Living the Dream

Recent conversation about "What do you want to be when you grow up?" produced these results: Sam "A Dad with a job!" "A Dad who builds buildings." Grace- "An artist." Eden- "An OB Gyn, or a vet who specializes in the birth of animals." Nate- "A job like an archeologist, where I can spend my time researching artificats." I love how these answers change all the time and how different they all are. What interesting lives they all will have :)

Franksgiving 2011

Finally back on the blog after my nephew Strider commented that "i never post"-which, unfortunately, is true.
As I realize that I am wanting to remember some extended family times, I thought I would post a little on Franksgiving.
Our time together in Hickory Cove, NC  had an extra layer of joy for me. Our kids have been very sad about losing Pop Pop and Gi Gi's place in Ohio, and were afraid that they would not get together with their cousins. Franksgiving reminded us all that the family would still be together. At the end of our time, my mother stated that we "made her dreams come true."  Awwww. We loved hearing that !  We also loved canoeing, eating, game playing, sharing, laughing, hearing about all the college kids' lives, and watching amazing sunsets over the lake.  We are thankful for this great big loud family that we are a part of.


The cousins-all 13 of them!

Weekend with Nate

Having a big family, I have learned the value-the great value-of life with one child.  Just for a little bit.

This weekend, Tom took the other 3 kids to hang out with his parents and leave the girls for a little Pop Pop and Grammy camp.  So, I got to have some days with Nate.  Wonderful days.  Love that kid.  And feeling that tug of him getting older.  More interested in friends.  Knowing it won't be long before he is touring college campuses.  Trying not to think about that too much...Or I will just cry like a baby and embarrass him!

Some of the neat things were able to do without the rest of the family. (no pictures-computer still has a virus)

1).  Going to the Pirates Game on standing room only seats.  something we would NEVER try with the whole family.  we are not that crazy.  But we did it with our friends-and we talked an usher into letting us sit in his section.  the section where the gamewinnig homerun was hit.  and two smiling boys (nate and robert) were on tv!  not just the jumbotron-but actual tv.  during the homerun, the stadium erupted, fireworks were set off and it was LOUD.  and nate just smiled.  maybe because his sisters were not there to complain about the loud noises?  he really got to enjoy the game!

2).  watching Nate's all star team  play and lose in a very close game. actually get to talk to other parents and sit the whole time in a chair!.  really fun to just watch Nate enjoy-even when they lost.  very sweet to see him win the MVP-a few nights before as well. he is playing the best I have ever seen him play.   he told me in our car ride how much Joy baseball is giving him right now.  even with his team losing their games.  so mission accomplished-loving sports for the sake of playing.  relaxing a bit under pressure.  never thought i would say that about him.

3)  going through a thrift store just with nate-no little ones.

4).  hanging out and playing Settlers of Catan and Clue with our friends the Cunninghams.  enjoying the whole night of pizza and games and not worrying where anyone else is.

5). waking up this AM and reading in bed with my coffee!! I acutally went to church in a peaceful mood.  hmmmm.  maybe i should do some things differently when they are all home?

of course being with Nate, I also got to know some parts of him that I forget about-like how he likes to be 15 minutes early to anything-and how frustrated he gets with me when I don't comply, and how he rolls his eyes (at times) or has a little bit of that attitude that 12 year olds can get.  with just him here-there is the freedom to address these things directly.  and that is a beautiful thing.

so tonight, when are house is less peaceful, I will try to welcome Dad and Sam back with open arms.  But I won't forget this weekend with my biggest kid. 

Summer Sweetness

Regrettably, I have not posted to this blog in a looooong time.  Between this post and the last, we have gone through the entire spring sports season, ran a half marathon, hosted 3 birthday parties, taken a trip to maine, a soccer tournament, gone camping at Laurel Hill state park, and enjoyed reunions with several sets of friends.  Because of a virus on the computer, we have posted pictures to talk about any of these fun times.

However, I do not want to forget this summer, so I just gotta write. 

I want to capture what it is like to have a summer with a now 12, 10, 6 and 5 year old.  4 kids who still want to be with me.  4 kids who mostly like the things that I suggest that we do.  4 kids who are not ready to grow up and to be cool.  It is mostly sweet.

Things I want to remember

1).  Eden's crazy fashion show for her 10th birthday and her unassuming and fun way with her friends.  Her lack of desire to be cool, or catty, or cliquey. 

2).  Nate and Eden's never-ending quest for the big crayfish in pop pop's creek. The bittersweet time they had there together-believing it would be their last.

3). Nate waiting on the dock at Laurel Hill state park for Eden to "put his worm on his fish for him"

4).  tea parties hosted by Grace and Eden for the neighbors using my old prom gowns-GASP!

5).  Sam playing the vezuuela sp? at Nate's soccer tournament.

6). Eden's progress at swimming lessons-and how she didn't believe she could do it-but she really did it!

7).  sweetness with Eden in Maine.  watching her in the tidepools there.  watching her with her family there.

8).  riding bikes with Nate from our home through frick park to squirrel hill.  nate waiting for me on top of the Falls Ravine trail-nate being stronger than me on the trail. flying down shady ave with nate.

9) having the director of the Shadyside VBS tell me that Eden is a "treasure" and that she was so helpful to them.

