USA: more September fun

 The kids love the piano.

 Sophia loved laying in the grass.

leaves were already changing colors!

show us your smile Bella:

Together in the yard. They just happened to match and look quite patriotic.

 Love this one!

Back inside on another September morning: Tobin wears his baa baa on his head.

sweet times reading together.

 What we did to their formal dining room: it looked crazier than this for two months. Bless them! This was our office. Dueling computers at each end and our stuff. Everywhere.

CC recruits help for a pound cake! 

Soph did a really good job helping. 

So much fun outside too:

 Our precious little hobbits.

 Sweetness.

USA: The airplane ride, September

Do you want Poppy to take you flying???? Look at these excited faces. 

We were so blessed with a weather-perfect morning and Poppy's willingness to take the kids flying. We did not have many days left before our return to China, so we were so glad to fit this in, especially since they are at ages to really enjoy and remember the experience.

 All ready to go. We were not sure how Bella would do, she is usually more anxious about things, but she was excited and ready.

Sophia sat on some pillows up front, she wanted to help fly, but is a little young for that.

Tobin acted like he wanted to go...

But started to say otherwise once inside, so we opted for him to sit out and let the others enjoy the ride, scream-free (hopefully).

He waved goodbye. Trying out the new camera: focus on the plane.

Focus on the people, fuzz out the plane.  Niiice.

There they go.

Up, Up, and away. 

And we waited. And waved at other aircraft.

Maybe he is a little bitter he didn't get to go. 

 Touch down. They are back!

 Just look at her grin:

 Bella did really well too!

'good job pilot' is what our girls always say when we land in any aircraft (this was funny when they did this in America and people could understand what they were saying, they got laughs all around). 

Poppy is an incredible pilot! We are blessed. 

 Thanks for taking the time to fly us around, Poppy!

USA: With Granddaddy and Uncle Hersch

September 21, 2012

Granddaddy and Uncle Herschel drove all the way up to see us for the weekend, and we had a great time!

We spent the day in the park and then drove to Raleigh to hang out with the Williams and see my mom as well.

At the park Bella rode with granddaddy on the carousel.

I love this pic of Bella 'clinging' to granddaddy.

 Everyone on the train.

In Raleigh we had a great time hanging out, watching football, grilling out, playing in the back yard. We were blessed to stay in a house on the same street as the Williams because a family was out of town, and incredibly generous!

We also went shopping one day and out for lunch. Granddaddy chose a wing place, and we were delighted because we love wings (or 'chicken on the bone' as our girls call it). Granddaddy chose the hottest wings available, and we all joked about this, until he ate them all! We tried them too, they were HOT, but good, I could not have kept eating them. 

It really was a blast to have time to reconnect with my dad and bro, we were so thankful they were willing to drive such. a. long. way. Seriously. Thank you guys!

USA, random September pics