Thanks Pei Wei

This week has been a rough week for me. I haven't been doing well emotionally, physically, etc. I haven't exercised in 2 weeks, which I'm sure makes a difference. I hadn't been getting a ton of sleep either. Every night this week I've been asleep by 10 because I can't keep my eyes open. Anyway, hope is on the horizon...the kids will be at my in-laws for the weekend, which means refreshment for me! (We are spoiled by our families!)
So last night it was Dave's turn to go to Bible study and I offered to bring the main dish. It was Chicken & Wild Rice casserole. I never tasted it, but I heard it was really good. I was way to exhausted to sit through some random dinner at home for me and the kids so off to Pei Wei it was!
It was actually quite perfect. Every one was well behaved and the service was so fast. We got there around 5:15; great time to eat dinner out with kids. The kids ate well, it's their favorite place. We had a some left overs which I packaged up to enjoy for lunch the next day.
On our way out to eat, I noticed a homeless man just off of Belmont. On the way home I was looking through my purse to see if I had any granola bars to give him, but nothing was there. So I made a quick turn and rolled down my window. I handed the grungy man our Pei Wei left overs and he was ever so grateful.
As we pulled away this led into a big discussion with Lilia about was just happened. She thought it was nice that we gave the man our food. She said to me, "We should have invited him to our house for a place to stay." I love her heart!!! (Don't worry, we would never do that!) I did explain why that wouldn't be a good idea. We also talked about ways we could love and provide for homeless people as we see them around the city. We decided on keeping a granola bar and a water bottle in the car for when we see someone in need. She loved the idea. It was such a great opportunity for her to experience the hardships of the world, yet see how as Christ's ambassadors we can step in and help.

It's that time...

Lilia's stuffed giraffe & Alex's Stinky Bear participated in the hunt as well.

It's that time of year when we do egg hunts. This year Alex is old enough to get in on the action. I have to give the kids really big hints, but they have a great time.

Cousins

 This is my niece, Ellie. She is so sweet. She is such a good baby! As you can see maybe from the pictures below, the kids adore her! They want to play with her, sit near her and entertain her. Granted she's only 8 months now, but in another year, they'll be best buds for sure!

Alex & Matt

Alex loves Shu Shu Matt. (Chinese for Uncle)
As soon as he walks in the door, Alex runs to him for a big hug. It's so sweet!

She's got talent!

I come from a family of talent. My dad's dad  was excellent at wood working and carving, my dad is good as well. My dad's sister makes these gourds. She buys, dries, cuts, burns, and paints them. Everything is by hand. She's amazing!
Theses are her latest spring projects.

Cousins

Alex & Ellie (8 mo) 

Ready for spring

Walking to church

Easter Preparation

This is a total Pinterest find. As soon as I saw it I knew we were going to do this one. I already had all the tools necessary except the grass seed. ($11 at Lowes for a decent size bag.)
You don't need a lot of grass seed, so I gave plastic baggies to my friends so they could have fun too.
The kids have LOVED doing this! They helped with every step. As you can see, watering is probably their favorite part.

Tye-dye coffee filter eggs

This craft comes from this blog. It's a great blog that I just started following. There are tons and tons of great crafts to choose from, among other things. So one day we got started on our own version.

Color an egg-shaped coffee filter with markers. 

Place it on cardboard and gently spray with water.

Hand them from a mobile once they've dried.

Back in time for a day

Peter & Alex holding a real fossil with Liguo, a visiting scholar from China

 Dave met Dr. Peter Dodson, a leading paleontologist at Penn. Peter has explored all of the world in places like Egypt, Madagascar and China digging up dinosaur bones. Wow! They met at a Penn faculty Bible study. Now put 2 & 2 together...a Christian paleontologist. Well this past week was spring break and Peter invited us (the kids especially) to his office to see some bones.
Li (pronounced "Lee") has recently become a Christian!

This is the arm bone of a pelican. 

Comparing sizes...

Lots of fun

Lilia looking at an ostrich egg

Do you want to know how to tell the difference between an ordinary rock and a fossil?

Lick it!

Seriously...because of the marrow in the bone your tongue will stick to a fossil, but not to a rock. 

Alex saw Peter stick his tongue to this dinosaur fossil and so he did too. Don't worry, he'll be just fine.

