watched

Ever get the feeling you're being watched?

Like someone is right beside you, watching your every move?

I did not even really notice this couple.

(But when I went back to look at the photos I realized they were in nearly every single one!)

And I'm absolutely sure they noticed us :)

I hope they enjoyed the show!

(bummer i didn't have a good camera.... i was surprised that even my phone captured some of the bubbles.)

another blue sky, another picnic (on our no drive day)

Maybe you think I never cook?!?! 

It's true that picnic-eating is pretty perfect for our family these days.  The weather is cooperating nicely, my children love picnic fare and a good adventure, I love the low-prep low-clean up meal and Matt bikes to/from work so it's easy for me to text him our location and he can meet us on his way home.

Our city limits the number of cars on the road with a license plate numbers based system.  Each weekday two different numbers are prohibited from driving.  Mondays = cars with license plate numbers ending in 1 or 6, Tuesday = cars with plate numbers ending in 2 or 7, and so on.  Our NO DRIVE day is Tuesday. 

I think it's a great system.  Honestly, we don't drive that much anyways (most everything is walking distance for us) so it's not a big deal to have a NO DRIVE.  (The bigger challenge for me is remembering I'm not supposed to drive on a Tuesday!)  And, the big blessing is that when I do choose to drive only 80% of the total cars in the city are allowed out on the roads .... less traffic = happier driving.  [Weekends and holidays have no limits..... everyone is free to drive.]

So today's beckoning blue skies called for a walking distance picnic.  And our new apartment is close to so many fun choices.  Today we chose to this one...

We set out with Luke on my back and John Paul in the stroller and the other three on foot.  (We've done this on bikes - Matt and I each on bikes with one of the little boys sitting behind and the big three on their own bikes, but without Matt's help I knew I was not up to the task of managing three bikes and a stroller with a 30 pound toddler on my back!).

We crossed 3rd ring road (one of four loop roads that circle the city, we live just inside 3rd ring).  Lots of walking bridges and pass-under tunnels make a multi-lane highway fairly pedestrian friendly. 

You won't be surprised to hear that the view from this bridge captures a child's curiosity.  We could stand here and watch for hours! 

[The tall brown buildings are our complex.]

The walking bridges are very bike/stroller accessible - yes there is a hefty flight of stairs but also a set of ramps. 

We're runners when it comes to the down ramp :)

At the base of the ramp we connect to the extensive green-way system.  Since our move this summer we have really appreciated this green-way.  Super quick access from our apartment and it goes for miles and miles!

It runs both sides of 3rd ring and also branches off to follow the many winding rivers that make their way through town.  (And Lydia says 'why did they call it the green-way if they made it red?')

We live half a mile from a beautiful river green-way area ... the landscaping includes enough gravel paths that our children could throw rocks in the water for years and never run out.  Score for us, since we have plenty of rock-throwers and no one ever seems to want to stop throwing. 

This time we headed away from the river and once on the green-way I let John Paul out of the stroller and Luke down from my back and it was happy exploring freedom for everyone. 

Julianna rarely leaves home without her jump rope. 

We bought sandwiches and chips (and cookies), Matt found us and we headed for a nearby playground.

On the way home we took the tunnel route and Matt had Isaac so it was faster traveling. 

Much-needed baths and more read-aloud and everyone sleeps well tonight. 

The end.  

girls in bunks

There was never a doubt who would take which bunk when we made the switch to bunk beds for the girls.  I knew without a doubt that even though Lydia is younger (and thus, the traditional bottom-bunker), she needed the top.  I wasn't surprised that the minute I brought up the "who will sleep where" question both girls instantaneously agreed - Lydia on top, Julianna on bottom.



Lydia really needs space to herself.  At six years old she still needs help to realize that sometimes the best thing for her to do is get away from the crowd.  She's got an extrovert for an older sister and is one of five children born within six years.  If you need a playmate, one is always available :) Hey, even if you don't need a playmate, one is available :) 

In our house it takes initiative to leave the crowds behind.  When she's struggling with sibling relationships I often say "Lydia, you need peace in your own heart to be a peacemaker.  How and where are you going to find some peace?" 

