Independence Day 2009

This is our newest yard guest. I had always wanted a ground hog to visit us. I love seeing them around but have never had an up-close view. I did not realize however that they loved to eat flowers....

This baby ground hog lives under our front porch. When we wake in the mornings he is usually in the front yard eating grass. Very cute!

Dallas and Lin-Ley planted a long planter of Impatiens. A few mornings later all of the flowers were gone. There was just a planter full of green stems remaining...

On the 4th of July we went to the parade as usual. Jordyn, Lin-Ley's preschool friend, and her parents met us there for the second year.


We arrived about 45 minutes prior to the start of the parade to make sure we had a good seat/location. Take a look at the couple sitting in front of the girls. They sat right in front of us just before the parade started!


















Tru was not very interested in the parade last year but this year he was totally in awe of the fire trucks.












One of the highlights of this parade is the "Precision Lawnchair Marching Dads". They stop along the parade route to perform their drill.










Here they are marching in formation.













And here is a clip of their performance:

















After lunch and nap time (have I mentioned I love nap time!) we went to the carnival at Ft. Meade. There was not much there but the kids jumped on the inflatables and managed to talk us into spending money on trinkets and games.





































Lin-Ley wanted to try to climb the rock wall. We waited in line for one hour! We were sure Lin-Ley would scale the wall with ease. She is fearless.
Well...















She got a little stuck at this point and was scared to go any further.

















While waiting at the rock wall the clock struck 5PM and Revelry began to play. Members of all of the uniformed services were there at the bottom of the parade flag pole to lower Old Glory. Once the music began all of the soldiers attending the carnival turned to face the flag and stood at attention. That was rather moving and brought a little more significance to the day.














































The kids also had their photos taken for their cover shot on the Ft. Meade Soundoff.

How Do You Cool Off In Louisiana?? Get Wet!

We were in Louisiana for ten days. The very first day we arrived the heat index was 103 degrees. The kids were all about getting in the pool (or getting wet) any way, any where, any how.

Pool Party #1: Mr. Ed and Mrs. Nikki's house:

Tru sat on the steps and soaked those who were close enough with his new found water gun.













Lin-Ley was soon in on the action.














Pool Party #2: Visiting Auntie Gabby and Prince Michael


It took him a while but Tru eventually dove in.














There they are... Auntie Gabby and Prince Michael.













Ma-Ma Shirley sits nearby to observe and protect Tru's leg.































Pool Party #3: Pa-Pa Cowboy and Ma-Ma Linda's house:




Desperate times call for desperate measures. Lin-Ley takes a dip in the baby pool and quickly cools off with a cup of water over the head. It was H-O-T!









Tru was not so sure about this. He was happy to observe.












Let's get this party started!















A new target - Michael. (A different Michael - this is Anna K's Michael.)














Uh -Oh Tru! Somebody has turned the hose on you.




































Lin-Ley is determined to get Tru as wet as possible.






















Yes, it was that sneaky Michael!
















The tables have turned. Everyone look out! Tru has the hose.












Finally Tru decides to check out the pool. He was looking for water activities and decided to fill his leg with water.










Note: Typically it would not matter if Tru's prosthesis got wet. As long as it is not salt water, Tru can fully immerse his prosthesis in pool or fresh water. His doctors actually encourage this. However about two days before leaving for Louisiana his prosthetic foot began "wobbling" and Dallas had to tighten the screws holding the foot to the pylon (the main rod). Once we arrived in Louisiana it was clear that something was wrong. We called his Prosthetists in Maryland and they referred us to "Red Stick" in Baton Rouge. The nice folks there took a look at Tru's leg and informed us that he had a broken part. They taped up his leg with fiberglass tape to keep it stable until we could return home. That is the only reason he had to remove his leg for the pool.

