A night for a stroll

Last night after dinner we went to Kelly Drive to get some exercise. It's close by, enjoyable and we don't have to be out for too long. Well we ended up with the kids on the bike path headed towards the city. They biked for a long time. Dave and I were in flip flops & dress shoes, thinking that we would just be on a stroll around the azelea gardens.
Lilia brought her "i" phone so she could take pictures.

Opportunity

On Monday we dropped the car off for an inspection with a very trusted mechanic. I showed Alex the mechanics garage and then we walked next door to this place that rents out small machinery.
We were walking back to the car when this big burly man comes out. I explained how much Alex loves "diggers" and the guy said, "Does he want to sit on it?"
I was so excited for Alex, "Sure!" I exclaimed.
So Alex got to not only sit on this digger, but sit on the man's lap while he rode it and controlled the arm up and down.
Next they went over to the bobcat, also known as a skid loader. They drove that across the parking lot and back again. It was the coolest!!!

Wanted: Brown Squirrel

Help, Bell's been kidnapped.
Seriously I'm not kidding. Lilia had this Bell figurine out back on the little porch thing, on the table. I looked out back while I was eating my lunch just now and saw a squirrel on the ledge of the railing with Bell in it's mouth!!!!!
Dave opened the door and yelled for the squirrel to drop it, but it ran away up a tree. I wonder if he chose it to be his future bride? Maybe he thinks Bell will make a nice companion in his nest during the cold, long winter months? Maybe she can do something tasty with all the nuts he stored?
What ever he does with it, it's bye bye Bell!

Quotes from the days

Here are some recent funny quotes from the kids...
Yesterday after Lilia ate a huge dinner I said, "Wow Lilia your belly is so big!"
She lifted up her shirt and said, "Yeah."
Alex pointed to her belly and said, "Basketball in."
Lilia and I laughed so hard.

Today we were picking up Lilia from preschool and we drive past some construction. I pointed out to Alex that there was a "spinny truck," referring to a concrete truck. (Easier to say I guess.) He said, "Want Eeya (Lilia) see spinny truck."
So on the way home Alex pointed it out to Lilia, "Eeya see spinny truck."
Then we were coming over the hill on Lancaster Ave, just past Overbrook high school and Alex shouts, "Eeya see center city." To which Lilia replies, "Oh snap!"
It's more funny if you could hear his pronunciation of "Center city." Anyway, we see it 3 times a week, twice a day and he gets excited every time.

Later today Lilia asked me a question. Context: Yesterday Lilia got two cavities filled. (What 4 yr old has to start flossing!!!!!!!!!!!!! She has horrible teeth; we brush twice a day.)
So she asked me, "Mom my cavity filled hurts, can I put ice cream on it?"

Alex's cute quirks

Alex is so different from Lilia. One morning I was outside cleaning up leaves and he exclaims, "I want to help." So he proceeds to pick up leaves and put them in the trash bag.
Today I was putting the groceries away, while Alex was standing there watching for a minute. He them chimed in, "I want to help."
As you can see from the photo, whatever he took out of the grocery bags went right into the fridge. Frozen french fries to go with our turkey burgers are in front of the milk. Cereal boxes and triscuts are on the bottom ledge, and candy corn is being stuffed into the vegetable draw. I hardly think it counts as a vegetable, but we'll certainly add it to our diet.
I mentioned that Alex is so different from Lilia because for her to clean up anything is like pulling teeth. However for Alex to clean up anything, he gladly jumps in. In fact something he freely enjoys is dumping out the tub of Mr. Potato Head parts and then putting them back in. I'm not worried about this weird quirk. He's so friendly to anyone and everyone. He constantly says, "Hi man," to strangers that walk by, he gives excellent eye contact, and he's very outgoing. He just likes things neat and tidy like his mom.

My new friend

Yesterday morning I got to bring a new Chinese friend and her son to the zoo. Her name is Jing. I met Jing at the BBQ at Clark Park 2 weeks ago. When we talked at the BBQ I learned that she is really open to Christianity. 
As we talked yesterday I learned that she went to a Chinese baptismal service at Grace Chapel. That's where she first heard the gospel. When they sung praise songs, she said she was moved and almost cried. She told me what she understood of the gospel and then I got to fill in the gaps and explain it a little further. 
She was so happy to have come to the zoo with me. Her son had a great time too. She also said that the next time we get together she wants to learn more about God and Christianity. I plan on sharing with her the Chinese/English version of "Knowing God Personally."
Praise God!!! Pray for Jing. She is SO close to becoming a Christian. Her parents have no objections, and she already believes that there is a God. Those are 2 huge barriers that many Chinese get stuck at. Praise the Lord!

1st Day of Preschool

Today was Lilia's first day of preschool. She is starting her 2nd year at Overbrook Preschool. I love that place. It's really wonderful!
The shirt she is wearing is one she made this summer. I love the back. She wanted it to say "Lilia" and then she wanted a number below it. (I'm pretty sure she got the idea from Alex's Philies shirt.) The number she picked was 6100.
Right away she started playing with play-doh. Alex jumped in too playing with all the cars, trucks and fire engines.
I just picked her up from school and the first thing she told me about was that she got to meet a hermit crab. "Hermit crabs are shy." If you know Lilia, you know that would make her day because she LOVES animals. She talks about being a deer hunter one day, but one that keeps them as pets, not one that kills them.
When I asked her, "Did you like your first day?" She replied, "Kind of."