at the pool

This is certainly shaping up to be the summer of the swimming pool.  We spend a lot of time in the water!  

Last week Matt was able to join us and I was eager for him to take Isaac into the deep water without his wings on... I knew he was ready to swim, but I'm not really set up to work with him on his skills while keeping an eye on the little two so I just hadn't gotten him really swimming. 

It didn't take long before he was jumping in and 'swimming' over to Matt, then back to the ladder for another jump.  A few more pool trips and yesterday he was really something!  Doing so well!  The big jump in skill came when he switched to using a mask and now doesn't need to worry about blowing out through his nose.  

He just needs to work on his treading water skills because there isn't always a nearby wall or person to grab on to when swimming!  

For years we didn't really live in a place where we spent consistent time in the water.  Now that we do our kids are becoming fish - and fast!  Julianna is working on freestyle and figured out she loves to swim with fins.

I once had 5 non-swimmers!  Now I'm [practically] down to 2!!!  And I really think John Paul could figure it out also - he is coordinated, brave, and strong.   We'll see... we probably have another month of pool-like weather, but the schedule is going to pick up a lot, and fast.  We're already talking about our home school start date, and Chinese school will start soon after, and Matt's pace will pick up dramatically when the semester starts.

We have a nice trip to Malaysia planned for winter, so maybe John Paul will graduate up to being a real swimmer there!

Better enjoy our pool trips in the meantime :)

a birthday party

Guess who celebrated her first birthday?

Little Wheat!

Last August I watched as this precious baby joined her forever family.

And last night I celebrated with them as they rejoiced in her first birthday!

She is just as amazing as she can be.... about ready to take her first steps, drooling as she cuts more teeth, laughing hard when her Daddy tosses her in the air, speed-crawling after her big brother and scavenging his toys :)

Her mother was not the only one to tell me "I'm surprised she lets you hold her, she almost never lets a stranger hold her."

I grinned big.  I'm no stranger to this girl's story... and while I doubt there is any way she could remember me (I hadn't seen her since last fall) maybe deep down in her soul she knows that we share a significant bit of history!

You can read the post about her adoption here.

pure genius

My two year old at the science museum.

What can I say?  If he grows up to be a science brain I'll pull out this picture and say "I knew it all along, he couldn't get enough of those exhibits".

Here's his sister in front of the same exhibit.

I did invest in an annual pass to the city science museum (children are free) and we're excited to have a fun new place to visit.  There's plenty of hands on activities to engage the interests of just about anyone, and while I'm not sure we're learning any science, we are having a lot of fun.

one month

Today marks one month since landing.  I'm especially aware of the date because it also marks the day that our entry visas expire.

Complex situation that only three of us had entry visas, the other four had existing visas that expired in early July but that paperwork was in process ASAP after landing... Isaac too got to jump in the process with the other four, but John Paul and I sat it out, waiting for some of his previous paperwork to clear.  Here it gets more complicated.... John Paul's previous Chinese identity was still on the books - in his old province - making it difficult for us to get clearance for his new U.S. identity and process his paperwork.  Still with me?  So on Monday at 5pm I finally got word that John Paul's old identity was fully cancelled and we could start processing paperwork for his new identity.  Which was good news, since we only had about 36 hours before our visas expired.  And which was bad news because it sent John Paul and me downtown on our no drive day.  (Our city limits cars on the road with a system that assigns each vehicle a "no drive day" based on license plate number.)

We started out strong, leaving the other four kids with my neighbor and house helper, and quickly finding a taxi.  John Paul was pumped to be out on the town alone with Momma.  When all the "sit still and wait" caught up with him I pulled out the iPad.

Saved. The. Morning. (part 1)

Paperwork completed - well, at least the start of the paperwork is completed, now we wait again, but no risk of overrunning our visa - and we headed out to find a taxi home.  Ha.

An empty taxi is the proverbial needle in a haystack, especially downtown.  We waited and sweated and waited and sweated.  When an empty taxi did show up we were never quick enough to get inside - it gets a little cutthroat with everyone sweating and impatient and a foreign mama plus her 3 year old?  Well, we are no way savvy enough or aggressive enough to snag one for ourselves.

