USA Chronicles: GA Mtns

For Labor Day our Georgia travels took us North to Aunt Beth's house where we met up with The Williams' family (cousins!), and Granddaddy and Uncle Herschel. They all drove a very long way to see us, we were so thankful and had a jam-packed fun weekend! Thanks Beth for being an incredible host!

Last time at Aunt Beth's Sophia was a little scared of the dog, Zoey, while Bella wanted to use her as a pillow. This time all the kids really loved her. She is the most tender, chill, dog, great for kids.

Look at Tobin's face. He LOVED the dog, but didn't quite know good boundaries yet.

Of the whole party coming to Beth's we arrived first. We took a walk around her little side of the mountain, anxiously waiting for more to arrive. 

 To the stop sign and back. The kids loved exploring! And loved hearing Aunt Beth's bear story again. We actually did see some deer this time. Beautiful.

On the porch with the Williams' crew

All the kids love this little red rocker. Tobin next tried to push Bella out of it.

Playing with Anna and Sammy.

Granddaddy and Hersch arrived and more play began. Granddaddy showing Isaiah that he still has game.

The smaller kids loved playing in this little area. One day in the fifteen minutes that Sophia did not have on mosquito repellant, she got 68 mosquito bites. Ouch. They love her so much. 

And Granddaddy won hearts for sure with his wheel barrow rides! This looked like so much fun that I wanted to get in.

 Tobin got his turn too and his eyes got so wide! He loves a thrill.

The speeds got faster as they looped around the downhill driveway. So.much.fun.

Tobin chilled out a little more in the wagon. The other kids really loved on Tobin well and took care of him.

Grandaddy with Tobin and his son-in-laws.

The next day we went to an area in town with a field and small park area. 

While the older boys played soccer against the men, the other kids put on a play. Creative minds. This was hilarious to watch.

 Aunt Beth and Zoey. I love this photo.

The post game photo. 

We also went to some really cool waterfalls one day: Amicolola Falls. Beautiful. You can walk or drive to the top. Granddaddy convinced us to hoof it. I was really glad. Everyone was. It was hundreds of steps. I actually forget how many, but it was a lot, up steep stairs, and how good it felt to get to the top and see the gorgeous falls.

 Tobin rode in the Ergo on David, and he did not love it.

Bella rode on Uncle Herschel's shoulders quite a bit and did love it.

 At the top! So glad I brought a bag full of snacks.

Tired, hungry kids.

Also at the top we happened to run into many Chinese tourists. This was fun, we met some people from our own province!

The way back down. Granddaddy gave us some pointers for if you fall. We actually did see someone fall, but did not get hurt.

We into the really cute down town area to do some browsing.

We also went to see the Memorial that Aunt Beth had put up for Grandma Pinnie. We missed her!

This area was perfect for kids, they loved putting their feet in the brook, trying to jump the brook, making stick boats and see whose would float the farthest, etc. 

Our last night we decided to do an outdoor fire and make Smores. Here Tobin and Aunt Beth share a moment, I think he is asking her to sneak him some Smores.

 Anna has her Smore game-face on. Or maybe her mouth is already full. hmm....

 Putting them all together. Uncle Herschel and Uncle Travis.

 Kids gathering around Zoey and Aunt Beth.

 This really was an incredible trip. Sophia talked about it for days and days and about wanting to go 'back to Aunt Beth's' and 'when will we get to go again?' 

I am so glad I convinced everyone to show up at Beth's, she does know how to host a party.

Back to summer chronicles: GA

Here in Asia, David just got back from a short trip to Bali via Singapore, we love Singapore, he wasn't super impressed with Bali. Good to know. He is home now, and as is almost always the case, the night he comes back some sort of sickness starts. Stomach bug is riveting through now starting with Bella...ugh and gross.

But lets get back to our USA trip this summer:

August 29, 2012.

Our biggest road trip was to visit family in Georgia. First stop was to David's Aunt and Uncle and Cousins' houses and visiting with their kids.

