The Park

In previous summers, we have spent a lot of time in the park down the street from us. They have a great playground and an outdoor pool (where we took swim lessons).

This year we decided to take swim lessons at a different pool (because it is indoors and I was tired on freezing on all the chilly days!). After swimming, we would play in the park, get free lunch, and play some more.

I fell in love with this park.

The trees reminded me how lovely the Northwest is. The ambiance was friendly. We even made some new friends with another adoptive family.

Here are some pictures from our summer fun in this park.

On one especially hot day, the kids took advantage of the park's wading pool.

The following 2 shots crack me up when you realize these are taken in sequence in sports-mode on the camera!

I've got it?Oops! Guess not.

The kids brought their bikes one day for some post-swimming exercise.

We returned to the park on Saturday evening to listen to an outdoor symphony performance!

I love how this one in particular came out.

He's strumming his air guitar here.
Or maybe since we're listening to the symphony, this is his air violin?

A brand-new indoor swimming pool is being built fairly close to our home. But still, we may return next year to this same pool and park. You just can't beat perfection.

Swimming, Swimming, In the Swimming Pool

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's....

fish??!!





Cal finally got into the spirit of putting his face in the water on his 4th to last lesson. Lissi never loved it (as seen in the video), but she was somewhat tolerant. She actually was graduated to the next level of lessons. Woo hoo!

Look who went camping?

We did!!
We returned last night from the Holt Family Campout. this was our 1st time camping with the kids and we are still recovering ;)

Although our kids don't really get it yet, this was an amazing opportunity for multi-ethnic families to gather and kids to be with others from similar family backgrounds. There were children there born in: Korea, China, Ecuador, India, USA, Thailand, and the Phillipines (and other countries that I can't remember). Kids ranged from typically developing to profound physical and/or mental disabilities. There were 80 families participating!

I was told that this is an especially important week for the teens and they will sometimes even write college application essays about this annual campout (this was the 20th anniversary).

The kids did GREAT and did not want to leave. Cal was totally independent on his new 2 wheel bike and would disappear for 20 minute stretches. He was very responsible and always checked back in with me or met me where he said he would be going. Wink had a hard time with his pain and insomnia, but he made it through.

We pre-registered for next year already. Anyone want to come along? ;)

Our 2 wheeling speed demon

2 days after getting his new 2-wheeler bike, Cal mastered riding. He is now a biking speed demon and has his eye on learning wheelies and other bike tricks!

Cal's birthday party

Happy Birthday to my big 5 year old. We had a Dinosaur party and a roaring good time was had by all. :)

Happy Birthday Cal

See Cal.

See Cal Grow.

Grow Cal! Grow!

See my big 5 year old boy now!

Happy 5th Birthday Cal!

Vacation in Virginia

Our Virginia vacation was a great success. The kids had so much fun! They got to experience nature, play with friends, eat tons of fruits and veggies (apparently I deprive the poor kids), and even get tricked into experiencing some history in Jamestown.

We danced and we played

with Grandma, Grandpa, and Auntie Celeste in California!

Gilroy Gardens

This place is awesome! We went last year with Grandma, but the heat and Wink's pain made us move very slowly. This year the weather was perfect (70s) and Wink was in only minimal walking pain. There was a new water feature (still under construction last year). Plus Cal was feeling braver than last year and willing to try new rides and adventures.

Keep in mind as you watch this that the kids HATE showers, water on the heads and faces, etc. ha ha!

What happends when a debator becomes a parent

(please excuse the pajamas)

Christmas in June

Or....my little reindeer

My little boy has completed pre-school

Here are a few pictures from his graduation ceremony. Cal was so embarrassed and shy that he wouldn't participate in the songs or poems. :(

Lissi is so excited to start pre-school. Unfortunately, she will have to wait another year to begin.

He will really miss his teacher of the last 2 years.

Washing the car

When the family provided a late Mother's Day gift of a car-wash, this is what fun ensued...



Luckily it worked and the car is now mighty happy.

Can't claim he lacks personality

Show off!
This is during out heat spell of nearly 100 degrees. Although it is night time, we are all wide awake and sticky with sweat. I went outside to put something away, and next thing I know Cal is showing off his 2 wheeling balancing skills. I used the picture (face cropped) on my other blog to talk about balance bikes.

Mother's Day Gift from Cal

I like when mommy and I go on the train.
This is my mom.
I like when mom makes dinner.
This is my mom and me.

A Gorgeous Spring Day

This is what makes it all worthwhile!
You may need to click on the picture below to see Cal's facial expression. THAT is true determination.

Kindergarten bound!

Cal got into our first choice school for next year! Although it is a public school, we had to apply in a lottery to get in. Unfortunately, it is a full-day Kindergarten and the city makes us pay for "full-day K". But the payment will only apply for one year.

Here is the school's philosophy:

Students are encouraged to be independent thinkers, learners and problem solvers. Our students develop and demonstrate the ability to create questions, formulate solutions and apply results throughout their lives.

Added bonus. It's less than a mile from our home!

Free Cone Day!

Our must attend spring time event! The hail even stopped for us to enjoy our ice cream in relatively sunny (albeit cold) weather!

Lissi loved her some ice cream!
Cal did too, he just didn't want to pose in the "traditional" smile.

We only went through the line twice. :) And yes. Ice cream was the kids' dinner!

Celebrating Earth Day

My school had an Earth Day festival. Unfortunately, we showed up with only 20 minutes left in the festivities. They did make some cool newspaper hats though!

We've had a few glorious spring weather days

We had to take advantage of them before the rain and hail (and snow!) returned!
Here are some of the tulips in front of our home. They were gorgeous this year.

Cal's creative genious

He's creating new games. I call this "the Coke game". LOL!
And exploring his photography skills.

Cal's 1st Roller Skating

We tried out roller skating for the first time. Cal was so awesome! After ten minutes of hanging fearfully on mommy and grandma's arms, he got it! I don't know what grandma's magic is, but you can see how independent Cal was after spending a few minutes alone skating with her!

Unfortunately, the skating ended badly. Cal looked back to show off her awesomeness and fell flat on his face. He had a bloody nose and split lip. It was pretty horrid to look at. But he doesn't seem scarred for life and I think he's excited to try again. Eventually.

Easter fun!

Grandma and Auntie Celeste came to visit us. The kids practically forgot mom and dad with all the fun they had!

Update on surgery

Update: thanks for the prayers! He's home already (it was just a day surgery). They found and repaired a hernia and "pulled apart" a bunch of scar tissue. That's about all I know right now. Keep praying for a good recovery and less pain!!

Prayers please

Please pray for Wink as he is going in for exploratory surgery in about 2 hours. Please pray that the doctor will find why he is in so much pain and fix it!!

thanks!

Chuck E Cheese

We've tried to keep the kids sheltered from Chuck E Cheese, but we knew it couldn't last forever. Today they experienced their first party at the mouse house. Cal LOVED it. I mean LOVED it.

When we got in the car to leave he said, "That was the bestest place I ever saw before!"

Oh my. Our days on innocence are gone.