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!

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!!

小兔子 - Our Latest Temporary Pet

Meet 小兔子.
Translation: Little Rabbit.
(That was his/her official name during the 45 minutes we had it.)

Dallas discovered this baby bunny all alone nibbling on his garden. He and Lin-Ley were soon bringing it up to our bedroom in a butterfly net for my inspection.

Of course, "Can we keep it?" came up several times.

小兔子 was released (unharmed) (and quite loved already) near a nice grassy, wooded area. There are carrots waiting in case he/she decides to visit again. However, Dallas warns that 小兔子 should not visit his garden again....

Tooth Fairy Double Whammy

It all started with an apple....
Lin-Ley has had a loose front, top tooth for weeks and weeks. She refuses to let me pull it. This morning on the way to school she was eating an apple and I heard a "crack". She was silent for a few moments then announced that her tooth was very loose. Later, upon inspection, I discovered it was her bottom tooth that had not even been loose before the apple did its magic.
Tru discovered his first loose tooth last weekend. He has been excited but was not considering letting me pull it. Until tonight....

Two kids, two teeth, double the loot.

















Lin-Ley went first and bravely allowed me to pull her tooth so that Tru could see that it "does not hurt". She was genuinely excited (and surprised) when it finally popped out.
Tru was not having anything to do with it! After some "the Tooth Fairy will come tonight" coaxing he finally opened his mouth. After three attempts the tooth was out. Then we howled and cried for ten minutes afterward because of the residual blood.

Here is Tru's cute little mouth with its first missing tooth.

Lin-Ley wrote notes for each of them to leave for the Tooth Fairy. She wrote Tru's note and had him sign his name to it.

Not only did she write notes but she left an extra piece of paper with each one so that the Tooth Fairy would write a note back to them!

Not to be outdone, Five-O recently lost a tooth as well.

Of course, for some reason, we still have her tooth too.

Lin-Ley wrote this note to the Tooth Fairy on Five-O's behalf. A few days later the Tooth Fairy found time to stop by our house and leave Five-O a new dog toy. The kids were thrilled to learn that the Tooth Fairy made stops for dogs too.


















Speaking of teeth... In February I chaperoned a field trip with Tru's school to the National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore.
There, to my surprise, was President George Washington's teeth. That's right, the teeth of the first president of the United States. And here they are:

Note: George Washington's teeth were NOT wooden. They were made out of rhino and elephant ivory.
Did you know?
When George Washington became our president he only had one tooth in his mouth.
When he left office he had a mouth full of teeth. (See above.)

And now you know....

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

Oh, a blessed three day weekend. With no plans or engagements. Literally nothing planned. How long has it been?

The holiday was in full force right after school on Friday.

There was swinging,

then everyone got a ride on the John Deere.

On Saturday it was time to garden.

Getting as dirty as possible is a must for our kids.

The potatoes were growing quite nicely so they decided to plant sweet potatoes as well.

Then, in the sweltering heat, there were many races across the field,

as well as other games such as Hula Hoop Toss.

To get everyone cooled down Dallas cut a cold, sweet watermelon.

On Sunday we even got a break from Chinese School so Tru had some time to work on his basketball skills.

Somehow, between all the fun, Lin-Ley managed to read seventeen books over the long weekend.







Unfortunately, Dallas had to work on Memorial Day.  So, the kids and I had to find something fun do.  I took them to Toys R Us to spend some gifts cards they had received at Christmas.  As we were about the leave the kids pointing out our "swarm of bees".  When I looked over toward our cherry tree (which is scheduled to be removed soon) I saw the swarm.  It was not bees but what was it?  It was coming out of the damaged branch that looks as if it will fall any day.  I wanted Dallas to see the activity so I took a quick video.  I am not sure how long this lasted but the kids and I watched it for at least ten minutes.