I spy fun

 walking to buy fireworks with some lucky bamboo shoots in hand

 Almost everywhere we look from any point in this city we see cranes!

(One of my friends told me that when she first moved to this city ten years ago there were only hundreds and hundreds of cars and now there are thousands and thousands!

 Josh and I had the privilege to enjoy a mid-day date on Chinese New Year! Our city felt deserted since most folks spent this holiday in their hometowns- far from city life. (Seemed many folks who were "at work" were taking advantage of this fact!) The only restaurant open was Muslim Hot Pot. Yum. Many times Chinese people ask us if we "xiguan" (are used to) life in China. My response is now "Xiguan le!" (I am!) This date seemed so normal!     

 I would love to write a poem about cranes since they are everywhere. 

Cranes. 

High up in the sky.

I look up and see so many. 

No, they do not fly. 

Tomorrow's creative writing project for Lil and Cade! I will try to remember to post theirs!

 grillin' & chillin'

 baked eggplant

 soy sauce, lime & garlic marinated chicken

 3 kinds of potatoes in a packet

 Our sweet friend Alex is leaving for America next Thursday already :(

 We are thankful for all the fun we have had with her during her stay in China!!

 Smiling over gluten free cinnamon rolls! (Thanks to GG for the coconut flour!!!)

 cinnamon rolls for all

 I can hardly believe we were able to pull the pool out in the beginning of February! It got warm for about a week and then really cold again. Now we are back to about 60's during the day and 40's at night.

 I did purposely "hide" the pool behind one of the beams in the porch so the neighbors wouldn't see us (!) I would get yelled at for sure for not dressing the kids warm enough, let alone putting them in a little pool in February! 

 Girls just wanna have fun!

 sweet Lil keeping everyone under control

 Obs just walked in and saw this picture and goes "cute!"

I agree :). I love this pic. A little dabble to test the temp. What else are big toes for?

 Our countdown for "Americ!" (Like some Chinese folks say :) We are already down to 32 days!!!

 Our precious new friend Hosanna Isabella Emanuela Stream.

 her proud parents and our good friends Jon & Alma

 the brodes is walking… with the help of his "che"

 and sibblings

(I love those rolls!)

 Sunday morning meeting at our place. Never a dull moment!

 So- Cade turned 8 this month (!!!) and we decided to throw a big party for him. Seems I have been able to pull off about one big party for one child a year. Cade's turn to get celebrated! We decided on a "Spy" themed party. I found a picture of a detective online, and drew it onto bigger card stock. I had all my supplies sitting on the dining room table as I taught L and C their morning subjects. When I finished, I returned to this sweet sight. All three younger girls found themselves a book and were trying to copy the pictures onto their own paper! I love it! (To make a short story long!)

 Olivet pretending to read to whoever will listen

 Tuesday girls' night with Viv! We took a bike ride to the notebook store, ate together, then returned for a manicure and pedicure!

 Though I usually feel wiped by the end of the day, I treasure the bits of one-on-one time were are able to have. 

Good thing we planned ahead- Cade's b-day came up fast! 

 

Josh and I got him this (not real) lego Ninjago set. He enjoyed putting it together but commented that since it was cheap, the pieces didn't fit together super well. :)

 Getting pizza ready for tomorrow's fiesta!

 Thanks for Alex, Esther and Rachel's help!!!

 Cade could barely eat any cake for his birthday. Afterwards he confessed to eating almost a half container of frosting while decorating the cake! (Ha! I was upstairs hanging laundry- he probably thought he would get away with it, but his stomach ache couldn't hide the truth!)

 Sometimes I feel like I'm in college again as I hang door signs. 

 I wonder what the neighbors were thinking :)

 At the end of the party we had a scavenger hunt with hidden clues around the house using QR codes. There's an awesome website where you can type in the clue and print the codes. Then the kids need to scan the code with a mobile device to obtain the next clue. I'm not so old-fashioned after all, huh Cade? :)

 This was fun. We painted the bottom of an old pair of shoes with brown paint to look like foot prints and put them on the stairs from the first floor all the way up to the seventh, leading to our "Training Camp." 

 the door to our complex

 We played lots of fun games- this one (Bombs Away) the kids were popping balloons tied to their feet. Last one with a balloon not popped won a prize. Did I mention we had awesome spy music on in the background?

 BFFs Nate & Cade

 Including babies, there were 26 kids! I almost lost my voice by the end of the day, but it was worth it!

 Presents!

 Awesome gift from Austin- a ninja mask!!! 

 My first cake that "rose" since moving to this high-altitude city. It pays to read the allrecipes.com reviews!

 Cake time!

 I think Cade felt celebrated!

 Gus is 11 months!

He's so goofy! He was teasing me and would not look. I know he was being mischievous. These days, my favorite part of this age is the morning and evening snuggles (not so much the mid-day whines :).

 new feet

 See! I have 6 teeth!

 August's friend that's a girl April

 and her sweet folks

Tang owns a noodle restaurant/ chain (with over 30 locations). Sophie has been a wonderful friend since I met her shortly after April was born. August and April are only a month apart.

 yum

 These are sweaters April's aunt made. 

 All night the girls were wishing they had one like his!

 chicken pot pie (random)

 Dass teaching herself how to stand on her head. She is one self-taught chica. Instructions? Directions? No thank you! Let me figure this out on my own!

And finally! A family picture we took for Alex- we are each holding something that reminds us of her. Alex, we will miss u!