Winter is here!

 High this week- about 60, low- high 30's. Not bad even though we really have to bundle up at night!

Lily has been wearing these earmuffs to bed since she got them on her 6th birthday. But yeah, it has been chilly enough for mittens and a hat too!

"This is what I wear to bed!"

After seeing Hadassah all bundled up, Caedmon goes,

"Aww, she looks so cute! Her cheeks looks so chubby!"

 Caedmon's buddy Sean who had to move back to the U.S. with his folks. He just beamed holding Olivet. We miss his family lots!

 The three look-a-likes. No one makes Olivet smile like Caedmon!

 I came into the dinning room a bit surprised to see this display on the table. Lily was getting ready to teach her siblings something special!

 Lily's homemade poster to advertise our library

 This is my romeo all set for our first chinese pre-marriage counseling session. I did ask, "Do you think you should change your clothes?" before I said, "Let me quick take your picture :)" Only in China. 

 Our four month old kicker

Happy 7th Birthday Lily! So happy to eat her breakfast (granola) from the Birthday plate!

 And more happy to eat her lunch at McDonalds!

 Check out these cakes we saw on the way to pick out her birthday present.

We stuck with a plate full of cookies instead :)

Lily & Coco (otherwise called C.C. or Dee Dee by Vivi) (her live sounding pet who can stand on her back legs and who doesn't need potty training)

 This year we talked about making it a tradition to put up the tree on Lily's b-day. It took a while. Not sure if it met her expectations. Is that someone's head sticking out in the top of the picture? Weird.

 We left the placing of the star to the men of the house.

 "Is that edible?" -Viv

I totally thought we were past the stage of Viv putting stuff in her mouth. She re-entered it on this day.

 This is what Caedmon has been saving up his allowance for for about a year and a half. It's a microscope!  

Good Buddies Spring, Lil & Michelle

 Even though I instructed Lil & Cade through this project...

 It was still special to receive! 

 All lined up for some fun...

 A Boz Christmas video on the wall!

 Our Sunday morning walk to the market went pretty smooth...

until one of the fish on the right jumped out of the little pool and landed right on my foot! 

At least it wasn't one of the fish on top of the styrofoam box!

 "Which chicken do you want?"

 The Sugar Cane Peeler

Baby's 1st Rice Cereal. I'd say it was a hit.

 

The Full Belly Smile

 Xiao Li turned 31 this month so Josh made his famous brownies for us all!

 Caedmon's concern was that he had too much glue on his paintbrush. My concern was that Mrs. Snowwoman has five eyes. 

 Back to Science 101. The baking soda + vinegar was supposed to make a volcano effect.

 I guess besides the blue food coloring, the coolest part of this experiment was watching the liquid bubble as it went down the funnel. The effect was minimal.

 Oooh, I love experiments!

 Olivet's outfit from GG & Gampy purchased in Hilton Head, SC

Lots of girls; lots of hairstyles! 

 staying warm

 Today Hadassah and Vivianna and I were playing hide and seek outside in our courtyard. It was so good to be reminded of the excitement and joy of being two and three.

 Our sweet friends Si en & Xiao Li

(I think he looks just like mom!)

Taking a ride to get some warm noodles. Winter is here!

Sometimes all I can do at the end of the month is take a deep breath and give praise for strength HE provides..

Olive has been pretty sick, but is now finally smiling again (and sleeping better)! I fed her at 9:30pm, laid down at 10, and didn't open my eyes again until 7am!!!!!!! The things that I get excited about these days... 

What Lily & Caedmon & Hadassah have been doing in their free time... I bet you can guess whose is whose.

 Here is our guest Mr. Eric. He stayed at our house for a week while taking a class. He was greeted every morning with a tackle by Viv.

 Another trip to the market. I didn't get very far very fast because I brought all the kids with me this time. I explained many, many times that yes, they are all mine, no, I did not bring a helper with to the market to help me watch the kids, yes, they listen pretty well, yes, their ages are about a year apart, and no, I don't know exactly how much money we make every year. 

 This market is amazing, though the grandness of it all along with it's smells makes me feel a little faint at times. 

 After returning from our adventure, including the purchase of our $1.25/ 18 roses, I took advantage of the quiet time, and took a nap. When I woke up, this is what I found in the kitchen! 

