An Extra Ordinary Life

It's my mommies birthday!

Happy Birthday mom. Thanks for all you do for us and the way that you love us!

Sure do wish you were here to enjoy the chocolate chip oatmeal cake that we are enjoying for your birthday.

Sometimes it is hard being so far away.

Much  much love from all 5 of us way over yonder.

Hey Lisa- Here ya go. You'll like it

Lemme know whatcha think:

Lentil Cheese Savory

Combine and simmer in a covered saucepan for 15 minutes:

1 cup lentils

2 ¼ cups cold water

Add and simmer 30 minutes more:

½ teaspoon salt

2 cups chopped tomatoes or 1 cup sauce

Fry separately:

¼ cup margarine

1 large onion, sliced

to fried onions add:

1 cup grated cheese

lentil mixture

Place in a greased 9X9 pan and bake @ 350 for 20 minutes

(I add a ½ cup bread cubes or tortilla crumbs- so you could add some type of bread or tortilla chips (corn?) that you can have.)

horses... it's a girl thing

Hey Dad!

Life for the Lupton’s in Ghana is rolling along smoothly.

A funny: The other day Paul brought home a movie that he, Addi and I watched while the boys were at rehearsal. The next night, I told the boys that I would watch it with them. So, we put on this movie… and about 10 minutes into it Dev looks over at Dyl and says, “Oh, I see why Mom likes this movie. It gives her hope.” You see this movie was about a college graduate that could not get a job, so she had to move back in with her parents. Ya, I smacked him with a pillow.

One of the hardest parts about living overseas is missing out on the everyday events and special occasions that we’d like to be part of. Today is Dad's 60^th b-day! Wish we could be there to celebrate. We are going to enjoy a cake in your honor. We are SO looking forward to your trip over here in just 4 months!

Life has been busy- so here is an update.

The boys are both doing really well in their classes at Liberty University.    This week Devon finishes his first 3 college courses and Dylan finishes his first 2. They have another 6 weeks until the rest of this terms courses are finished. They are both doing remarkably well- especially considering that they never stepped foot in a classroom. (grin)

It is reassuring to see on the far side of homeschooling that I did not stuff ‘em up and they will make it in life. Ü

Addison has been a bit neglected in her studies these past few weeks- life has been all about the boys and their papers, projects and computer time. I do need to correct that over these next few weeks. Fear not Dad, she has not just been sitting around painting her toenails- she has just finished her final Five in a Row project… and I am so sad that we are finished with all of their products. She enjoyed learning through Hitty and we just wish that Becky had another volume out for her to study through.

Devon is preparing for the Associated Board for the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Grade 6 exams in piano in the spring so he can scoot on to the Grade 7 exams. We are borrowing a keyboard from someone at the Embassy- which has been such a blessing! He has not been working on his violin much lately- Dev has also picked up two piano students and teaches lessons three times a week.

Addison is doing well on the piano- she is coming along fairly well- the other day I had to come out of the kitchen to see if she was playing a piece or if it was on the Ipod- and she was playing it. Good girl.   She is desperately missing being part of a choir here!

Dylan is not taking piano this year- it was never his first love. He is enjoying playing the drums for the praise and worship group. His clarinet did not arrive with us in Ghana. I am thinking about getting him a sax- he would love that!

The Alice in Wonderland play is about 4 weeks away. The boys have rehearsals every night of the week from 7-9 and then for about 3 hours on Saturdays. Addison's had rehearsal about 3 times a week. It is going to get a bit hairier as opening day approaches. They are enjoying it- but it is taking a chunk of time!

Paul & I are doing well. He is not too busy at work right now, which is nice. We have the Marine Ball this weekend, and are looking forward to it. We are sitting a table with a great group of people and it should really be fun!  The two of us are heading off just after the panto has finished- I am looking forward to our time away together.  We are going to Portugal and Amsterdam. Woo-hoo!

Oi! We have finished some good reads- and have a few books on CD that we are listening to-  (Missy- thanks for the heads up on Cornelia Funke- We liked Dragon Rider and are waiting on pins and needles for Inkdeath to arrive!)  I have found a few favorites in the kitchen that we are loving- I should post those soon, you’d love ‘em.

Wow! All this for just under a hundred bucks!

OH… just for fun wanna peak at what $91.85 will get you at the grocery store in Accra, Ghana?

Yes. You too can have ALL of this for the low low price of $91.85

To list the items for you folks that’s:

6 chicken breasts, 12 coke lights, 4 cartons of juice, 1 small container of feta cheese

1 small block of mozzarella cheese, 11 roma tomatoes and last but not least 4 packs of butter.

Yep. We miss Costco!

Happy Halloween 2009

The American Embassy, traditionally, hosts a large bash at Halloween. There is such a great community here that even we decided to join in, so we wouldn’t miss out.

The Embassy had a cake decorating contest at the Halloween family event- Addison entered a delightful pumpkin and won!

And...Our other entry for the cake decorating contest 

We had to raid the kids dress up clothes for outfits to wear—good thing they are so well stocked!

Addi was a cutie

Dylan was so wolverine

Devon was Indiana Jones.

Paul was a pirate (sporting that puffy shirt that Devon made in AU ~Thanks Natty!)

And I pulled out a renaissance dress Addison had in her closet.

It was a fun evening catching up with everyone.

HIII!!!

Chocolate Banana Bread, Pumpkin Bread, Zucchini Bread… YUM!

“Bread is the warmest, kindest of all words.

Write it always with a capital letter, like your own name."

On Friday while the boys were busy at their studies and were gone for Praise and Worship rehearsal- Addison and I were busy baking some loaves of Bread for our freezer. Today, we made some yummy chocolate banana Bread, pumpkin Bread and zucchini Bread.

All the loaves are waiting, wrapped and placed in the freezer, for early mornings when we do not have time to cook but have somewhere to be.