So I gave up.  And we headed for the subway station.

Saved. The. Day. (part 2)

As soon as I mentioned the subway John Paul perked up.  He walked - oh so much walking - motivated by the promise of "holding the ticket" and "riding the train".

The subway did not disappoint and we arrived at our stop - which is still a little over a half mile from our house.  I figured I'd pressed my luck with the almost-noontime-sweaty-3 year old-walking and we hired a three wheeled motorbike for the final leg of the journey.

Sat down at home for lunch and starting thinking about heading for the pool.  On the bus.  At this point it was starting to feel a bit like Public Transport Appreciation Day or something of the sort.  The kids were pumped about the bus/pool combo.  I pared down our pool bag to the bare essentials and loaded them in the kids' backpacks.  Sunscreen, floats, water bottles, pool toys.....

I put Luke on my back (in the Ergo) and we headed out.

Our new favorite pool is just two stops away on a convenient (air conditioned!) bus.  We haven't been bus riders for years.  I felt like it was just too many, too little (children, that is).  I didn't have enough kids who were big enough to navigate the steps on/off the bus.  I had too many who couldn't walk a block or two to the stop, etc.  Yesterday was a big jump for us!  I can do a bus with the 5!  Luke even did the whole trip home on his own two feet - not getting in the backpack even once!

Yep, it was a hot one!  But the pool cooled us all off so nicely.

And we'll do the bus again.  But probably only on a no drive day.  It was still a LOT of work!

just the girls

Sometimes you need a girl date.

Actually, my girls would argue that they almost always need a girl date!  They LOVE it!

I do too.  So fun to get some time away with just them.  It feels very grown up to be "out on the town" with an 8 year old and almost 7 year old.  Our maturity level jumps significantly when we leave the little boys behind :)

We headed over the bridge and down the greenway to a favorite local drink stand.

We talked about all sorts of things, some significant, others not so much.  And just had a good girl-y time.

tetris (the refrigerator version)

Remember that game?  Tetris?  Where you twist and then place different shaped pieces to try to fill up your empty space with as few gaps as possible?

Until earlier this week I played Tetris with remarkable regularity.  Only I played the refrigerator version.  Our fridge was small, but if I played my pieces right, I could fit just about everything.

And then sometimes I couldn't fit everything, and other times I got tired of playing Tetris with my refrigerator.

Then I resorted to whining and complaining.

[I only wish I was joking.  My children and I are all working hard to break the whining/complaining habit.]

Anyways, I finally played my last game of refrigerator Tetris.  Thanks to a scratch and dent appliance dealer we went for a MAJOR size upgrade.

From this

to this.

Funny thing is this is the second time I've blogged about a refrigerator upgrade :)  In June 2008 we jumped sizes.  And now, 6 years (and three additional children) later, we jumped again.  I think this is our last fridge for a good long while!

You can read the other fridge post here.  Check out tiny Julianna (age 2 1/2) and Lydia (just about to walk).  I think it goes without saying that our daily food consumption increased significantly during the years we used that old fridge!

lunch yesterday

Yesterday friends came over to join us on the neighborhood playground.  I think the basic rule of thumb here is this: if you're gonna be dripping with sweat watching your kids play hard outside, might as well sweat with friends :)

It's been quite hot and (I'll blame the humidity for this one) we all have rivers of sweat running down our backs pretty much anytime we step outside :)  And to think our suitcases were full of layers and layers of cozy winter clothing!  I'm so grateful for seasons!

Lunchtime rolled around and we rolled down the sidewalk, a troop of kiddos (12) on scooters and three moms trying to herd the crowd.

We stopped for bowls of noodles - with a side serving of fried rice -  and filled up the many empty tummies.

then it was back home again!  Grateful for cooks who sweat over huge pots of boiling noodles so I don't have to make lunch!  {double bonus that they wiped the tables and washed the dishes too.... my kind of lunch!}

my view

I spend a lot of my day looking at this.... this is the view from our dining/kitchen area through our living room to the school porch at the far end.

