My life....

A few things to remember about this summer....

Danny wakes up every morning and says, "Mommy..... Mooooommmmy....."  How lucky am I that he doesn't climb out of his crib and waits for me to "rescue" him each day.  I'll miss the good ol' crib days when we move him to a big boy bed!

Danny loves to talk - especially in the car.  When we get in the car, it's non-stop.  Like I just pushed "play" and then it goes and goes, and goes.  A little energizer bunny.  He also has a little song that he has been singing all week long - he made it up and he wiggles his tongue back and forth while doing it.  He tells me that he likes his song.  So do I.

Cole is constantly trying to figure what Jesus created and what man has created.  So, a VERY typical conversation in the car is, "mommy, did Jesus create mud, or man? Mommy, did Jesus create electricity?"
I want to remember him asking me these questions - day after day, after day.

Cole announces to anyone and everyone (including a random lady in Wal-mart last night) "I'm a scientist, a scavenger, and a spy."  He is constantly creating potions.  I wish I could somehow direct this energy into useful potions (as in cooking things that we can eat), but for now, it's all about soy milk, water, and something to make it a new color.  These potions make people better, help owies, and have even been professed to help someone close to death.  He is definitely a scavenger, still.  Constantly picking up little things everywhere we go.  Some things are kinda cool - most are junk and garbage in my eyes.  Luckily, he asks me if he can keep them (the majority of the time).  I usually tell him to toss the straws, spoons, and anything that a person might have licked before it found his hands.  He assembles these items into inventions - lightning sticks, keys to magical places, etc.  As for the spy thing - that's news to me.  I wonder how he's been spying.

Hunter has been the busy guy this summer.  He's on the rec swim team for our city this summer - a first for our family.  We spend our Saturdays sitting next to pools to watch 3 minutes of swimming (or less) - and he's loving it.  He practices at the pool daily - and gosh, could I do laps for an hour every day?  No, I don't think I could.  He mowed the lawn for the first time last week - he's celebrating and so are we!  He has participated in a sports camp and also been involved with a hip-hop boys dance class.  That last one surprised me.  They promised to work on the "robot" and cool moves for just boys - and he wanted it enough that he was willing to pay for a part of the class.  I love how financially smart this boy is - constantly saving and yet, when he decides to spend, he'll get what he wants.  He had his choice of any toy at Disneyland and he chose a little "Etch-a-sketch" - telling me that he'd always be able to take it with him in the car and remember his trip to Disneyland.  He is such a sweet and incredibly thoughtful boy.  I keep telling him how grateful I am that he still holds my hand.  He exclaims that he can't imagine not wanting to hold my hand.  I mention there will be a day and age when such things won't be mine anymore, but I'm grateful for them now.  I can't believe that is nearly 9 now - I'm still getting use to 8!

I love my boys and my busy house.  It truly is a blessing to be able to enjoy these moments with them - even though I do lose my cool when everything seems to pile up at once.  I'm glad that they can forgive me and we're still best of friends.  And I'm glad I finally wrote these things down - my memory will fail me next year when I try to remember "what was it like last summer?"
 PS - Do you remember this glorious occasion when everyone was excited to get dressed and match each other?  I didn't even dress Danny - Hunter did it!

Just thoughts

Do you remember the other day (Monday)?  You woke up later than usual, which in itself was a treat.  Then you  within the next half hour, kids were whining, crying, fighting - you know, the usual.  And then the dog shows up because, of course, the gate was opened AGAIN, and there's dog feces (the runny kind or perhaps it was vomit?) rubbed ALL OVER HER BACK.  Why would anyone, even a dog, want to roll in that?!?!  Then your bright and experimental son, floods the bathroom because he was just trying to do water balloons in the sink....

Yeah, you flipped out.  You lost control for a minute.

And then you cleaned up the bathroom.
Then you bathed the your stinky dog.
Then you heard your boys quickly trying to fulfill your request for a "power clean-up" for just 5 minutes.  Things were starting to feel a little more calm.

Even better was coming out to find that Hunter had changed his first diaper - just trying to help out mommy.  He's such a good boy and he made my day.  Yeah, changing a diaper can make my day.  Remember days like those?!?

Cali - we miss you!

We went to California for a little R&R - I don't think Cole even realized this is something people pay to have...

Playing at the "Golden Nugget" Hotel in Vegas - there's a waterslide through that shark tank - the boys loved it.

We spent a day with our BFF's Laura and Maynrad - we went to chill at a local park.  It was huge!  With a small zoo tucked into a corner - the kids loved the petting zoo portion.

I love this pic.... beautiful picture of beautiful people.