[We put a lot of emphasis on peace making around here.]

Often the answer is that Lydia needs a top bunk :)  She is happy as a lark squirreled away up above the crowd.

Just as much as Lydia loves (and needs) the top, Julianna loves bottom.  No risk that she'll miss any of the action, on the contrary, she can instigate action, right from the comfort of her very own bed. 

She's not noisy or boisterous or the center of a crowd.  But she wants to be with people, all the time.  All.  The.  Time.  I see God's hand in her personality, her gifts, placing her at the top of this little child-train. 

Matt built our bunks in a "L" shape, so that while Julianna is under she is not closed in .... the foot end of her bed is tucked under Lydia's, from her pillow she looks straight up at the ceiling.  The ladder to Lydia's bed creates a little open space (about a meter square) beside Julianna's bed ... if you hang enough blankets and towels from the top bunk it becomes a perfect little house! 

We hung a hammock under the top bunk, it crosses Julianna's bed.  Life has never been so good for my oldest :)  Her view from the hammock is straight down the hallway into the main living area.  She can watch all the comings and goings and be right in the thick of the action, all from her cozy spot :)  

time to get serious

The children and I leave for America in two months.  We'll be at my parents for five weeks and then Matt joins us and then we all move to ND for the spring.

It's a big deal to relocate ....the details and decisions are enough to spin minds for days.  We've talked dreams and hopes for a while but last night finally got some details down on paper.  

It was quite the production :)  And one bowl of popcorn didn't last long.... 

Emotions are so mixed as we prepare; I'm eager to be there, yet not eager to leave here.  It seems everything is falling into place fairly easily and I'm hopeful that our last months here will not be consumed with plans and preparations for getting there.  Of course there will be packing to do, and we are waiting for a few last major details (housing and transportation)! 

Honestly, our days here are plenty full and leave me little time to stew on future details - a blessing, I think.  I'm hoping to get up a big post about our first three weeks on the local school journey soon.  It's incredibly demanding.  School, I mean.  For me as much as for the girls.  They are scooting right along, memorizing more characters a day than any college program would require of a Chinese major; they seem to both do well in the highly structured academically demanding environment, and they seem to understand their inherent disadvantage (not first-language Chinese speakers) and still tackle it all head on.  I'm in major cultural adjustment myself as I interact daily with the teachers - not easy, at least for me. 

Julianna's been playing around with a lot of idioms and throwing them into conversation.  One of her current favorites is "It's no picnic". And that's local school for me.  No picnic.  But still full of blessing, so much blessing.  Hopefully I'll post some more pictures and stories soon. 

And it won't be long before the pictures are blue American skies and we're adjusting to life on the other side of the Pacific.  Wow. 

full moon tonight?

Mid-Autumn Festival time again.  As the years pile up these holidays feel more and more normal and celebration-worthy.  Our family has history with these holidays now, and they feel a little more 'ours'.

This year we invited friends over for dinner and fun.  And we had it - dinner and fun :)  Our new apartment makes it easy to host bigger groups like this without feeling crowd-y.

The littlest peanut was Xiao Mai herself, precious little newly-adopted girl who earned a big spot in my heart the day her family brought her home. 

We stayed up late playing games - oh how our girls dread bedtime on nights like this, especially social-bug Julianna who cannot bear to leave a party.  No matter how late we let her stay up it's never late enough :)  But she did finally fall asleep while our laughter got louder and the hostess got sleepier!

Tomorrow is more of the same - we're headed to a friend's house on the other side of town.  It's a three day holiday (Thursday through Saturday) and then back to work/school on Sunday.

Weird, but true.  We "make up" one of the days off by working on a Sunday. A six day work (school) week kind of negates the fun of the holiday but this is definitely an "if you can't beat 'em join 'em" kind of situation for us these days.

