August 2009

Off on another trip. This time to Hershey PA and environs. We met up with other families who adopted from Lian's institution in China, HanZhong SWI. Camping again. We found out the tent is indeed waterproof on Saturday night. Which had the pleasant side effect of killing the very nasty wood smoke, someone in the grounds was burning their garbage, plastic and all.

We did get in a sunset swim.

The main event - Hershey Park. It was a lot of fun and the lines for kiddy rides not more than a few minutes. However the wait for the lazy river in the water park area nearly put Lela over the edge, as it was under another ride that dumped water on those below every few minutes. She freaked out despite the fact that it was me getting wet bending over her - and it felt good on a hot day.

But they had a carousel, and best of all from her point of view, a full size roller coaster for the height challenged (over 36” can ride.) Adrenalin junkie Lela’s first comment? “Let’s get back in line right away!” Lian, (smart girl) declined a second trip. I gritted my teeth pasted on a smile and went again, I’m in Lian’s camp.

Chocolate World! How chocolate is made - and buying opportunity.

The next day we all got together for brunch. These are all the kids from HanZhong. They are all from different years as it turned out. Lian is second from right with the happy look.

And these are ALL the kids.

Too many monkeys jumping on the bed.

Sunday afternoon we went to visit some of my family who lives nearby (my Grandma Armstrong was from PA) Cousin Mary Ann put out a delicious spread of traditional Pennsylvania treats, like red eggs.

Back home again, other big events. I turned hum, hum, hum, years old. OK, OK, 39.

August finally warmed up after one of the wettest and coldest July's on record. Down to the beach.

Not sure if this is Kung Fu or Vogueing.

Collecting cool stuff from the tide line, horseshoe crab molts, shells, neat rocks.

Having fun at the waterplay again, with friend Meiling.

July 2009

Off to Wisconsin we must go...in July we took a drive (18 hours in 2 days) out to WI, cramming our Subaru with 2 kids, the dog and camping gear. We camped in Ohio, trying out 2 new State parks, one each way. Now I know why it is the buckeye state, having had to clear our tent site of about 2000 of the blankety blank golf ball sized nuts. One park will not be on the return list as it seemed to be preferred by people waiting for their audition call to reality TV and had biffys (outhouses.) We tried out our new family size tent. It is HUGE – suitable for a family of 10 who practice ballroom dancing on vacation – Jamie could stand up with headroom to spare.

And of course just to add to the fun both the adult sized, very expensive, but long unused and stored in a non-climate controlled attic, inflatable mats failed to inflate. Neither of us slept well, or really at all. I did get to hear some interesting night birds and owls, not to mention a train line somewhere... and locate several blankety blank buckeyes I missed when we set up the tent. Just the way to start a 10 hour drive.

But we made it! First and favorite stop, the Zoo. They have strategically located the carousel at the entrance next to the new playground. It's surprising that anyone gets to see the animals. Lela rode the lion, of course.

and the mountain lion. She doesn't discriminate.

So Lian wanted a lion ride too, but she won't go alone.

First and favorite stop (after the carousel), the lions, what a surprise. Henry treated us to a roaring exhibition.

Sometimes pictures speak louder than words.

Got to feed the goats. They serve the goat pellets in edible ice cream cone cups.

And there is a buying opportunity. More stuffed animals, just what we needed, NOT.

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And I got put to work. Decided to close the pond, since it was pretty much a muck pit. Fun, fun, fun.

July 2009 Part 2

Too many pictures for one post!

We played with Grandma.

and Grandpa.

Then off to the County Fair! Lela the adrenalin junkie loves the rides. Lian will go - if she has company.

Lela went on the jet flier. According to her, it was the best.

Finally left about 8 hours latter after a second spin on the Ferris Wheel. Why we only go on dollar a ride day.


Another day. Lunch at Ella's Deli, a theoretically "New York" style deli. The place is crammed with mechanical toys, whizzing along the ceiling, in the tables, all over the walls. And they serve a pretty good corned beef.

And they have a carousel.

Lela rides horses too.

Then off to the butterfly exhibit at Olbrich Gardens. Lela had a zebra butterfly that was very attached to her. That's supposed to be good luck.

The Wilson's assembled for a photo, courtesy of photo shop. Who wasn't in the first picture?

And then the long trip back.

May June 2009

Chinese class ended for the year. Lela and her friends have been together since they were 2.

Sunday School ended too. This is the cherub choir (mising about 10 kids) performing on Sunday School Sunday. And yes, we got some more use out of those flower girl dresses.

Lela finished 4s pre-k with a spring concert. After a rocky start (it took me three weeks to get out of the building) she thrived in her tiny (6 kids) class and ended the school year getting ready to read

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Lian also did very well in her speech focused pre-k and was recommended for the integrated class for her next year. And she ended the year with much shorter hair courtesy of some scissor experimentation. I had to take off about 6”in the back to even it up, and her bangs looked strange for a while. At least it was after the wedding.

The girls started swimming lessons at the nearly Town park and Lela took tennis too – if she can learn to hit the ball, she’s got a sport, as she was the only little girl who stepped into the ball and really swung

This is not their swimming lesson, where they were not wearing life jackets. It's at our good friend's pool, " Grandma" Barbara.




Fun in the waterplay at one of our favorite parks.

I took them into NYC to see Mary Poppins on Broadway, courtesy of Aunt Carrie's Xmas gift, the green that says I know you know what you want. They loved it. Afterward we had dinner with friends who had gone ot see Mama Mia, and above and beyond, had stood on the TKTs booth line to buy the show tickets for us too. Thanks!!!

Memorial Day 2009

The highlight of May was a jam packed Memorial Day weekend. We went down to Annapolis for nephew Jason's graduation from from the Naval Academy on Friday (he gave President Obama a full body hug.) Swiftly followed by his wedding to long time girl friend, Erika, on Saturday in DC.
L & L were their flower girls.

Killing time between the wedding and reception. They felt extra princessy in their beautiful dresses.

Sunday we had a private tour of Arlington Cemetery with (let's see if this makes sense) Gillian's significant other, Juan's brother, Jaime. He was the Commander of the Marine Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown at the time (now retired back to Chicago.) Then a very looong drive back home.

It was a trip that tried to break our spirits. Leaving NY we discovered that A. the driver's side window would not go down and B. our Easy Pass was not working either. So it was cash lane and pulling up to open the door all the way to DC and back. On Memorial Day Weekend. Packing up to leave we found we had a flat. As we left DC it started to rain and as we were crawling through north Jersey, we were treated to a massive lightening storm. A normally 4 hour trip took 7 hours.

But we got back in time for the local Memorial Day Parade on Monday, Lela's forth, Lian's second.

Followed by a picnic at church, with games and fun for all.

April May 2009

We had one really hot day - in April. It was 90 degrees at the end of April - and that was the last time it was that hot until late August. The water was still about 35 degrees, but hey, it was hot.

The white violets bloomed in May. We've taken a picture of the girls in the violets in the corner of Grandma's yard every year.

Mother's Day. Another warm one. That is a very selective portion of our backyard. Aren't I the luckiest mom with 2 such cuties?