Additional Note: I emailed the above photo to Tru's Prosthetist (Angie) while we were still in Louisiana. See the silver ring at the bottom between the white tape and Dallas' finger? That is the part that was broken. Angie said she has no idea how Tru managed to break it. All of the parts that comprise Tru's leg are built to sustain children up to 99 lbs. Tru is only 35 lbs when wearing his prosthesis. That is not a problem now. Since he arrived home Tru's leg has been upgraded to titanium!!


Music break.















Next, Tru tried to fill his sandal. (That did not work so well...)















Hmmm... what could Tru fill next?




How about Aunt Renee's "tackle box"....
(This is Dallas' sister.)

Boys, don't try this at home.















Pool Party #4: Well actually this would be a much needed rain party at Pa-Pa Bill and Ma-Ma Shirley's house:

"I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain..."














"What a glorious feeling. I'm happy again..."




















Pool Party #5: Back at Pa-Pa Cowboy and Ma-Ma Linda's house.



There is that sneaky Michael again!













Pool Party #6: Uncle Jason and Aunt Melissa's house for the Breeden Family Reunion:


Lin-Ley and all of her cousins enjoyed the two water slides at the family reunion. For over five hours Lin-Ley enjoyed the water with her numerous cousins - exactly what she had been waiting for. They did not stay in one spot for very long but I did manage to get this shot of Lin-Ley and Cousin Anna.




And after all of this outside fun you should see the kids' tan lines!!

Lin-Ley's 7th Birthday

We were in Louisiana for Lin-Ley's 7th birthday so we threw a small party at Pa-Pa Bill and Ma-Ma Shirley's house. Lin-Ley wanted a party so that all of her cousins could come. Unfortunately her birthday was on a weekday and also coincided with Vacation Bible School. A few cousins were able to make the party even if it was only for a short while.
With hamburgers, hot dogs, the very important variety of chips, and a moon bounce a good time was had by all. A good time but a very humid and H-O-T time. OK - make that a DOUBLE H-O-T!

The theme this year was Tinker Bell.
















Pa-Pa provided the princess chair for the birthday girl. She was happy to take the place of honor.













Tru was also happy to join in the spot light.














The Three Musketeers: Lin-Ley, April and Olivia.















Lin-Ley and April enjoy the moon bounce.













We asked for no presents. Few honored that request. There were presents galore. Tru even scored a few gifts including a Handy Manny tool kit, two trucks and some big boy underwear (which he loved!).

Thanks to everyone who attended Lin-Ley's party (and suffered through the heat wave with us). She had a grand time!










These are only a sampling of the almost 400 photos I took while in LA. More photos are on the way....

Mouse update: So Dallas and Lin-Ley freed the mice after observing them for three days. I was pleased to see them go. I learned later, however, that Lin-Ley convinced Dallas to let them go free... back into the shed where they found them. I could not believe it! AND - they went back the next day to check on them and FEED them. Those crazy kids!

Our New (VERY TEMPORARY) Pets

Dallas and Lin-Ley arrived home about one hour before Tru and me. While Lin-Ley was playing in the yard Dallas went to our shed to get out his lawn equipment. Apparently a mommy mouse thought that was a good place to make a nest and start a family.

When Dallas moved the tractor the mommy ran out and soon the babies did too. Lin-Ley came over and was immediately excited and asked to keep them as pets. One-by-one Dallas and Lin-Ley caught the baby mice with a butterfly net. We just happened to have a small aquarium so by the time Tru and I arrived home the babies were tucked snuggly into their new habitat with a decorative food container, a rag (so that they would have a comfy bed tonight), and some bird food and dog food.

Dallas told Lin-Ley that she could keep the baby mice through the weekend. I am sure she is thinking that we will cave and allow her to keep them indefinitely. Not going to happen!


Sure - they are cute behind glass.















I guess she is just an equal opportunity animal lover!













Friday night is movie night for the kids. By coincidence the movie I selected tonight (from the library - love the library!) was about a mouse:

"Daddy Fixed The Pipes?" (Asked By Tru) (x100!)

Uh-Oh! Plumbing emergency!