Someday we'll be surprised to see how big Hunter was compared to little Carlo - I'm sure he'll be running the next time we see him!  (Unless they decide to come visit us this weekend... hint, hint)

We headed to Oceanside to be with Shayne's family.  The boys were thrilled about going to the beach - although the excitement waned after a full day in the sun.  It wears you out digging through all that sand and crashing through the waves!  Danny got knocked down by a wave within the first 1/2 hour and decided to never go in the water again (unless it was forced by mommy for a wash-off).  He did enjoy the sand - especially this big pit dug by his cousins.

Uncle Shaughn had the whole beach gathering around him when he pulled out all sorts of treasures from the washed up seaweed - star fish, crabs, even a baby octopus.

Here was a little of that R&R we envisioned.

Enjoying the pier at sunset..... ahhhhhhh.

Part of the gang....  we never did get a full picture of everyone - but I think I got lots of pictures of everyone!

Hunter loved Boogie-boarding!  He and Chylee spent hours in the waves.

Like I said, Danny didn't care much for the water - but the sand was still fun.

We took the boys to Legoland - it was part of a deal for Cole to not suck his thumb for a continuous 3 months and it worked.  I think he's quit for good!  Legoland was fun - definitely something to do with 3-8 year olds.  Not younger - or older for that matter.  I'm glad the boys loved it.  We saw New York "legoized."  We have over 30 pics of the "Miniland" in Legoland - including Vegas, scenes from the US, and Star Wars too - that was a highlight for the family to see.

Danny quickly figured out that if his head didn't reach the stick - he was out of luck for a ride.  He would do little pull-ups and touch his head to the bar and say, "See, I tall enough! I am!"  Sorry little man.... not this year.

Back to inland Cali - we visited Griffith's Printing Shop (owned by Laura's dad).  We got to see printing in action and it was awesome.  We saw them working on flyers for Disneyland - and then saw the same flyers in Disneyland - Hunter couldn't help but to tell the employees about that printing process!  Thanks Laura and Walter for the tour!

Whenever we saw Grandma and Grandpa - Hip-Hip-HOORAY!  We love them sooo much!

Here is a pic of what Danny will look like with age, sun damage, Smoking habits, and overweight.... whoa.

We had lots of family time in Disneyland - but occasionally a few would stick around with us (with the little kids)  - we loved running into our cousins! 

We've learned to say "Smiling picture, now SILLY picture!"  Or - really, we'll have a bunch of silly pics.  My boys love to "pose" and they do it well!

I really admire these people in HOT HOT costumes in the hot Cali heat... ugh!  I don't want your job.

We have a picture of Hunter as a baby with this mean guy...  my how the family has grown!

Danny's favorite ride was Astro Blasters - a Toystory Ride.

 

All the cousins together with Grandma and Grandpa - minus 1 to arrive this December!  What a great looking group!!

That was a condensed version of our fabulous trip - I have over 500+ pictures if you wanna come see more!

Graduate

Cole graduated from Kindergarten....
....whew!!

Cole's favorite things about Kindergarten:

His teacher, Mrs. Paxman - for teaching him and she was really nice

We had lunch there, sometimes

We got to have parties a lot

other highlights were drawing, coloring, activities, and playing with blocks

He gave us a warning before the program that in one of his songs he would sing "I know how to tie my shoes"  He knows that he can't really do it, but he still has to sing it.  hee-hee  They did a full program - and this number was definitely the hit of the morning.   It's been a great year and he's very excited about going to 1st grade next year!  And mommy is excited to not have a kindergarten carpool for a few more years!

What do you do in the summertime?

Do you try to sell your toys for a little extra money?  

Hunter gave his friend a dollar so that his friend could buy something... he made a dollar.... sort of.  Cole had his most expensive item at $50 - he thought it had real gold on it... but at least his little things were just a quarter.  I think he made 50 cents.

Do you play at the park and swing till your head is spinning?

Do you fall asleep when your busy body just stops for 2 minutes?

Do you send the kids to bed early so you can have a "Settlers" night?!?  

If that's what you do, SO DO I!!!

Pretty girl

When I went to China I had very convincing reason to NOT chew on my nails - it was disgustingly dirty there and well, I just didn't want any diseases.  So, as I returned to the US, I thought about how I had gone a week (and mind you it wasn't easy) and why shouldn't I try for another one?  My nails were longer than ever before - I could honestly see a white tip!  So, here I am at 5 weeks and 4 days, and I'm holding strong.  I've lost a couple (when there's a snag it's hard to resist) but really, I've never had long, pretty nails.  In fact when I first painted my nails, I got some funny reactions:

Hunter:  What are you doing?  (painting my nails) Oh, you NEVER do that, why do girls do that anyway?
Cole:  What are you doing?  (Painting my nails) That's soooo WEIRD! Why?  I don't get it.
Danny on the other hand exclaimed, "Mommy you look pretty!"