I call this "relatively picked up".  It gets tidier, but also a LOT messier.  My kids cannot leave those seat cushions on the couches and I'm about to forfeit the battle :)  he he.  [Not really, I'll not forfeit this one.  But I am learning that the pull of the couch-fort is irresistible.  It's give and take around here.]

And this other frequent scene ... cooking with the littlest two.  At 9:15 this morning Luke climbed up onto a bar stool and told me he was ready "to help you cook supper".

Unfortunately, I was not yet ready to "cook supper".  We compromised and went to the pool instead.  But early afternoon rolled around and we were busy :)

Cooking with these guys can make a simple recipe quite complicated.

But worth it :)

gorgeous (our weather!)

Yesterday started out as a disappointing drizzle but by midday our skies were blue!!!  First time since our arrival almost three weeks ago!  I took a picture to document the occasion :)

We've struggled through lots of cloud cover and a fair bit of rain, so these blue skies were a big big treat.  Matt decided it was time to wash the family fleet.  The two-wheeled fleet, that is.

Apartment living doesn't lend itself to outdoor water taps.  There are outdoor faucets, but you need a special "key" to turn them on.  But my kids have (mostly) charmed the groundskeepers (the unofficial keepers of the water tap keys) so we sent Julianna out on her bike to scout around for a open faucet or friendly staff.  She came back victorious - one of the building ayis turned on a faucet for her/us.

I gathered a few buckets and rags and the kids got right to work.  Yes, Luke's hair is out of control.  I cut it last night (after this pic was taken).

He calls this little scooter thing his "bike".  Desperate to be like the big kids.

Isaac loves his bike, and has a new found scooter love too.  Just like his Daddy.... life on wheels is good for him :)

The bike washing session was partly a celebration - we are back in business with our electric scooter!  We arrived and discovered it needed a bit of work .... Matt picked it up from the shop yesterday.  Luke loves these scooters (calls them 'motorcycles') and I knew he'd be thrilled when he realized his Daddy had one!  I was not disappointed.

Yes, Daddy owns a "motorcycle".  Life just got a whole lot better!

It's sunny and blue again today... we are off to the pool!

biking campus

Our first date night back in Asia (best to jump right in to this commitment - we have a date night swap with our neighbors and watched their children 8 days after arrival... pay off came a week later when we headed out on our date!)

Friends once advised that we aim to go out on a date within a month of baby's birth (of course baby came with us, unless we kept it really short, but the principal stands: make time to get out and away from the particular demands of home).  I think the same principal applies to an international move: aim for a date night within the first month.  

We look hot and sweaty because we were hot and sweaty!  Hair in a ponytail and red marks on my forehead from the bike helmet.  I'm classy like that :)

We biked to a new restaurant and then rode all over a huge university campus, ended up at a riverside park, then back to a different restaurant for dessert, and finally home.  

I'm always pleasantly surprised how fast we can travel by bike.  Matt is practically as comfortable on two wheels as he is on his own two feet.  He can navigate just about anything!  I'm not nearly as savvy, but he is patient and it's a fun activity for us to enjoy together.  

Grateful for this date, and so many other blessings from our first weeks.  

bikes and ropes

Jump ropes did not make the packing cut and got left behind in America.  [We hardly ever used them there.]  But after just a few days here in Asia the kids were clamoring for replacements.  Easy to buy (just a few blocks from our house) and everyone is happy again.

The girls jumped home from our Saturday morning jump rope buying trip.  The elementary school gate is on their left, our complex is one block east and one block south of this picture.

While we ladies bought jump ropes Matt took the boys to the bike shop.  Seven months of sitting unused and our bikes needed more TLC than Matt could provide with his toolbox alone.  Matt loves riding and our three oldest each had Giant brand starter bikes... they have a shop near our home and offer free service.

We met back at the apartment and surprised Isaac with a new jump rope of his own.

The boys surprised us with our family's newest bike rider :)  John Paul inherited Julianna's old bike - Matt simply lowered the seat and re-installed the training wheels and he was set to go.  [Try to ignore the purple unicorns!  Today I took the kids shopping and we replaced the girly bike basket with a royal blue one.  And we're dreaming up ways to de-purple the frame.]  In the meantime, John Paul is a riding machine..... definitely a natural, just like his Daddy.

