Ogunquit, Maine, day 1

7.14.2010

This was the first time we have ever had a 'get away' without the kids since we have had kids, we had a great time! Maine was beautiful, we chose Maine because we had a free place to stay right on one of the prime spots of 'places to see.' We stayed on Perkins Cove, on the water that leads right out into the Atlantic Ocean. We had an ocean view that was beautiful and we were within walking distance of every 'must see' thing to do in Ogunquit. It was perfect.




On the airplane. I have to take a moment to rave about JetBlue. The flights were inexpensive, the service great, good snacks, enough leg room, and cable TV the whole flight of whatever you wanted to watch. We were not disappointed and have to recommend JetBlue.


We stopped in Portsmouth, NH for dinner. All these coastal towns are rich in history and are so picturesque. Portsmouth was settled in 1623.




The harbor where we ate.




Maine here we come. Total drive from Boston was less than an 90 minutes, closer to an hour.


The cottage where we stayed. This family graciously let us stay in this converted cabin. It used to be an art studio. There was a small kitchenette and bathroom.


The broader view, picture is horrible. The bed is over in the corner with a daybed under the window.


Our view from our porch: Perkins Cove, beyond those buildings is the Atlantic



This is the back of the main residence. . The host family was very sweet and gave us great advice on what to see, where to eat, from a local's point of view. We heeded their advice and were not disappointed.

Because a storm came through the night before and dumped an enormous amount of rain on the area, this waterfall was in full force. This was right behind our cottage and was a great sound to sleep to. (we canoed there later)




we arrived as the sun was setting. We walked over to the footbridge that covered Perkins Cove. This apparently is really old and is a historic landmark. You can raise the bridge yourself when a sailboat is coming through. Quaint, quaint.



Houses on the walk and water.

dusk settles over the cove.


together on the bridge.


Our host house is the one on the right here, the cottage, made of wood is camouflaged by the trees


we went to this coffee shop and sat by the water of the Ocean as we sipped our decaf and just RELAXED. Awesome.

Three or Thirteen?

David is away with Poppy for a few days, the Coker gals are holding down the fort. David keeps telling me that I have to write down all that Sophia says, her imagination is incredible, and her logic moreso. But alas, I don't seem to have the time and my brain cells are tired and forgetful...I do hope it comes back to me...

Yesterday she was 'talking on the phone' to Daddy. She pretend talked for quite a while. She told some stories, every so often she would say 'daddy, are you still there?' you would have thought she was really on the phone. Then it was time for dinner and I told her to come to the table....she kept talking and talking...finally I said:
'Sophia hang up the phone and come to dinner now please.' And she came to dinner. I imagined myself using that line some time in my parenting career, but to my three year old? hilarious.

Aunt Julie (the' incredible' is her new nickname) gave us a bunch of Anna's old clothes that includes beautiful dresses that have tiny dresses for a baby doll. Sophia LOVED this and has played mommy a lot to day. She put her doll to sleep in the pantry, and I heard her saying these things:
'I will come check on you later alright?'
'don't call for me again or I will discipline you.'
then later when I was calling Sophia for her nap time, she was in the pantry with her doll (whose name is Bella, btw), she said: 'I am praying for her.' And she was.

One time after Bella had been sick and her bottom covered in diaper rash, Sophia was concerned. When she got better Sophia said: 'Bella's bottom is better, praise the Lord.' Then she stopped and prayed: 'Lord, thank you Bella's bottom has no more red spots.'

During devotions she wanted to read different pages then the ones we were on and David told her no, but to follow along. 'why?' she asked. 'Because I am the daddy...(I really forget what else he said)' she answered: 'so if there were no mommies or daddies or Bellas I could read all the pages?'
Her logic is right, but sad, huh? When she says stuff like this I just remind her that mommy and daddy know what is best for her and that we always take care of her even if it is not what she wants, and she usually agrees. Mommies and Daddies are good aren't they? and she says yes.

She asks a hundred questions, all of them good questions. Why is the sky blue? (I really did reply: it is physics, dear heart, it has to do with the length of the visible light rays, and distance from the sun.) 'Isn't it amazing?' Yes, she always answers. And she often says: the sunset is so beautiful, God made that.