 I really have to fight that urge to bite off my nails daily, I know it's pathetic - but really, it's been a habit I've tried to break for as long as I can remember!  I'm grateful for the sparkly nail polish that makes me feel so girly and even a pinch pretty!

Funny little things...

A recent adventure by Hunter was helping us dig some trenches in our backyard for a rain-gutter.  He LOVED digging.  He even got up early one morning and started before 7am on the digging project.  My favorite part of this "adventure" was the conversation I had with him while digging....
"I feel like I'm in the movie "Holes" but they were being forced to do it to build character.  But really, they were slaves to the people who were looking for buried treasure - it wasn't at all about building character.  Yeah, I'm like the kid in holes."
Hunter dug like he was in holes and he really was a huge help in our project - thanks Hunter!  Maybe there was a pinch of character building in our project?

A recent conversation between Cole and myself:
C:  When can I marry Emily?
Me: ummm, after high-school.  Wait, you'll want to be a missionary first, then you can get married.  I'm pretty sure Emily will want to marry a return missionary.
C:  What?  No way am I waiting THAT long!
Me: ummmm, sorry, but I think that's the way things will go.
C: No, I think we'll get married after 1st grade.  Yeah, after 1st grade.

Danny's new catch-phrase:
"That's too fair"
Me: don't you mean, "no fair?"
"No, TOO FAIR MOMMY!!"
Me:  ok.

My adventures in China

So did you know that I went to China last week?  Just hopped on a plane and went!  Actually - there was a lot of planning and preparing - passport, a Chinese Visa, and well, the ticket too!  

My parents are in China for 5 weeks as faculty advisers for music students who are doing an internship there.  As they were preparing to go, my mom kept suggesting that I should find a way to come visit while they were there - knowing my dad would be busy and she wanted to show me China!  It took time and lot of promises for my sweet hubby to let me go and of course, I had to beg and plead the help of family and neighbors (once again) so I could do this opportunity of a lifetime.  After finding a DEAL of a ticket and also putting the bug in my sister's ear - we were on our way.  It was a week of adventure with my parents and my sister!!

So, here I am with over 700 pictures and wanting to "sum it up" for a blog post.  I don't think it is humanly possibly (I guess it is, but it would be VERY LONG and VERY BORING for you!) but this is my condensed version.  I spent the majority of my time in Tianjin and Beijing.  Enjoy....

Lots and lots of bikes in this HUGE city (Tianjin has 13 million people!)

This is the aisle of OIL - JUST OIL.  There aren't just jars, there are VATS of oil.  They cook with a lot of oil.

My mom, Lara and I at Forbidden City.  I assumed this would be a large place - I didn't even fathom the massive size of this historical landmark.  It was awesome to see in person.

Typical potty - it's called a Squatter.  I came home grateful for my regular potty and for toilet paper. 

Lara and I dressed up in a little garb - we were suckers for the little tourist money maker - but hey, it cost us 75 cents each!

A view from up high with the Forbidden City in the background.... that's just 1 of 3,000 buildings.  I don't think I'm exaggerating.

Luckily, most restaurants do "picture menus" now to help with the tourism.  Some of the "translations" were very funny - this is just one of many!

This was a dish of celery and lily bulbs... and I loved it.  Chinese food was excellent.  It is NOT American Chinese - in any fashion or even remotely like it.  It was delicious eating - but at the same time, I don't want Chinese for another month.  I had my fill and I'm grateful to be home eating my cheesey, unhealthy American foods again.

 

This is a dish of Eggplant and it's SOOO good.  My mom thinks that it's a different type of Eggplant than we typically see in the US - and it probably is.  Plus - they know how to season it with their fancy oils too.  This was one of my favorites.

This is a funny picture from a museum that was showcasing the "modern conveniences of today's China."  One of them had this scene and it has to make you laugh.  My dad has sincerely seen footprints on a 'seater' and then realized that this is not so far from the truth!

One afternoon we stopped to have our portraits done by a street artist.  The picture wasn't any good - but the group that formed to watch the foreigner (me) was worth the money.  It started with a handful of people watching then slowly grew to over 20 people.  I thought I would help the poor artist's business - but when we walked away, so did the crowd!