Elf Lily was fast at work!  

 

 Prof Elias & Caedmon looking sharp!

 One of Hadassah's first more real looking drawings. 

It's a person with a bow and arrow (I'm guessing she had Caedmon in mind). 

 Olivet's 3 month pic, now that she is almost 4 months.

 (I might have guessed this was a picture of Lily when she was this age!)

 This is what Lily (and Vivi & Dassah) are up to when mom is busy feeding a baby, changing sheets, preparing supper, changing another diaper etc... Lily read in a magazine about a craft you can make that looks like a pizza, so she went for it, ALL on her own initiative! And then, she spent at least 30 minutes using it to teach Hadassah and Vivianna colors and how to count.

 Girls being girls

 This month a few of us moms took our bigger kids (or should I say princesses and prince??) to see the play "Beauty and the Beast" performed by the international high school students (we didn't get home until after 10pm!). It was so fun and the performance and music were incredible. (Caedmon was going to wear his lion head hat but opted not to at the last minute :)

 Back to Science Class

We got quiet a few bubbles out of this hanger!

 Vivi waiting patiently for her turn :)

 The Grand Opening of "The Book Station" Library!

 Olivet wearing the beautiful hand made sweater from my Auntie Pam. I think white is her color... especially if there are shiny pink buttons anywhere on it! 

 sister sister sister

 peek-a-boo

 When I receive text messages on my phone, the tone sounds like a door bell and this bugs Josh because he, naturally, thinks someone is at the door. Before I got around to changing my ringer, we found these signs taped all around the house.  

 Here is another (of 5, one for each of us) that makes me smile. 

 Caedmon and his buddy Sean. 

We are sad to have to say good bye to Sean's family on Monday because they are returning to America to live. We will miss you!!! Every time we put together the "Despicable Me" puzzle, we will think of you!

 You never know what you will run into at the park on a sunny day!

(A wedding)

 (A new friend)

 This is what your kids would make out of play dough if they lived in China: meat on a stick.

 Hi to my grandmas and grandpas!! I miss you lots!!

 Another super exciting science experiment. Just waiting around for mold to grow. La De Da.

 Happy Princess Birthday to Lily! 

She is almost 7, but wanted to celebrate before her friend Lydia leaves for America for four months.

I remember the days when getting Lily to simply sign her name on the thank you card was like pulling out teeth.

 

The Party Crasher

 Viv is a big girl! She turned two this month!

 "No more nuky. Nuky in babage. I'm big girl. No baby."

 Vivi got a talking (Dora) backpack for her birthday. She likes it the most when someone else is trying to play with it. 

 We had cupcakes at the monthly story time. She didn't seem to get what was going on. But now, a couple weeks later, she often sings happy birthday to herself. She needed a while to let it soak it.

 I'm wondering when Vivi takes her clothes off and puts them back on inside out and backwards. Before or after nap time?

 Another one of my brilliant husband's resolves. 

Our landlord showed up the other day with an elevator full of dongxi (stuff) and told us we needed to find a place to store it. As I was pretty upset and telling him (not so nicely) why we don't have any room and of all the places he absolutely can not store it, my husband was taking the mattresses off our beds and stashing the goods under them. Huh. I guess I didn't think of that.

 The date has finally arrived! It's time to party, princess style!

Princess Xiao Li decorating cupcakes.

 What a delight! We played four princess games including "Kiss the Frog," "Hang-princess" (just another version of hangman :), and "Cinderella's Lost Slipper." Then the girls played dress up for quiet a while and afterward ate a yummy lunch together. What special memories!

 I finally got to meet the so often talked about Ha Laoshi (Teacher Ha). It was a pleasure to have him and his wife over for Thanksgiving dinner! They absolutely LOVED the kids and kept saying, "Let's take a picture and tell all our friends we just had a baby!" Despite Caedmon's multiple trips to the bucket to throw up, we all had a wonderful time, especially talking about Him who Created this all!!!

 so adorable

 And finally, to end on a winning note: GO PACKERS!!! 

These are our good friends Krista & Steve who obviously have split affections but managed to stay civil towards each other during today's amazing victory. We will miss you while you are in the U.S. and we can't wait to meet baby #3!!!