Eszenyi Family: Best of 2008

Been awhile since we have updated the site, so I thought I would post an overview of 2008.

S n' E Treehouse Hideaway

Picture gallery of kid's new treehouse.

Friday at Oma's

Another warm day and the fact that Aunt Dominique was going to be gone prompted a trip down the hill to visit Oma. She had the pool ready, and the kids were in it by 9 am. We then went across the street to take cousin Isabella to her very first garage sale. The kids had a picnic in Oma and Opa's backyard and I'm going to make memphis style barbeque ribs for the family tonight. We wish you were here daddy!!!

Thursday in the Park

As the mercury rose on Thursday of our visit with the Savage cousins, we ventured out to a park in Sandy and packed a picnic. Kids of all ages were at this giant play structure that was built in 1995 by members of the Sandy community. The only drawback of this place was the fact that there were so many places for the kids to hide!
The cousins playing in a boat.

Dominique, Sandor and Zoli taking a break from playing.

Zoli ready with his new umbrella just in case it was going to rain.

At the end of the day we enjoyed spumoni ice cream on a cone. Thank you Oma!

Birthdays in June: Part II

In continuation of the previous post, the Savage cousins even had gifts for each of the kids in celebration of their birthdays. Here they are below.
Dominique with her purse and Dora doll.

Sandor and Zoli opening gifts.

Zoli playing with his new umbrella.

Sandor with his tigger puppet.

Birthdays in June

With Mat being gone on a business trip to London for a week and the kids cousins being in town from Singapore, I decided to venture over to the eastside to spend a few days at their house. Their cousin Isabella thought we should have a party to celebrate all 3 kids birthdays, so that's exactly what we did. All in the same day, Dominique turned 2, Zoli turned 4 and Sandor turned 5! We had a great time being festive and spontaneous with the cousins.
Here we are celebrating with lunch at the Spaghetti Factory.

Sandor posing with the Isabella and Sebastian in his birthday hat

Zoli and Sandor playing blower wars during the evening portion of the party.

The evening menu was pizza and cupcakes, courtesy of Isabella.

Portland Rose Festival 2008

We ventured down to Portland's Waterfront Village today for the annual Rose Festival. This was my first time going, and the main reason we went was to see the Dinosaur exhibit featured this year. It was pretty fun. Some of the exotic animals that they had there were better than the zoo!

Sandor posing with Homer and Marge

A stegasaurus at the dinosaur exhibit

Sandor's first pony ride - he was pretty excited!

Sandor and Neanderthal man at the dinosaur exhibit

advice from big brother

"Don't grow up!"

Superheros

Dress up is a daily occurance at our house. Here are 2 of the boys favorite superheros. Ask them who their dad's favorite is!

Kings of the Mountain

Our kids never cease to amaze me with wonderful new things they say or do, but this was definitely the highlight at least of this memorial day weekend. We went hiking with Mat's sister and husband on Saturday at Dog Mountain (near Stevenson, WA. in the gorge). Mat and I both being out of shape, we planned to go as far as the boys would let us on this hike. Needless to say, Sandor led the adults all the way up this 8 mile hike, and we even coaxed Zoli all the way to the top with promises of a "snack and a nap" as it was during naptime. Sera (sister-in-law) commented that she felt like a celebrity being related to her nephews, as there were continual stares of admiration and awe at the boys accomplishment. They were by far the youngest hikers on the mountain. Now I just wonder what is the youngest age they can climb Mt. Hood?!

Little Princesses

The other day our neighbor gave Dominique some dress up clothes. I should have guessed that the boys would end up getting into them. I was preparing dinner while the kids were laughing in the other room. Here's the result. You thought we only had one little girl in the house, but if you look closely at the last picture, it looks very much like a little princess! Sandor then proceeded to dress up in his Sunday clothes and take princess Zoli to the ball. They danced in the living room and Zoli seemed perfectly fine with the whole arrangement!

Don't I Look Like a Big Girl?