I will do backwards posting on time we spent in Maine and Raleigh recently, but while she was being babysat one evening she was being a little shy. Our friends started asking her questions to get her to talk. They asked her her birthday and she answered correctly. Then they asked her 'when is Bella's birthday?' Her reply:
(an earnest look)'ummm....I am going to have to say....June 30th.' These friends just cracked up, too big for her britches. Always keeping us laughing.

I realize these things may not be funny or even cute to most people, but this is the scrapbook of our lives and I want to be able to remember these things...boring to most, but melts a mother's heart.

Only in America...

It has only been two years since we have been in the U.S. but here are some things that are shocking us these days (or things we are still getting used to):

1. portion sizes (unbelievable. way too much for one person to eat)

2. Size of people in general (and I am not talking overweight though yes, we are not used to seeing any one with a weight problem, but I mean just sheer height and mass of men and women, we are used to being among the tallest in our small town in Asia, here we are average or below average in size.)

3. English radio in the car. We have been in the car a lot, and I used to listen to talk radio quite a bit, but even if I completely agree with the person I cannot stand the anger anymore or hype or whatever it is. It is as if that political decision will destroy the world as we know it. This goes along with the constant bombardment from news stations where everything is 'urgent' and 'life-threatening,' this can wear on the nerves. We have not watched FOX news like we used to or any news for that matter, it is sensory overload for me.

4. Diversity of looks. This is refreshing, interesting, sometimes weird. It seems many people in America are trying to stand out and be different, rare in Asia. And just God-given appearance has a huge range among Americans, whereas Chinese will never have blond hair....you know what I am saying. ...

5. Choices. I remember this being hard last time, the grocery store is a bit daunting. I had to go buy a ready made salad to take to someone's house for dinner. There were at least ten different kinds, and I had to make a split second decision. So unimportant, but stressful for me nonetheless.

6. Speed on the highway. I have always liked to drive. But I once again had to get used to going 70 mph on the highway. We don't travel by car on a highway much at all in Asia, we just taxi around town and never go that fast....

7. Clarity of traffic laws/lanes, etc.: It is just smooth and clean, I love it. not that stressful at all! Though I did honk one time out of habit and I probably should not have. OOPS! (that sounds weird, I ride a bike, never drive in China, so how am I in the habit of honking? Ringing my bike bell, go ahead and LOL because I ring that thing all the time so people know where I am and to move out of my way, this is what you do...it is my horn equivalent and I am used to it, need to deprogram that one).

8. Sweet Tea. Shocking? yes, it is so sweet, so good, I am already addicted. I have a 'sweet tea' belly already.

9. Meat. This was actually not too shocking to us. We have eaten meat every day since we have been in America (almost). There has been no real way around it for us yet. And that is completely okay, we have been dealing with certain health issues with the girls and our goal has been ease at the expense of our veganhood. We know we will go back to at least a vegetarian diet, but with all the moving around, all the 'on the road' stuff, it has been really difficult. We have found it is so much easier to be a vegetarian in China (duh!) than here. (Don't get me wrong we have enjoyed some tasty meat dishes, burgers, chik-fil-a, no lack of tasty treats here)

10. Prices. I hate to spend money. HATE it. I can go shopping with the best of them, and I can spend money if I am getting a lot FOR my money. But that doesn't happen often (except at an Asian market). We are still adjusting to American prices for things.

11. And just to end on an odd note: vaccines. Thinking it would be easy for me to find someone locally to give Bella's 2nd and 3rd dose of vaccines I decided to order them and take them away from the clinic. This would lessen the hassle of dealing with the health department and payment and everything. Well, because they are weird vaccines (Jap encephalitis and Rabies), no one would do it. Everyone said yes at first, then asked questions and so no way. I just needed a willing nurse! Nada, nunca, zero! We called every local clinic, including all travel clinics who deal with these vaccines and because of 'liability' issues they all said no. (we do this all the time overseas, carry in a cooler of vaccines and get them administered locally). Not in America. They even looked it up, 'not covered in malpractice.' I was willing to sign all liability away, still no go. Thank God for Holly B. in Raleigh, who graciously took time to do this. She is an incredible nurse, we went to her home, she even did some research. She trusted us, we trusted her, she is a complete blessing. Thank you, thank you Holly!