We visited the Great Wall of China outside of Tinajin.  You can visit different parts of the wall at different locations and typically, this is not crowded and very isolated from the typical tourism.  It turns out that we were there just 2 days before the annual "Marathon on the Great Wall" - so there were tourists there from all sorts of countries.  They were required to walk the wall before doing the run on that Saturday - how they ran this thing, I'm in awe.  We walked (HIKED) for more than 2 1/2 hours and the next two days were filled with agony EVERY TIME I stepped down... I thought I was pretty fit - I guess the Great Wall defeated me.

We started at the "high part" and worked our way down to the where the bus would meet us.  But, it isn't all down - oh no, it's UP and down, and UP and down.....  Here's a set of UP stairs!

It was the most beautiful day to be at the Wall - clear skies and so many picturesque views.  It was simply amazing to be there in person.

After the hike, we had a meal in a little restaurant there.  It would be considered to be a "farmer's market dinner" - we just ordered a "meal" and we got what we got.  I tried almost everything - but there was a plate of whole fried birds - ewww - and a plate of whole fried fish - ewwwww - and I just couldn't stomach those.

                          

We also visited the Ching Tombs.  I don't know how to capture the adventure of this spot.  The buildings on the top looked like the Forbidden City - (as the emperor and empresses would come here once a year to honor their ancestors) and then they were also buried here.  We were able to see 2 tombs - you go down inside the building and it felt like Indiana Jones (as my dad mentioned it would!).  I also think it compares to seeing pyramid tombs in Egypt... just Chinese style.  It was awesome.

Inside the tomb - looking at the coffins!

We visited Summer Palace - a retreat for the Royal Families in the summer time as it was higher in elevation and little cooler.  There was a lot more green here - beautiful pine trees and HUGE lakes.  I thought it would be huge - but once again, I can't even comprehend how big this "Palace" was.  The entire area is the Palace - it has to be twice as big as NY Central Park...  maybe bigger?

Empress Cixi's Marble Boat - of course she needed a marble boat.  No, it doesn't float.  It's supported and unmovable.

My parents have good friends there who have generously put them up in their "2nd apartment" which they typically use for teaching and as a guest house.  Here's a couple shots of where we stayed and I felt VERY fortunate to be able to stay with my parents.  We didn't have to deal with a hotel or the university housing - which was plan 1 and 2.   Lara and I traded off the bedroom bed (twin size) with the couch.  Chinese beds are HARD AND FLAT!  It could have been a table top really.  I understand that the Chinese are very uncomfortable in the US beds - they are too soft for them!

We visited "The Temple to Heaven" which is another spot where the Emperor would go once a year to worship the Gods.  Once again, I was in awe of the size of this spot.  It was more park-like with big trees and fewer buildings.  I was taking Lara's picture next to the oldest tree in the park and this girl ran up and wanted her picture with Lara too...  (the girl's boyfriend had the camera rolling quick).  I just imagine the photo sharing later on... "Oh look, here I am with a foreigner!"

We went to the famous "Pearl Market."   It's a big building with oodles and oodles and oodles of booths and vendors - grabbing your arms pleading for you to buy something from them.  Each floor has a different "theme" - whether it's clothing, shoes, bags, coats, or jewelry - lots and lots of jewelry.  I bought some pearls and wondered if I should be buying more as I watched wholesalers from the US buying there to bring them back to the US!  My dad is the master of bartering - none of us would buy something without him there to barter it down.  I wanted to record him in action but thought it might be a little rude.

This is just one of a thousand booths - my dad is bartering on behalf of Lara here.

I had famous "Bousa" - a breaded dumpling and a traditional food of Tianjin.  Very yummy.

This was our last fancy feast before coming home.  A professor wanted to treat my parents and their daughters - it was a FEAST!  As you walk in the restaurant you can choose your meat...

Luckily, our hosts chose fish.

So a fancy meal in China starts with cold dishes (kind of like a salad - but not salad), then hot dishes, then the fish, followed by soups and then they kept ordering more and more foods.  I think the host really enjoyed watching Lara and I struggle with our chopsticks and try all the new things.  It was an amazing meal and summed up the Chinese food experience for us.

After 24 hours to fly home (well, to LA!) we stopped to stay with our favorite friend, Laura!  She ROCKS. I'm so grateful for her hospitality and willingness to come get me in LA - much better than sleeping in an airport for 12 hours!!

If you ask me what my favorite part of my trip - I really can't say.  It was all amazing.  I think I loved the sightseeing best - but at the same time, I loved the interaction we had with the colleagues of my parents.  That was unique and eye opening.  I'm also very grateful to my parents for being willing to do so much in such a short window of time.  We wore them out as there was never a dull moment!  Thank you to the many who helped me here at home so I could go.   I couldn't have done it without the family and neighbors who helped with my sweet boys at home - THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!