Though we only did one long road trip, we were still in the car a lot, back and forth to Raleigh and to Wilmington a few times. The kids did really well. It didn't hurt that there was a dvd player in the car.

These are David's 2nd cousins (I think, they are his 1st cousin's children), twins, Lance and Luke.

 we went to a really fun park one day.

 

Sisters. Aunt Elaine and CC.

 We happened to be there when Jordan had a volleyball game, this was nostalgic for me, being a former volleyball player. Their team was really good, and Jordan did GREAT.

Sophia helped cousin Emma work the concession stand, she had so much fun.

 All the 'cousins', I have no idea what they are to each other.

Our kids love these 'kids' (young adults).

I love that these teenagers really took time to enjoy our children, even when their own friends were over.

David's cousins. We loved spending time with them too, short and very sweet.

 Emma really took care of the girls, she always does. 

The gang, minus Aunt Elaine and Uncle Bobby.

 These guys are hilarious when they get together 

One of the funniest things to see was how Tobin LOVED Uncle Bobby's Donald Duck voice. He cackled laughed at this and talked right back to him. It was too cute.

Live from China: part 2: school

We got settled in the first week, and went to check on the girls' Chinese Kindergarten situation. We had already paid for the semester (a good amount too). I was worried that Bella's class would be huge and things would be crazy. Her class was supposed to be in a new building but they are not done with it yet. Instead all the xiao ban (small class) classes are divided in the big auditorium. It sounds bad, but it seems to be working pretty well. She has 3 teachers (whom I liked right off the bat, I still struggle with Sophia's teachers), and a 'grandma' that comes to help. There are thirty students and plenty of space. I was very encouraged by our intro. We told them we would bring the kids Monday! We also had to check on what we heard was a weird form of 'hand, foot, and mouth' going around. Some kids in a town nearby had actually died from it (like 7-8 kids). I asked the principal and the school doc both, and of course they assured me. The only reason I trust them is because, a.) I really like these two individuals, and b.) they are completely responsible for outbreaks, etc., they want to have a safe, healthy school. 

We picked up Bella's backpack and continued our prep talk to her. She was SO excited about starting school. She had even started talking about it in the U.S. "I am going to be a big girl and go to school" "Mommy will leave but she will come back" " I will have teachers and new friends" "I will be at school with Sophia" and on and on her excitement went.

 Dressed and ready! Tobin looks like such a little man in this pic!

Sophia was very encouraging to Bella.

 This was on the way back. I don't always let them sit in the bucket seat, only sometimes. And my plan is to drive the moto most days, maybe. David just reminded me that the car time would give us good review time for CC (classical conversations) which we plan to start in earnest next week. We will see.

 I also stared some ABC stuff with her this week, and started REAL homeschooling, called REAL because Sophia is actually 'of age' now. We started core subjects this week and CC art and science, more on that later (maybe).

Now here is what really happened, how Bella responded to school. Let's preface this by saying that my prediction was weeks and weeks of crying. She is our most anxious child, but her will is strong, this is an interesting combo. I really was not sure what to expect out of her since her excitement was genuine. 

Day 1: excited, dressed and ready. Really cried when we entered her classroom and had to be peeled off of me. This was a good cry. She stayed with one of the teachers the whole time, did not talk much except to say 'mommy' a few times and definitely did not play with anyone or toys.

Day 2: wake up started with 'I am not going to school' 'I don't want to go to school'. The full-on tantrum and hysterics ensued when it was time to leave. She kicked off her shoes, she screamed. I forced on ones that would stay on. I could not take a kicking, screaming child on the moto, so I pinned her in and strapped her in her car seat. The whole ride: 'take me back home!' I carried her in, her hysteric level was less than at home, she had calmed down a bit, so I did not feel too bad. But the whole thing had me doubting what was best for her. (this doubt battle is always going on in my brain when it comes to Chinese kindergarten).

She still stayed with a teacher but was a little better they said. 

