Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Feliz Navidad

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Tru's 6th Birthday

Tru turned 6 today! He was so excited that it was finally his birthday!!

Tru chose Don Pablo's for his birthday lunch.  We tried to tell him that he looked very handsome in the sombrero but he wanted no part of it.










The crew sang Happy Birthday.  He was half excited and half scared!



Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

4th Grade & Kindergarten

FINALLY, after a two day delay (thanks to Hurricane Irene), the kids started school today.

Here are our 4th Grader and Kindergartner waiting for the school bus.

How wonderful to finally have them both at the same school!



Our Big Girl!


Our Big Boy!






The Kindergarten parents were allowed to visit the classroom for a while. Of course there were lots of children very curious about Tru's "robot" leg. Tru's teacher allowed me to give all of the children a brief kid-friendly talk about Tru's leg, why he has it and why they should not touch it.
(We would not want them to have their hands on his leg and then get their fingers pinched if Tru were to bend his knee.) (Ouch! We know this from personal experience!!)



Tru was just fine when Mom left and wanted to know why many of the other children were crying.



I could not resist sneaking by Lin-Ley's classroom too. She was much too busy to mind my visit. She was so excited to finally get back to school!




A special Thank You to Auntie Gabby. I forgot my camera this morning and my only other option, so that I would not miss the First Day of School photos, was to use the camera on my phone. I do not have a "fancy" phone and had no way to get the photos from my phone so I texted them to Gabby, she emailed them to me, I downloaded them to my computer and then uploaded them to the post. Thanks Gabby! You saved the day!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

4 Years Of Tru Love

July 29, 2007. 
China. 
Our first night together.
All frowns. 
No eye contact.

July 30, 2007
China.
Our second day together.
All frowns.
Piercing Eyes.


July 31, 2007.
China.
Our third day together.
There is that smile!

July 29, 2008
One year later.


July 30, 2009
Two years later.


July 29, 2010
Three years later.

July 31, 2007
China.
This is the pink cup that finally made Tru smile.

July 30, 2011
Four years later.
We still have the pink cup. It is a family treasure!


Love You Tru-Tru!!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

8th Annual China Girl Reunion

Road trip! Last weekend was our 8th Annual China Girl Reunion in Upstate New York. Of the thirteen families we traveled with to China in 2003 we had seven China Girls in attendance this year.
Dallas could not make the trip this year due to a scheduling conflict at his office.  It was just mom and the kids.

Needing a break from driving we pulled into a rest area and I told the kids to run around and get some exercise. Lin-Ley took that quite literally and began doing jumping jacks.



And this is what Tru thought about that.
I know what you are thinking, and yes, Tru picks out all of his own accessories. Mardi Gras beads go with every outfit!



Once we f-i-n-a-l-l-y arrived in New York we had a short rest at the hotel before Friday Night Dinner. Here are the China Girls and siblings:
Claire, Maria, Mia, Tru, Julia, May, Lin-Ley, Lana, Quinn and Sara.


Tru and Maria really hit it off at dinner. Oh so cute! Tru has invited Maria to his birthday party in November.

May drew a picture of the girls entitled "Girls At Travel Reunion Group Dinner 2011".
She was very precise as her drawing reflects the actual wardrobe worn by each of the girls.



And another picture entitled "And The Little Ones Too" which included the siblings.
Again May was very precise. Check out Tru's right leg.

Excellent job May!!






As the girls are getting older now we (the parents) made sure we had more activities available for them. Nina brought along the paint and lots of paper. However the girls decided to paint the rocks instead.
We were really prepared with games and activities but the kids still most enjoyed playing in the sand. That was fine with us because the parents love to sit under the pavilion watching the kids bond together again like no time has passed. Love that!



Time to hit the beach.






Tru and his girl Maria.



Lin-Ley and Lily collecting shells.



We always celebrate the girls' collective birthdays with a big cake.






Good cake!



Time for pictures. These kids know the drill!



Here are all of the children in attendance:
Maria, Quinn, Claire, May, Julia, Lakin, Lily, Sara, Mia, Lin-Ley, Caden, Lana, & Tru.



Here are the Spicy Hunan Girls (lined up according to height):
Lin-Ley, Quinn, May, Julia, Lily, Mia, Sara






Family Photo.




After the grueling photo session the kids wanted more time at the park's expanded play area.

Lily and Lin-Ley.




Fearless Tru.





The big kids swung the little kids on a disc swing.


Once we cleaned up our pavilion most families came back to our hotel for a swimming and pizza party. Then it was time for good-byes.

At 6AM the next morning the kids were having their annual luggage cart ride as we prepared to leave.



Hugs to all of our China family. We can not wait to see you all again!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Happy 9th Birthday Lin-Ley

We have been celebrating Lin-Ley's 9th birthday sine June 23rd. I took the day off and took Lin-Ley to the movies, to lunch, shopping and then to chose her own birthday cake. Then Dallas was off the next day to take her for a walk in the woods and they spents lots of time collecting worms (a new hobby around our house).



Her presents included a new princess gown and the Chronicles of Narnia book set.



Once we gave her the books we did not hear much from her for many hours. She made her way through the first three books between the birthday cake and bed time.



Time for bed with her new pillow pet unicorn named MayBelle.



More worms.



Lin-Ley dared Tru to lick a worm. And he did it! More than once!!



Clowning around.



Lin-Ley grabbed the sidewalk chalk and went out to the drive way. Later, she called me out to see what she had made. Wow!









The artist and her apprentice.




To wrap up the birthday festivities we treated Lin-Ley (and the whole family) to theater tickets to see Wicked at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The kids eagerly awaiting our Metro train.



So here she is, Lin-Ley the Lovely Witch. She loved the show and we have been discussing every minute detail and the way it connects with the Wizard of Oz movie. Love it!

Happy Birthday Big Girl!!