Chinese New Year 2009

The family that plays together.....

Luke strikes a pose

Logan and Lily cut up in the craft room

Lily and Jada ribbon dance


The past weekend was packed full of activities related to the Chinese New Year. On Saturday we attended the annual International Adoption Families party. Another mother and I created the table center pieces. She made beautiful lanterns out of paper complete with flickering tealights inside and I made firecrackers out of PVC pipe we had lying around. The kids had a great time. They started out in crafts then had some lunch (Springfield's version of Chinese food, not the authentic kind) and then the music began. John was in charge of lining up the entertainment and since many of his students studied the Fall semester under two Chinese music professors their skills were very good. The kids got to all join in with percussion instruments. Lily was thrilled to perform the ribbon dance with Hing Wah and Hing Wah was impressed that Lily could keep those long long ribbons up off the floor (since she is just shy of 40") The kids all joined in with kid sized ribbons and then crowded inside the belly of the dragon as he swerved and curved around the room. This was Luke's first year to attend and he loved every minute. I think our two kids were some of the very last to leave and then we had to drag them away.


On Sunday the Discovery Center hosted Chinese New Year entertainment and once again, John was in charge of the music. He had students posted around the facility playing and then he and the kids took up one post. Luke and Lily were much more interested in just playing on the exhibits at the center than to "park and bark" as musicians call it. John did get Lily to perform a solo singing one of the Chinese children's songs she knows. There was a great performance of the Lion dance.

There will be one more chance to wear our fancy Chinese clothes next weekend when the University Chinese community hosts a feast. They have invited us to attend as their guests and I'm sure Luke and Lily will perform if called upon. Lily is as comfortable with a microphone as she is with lip gloss.

Happy New Year 2009

Luke makes a New Year mask


Pretty Butterfly


Spiderman!

We put on many layers of clothes last night and headed downtown to First Night. The layers were due to the cold temperatures that have returned to our area. Many businesses participated in the event and once you purchased tickets all the venues were free. We spent most of our time at the YMCA standing in a long line for face painting. There was one painter and many many faces! The kids were determined so we stuck it out and the results were great. They had inflatables there as well that the kids enjoyed. We then went over to the Lander's theater to see the YES troop perform. The YES troop is a group of very talented high school kids who have spent many years perfecting their stage performances. Luke and Lily were both tired at the beginning of the show (9:30pm) but woke up when the dancing started and stayed awake until it was over an hour later. We headed home and didn't stay for the midnight fireworks. They are too young and John and I are too old. Happy New Year to everyone.

Christmas Travels

With only two days between trips it was a challenge to get the laundry done, go to work for two days and head out again, this time for North Carolina. We decided to drive all night on Tuesday. John was ready with plenty of Starbucks coffee to keep him awake on the journey. We had a rough ride the first couple of hours with ice and then heavy rain but the last half was pretty good. I can say that because I did not do any of the driving. I was able to actually read a novel with my little book light and finished it by dawn. Of course there were a few naps thrown in along the way.
Lily left earlier in the day with Aunt Kim and Michelle so we just had Luke and Logan. By 10pm after watching two movies they both drifted off for the rest of the ride. John was understandably tired by the end of the trip and had to catch up on a little sleep on Wednesday.
We spent Christmas eve at Mill Ridge with Grandma Prescott and her caretaker, Delta. The kids hung their stockings on the fireplace. The next morning we were back over at 7 so the kids could check out what Santa had delivered during the night. Their stockings held all kinds of treasures and Lily got a Barbie bride and Luke a drum set. After a traditional breakfast of ham biscuits it was time to open the family gifts. Luke was so excited to get a fireman costume and firetruck from Grandma while Lily got two High School musical dolls and a cheer leading costume.
By noon we were ready to make the two hour trip up to Aunt Valia and Uncle Rudy's house in Winston-Salem. Their two kids were there, Rick and Kay along with their families. We had a nice dinner and played our gift exchange game. The weather was unseasonably warm so the kids were able to play and run off some energy outside.
Back at Mill Ridge in the mountains the kids went tubing with Daddy, Aunt Kim and Michelle. I stayed back at the house to relax and begin the packing up process.
We had a nice meal out with Grandma and then it was time to say good-bye as we headed back home early on Saturday. The kids really enjoyed their Christmas time.

