The Pacific Northwest

We just got back from a week in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We first headed to Seattle for a couple of days where we attended a youth conference for some young brothers and sisters in Seattle. Dave was invited to speak, and it was a wonderful time. Matthew, Nathan, and Aaron had a ton of fun even though they didn't have their own class (since it was a high school retreat, there weren't any other children there save one baby who is the son of 2 of the counselors). We stayed at this place called Camp Berachah (Berachah btw means valley of blessing). There were playgrounds, and afternoon activities where there was zipcording and a giant swing. I did not participate in any of those extreme sports (I tell you, I am getting old!), but Matthew and Nathan did go on the giant swing. I am trying to upload a video of them.

We got to stay with Ben and Joanna Sun (and their baby referenced above, Dylan) at their home in Edmonds after the conference for a couple of days. It was lovely and relaxing. They fed us well - too well. . . homemade Chex mix, chicken and apple sausage and scrambled eggs for breakfast, tropical fruit sorbet, haagen daaz icecream bars, a midnight snack (we stayed up talking after the kids went down - SOOO FUN!) of frozen eggrolls toasted up in the toaster oven. Also I must mention that we went to Thai Food, and when we went on the ferry to Kingston - we stopped for icecream and onion rings. In fact, we almost missed the ferry back because Ben went to buy the onion rings for us :-).

From there we drove to Portland to visit Dave's grandma and his Aunt Jenny and family. Lots of fun and very relaxing as well. Aunt Jenny has 4 boys (only 2 are still living at home) and their house is perfect for my boys to play in - very kid friendly, toys galore, and also 2 boys there ready to play with my little boys. It was a good time. The weather was really WARM for Portland - in the nineties, which was very strange for us.

All in all a great trip!

Our Old Stomping Grounds. . .and Playing Catch Up

This post is way overdue. We've been out of town for a week in the Pacific Northwest (hopefully more posts about that at a later time), so I am trying to catch up here :-).

Ok - so when John (Dave's brother) and his wife, Eunice were here with their two adorable boys, we went to visit a place very near a dear to Dave, John, and my hearts. . .

Here are some clues.

I have walked up on this little area atop cement steps MANY times.


I have sat on the edge of this fountain, chatting with friends, reading, and snacking. Once, I even attended a baptism of a friend here. Yes - he was baptized in this very fountain! A striking memory is also when many moons ago, when Dave and I were first starting to "get together," there was a crowd of our friends all gathered around this fountain, and our eyes met and Dave flashed me a tender smile. That was one of the moments that gave me an inkling that he thought of me as more than a friend.




Yes, it is CAL. Berkeley - our university! Where we each spent 4 years of our lives. Where Dave and I met in InterVarsity campus fellowship. Where I had the time of my life - hanging with friends, learning and studying with so many resources, met SO many DIFFERENT people, where I had more independence, and where I had wonderful fellowship with brothers and sisters, and earnestly began following the Lord. Love this place :-). So many memories. I'm such a Cal fanatic - do you know that when I see someone walking down the street with a Cal shirt or hat on, I get happy? That I usually stop them and ask if they went (or currently go) there?


It's hard to swallow the fact that Dave works at Stanford. Boo. Hiss. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful that he has a job that challenges him and that allows him to provide for our family. But goodness, Stanford. We went to a dermatology gathering at Stanford, and the Stanford spirit band showed up - and the Tree. I just stood there the whole time thinking, "Really? I can't believe I am here. This is such a *Stanford* thing to do." I was wishing that I was watching the blue and yellow and Oski jumping up and down instead.

Anyway, after walking around campus a short while, we ate at a "new" restaurant (the location is new, although we have been to the original before which is on the other side of campus) called Sun Hong Kong. Yummy Chinese food for students.

Oh - and this is all discombobulated, but before we went to campus, we did take Jayden to the steam train at Tilden Park up in the Berkeley Hills. He was delighted. It was a tiring but lovely outing for all of us. So good to bring the kids to our old school.

John Williams Is the Man

Another random video. Everyone loves this one in my family :-).

Sea Cliff Beach

Probably the last beach trip for the summer. Sigh.
My brother-in-law, John, and his wife Eunice and kids Jayden and Evan came for a 6 day visit. We were thrilled!
Among other fun things, Eunice and I met some friends at the beach on Thursday. It was chilly - but the kids had a blast. Sea Cliff is south of Santa Cruz - in Aptos, to be exact. Do you see those black flecks on the horizon in the following photo?

Those are BIRDS. Can you believe it? There were thousands of them flying, diving, swarming over the ocean. We think that there must have been a school of fish they were following. Pretty wild. We could spot pelicans and sea gulls - I don't know if there were other typed of birds. Anyway, it was really cool to see. . . like something on the Discovery channel.