10).  Reading Little House in the Big Woods every night with Grace and having her ask "just read a little more-pleeease?"

there will be many more memories, I know this summer.  and there will be fights and whiny behaviors and grumpy attitudes (plenty of that-no worries).  but I don't want to forget a summer when everyone wants to still play hide and seek. and listen to stories.  and have dance parties. and talk in their version of British or Indian accents. it just doesn't get old to hear "Excuse me, I need to use the loo."  :)   I don't want to forget they way they all ran up the street together. at the same time. to their friends houses up the street. 

I can't make this time last forever.  But I can remember it and smile when I think about the sweetness that was.

Our first time at the place "where dreams come true."

We heard of this slogan of Disney World and thought it was all a bunch of bunk.  That was until we took our kids ages 11, 9, 6, and 4 there and saw it through their eyes. 

It is no longer bunk to us.

We truly had a magical time-despite the crowds.  We followed our "touring plan" and were the family of fast passes.  We loved meeting the characters and being called "princess"- (even the 40 year old mom.).

Our favorites (for posterity)

Tom-

Watching the kids on Kali River Rapids

Watching the kids be excited about the characters

Big Thunder Moutain Railroad

Nate-

Big Thunder Mountin Railroad

Kali River Rapids

Its Tough to be a Bug

The Lion King Show

Buzz Lightyear Ride with Sam

 

Grace-

Meeting the princesses

Its Tough to be  Bug

Finding Nemo show

Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor

Sam-Buzz Light Year ride

Pirates of the Caribeean

Meeting Mickey Mouse

Eden-

Buzz Light Year Ride

Big Thunder Mountain

Finding Nemo Show

Lion King Show

Mom-All of the above-and

Mickey's Philharmagic

Peter Pan's Flight

Its a Small World with my mom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Speech

Grace has spent two years at the Pittsburgh Montessori school.  One of the criteria for kindergartners is to do a "how-to" speech.  Grace chose "How Antibiotics Fight Bacteria".  This was in the same class where kids were doing "How to tie your shoe"  and "How to make a PB and J". 

What we enjoyed about Grace is that we weren't sure she completely understood her topic, but she sure enjoyed talking about it.  We have always said that girl could sell a bikini to an eskimo. :) Seriously, she did do a nice job and I enjoyed watching our confident talker in front of her peers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Production 2011. The Caribbean.

Eden was our only child in the PUCS Spring production this year.  She surprised us by being confident and taking her acting part quite seriously. We really enjoyed watching her and the whole PUCS cast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Bedtime Conversation

Tonight I was reading a book called "We See the Moon"  with Grace. 

The text goes like this:  "I was born in a faraway land, of parents with faces in the shadows.

Where are you now? 

I may never know you but I wonder who you are, and what you look like. 

Do you wonder too?

The full moon glows heavy in the night sky.  A beacon of beauty and truth.

Why did you leave me?  

Its soft light filters thorugh rustling leaves, making shadow that play on the grass.

Do you remember me?  

I think of you when the moon is round and golden.  During a quiet time, a peaceful time.   

Do you think of me?

I know you are always with me.  All I need is to look at the moon in the night sky and think of you. 

Are you looking now?

I miss you and wish you could know that I am happy here.  My journey has brought me home.

To a place I never would have imagined.  Filled with warmth and love.  I love others now, And I will always love you."

We have read this book many times before.  But it really hit Grace tonight.  Before we even got into into the text, Grace said, "I wonder why my birthparents didn't want me."  That was so sad as I did not have the answers for her. 

As we finished the book, we wondered together about them maybe being poor, maybe having other children, maybe feeling like they had no other choice.  We discussed her finding spot together--and how that gave us a clue of their care for her. 

I was not prepared for the emotion that came next out of my 6 year old girl. 

Her words,  "I am just sad, Mom."  With tears welling up in her eyes-"Why didn't they want me?"  "I wish I could live with them and with you, too. I am so sad, Mom."  After a long pause....."I love you." 

We hugged and cried for a while.  She then said, "Well, at least I have one set of parents who love me."  We talked further about how I felt that her birthparents loved her-in the way that they could.

She asked me to pray for her birthparents, that they would have enough money to keep any other children that they would have.

I have an amazing daughter.

Answers to Prayer

Our Boys Bible study is still thriving.  With boys gathering for breakfast, challenging one another, developping friendships. 

and aftere 4 years of waiting and praying, Beatrix Nan Yu has joined the children of P-street.  She is an awesome bundle of energy.  We are so excited to know her!

Trying New Things

Both Nate and Eden are starting to participate in "gospel mime" at our church.  Now, this is not a stretch at all for Eden, who loves creativity and performing.  However, I was shocked, completely when Nate said that he wanted to do it.  He has rarely initiated anything that was not sports-related in his 11 years.  I think that he is finding that mime as a form of worship can be meanigful to him and that getting connected to some of the older kids and adults at church through this form of worship can be a good thing, too. 

We really enjoyed seeing him and Eden perform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace's new thing has been ballet.  She had to work hard at it and wasn't sure if she liked it.  However, we really enjoyed seeing her "mini-recital"  where the instructor would ask them to perform all the french phrases she had taught them, including all the positions! Although this was a very cheap, beginner dance class, it seemed so elaborate in learning from what I remember ( in my limited dancing experience).

It was fun to see her enthusiastically answer the instructor's questions-"What is pas de deux?"  etc... And to even see her demonstrate. Good job Xia Xia!