Christmas Joy

Aunt Valia's house in Winston-Salem North Carolina



Family gift exchange


Luke, Lily and cousin Christy


A bath not just for birds


A ride on cousin Ryan


Luke and Daddy tubing in the mountains


Logan and Lily tubing


Lily displays her gift from Santa


Luke plays with his drum set from Santa


Lily shows off her stocking at Mill Ridge

Christmas Time activities

It's been a very busy week with lots of Christmas activities thrown in. We enjoyed our annual Christmas party at Jessica's house with the families of international adoption. Luke was the first to sit on Santa's lap with a list of wishes, mostly centered around "Spiderman."
On Wednesday we left for Chicago. We stayed at the Fairmont hotel which is only a 5 minute drive to Navy Pier, a wonderland for kids to play in. While John attended his music conference I took the kids over to Navy Pier. We played most of the day in the special winter wonderland area. The kids went on rides and jumped on inflatables until they could move no more. John joined us in the afternoon to help me get the kids back to the hotel. Later that evening we took the kids to the Rainforest Cafe, a real experience in jungle life for the kids. Chicago was in the middle of a snow storm so there were few diners out and Lily had the best time with our waiter Chip. By the time all as done Chip had convinced them that the animals were all real and he was the one who built the place and collected the animals. Lily is still talking about him.
The next day we woke to snow! We took our time getting ready to check out while the street crews of Chicago worked their magic making the snow disappear off the streets. We were able to meet our friends the Morales out on Navy Pier to take in the Children's museum. We traveled with the Morales on our trip to China in March. They were picking up their new son, Tonito while we were picking up Luke. Lily and their daughter Vivi became fast friends in China so it was great to all get together again for a visit. The kids loved the museum especially skating in their socks. We all ate lunch at the McDonalds and then had to part company as we traveled on to Wisconsin.
The roads were clear but the snow kept getting deeper as we headed North to visit our friends the Binzels. They live on acreage and the road and driveway go back about 1/2 miles from the road, but no fear, it was plowed and ready for our arrival. Lily and their daughter, Leah are from Fuling and we traveled together in 2005 to pick up our daughters. The kids started in playing right away and Luke felt a little like the odd man out (being the only boy in a princess world) but soon they were all playing together. Susan made some wonderful pizza with homemade bread dough crust and we quickly ate two pizzas (and drank a bit of wine) It was so cozy with the deep snow outside and all of us warm inside. All too soon it ended as we had to leave the next morning for home.
The weather was kind to us as we made our way back to Missouri. The snow disappeared but the cold weather followed us.
We are home for two days before packing up and heading out to North Carolina to spend Christmas with John's family. Thank goodness for DVD players in the car and mini vans, it makes the long trips bearable.



Luke discusses Christmas with Santa

Ring those bells (with the church choir)

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Happy Siblings


Choo choo express

Luke and Lily pose

Sock skating

Lily and Vivi

three pretty butterflies

Antonio, Maya and Becky

New Pictures!

Holiday with attitude

Star poses

Pierced ear

Silver dollar city fun

Just monkeying around at the Wichita zoo

Visiting friend Maddie in St. Louis

Gymnastic beauties

Living statue

Another month has just seemed to zip by, Halloween was only yesterday wasn't it? In November Lily participated in her first gymnastics meet. Levels 1-3 compete on the uneven bars,the balance beam, do a running spring board jump and a floor routine. This is the beginner level and they vary in age from 4 (I think Lily was probably the youngest) up to around 8. Lily performed every event and I was very proud of her. She got a ribbon for each event. She told me after the event that she wanted to be a really good gymnast when she grew up. I told her it would take a lot of dedication and practise on her part but if it what she enjoys that it fine with me.

This month we had both kids tested for possible kidney stones due to the melamine issue in milk in China. Some doctors are just doing a urine test but our pediatrician recommended an ultrasound with blood work and urinalysis. The tests all came back fine. I was more worried about Luke since he spent so much more time in China and it appears this has been going on for several years.
We also had Luke's hair tested. They cut a bit of hair and have it analysed for minerals and heavy metals. I just got the results this week and it is very interesting reading. Of course they are recommending some daily supplements to help get his ratios balanced out. They also recommended cutting all sugar out of his diet. Ok, that would be a difficult one because I'm not in favor of giving artificial sweeteners to kids. We try to serve healthy food, but come on, all sugar? It's in just about everything. They also said no fruit or fruit juices. As far as I can tell that leave meat and brussel sprouts.

Last week Lily woke up and announced that she was ready to get her ears pierced. I had told her that I would take her when she was ready but that was going to be up to her. We had not discussed it in a long time but all of a sudden she was ready. We went to the mall and there was a teenage girl getting her ears pierced so Lily had the chance to watch the whole operation and ask about a gillion questions. She picked out her own earrings and got up in the chair. They pierced both ears at the same time and she just sat there, never made any expression and said it didn't hurt a bit. She had a crowd of children and adults watching and I think they were all waiting for her to cry but she disappointed them. One ear did hurt for the next few days when I cleaned it but that has cleared up now and she is doing fine with it. I'll try to get a picture to post of those sparkling ears.

We spent Thanksgiving at home. We had two Chinese professors over for dinner as well as a translator. I cooked a huge bird (22#) and now we have enough leftover for several meals. I brined the turkey for a day before cooking it and it really turned out well. I figured it is a health thing for the kids so I can always freeze some of it for later use when we can't face another meal with turkey.
We are going down to my parents this weekend. My sister Sue and her son Chris and his wife will be there also. We are staying at a nearby hotel with an indoor pool so Luke and Lily can show Grandma and Grandpa how well they can swim. My parent's health continues to decline and my Dad is now on O2 24 hours a day. Mom's Alzheimer's continues to progress and it is difficult for Dad to take care of her. Dad is very stubborn and refuses to leave their house until it is absolutely necessary but that time is coming and with all of us scattered around the country (ok, just MO, KS, and Wis) they don't know where to go. They will probably settle on Wichita because they do not want to go where it is cold and with the kids and my work I'm too busy to be of much help. It's just hard to see them in this situation. Our kids will not get to experience the joys of hanging out with their grandparents. That is what happens when you are in your mid-40s and decide to adopt young ones!