First Day of School 8/2/10

Yesterday was our first day of school. I am homeschooling Matthew and Nathan this year (Matthew in 4th grade, and Nathan in K), but they are also going to a Mandarin immersion school nearby for just the Mandarin part. The school is called Premier International Language Academy, and it is about 10 minutes from our home. So far I have been impressed, but it's only the second day :-).

Aren't they cute in their uniforms? I love guys in uniforms. . . something about uniforms makes them look so sharp :-).

Nathan was quite excited about a school experience (he has never been to school, save a once a week homeschooling co-op last year that met once a week),


and Matthew. . . well, not so much. . .


Well, at least SOMEONE is happy :-D - Aar Bear bustin' a move.


Love notes from Mom and Dad in their lunchboxes. Nathan has been SO looking forward to getting a note in his lunchbox.


Lest you worry too much about Matthew, he did fine. He even begrudgingly admitted that his teacher was nice. But if you remember or feel so led, please pray for him. He is in a second grade Mandarin class - everyone else in there has been in immersion school for 2 or 3 years. He barely knows any Mandarin right now, so it's going to be a tough transition. We'll see if he can stick with it :-). Nathan is ok because everyone in his class is just like him (no previous Mandarin experience) and he is still enjoying the novelty so far.

I am enjoying having some one-on-one time with my little bear bear. He misses his brothers, though, and even asked if he could go to Chinese school when he grows as big as Nathan. Sniff - my babies are growing up.

A Day In My Life

Here is are photos chronicling a day in the life of a stay at home mom. Ready?
A couple of caveats. This was not such a typical day because it is summertime. We didn't do any schoolwork. Also, we had friends over so we stayed home nearly the whole day. That is not the usual for us.
Oh - and it's also usually more messy here. I couldn't help but try to push the clutter out of the scope of my camera's viewfinder when I would snap pictures. And of course knowing I was going to document today made me more conscious of trying to keep things tidier.

When I climbed out of bed (because Aaron was ready to "go out"), I walked down the hall to the older boys' rrom and saw that they were already up and out of bed.


Well, it was already 8:00am.


I always start thinking about dinner already at the crack of dawn (or before that), so I went to search for crockpot recipe for dinner.


Don't think I've told you all yet, but recently we have been waging WAR against cockroaches in our home. Blech! It means I vacuum religiously. So here I am vacuuming first thing in the morning (photo courtesy of Nathan).


Matthew is getting cloth napkins out to set the breakfast table.


I make scrambled eggs for breakfast. . .


And put together some the crockpot recipe into the crockpot and turn it on.


Eeeks - quarter of 9 already! And the kids haven't eaten yet.


Nathan is ready!


And we do our family morning devotion from Keys For Kids (a free


Today's date.


Our Bible verse memory for today.


After breakfast, Matthew tries to put the vacuum back together for me. I had some trouble with it when I vacuumed earlier. Since this time, that vacuum has been returned to Costco and we have gotten a replacement for it - we couldn't fix it :-(. But thank goodness for Costco's unconditional return policy. We had had the original vacuum for almost 2 years with no receipt.


We are expecting our friends, the Kus, to come over at 9:30. I am watching the kids while their mama has an appointment. We decide to dump out all of our legos on a sheet so that they can build to their hearts' content.


They should be here soon.


But when they get here, they decide not to do legos, but to play a game of Pokemon cards. . .


And badminton. . .



Aaarrgh - breakfast dishes still waiting to be washed.



But instead I decide to make rice krispy treats :-).


Yummm. Aaron didn't really eat it, just poked at it.


I have to call the boys' educational specialist from the charter school they are doing independent study (homeschooling) with.


When I am done with my phone call, I go check to see where the little ones are. Justin and Aaron are in my room playing with Legos there.


Since everyone is happy, I start folding some of these mountains of laundry!


But soon it is time to think about lunch. Quesadillas all around!


What time is it anyway?


Card game still going on!


I got the laundry folded!


More dirty dishes :-(.


Some DS time for the boys.
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Aaron is having fun with the math tiles.





The Ku boys went home, and then look what was on my doorstep! A box of Sonlight books!



The boys are already digging into the new books :-).


Wow - Dave came home early today! But still has to finish a couple of things at home. . .


But then Dave and Aaron take a group nap together :-). Too sweet.


Man, those legos are looking awfully messy now. I am dreading cleaning them up already.


Some tv time while I go for a jog (couch to 5K) and get the rest of dinner ready.!


Roasted asparagus.
Our crockpot teriyaki chicken.



And Dave sneaks a bit of rice krispy treat


Aarg. More dishes!


Then there is a bit of an interlude here that I didn't record. We went to the library for story time.

When we get back, it's time for a before bed snack, but it's getting late. Gotta hurry!




The books we got from the library.


More cuteness.


A last minute sweep. Again, we are raging war against cockroaches, which means we must sweep and vacuum religiously..


Teeth brushing.


And the older two are finally. .


OUT.


Here's the time...and would you believe that Aar Bear is still awake! He didn't fall asleep until 11:00