Off to Atlanta....

We are off to Atlanta today. We are really looking forward to seeing our family there. It will be an interesting drive I'm sure-with lots of potty stops for Noah.

Some highlights so far......

• We had a pretty good flight. It seemed so long and was really exhausting for all of us. The boys did great on the long flight to LA-they even slept most of the time. Dave had a rough time with the domestic flights. I think he was just exhausted from not having enough sleep. Needless to say, he spent most of his time screaming from LA to chicago. We got our first taste of cold in Chicago when we had to board our plane OUTSIDE in the below freezing temperatures. We all made it in one piece to Nashville. Dave arrived with a fever, but soon was better once he had a good night sleep.
• Mom is looking really good-she looks like a million dollars!!!! She has lost a lot of weight and has really been taking care of herself. I think this is the best I have ever seen her look-just amazing.
• My parents house is like a Christmas wonderland and looks absolutely gorgeous! I will take some photos and post soon.
• I've already made the run to Old Navy and Victoria Secrets. Actually-I did that the first day with Heather. I needed to pick up some essentials. I heard a rumor that Old Navy is going out of business-I sure hope not. It is my favorite store.
• Poor Heather is back to school and work. We will see her again after Thanksgiving. We had Thanksgiving with her on Sunday with Mom's famous cornbread stuffing. It was to die for!!!!
• Noah loves the dogs. Heather took Bentley back to school with her. While Heather and I went out shopping, Shane said that Noah chased Bentley so much that he was eventually trying to hide from him. Poor Duncan is too old to play or even care what Noah does. Dave loves to pet him and I'm scared that the boys will want a dog when we get home. NOOOOOOOO!
• The boys love their grandparents-they are having a wonderful time with them and getting spoilt lots. Dave is now walking around the furniture. It happened quite quickly, but Mom and Dad's house is perfect for it. I think he will be walking in the next few weeks or at least taking his first steps. It will be nice for them to witness this historic event!

Well....that is enough highlights for now. Next time-I will try and post some pictures. The weather here is perfectly COLD! We are freezing...but loving it at the same time. With central heating, it is a lot easier to enjoy! At least we arent trying to keep warm inside the house, just only when we go out!

We are off to Atlanta. Cya when we get back!

Packed And Ready To Go.....

Well....we are all ready. Bags are packed!!!! Finally! It has been a really crazy week and I am so thankful that it is over. I'm actually looking forward to it all-although I do hope I am not mental after being in a confined space so long with my children.

I will be blogging while we are in the states-so dont forget to have a check every once in awhile. I got some great news earlier today-My parents said that it was snowing!!! What are we going to do with all the cold weather!?! We were just getting over winter and now we are going right back into it. It will be fun and I pray the boys get to see snow.

I should probably head to bed considering I have to get up around 5 tomorrow morning (or maybe a little earlier). We have to be at the airport at 6am to fly to Brisbane! I'm so excited and the kids seem to be excited too! I'll keep you posted....

Aussie Christmas

We had our Aussie family Christmas on Wednesday night. It was a great seafood Christmas with great food!!!! Here are some photos we had taken.

Noah and David

Here are some pictures of Noah at 2 years and 8 months old and David at 10 months old. Arent they beautiful!!!!!

Not long now...

Well....Time is passing by quickly with not long left until our 50+ hours of traveling back home for Christmas. Yeah...thats right...50+ hours. We leave Bundaberg at 7am on Saturday morning, have a 4 hour layover in Brisy, then the 15 hour plane flight to LA, then a few hours in LA, then to Chicago, with a few hours there, and finally home to Nashville (we arrive Monday morning Australia time). It will be interesting to say the least!

We are busy as ever getting everything ready before we leave. I cant wait to get on the plane and know that it is all behind me. We are all getting really excited about traveling again as well!

Dave will be 10 months old next Saturday and is now crawling. I do wish he would have waited until we were in the states. It will be hard now keeping him confined in the plane. He is waving and saying Bye-Bye! He is a bit clingy-but I think that is normal for his age.

Noah is talking like crazy. His language and vocabulary have really come a long way in the past month or so. He love scraft and loves kicking the ball outside.

Shane is loving his job at the council (and so am I)!!! He has been pretty busy lately helping run the men's ministry at church and playing soccer on Tuesday night.

Me-well...I'm busy just being a Mom. I am working really hard on the creche (nursery) for the church in preparation for next year. I am trying to have lots done before I leave. I've been cooking a lot for the "Helping Hands" ministry at church (they take meals to people who are sick or have just had babies).

Well...thats a pretty good update for now. I will try and post some pictures before we leave. There are so many things to do!!!! I will be posting while we are in the states too-so if you want to check out the traveling Elsons....just have a look here!

Random Pictures

The first three pictures were taken when Shane took the boys camping for the weekend. Pete, Carla, and Cooper came to visit on the Sunday. The last picture (of Dave and Cooper) was taken by Carla when she was watching Noah and Dave one night. Are they cute?

Gossip......

Last night, Shane and I had a great discussion about the definition of gossip and how gossip ought to be confronted. We have always felt so strongly about going to God's word for answers and always using the Bible to validate what people say about these things. Lets all think about what we say before we say it...hey?

1 Timothy 5-13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

Matthew 18:15-17 -Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Some basic definitions.....

GOSSIP

–noun
1. idle talk or rumor, esp. about the personal or private affairs of others: the endless gossip about Hollywood stars.
2. light, familiar talk or writing.
3. Also, gos·sip·er, gos·sip·per. a person given to tattling or idle talk.
4. Chiefly British Dialect. a godparent.
5.Archaic. a friend, esp. a woman.

–verb (used without object)
6.to talk idly, esp. about the affairs of others; go about tattling. –verb (used with object)
7.Chiefly British Dialect. to stand godparent to.
8.Archaic. to repeat like a gossip.

SLANDER

–noun
1. defamation; calumny: rumors full of slander.
2. a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name.
3. Law. defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc. –verb (used with object)
4. to utter slander against; defame. –verb (used without object)
5. to utter or circulate slander.

Swinging....

What else can I say? Dave loves to swing!!!!

One Word

TYPE ONLY 1 WORD. IT'S HARDER THAN YOU THINK!!!

1. Where is your cell phone? Vietnam
2. Your significant other? working
3. Your hair? unwashed
4. Your mother? missed
5. Your father? missed
6. Your favorite thing? books
7. Your dream last night? nothing
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your goal? sleep
10. The room you're in? kitchen
11. Your fear? smothering
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? overseas
13. Where were you last night? Carlas
14. What you're not? unemotional
15. Muffins? strawberry
16. One of your wish list items? books
17. Where you grew up? Tennessee
18. The last thing you did? laundry
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Your TV? Nemo
21. Your pet(s)? kids
22. Your computer? on
24. Your mood? tired
25. Missing someone? Mom
26. Your car? old
27. Favorite thing to wear? shorts
28. Favorite Store? Colorado
29. Your summer? HOT!!
30. Your favorite color? Pink
31. When is the last time you laughed? earlier
32. Last time you cried? yesterday
33. Who will/would re-post this? Mom
34. Season? Fall

4 THINGS
A) FOUR PLACES I GO OVER AND OVER: church, the beach, Carlas, Bundaberg Regional Council
B) FOUR PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME: Mom, Carla, Heather, Dad
C) FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS: Chips and Salsa, Tacos, Nachos, Burritos
D) FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: Nashville, Atlana, Dalat, Hoi An....

Thanks Tamra

Yummy!!!!

Here is Dave eating his first chocolate ice block. He was a happy little boy!!!