Even if the girls did get triple-homework loads because of the three day holiday! 

who?

This little guy's attire raises more questions than it answers.

Exhibit A: Wearing big brother's hat.  Handsome,  yes....  But the wrong name :)

And then his tshirt collection.  Is he a little brother?

or a big brother?

Well, he's both, of course :)  And terribly silly too.  {and he gets that from Isaac!}

These days leave me less time than ever for much more than the basics - life feels very full.  But full of such good things. 

Like bedtime :)  For me!!!!

prepared

While stroller-riding isn't normally considered a helmet-recommended activity, Luke does have a point. 

Life as #5 means that every now and then things tend to get a little wild and wooly with the stroller-pushing. 

I'm not telling how many times I've hollered "please slooooowwww down with the stroller" as the push-er and the stroller went careening around a corner!  Luke (no surprise!) enjoys the thrill of the ride. 

Momma's not so sure it's for the best. 

Today I was behind the stroller handles.  The helmet was a "keeping up with the big brothers" move - Matt took the boys on a bike ride (Isaac on his own bike, John Paul on the seat behind Matt) while I walked with Luke, the girls, and a spend-the-night friend to go pick up a few groceries. 

When Luke saw the helmets come out he was determined to be included in the fun, even if he wasn't getting on a bike :) 

picnic at the park

Days like this one call for a picnic.... blue skies, warm (not HOT!) temps, and a Daddy who was able to scoot away from work a little early! 

I filled a tupperware with pb and j sandwiches, gathered some outdoor balls and loaded the 5 in the van.  We drove to one of our favorite parks (which is ridiculously close to our new apartment!) and Matt arrived (on bike) not long after we unloaded. 

This gorgeous little lake is buried between apartment high rises, office buildings and shopping malls.  We park in the shadow of a multi-level freeway and head straight for the grass. 

Hello clear blue skies - these are a bit of a rarity around here!

So grateful for this picnic, this evening together,  this sweet little spot in our city. 

Isaac's school

This is our third preschool ... and they just keep getting better.

Our first school will always have a special place in my heart.  I sometimes still can't believe I ever let her [Julianna] go.  But oh the GIFT it was to our family, and to Julianna especially.  If anything, at this point, she's quickly becoming the one in our family who bridges these two cultures most easily.  Maybe God will use it in her future, maybe He won't.  But already, today, it's a gift.

last day of school for Julianna, June 2010

And then our second school.  The one that held three of my kiddos at one time!  I loved walking up to that school and listening for their voices in the middle of the happy chaos inside those gates. 

And now, this one.  {hopefully our LAST preschool because I never want to think about moving again!}

It is amazing.  So so thankful. 

This is our walk to school.... that's our complex behind the fence.  School is ahead on the left, right at the bend in the road.  I have more pics and plan to write more.  But not tonight.  Week two of school and it's still kicking my tail :)  Trying to figure out the girls' schedule (it's more complicated than you might think) and ... well, I've got a lot of plates spinning these days. 

One last thing - our friends who adopted Xiao Mai two weeks ago?  They are doing great and so is their new baby daughter!  Please keep praying for them, and the birth mom too.  Our friends have some pretty significant (and very unexpected) expenses from the adoption.  If you're interested in hearing more, let me know and I'll put you in touch with them  :)

to be a little brother

Do you see them?  Isaac almost to the top and John Paul (barely visible) trying his best to keep up.

I've always thought it special that although Isaac landed the coveted (ha!) middle spot in the family he does get the distinction of "oldest boy".  Sure, he lands right smack dab in the middle of the pack, but his big brother status elevates his standing and he loves it :) 

John Paul and Luke move at one basic speed: keep-up-with-the-big-kids fast.  If Isaac gets to do it, then they are right there waiting for their turn.  John Paul insists on wearing his backpack when we drop Isaac at school.  Isaac wears backpack = John Paul wears backpack, regardless of whether or not John Paul is actually going to school! 

I love watching them together.  Each so different, such unique personalities, but also inextricably bound to one another in brotherhood and spending their days rubbing shoulders with one another. 