It was Thursday night and we had a kitchen sink disaster. It started out as a simple clogged drain. After trying to use a plumbers tool, Liquid Plumber and then, as a final resort, a kettle of boiling water, the pipes under the sink gave way. Nasty! Upon investigation of the situation he discovered that the main pipe was rusted through.

It was 8PM by this time. Dallas started taking off the pipe that was rusted only to find that it was several pipes that needed replacing.

His fellow advisors concur.

8:30PM - off to Home Depot.

9:30PM - Dallas was attempting to replace the faulty pipes and in the process found even more pipes needing replacement. A job for another day.

Finally Friday night Dallas was able to successfully replace all of the pipes and get the kitchen back in order. On the plus side the cabinet under the sink really did need to be cleaned out anyway. There were still lots of doggie treats under there...



Since we no longer have a dog we decided to give the squirrels a treat. Lin-Ley and Dallas sat out many dog bones on the deck. One-by-one the squirrels took them away to their secret hiding place.

Look in the tree. See the doggie bone? Not such a good hiding place.



So it was Saturday and it was time for errands.

Dallas and Lin-Ley were going to - yes, you guess it - Home Depot. (I think that Home Depot should start sending us commission checks for all of the free advertising we have been giving them!) Apparently we had a slug problem and they needed to find an eco-friendly solution. I know for a fact that Lin-Ley would have preferred the method of pouring salt onto each individual slug and watching the results. Since Dallas showed her this trick she was enjoyed it immensely.

Tru and I were off to the mall in search for some final summer-time clothes for the kids.

Just liked the picture. He looks like such a "big boy" here.




















Warning: Potty training talk ahead.

While at the mall we looked for some new sandals for Tru. Last summer he screamed in terror when I tried to put a pair of sandals on him but this year he has been asking for them. We found a blue pair and as soon as he tried them on he would not allow them to be removed.

Although he had been riding in the stroller most of the morning he insisted on walking the length of the mall - in his new sandals!

As he walked next to me he kept looking up and grinning to the max. Oh so cute!

Later, during nap time, they had to be placed directly next to his bed. There was not way he was letting them out of his sight!




Saturday afternoon -

It had been almost 24 hours. The Inspector needed to check in on the new pipes.










Another "big boy" photo.


So we are really giving the potty training a go. I think Tru is finally ready! I bought some of those thick cotton training underwear and Tru went without pants most of the weekend (while we were at home).

He did very well. Of course like most kids sometimes he tells us he has to go the bathroom after he has already started...








Later that afternoon the kids were bored so it was time for some bubbles. I had purchased a "bubble grill" a while back so we broke it out. Lin-Ley was making huge bubbles. It was a hit.


























What an artistic (lucky) shot. It looks like Tru is holding a bubble in the palm of his hand.


Notice the change of underwear. Oops - somebody had an accident....












Sunday morning -

Need to check on those pipes again.











Tru gave another outstanding performance at church on Sunday. All children from age 2 through Kindergarten sang two songs together - one in English and one in Chinese.

Tru is in the front row wearing the the turquoise colored, short sleeved shirt.





A little later and across town Lin-Ley participated in her Chinese school's graduation ceremony. (Lin-Ley is in the red dress.)

The whole class recited a poem in unison and then each child stepped forward to the microphone (they all found that very exciting) and recited individual poems.

This is one of the two Kindergarten Chinese classes at the school.




Sunday afternoon -

The pipes are still holding up.












Monday afternoon....














Quote Of The Day:
While at the Chinese school graduation there was a keynote speaker who was a former student of the school. She now attends Yale University and spoke of the adventures she has had in furthering her Chinese language education.
She was born in America and even though she comes from an Asian family they spoke primarily English at home.
Her entire speech was very captivating but there was one thing she said that really grabbed me:

Many of my Chinese friends and I often discuss how we feel. Do we feel Chinese? Do we feel American? Or do we feel like Banana People - yellow on the outside and white on the inside?

That really made me think about Lin-Ley and Tru. How will they feel? Hmmm....