Day 3: Now I knew what to expect. My whole prayer for this day and goal was 'no hysterics'. I didn't mind the crying, but the hysterical fit was difficult. I put her shoes on during devotions, and slowly got her ready. She did cry and say she didn't want to go, but she was doing okay. She was really excited that I had gotten her own card to swipe at the entrance. So even though she was crying a little I put her down and had her walk in herself and swipe the card. She also walked into the classroom. I could tell she was getting more comfortable.

This day she stayed with a teacher but participated in some things. When I asked her why a teacher was holding her or staying with her the whole time she said: 'because she really loves me'. 

On this afternoon Bella's talk about school was more positive. I had been praying for God to give her a real peace, calm her fears, and help her to like it. 

Day 4: She was ready to go to school! She was excited about swiping her own card. I drove the moto because there was no fit or crying. When we went in her classroom she did cry and not want to stay, but she did fine. I kept telling her that the next step was to actually play and enjoy school, not stay with a teacher the whole time (a process I thought could take weeks). They said that on this day she sat at a table and did indeed play! 

Each day I have given her a lollipop when I pick her up and this helps give her something to look forward to. 

We will see what tomorrow brings. She says she is not going to cry, either way, we are so proud of her! Going to school is scary, especially in a place where you are so different from everyone else.

Live from China: Part 1 tidbits

We interrupt the previous posts of our journey through August and September in order to bring you current, up-to-date happenings here in China. This will be a 2 part series. Enjoy...

First days back: jet-lagging kiddos. After one full week everyone started sleeping through the night. Then the normal night-time interruptions started coming again...bathroom, scary noises, etc.

Our house quickly became full of Ants again, we are trying to deal with that problem. But only a few things had molded. I was very relieved by this. We were showered with love by Ayi and the S family. Fridge full of food, clean house, such a blessing. Thanks and more thanks.

What you want to know is how the kids did for our very long journey. Mishaps began with our ticketing and baggage, at 4:00 a.m. mind you. We did make it to LAX, which was pretty bad for Tobin. He whined and cried and persevered in wakefulness like no child I have ever seen. He wasn't screaming, but was frustrated. Which means the people around us were likewise. One man asked for earplugs and eventually shoved toilet paper in his ears. I was thinking that the twelve hour flight was going to be awful, miserable, etc. But it turned out to be great. The kids slept a ton (finally Tobin did too), and the Chinese were a little more forgiving of our crying baby. Everything else went pretty well, even with having to haul our bags from one terminal to another at every airport! We got a few hours of sleep in the provincial capital before our final flight to our town.

We devoured Ayi's amazing food, the kids ate it all up, including Tobin.

 Twin boys came to peek through to the happenings in our front yard, which is completely shaded in the afternoon. October weather is near perfect. Cool in the mornings, up to 80s in the afternoon.

 View from our front yard. The bridge above leads to that pavilion on the left and out to the main road. 

David giving our neighbors some pointers on how to kick the ball without using your toe.

Chasing Tobin is always entertaining. This girl has come over almost every day. YuanYue is her name, and she is super sweet.

 Notice anything different about Tobin in this pic?

Take a closer look. Yep, David snipped the curls around his ears, but kept the curls in the back.

 This pic is through our front screen. I let the girls take some polly pockets and other dolls outside. They played like this for 30-45 minutes with our new friend.

 Sitting in baskets used locally for rice separating, etc. 

Back to oatmeal for breakfast. Soph adds yogurt to hers, Bella ops for sweetener (Blue Agave nectar we brought from the US, or sometimes normal sugar), and cinnamon. Tobin eats it up too. David and I usually do some kind of fruit and yogurt (which I hope to start making again soon).

Lincoln logs and Toilet Paper, August

We went back to Btown for a day before starting more travels. Here Soph discovered a love for lincoln logs. I used to love playing with these when I was little. Back then they came big blue box with a ton in them, this set did not have too many, and was not cheap. But she loved building things them.

 I discovered Tobin having lots of fun during his nap, and his reach, we realized too late, had greatly improved. Here he toilet papers his own crib. That boy.

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