My First Pig Tails -- April '08

Sabbatical 2007

sabbatical 2007

Now that I know how to link my Picasa pictures into our family site I thought I would post the full gallery of my/our sabbatical pictures. What a blessing to spend so much time with family. Seems so long ago!

Winter 2007 -- Some Great Family Photos

Winter 2007

Night at the Pittock Mansion

Mat's department at work recently had their "winter party" (on the verge of spring) at the Pittock Mansion in Northwest Portland. We had the opportunity to enjoy a childless evening out while the grandparents watched the kids at home. It was great fun to be able to tour the mansion, which I never have, and Mat hadn't been there since he was a kid. I got to meet a lot of the people that he works with. It was a most enjoyable evening overall, the only drawback being that it was too short!

To be educated

As we are delving into and researching the many philisophies of education out there, deciding what philosophy and which curriculum is best for our homeschooling needs, I ran across this excerpt. I think it beautifully sums up what our approach to education should look like as Christians.

To Be Educated
If I learn my ABCs, can read 600 words per minute, and can write withperfect penmanship,
but have not been shown how to communicate with the Designer of all language, I have not been educated.

If I can deliver an eloquent speech and persuade you with my stunning logic,
but have not been instructed in God's wisdom, I have not been educated.

If I have read Shakespeare and John Locke and can discuss their writings with keen insight,
but have not read the greatest of all books - the Bible - and have no knowledge of its personal importance, I have not been educated.

If I have memorized addition facts, multiplication tables, and chemical formulas,
but have never been disciplined to hide God's Word in my heart, I have not been educated.

If I can explain the law of gravity and Einstein's theory of relativity,
but have never been instructed in the unchangeable laws of the One who orders our universe, I have not been educated.

If I can classify animals by their family, genus and species, and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins an award,
but have not been introduced to the Maker's purpose for all creation, I have not been educated.

If I can recite the Gettysburg Address and the Preamble to the Constitution,
but have not been informed of the hand of God in the history of our country,I have not been educated.

If I can play the piano, the violin, six other instruments, and can write music that moves men to tears,
but have not been taught to listen to the Director of the universe and worship Him, I have not been educated.

If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball and do 100 push-ups without stopping,
but have never been shown how to bend my spirit to do God's will, I have not been educated.

If I can identify a Picasso, describe the style of da Vinci, and even paint a portrait that earns an A+,
but have not learned that all harmony and beauty comes from a relationship with God, I have not been educated.

If I graduate with a perfect 4.0 and am accepted at the best university with a full scholarship,
but have not been guided into a career of God's choosing for me, I have not been educated.

If I become a good citizen, voting at each election and fighting for what is moral and right,
but have not been told of the sinfulness of man and his hopelessness without Christ, I have not been educated.

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it, and come to know Him, Whom to know is life eternal, and glorify Him by fulfilling His purpose for me, then I have been educated!

By Carolyn Caines

"Jack Taco"

Well, since this is still my first day blogging, I feel like I'm on a roll. As I was sitting at the kitchen table blogging, Mat was directing the kids to clean up, enticing them with crepes and jam at the conclusion of their efforts. As the boys lagged in their efforts, Mat must have said (though I didn't hear him) "Clean up, or you're not getting jack taco (aka nothing)." All I heard Sandor say after cleaning up is "Now can I have jack taco?"

Sandor and Zoli with their friends

As many of you know, we have a plethora of young children in our neighborhood (I believe our water source has been laced with fertility drugs). In this picture, we are celebrating Maia's 4th birthday (next to Zoli). From left to right is Sadie, Sandor, Camille, Zoe, Maia and Zoli.

Bonjour

Uncle Jon and Aunt Rachel sent this adorable beret to Dominique for Christmas recently. For those who don't know, my brother is doing his post-doctoral work in a lab outside of Paris while my sister-in-law is teaching English there for a few years.

Welcome to our family website!

Well, I know many people have been blogging for some time now, and I've wanted to join in. Our old family website got to be too much to upkeep and Mat had to do all the work. Since I'm with the kids most of the day, I wanted to be able to post things as I remember them. So.....here we are. I'll give this a go. Enjoy!