside with the exception of the last two days of rain. Other than that, it's been the same ol' same ol'. Nothing new to report. All is well here with the Fontenots in Finland. 

Easter 2012

The Easter Bunny was good to the Fontenots in Finland

                                              
Easter has come and gone, but was a very simple one this year. Due to the fact that both of the Troys were sick, it was kept pretty low-key for us. Troy Jr got sick a couple of days before and must have passed it on to his daddy. Thank God for Mommy not getting sick, that always helps. We just had a quiet morning with the children while they played with all their new things that the "Easter Bunny" brought. We also had a lot few extras from family and friends, so it looked like Christmas instead of Easter around here. It was great and they really enjoyed their new things. They are still playing with them and of course, the pieces are all over my house now. They did receive candy from the Easter Bunny but it wasn't a whole lot. I think Mommy & Daddy liked that the most. 
In the afternoon, Chloe & I went to our friend's house for Easter dinner. The boys stayed home because they definitely didn't want to get anyone else sick. We had a great time and dinner was delicious. Again, another blessed holiday and everyone is doing well now.

Mommy, I'm so excited about Easter.

Look little brother, you got a race car basket.

Chloe got a "Phineas & Ferb" basket

"I just want to open this chocolate bunny Mommy"

                                         

Good Friday

Like any other day but only thing different it's a holiday and Troy was home with us. Oh, who am I kidding, there are plenty of different things about today. Our normal family traditions aren't happening here in Finland but we've made the most of it today. Normally we are all together sharing a wonderful day or evening with one another, and plenty of crawfish and crabs. Usually someone is having a seafood boil at their house. That didn't happen here today, the four of us spent the day together inside not doing too much because the wet/sleet/snowy/rainy weather kept us in. It poured all day and was real gloomy but all of our spirits were high. Even though Troy Jr has been dealing with a cold for the last two days, he and Chloe played in the toy room most of the day, with a little crankiness here and there, he seems to be on the mend and doing a lot better than he was yesterday. Troy and I went from watching t.v. to reading our books most of the time. We had some red beans and rice with garlic bread for supper. The children ate waffles at Chloe's request. Everything has been quiet and we had a very abnormal Good Friday in our family's tradition book, but we aren't complaining. It was a good one (no pun intended) even though we weren't all together, we do miss our families and wish we could have been with them to share today, and upcoming Easter Sunday but as any holiday away from our families, they know as well as we do that we are all together in spirit and a whole lot of love always.

Spring full of Snow!

04/02/12

And yet still more snow.......

Snow is still lingering and doesn't seem to want to leave. I know a particular 5 year old that has had enough and would like it to go away forever. She's already talking about swimming pools, beaches, and relaxing in the sun. She's our "summer" girl. 

We really thought that she'd be devastated and have a nervous breakdown waking up to the white stuff on her birthday Monday but she wasn't as bad as we expected. She took it in stride and knew that she was going to have a good day no matter what we did. She had a morning of Princess dress up and then I had to take her to an eye appointment in the afternoon. Her Daddy met us at the doctor's office and then it was off to get a haircut because her bangs have been in her face for a while now. The girl that did her cut really did a great job and it was just enough of a trim to stay out of her face. Always nice to have a fresh haircut on your birthday. 

Then it was off for birthday dinner wherever the birthday girl wanted to go. Of course she wanted to go to Pizza Hut. Troy & I wanted to take her to a nice restaurant but it was her birthday and the birthday girl gets what she wants. She did and was a very happy girl. She ended up having a great day and was a very tired Birthday Princess by the time we got home. It was a great day all around.

Today, April 4th, again more snow. It hasn't stuck around too much because most of it is melting because the sun is out shining very brightly but I guess it's the point. It's still here, UGHHHH!!!!!! I'm starting to feel like CoCo, Please go away white stuff, you are not wanted anymore. While you were here, it was great, beautiful and a wonderful experience but we all feel like it's time for you to leave, depart ways and come back 8 to 10 months from now. We can only hope and wish for this to happen. Until then, I guess we are stuck in a Spring full of Snow.                                                

Chloe turns 5

Today our sweet little princess turned 5 and I'm either still in denial or disbelief of where those years went. She has been such a blessing and we are so happy to have her in our lives. She's been a ray of sunshine on a gloomy day, and has really changed our lives. Chloe you have brought such joy to our lives for the last 5 years and I know it's only just begun. I know we are in for a lot more of your sweetness and love. Thank you for just being you. Hope you had a wonderful day, today. We know that you enjoyed your birthday party yesterday. You certainly were very tired when we got home. HAPPY BIRTHDAY our sweet princess. We love you so much. Lots of love always, Mommy & Daddy.

One year has gone by!!

It's been a year since you've passed on and at times it's felt like forever and others it just seems like yesterday. The day for me has started with a flood of emotions and lots of memories but it really started days ago leading to this day. I miss you so much, and I believe what I miss the most is our regular weekly conversation on the phone. We use to talk to each other once a week and it was always the best conversations ever. We'd talk about each other's lives and what was going on with us. Those moments were some of the best times in my life just sitting and shooting the breeze with you. I learned a lot about our family history and I want to say thank you so much for all those times in my life. 

Now during these times in our lives is when I wish we were closer (geographically) to my family. It's really hard not being there with them but as they know already, we are definitely there in spirit and lots of love as always. 

Until we see each other again know that I love and miss you so very much Nannie.

Amazed at Technology

3/26/12 (Last night) Our little princess has been a really good girl lately and we are so proud of her. She's been a big help with her little brother too. With that being said, I asked her to get my cell phone in case her Daddy called because we were upstairs giving her little brother a bath and I didn't want to miss his call since he was still at work and it was getting late in the evening. He's been working late because they have a big construction project going on and there has been some issues with that so he has to work late most days lately until the project is done.
As we were finished drawing Troy's bath, all of a sudden Chloe starts whining, Oh Mommy I'm so sorry, I'm sorry. I had no idea what she was talking about, and then realizing what I thought was Troy playing with a toy that fell into the water was really my phone that Chloe had in her shirt pocket. WOW, I don't think I ever moved that fast in all my life. I was so worried about this phone and I'm not sure why because it's the cheapest phone you can get, especially here in Helsinki. I could see moving like that if it was an I-phone or Blackberry but good Lord, who cares about a throw away phone.... ummm, ME! I was upset and then upset for nothing because it actually still works. Imagine that!!! Now if it was the Blackberry or I-phone then of course it wouldn't be working right now and I'd be blogging about having to put them in a bag of rice to soak up the water or crying about having to get another one. Who knows, but WOW!! Cheap phones are better to purchase.