Three years top to bottom, these three boys of mine.  The days just keep getting more fun. 

[And we fly through food faster than ever!  Luke is our newest bottomless pit and we. eat. so. much. food.  What will we do when they are in high school?!?]

Heading towards Friday of this first week of school.  I'm still figuring out how all the pieces of the day fit together and not juggling it well much of the time.  Oh well.  We are wearing clean clothes and the dinner table is wiped clean.  For today, that'll have to be close enough. 

first day pictures

We made it.  The first day is behind us :)

All in all, it went really well.  The hours ticked by slowly and I was glad to be on my way to school pick up when lunchtime rolled around! 

Isaac sailed through - shy and soft spoken (his normal when he's in a new place with new people) but content and happy to be there.  His head teacher is as sweet as she can be, and seems so glad to have Isaac in her class.  

This guy loves making goofy faces for the camera.  And his little brothers.  And his big sisters. 

The girls - stellar.  So courageous.  1st grade here is not full of warm fuzzies and rosy cheeked teachers who hug you tight when Daddy walks away.  It's down to business, we're here to learn, follow directions and keep in line (literal and figurative lines).

yes! jackets!  constant rain and dramatically falling temps these last few days!

A bit of teary-ness from Lydia at drop off and pick up but she held her own.  Julianna cruised.  Mostly she's disappointed that the first graders don't eat in the cafeteria but instead pick up their food from carts and carry it back to their classroom.

A few more pics before I call it quits.  It's bedtime. 

I think Julianna might love learning to write Chinese characters.  The beauty and the art will certainly appeal to her, the endless repetition might be less palatable :) 

no front teeth for the first day of first grade :)

Day two, here we come!

first day jitters

Tomorrow is the first day of school for the entire country.  And my three bigs.

I'm not ready.

I really love local school.  I love the way local school aligns us with our community.  I love the way local school immerses our family in the culture.  I love the way local school calls me to enter into relationships with people that are (honestly) easier to ignore.  I love the way local school provides critical insight into language and culture and relationships that I would totally miss otherwise.   

But it comes at a price.  And on the night before the first day of school the price seems high.  Even with the bickering and constant chatter and perpetually messy house and ... even with all that, I LOVE having them at home.

{This is hardly because I am some sort of super momma who sails through parenting turmoil with a smile on my face and brownies in the oven.  oh no.  I think mostly it's just my personality, and their personalities, and a smattering of other reasons that I'm too tired to think of right this minute.  Some of the reasons aren't so great - like I love control (issues, yes!) and keeping them at home keeps me "in control" or at least the illusion of being in control is easier to maintain.}

So tonight there is a part of me that wants them to unpack their backpacks and stay in their pajamas tomorrow morning. 

The girls sailed through Saturday at the local elementary school.  It was essentially meet-the-teacher and new-student-orientation and parent-conferences and supply-purchases all rolled into one action packed day. 

Their school is 1st through 9th grade.  There are six classes of first graders.  Julianna's class has 42 students, Lydia's has 41.   So 240ish first graders!!!  It's a big school :) 

Isaac is ready to rock too.  Mostly bummed he didn't get the school supplies the girls did - it's tough to be the little guy sometimes.  Tomorrow is a new school for him too - half a block from our complex! I can see his building from the girls' bedroom window!  The girls are a three block walk.  I never imagined our kids could attend two separate schools and still be within a super short walk of home.

Me and the two little boys will be twiddling our thumbs waiting for lunch time when we pick them up.  

thanks for praying for all of them.  My girls are so brave! Can you imagine heading off to your first day of 1st grade with the added challenge of navigating it all in your second language and culture?  (don't believe for a minute that the language is the only difference here... schools are schools, but the cultural leap is still significant.) Oh, and they are the first non-Asians to ever attend the school. 

Anyways, thanks for praying.  And I'll definitely hope to update tomorrow night with some pics and *hopefully* good reports from the kiddos.