I want to be a mommy

Sophia was helping me 'read' a book to Bella. I said: 'Sophia you will make a great teacher.'
Sophia: 'I am not going to be a teacher.'
Me: 'why not?' (I had no agenda with this we have never talked about 'what you are going to be' or anything like that.)
Sophia: 'because I am going to be a mommy!!'
I just had to smile and laugh, yes, Lord willing, you will be a mommy one day (but lets slow this 'growing up' thing down, alright?)


David accidentally pinched Sophia's skin in the car seat buckle (a-gain, 2nd time), it really does hurt. She cried a good cry. Then, when it was time to get back in and go home she said: 'will you please not pinch me with the seat this time?' she asked in all earnestness.

family day at the park

7.12.2010

David came in from an appointment and said: 'let's go on a picnic!' And so we did.
It was an overcast and somewhat breezy day, perfect for the park. One thing America has is great kid-friendly parks, lots of cool slides.
This park was for ages 5-12, as you can see some of the slides were big, but Sophia managed just fine!

Sophia's 'smile' for the camera



Bella LOVED the bucket swing



I had not been on a swing in SO long, I got going really high, and it was so fun, I could not stop giggling, I just laughed and laughed at the fun I was having.


The Coker gals

David got going pretty high himself, though not as amused as I was.


This slide seemed a little crazy, steep and interesting. I had to tackle it. It tackled me. You can't see from the picture that at the top there is a sudden turn. For the big 'twelve year old' that I pretended to be, my feet hit the turn and then I had to brace myself and I was going a little fast, it burned my hand on the side and almost felt like a splinter. Two thumbs down for this slide, but the curvy one that Sophia loved was quite fun.


'was it fun mommy?'

A random day of cuteness

7.10.2010

Poppy reading to the girls.


can you see a little hair? It is coming, slowly but surely.





Probably answering one of Sophia's many questions (by the way, Sophia is in an outfit Aunt Beth sent to China. It is one of the only red things she has and she LOVES it. She picked it out herself that day, then picked it out for pajamas another day.)


priceless pout

while the mommies were out

7.9.2010

David and Travis took all six kids to a childrens museum/play area. Brave men. That is why we married them!

Picnic in the Gazebo (gotta love lunchables)




I called David from Target and could tell something was not right, the girls were napping and he said: 'I have a story to tell you.'

Sophia was lost for about five minutes. The longest five minutes of his life. A Parent's worst fear, less than twenty seconds of taking their eyes off of her and she was gone. They went through a little play area and only Anna came back. The problem was both Travis and David also had strollers with a child in each. David could not just maneuver around to look fast. He left Bella with Travis and went on a hunt. When he did not see her anywhere he looked in the 'shadiest' places someone might take a child. He went to a staff entry that obviously not well managed, he went in easily and no one was around. It took him a while to find some one to help him, who proved only somewhat helpful. Finally someone said, yes there is a girl who is lost at the front desk. Praise our Father that the worst fears were not realized at all. And I am sure that this type of thing happens at this place all the time.

But David was completely unimpressed with the place. Serious lack of personnel, no security cameras, TONS of children, day cares, etc. were there. A child predator's dream. We always have to fight the fear of unreality in these cases, the 'what ifs', etc. and we must cast it all on the Lord while at the same time learning and knowing how to do things differently. Seriously though, there was not much Travis or David could have or should have done differently. But we could have trained Sophia better for the situation for sure. When they asked her her daddy's name she said: 'daddy.' when asked 'what does your mommy call your daddy?' 'Daddy' was her reply. So we live and learn and praise God for His mercy.

The days following this we went through our names, if someone asks her, and what to do, etc. And this morning when she got up she said: 'I love you mommy, I love you Lorraine.'