Living the Dream

March Celebrations

Although March can be a dreary month in SW Pennsylvania, we have had some exciting things to celebrate and to enjoy.

Of course the birthday of Daddy Tom, aka The Big Guy, Kip Kem Boi, Tommy B. We enjoyed a night with him (with our groupon of course) at the Penn Brewery. It was really fun night of German food, local beer, and dancing to live music of the band, "The Boulevard of the Allies"  We also were able to enjoy an extensive fireworks show-as the Penn Brewery overlooks downtown.

Tom and I loved that all of the kids are actually old enough to sit at a restaurant, and that we are mostly past the stage of "chase your kid around the food establishment and wonder why you really came and spent your hard-earned money." It was a really fun night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also enjoyed the birthday of our dear friend Marion-who, although small, is a spiritual giant. She was very sick last March, and  we were not able to celebrate her 70th birthday with her.  Being part of her team of folks helping her to recuperate-visiting in the hospital, taking her to Whole Foods when she was better was a priviledge for us and our kids.  We learned alot about how people who are very close to Christ act when they are very ill-and that was a good lesson indeed.

So, this past Saturday we heartily sang and ate with her with about 30 other friends-what a treat!

An interesting love

Eden, who would have 100 pets if we let her, and/or live on a farm,  discovered her crayfish, "rescued" from Pop Pop's creek, was not doing so well.

She promptly decided to feed it some hamburger.  When it wouldn't eat it right away, she picked it up and said, "Eat it for me, sweetie."

Oh the mangy, smelly, crustacean love.

He Loves Us

From Sam,

"Because I am not sick anymore, I can kiss you and Dad on the LIPS."

(we have been telling this very kissy boy that we only accept kisses on the cheek)

First time Skiing

It is great when your kid learns a new skill, and such a fun skill at that.  Eden and I have taken advantage of the free lift ticket program at our local, very, very small ski area-perfect for a kid to learn.  Eden was scared, but pushed herself to try the magic carpet and did the bunny hill.

The next time we went with some friends-who are pretty good skiiers.  Eden took a very lame lesson, where she learned nothing-and agreed to get on the chairlift with Nate and me.  This was signficant as the first time she did the chairlift, she fell soundly and hurt her leg.  She also was scared to death going down the run, so the fact that she did it again was a victory....and she fell the 2nd time, without crying, but she fell, and the guy did not stop the chairlift, and people kept coming off the chairs, but that's a whole 'nother story.... And the third time.....she and I recited, "french fry/pizza pie" and SHE DID IT,  the fourth time, I recited it with her-and she did it again.  The fifth time, she said, "Mom, you don't even need to say those words anymore..."  So fun for me to see the quick progression of her mastering her fear. I also enjoyed watching her and Nate ski a few runs together. I look forward to more skiing as a family.

Adoptions and Junie B.

What a great Saturday we had a couple of weeks ago.  Grace and I had planned a special date to see her favorite book character, "Junie B. Jones"  in a play.  Grace loves her so much-that she has started to sign some of her school papers, "Gracie B."  She's got some spunk, that girl of mine....

Before we saw our play, we had the opportunity to do a post-placement visit with a family who bravely adopted two teenage girls from Russia-and plopped them into the middle of their family.  Grace and I conducted our little evaluation together, and Grace had a great time playing with one of the girls!

We then enjoyed Junie B.-who was spunky and funny. Even though Grace started to not feel well during the play, she still sat on the edge of her seat and laughed at every joke. 

Then at night, we were able to celebrate the long-awaited adoption of Beatrix Nan Yu by our friends and neighbors the Cirolis-who depart for China on Feb 28. After years of waiting, the Cirolis will have their girl.  I could celebrate adoptions every weekend, that is for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solitude and Community

One weekend in Feb-Tom gave me the best gift.. time to myself in complete solitude and then time with 3 wonderful girl friends.

My time by myself went by so quickly-I am starting to not fear it-in the way the extroverted me often did.  I am reading the Ruth Haley Barton book, "Sacred Rythyms" and she talks about solitude being the most crucial aspect of her faith development.  I am beginning to understand this.  My time of running, praying, reading, napping, and playing old hymns on the cottage piano went by too quickly.  It was well needed rest for my soul. A view from my run....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then the community:  friends who joined me, laughed with me, challenged me, ate with me and skiied with me.  Wonderful

 

 

Steeler Nation

It is crazy living in it, that is for sure.  The land of no-line at any store on a Steeler Sunday, 2 hour delays for schools after a Superbowl, parades during school-time, and the gear, oh the gear. I have resisted it for almost 20 years.  By the time of the Superbowl of 2011, I had embraced it.  I was excited to watch the game, having gained respect for many of the Steelers players, the way Mike Tomlin coaches, the way the Rooney family treats their team, etc...So, I finally embraced the Steelers, and they lost......

  See what happens when I get involved?

 

 

The Year of the Rabbit

Celebrating Chinese New Year, in our own simple way, red decorations, homemade dumplings, and some sweets.  Always grateful to our Grace-who has brought so much enrichment to our lives.

 

Boys Weekend

One of the many ways we have enjoyed winter, was having a weekend with  some of our boy cousins in the snowy, Ohio woods.  Amy and Strider-we are finally posting the pics.  It was, to say the least, a wild time!  If the boys weren't outside sledding and going off crazy jumps, they were inside, playing tag, sardines, drumming loudly without their shirts on, you get the picture.  What I loved about the weekend was how they all made their own fun-the WHOLE time.  No need to tour Mansfield.  We even asked them if they wanted to see a movie or a play.  "NO WAY!"  They didn't want to miss out on playing.  Love it.  It was nice to hang out with my brother, Pete.  We both laughed quite a bit watching the boys play.  I think it was nice for both of us that we didn't have to intervene much.  Strider and Nate were quite loud, but Cole and Sam (alone) were almost genteel, playing legoes, following each other with race cars.  On the other hand,  the 4 together, that was another story....

 We were glad for Gi Gi and Pop Pop's finished basement. Drumming and singing:

 

Winter Fun

We have had a very snowy winter in the 'burgh.  I, for one, love it.  Why not have snow as opposed to wet, slimy mud?  or freezing rain?  Forget that noise.  We have had a lot of fun times in the past month and half.  Lots of sledding.  Ice skating (for Grace the first time), and Eden taking her turn at down hill skiing.