Peter licking a dinosaur fossil 

Lilia holding a fossil

Play time for the adults

 This is, as I'm sure you guessed, a tortoise shell!
Peter told us that one year for Halloween they used this shell as his son's costume. Fun!

This took a lot of speculating. The eye socket is the curve pictured just above my hand. There is a hole on the top of the skull. There is a dividing line that goes down the center and a large hole on my left of the skull. So the hole would hold a tusk of some kind, but it's smaller than an elephant. It's a marine mammal. Have you guessed it yet?

If you guess narwhal then you got it right! I got to hold the skull of a narwhal! I was in my glory. I didn't realize how much I love nature in this way! I was having more fun than the kids, asking about everything and asking lots of questions with child-like fascination. I'm so thankful that Dave met Peter and that he also invited to come back any time!

Skulls

Tiger skull

 Peter had showed us anything that we asked about or that he thought was interesting. I loved how he would have us guess what the fossil was instead of telling us; giving us clues along the way.

A type of fish 

Trying to match the fossil to the picutre

Valley Green

If Wednesday was gorgeous, then yesterday was perfectly glorious!
After dropping Lilia off at preschool, Alex and I zipped over to Valley Green to get some exercise. It was so warm that I was in a tank top and pants and still sweating! (and I don't shed layers easily.)
I love those moments when Alex and I have time, just the two of us.
We went off the trail and went down these steps (pictured) in order to go down to see the river. We just sat for a moment taking it all in; the sun, the sights and sounds of the river, and the ducks flying around. It was such a perfect moment.

Birthday zoo trip

Wednesday was a glorious day. The weather was beautiful and we decided to go to the zoo as part of Lilia's birthday celebration.
We haven't been since maybe November so the kids were so thrilled to see all their friends again.
This giraffe is Abigail. She was born last April or June. (I forget.)

Lilia over the years

4 months

15 months

2 yrs

5 yrs old, with her cousin Ellie

4 yrs

2 yrs 

4 yrs

2 yrs

3 yrs

4 yrs.

3 years

9 months

Ode to Lilia

Oh my Lilia,


I love you so much. From the moment you were born you have been fairly easy to parent. 
You were a delightful baby, a sweet and fun toddler, and now you are 5! I'm so thankful to God for you. 
God has created you so beautifully. I love your personality and your character. You are so thoughtful and loving towards others.
You are out-going and always have so much information to share with others. That makes me smile. 
You are a natural born leader. I love that about you. 
You are strong-willed and independent. 
You are so mature for a 5 year old. 
You make me laugh so hard. I love the things that come out of your mouth. Oh, and you have such a great laugh! I'm smiling just hearing it in my head.
I'm so thankful that you are my daughter.
I know God has great plans for you. I look forward to see how you will bring Him glory though how you live your life. 
I love you.


Forever my heart is with you,
Mommy

A Birthday to Remember?

On Saturday we celebrated Lilia's 5th birthday. She officially turns 5 tomorrow, March 7th.
My mom took the kids Thursday afternoon and brought them back Saturday for the party. I had my list of things to do to get ready for the party and I was checking things off! It was nice to be able to get the table ready Thursday evening, knowing it wouldn't be touched. Everything was perfect for Saturday's 2 o'clock celebration. I even got to work with Dave Friday and be so encouraged in what we're doing with international students.
One by one the guests arrived; family and friends. We talked, played, ate. The kids played a game, decorated a craft (thanks to my mother-in-law) and went crazy for candy after the pinata was broke open. We sung "happy birthday" over cupcakes and dixie cups. All in all it was a great success...until Sunday.
First I got sick, then Alex, then Lilia, then Dave. It started with nausea, which led to throwing up. Oh and don't forget it coming out the other end. Even some of our party guests got sick as well. I felt absolutely horrible. I have no idea where this terrible virus came from, but knowing it was your party makes you feel bad. The only good thing is that it's short lived. Today we are all doing fairly well. Lilia and Dave are recovering, but I think the sickness is behind us.
Oh, and one more sad thing to dampen such a big celebration is that I don't have a lot of pictures and the fairly good ones I do have of Lilia are blurry. This will be a birthday we look back on and laugh about; just not yet.