Julianna is temporarily borrowing a bigger bike from some friends who are out of the country.  She's clamoring for one of her own, but we're holding out for a birthday/Christmas gift opportunity.  Her borrowed bike has gears and she is really getting good!

No surprise that Luke is asking for a bike of his own.  Here he settled for a solid dose of kisses.  Both girls had friends spend the night, endless giggles and much fun.

Can't beat that for a Saturday.... for the girls, and the little brothers too.

a drive on the 4th

A very very very small segment of the population here is interested in celebrating the 4th of July.

Obviously.

But for those of us who do love a little red white and blue there's nothing like a pool party.  Unfortunately I didn't take a camera (or even a phone) into the splash park, but I did get a few pictures on the way there.  So basically you get photos of our Independence Day drive.

The splash park is actually fairly conveniently located.  It's all relative when you have umpteen million neighbors, right?  But driving has been near the top of my list of "hard things to re-adjust to"...... It's not so much the quantity of cars as it is the crazy-factor.  I just can't take all the craziness, the never know what to expect from who stuff going on out there.  It'll come, I know.

This time Matt took a half day off work and I was riding shotgun, with plenty of photo ops.  Here we are loaded up - our van seats three in the middle row, two in the back.  It's a fair bit smaller than our America van but we love this vehicle.  Oh the freedom it provides!

Our city is circled by numerous ring/loop roads with other major arteries lined up like hands on a clock.  Here we are headed into the city (we live right inside the third ring road).   Lots of buses and the pedestrian sky-bridges are everywhere.

Time to turn east.... this scene is very common - through traffic remains on the high road, turning traffic stays down on ground level.

Hello high-rises.  And that grey sky is a downer.  Ugh.  Another not-so-fun thing to get used to.

On the way home we hit big traffic.  Big big Friday rush hour traffic.  So we aborted our original dinner plans and stopped on the side of the road for some dumplings.  My kids had been begging for dumplings since last week and when we spotted a road-side restaurant we couldn't resist.

I scrambled out of the car, clarified with the cook that they did indeed have dumplings, invited our friends (in the car behind us) and then ran back to Matt hollering "find a place to park" all while the light was still red.

I'm pretty high-challenge, high-adventure.  One of the reasons life here is a good fit for me ;)

Traffic was still full on the post-dinner drive home, but I think our dinner stop helped us skip over the worst of it :)  And while Chinese dumplings are hardly your standard 4th of July fare, it sure worked for our family.  I've got bbq on the menu for tomorrow, so it'll all work out in the long run!

a few pics from a few days

Some pictures from the last few days... it's busybusybusy.  But we are settling in, that's for sure.

These littlest two are hilarious together.  It's becoming a pretty awesome friendship and such joy to watch.  There is also much cause for fighting/bickering/yelling/arguing/snatching.  Iron sharpening iron, that's what we've got right here :)

And plenty of peace too.  They love playing with the big sisters' old kitchen set ... here they are praying before a "meal".

Julianna got out her sewing machine and went right to work.  She made a pillow yesterday and then today worked hard on a little bag for a visiting friend.  We are starting to get good time with some local friends and it's joy to host these old friends in our home.

Isaac seems to be all-legos, all-day.  But he does enjoy the little brothers' duplo set too, and today made a group of farm animals.

And I'm loving the game playing.  Almost every afternoon with the big three, and sometimes John Paul joins too.  We play lots of different games, and solitaire is back in the running as one of the favorites.  They all spread out around me with their own deck of cards and I provide roving support/encouragement :)  It's one of my favorite parts of the day!

I made another big grocery run today and am starting to feel like "feed the family" is a do-able task.  I really do enjoy all the baking and love seeing my flour jar getting lots of use.  [I buy flour wholesale in a 50lb bag!]  The bar in our kitchen is the perfect place to cook with children and they pile onto the bar stools as soon as I get out the mixing bowl.

I'm still exhausted early in the evening (maybe a bit of jet-lag hangover plus the reality of my activity level during the day).  But it's a good exhausted, not a defeated exhausted.  And I'm eager to sleep hard and wake ready for the day tomorrow.