Fall happenings

My apologies, this post is going to be long, rambling, and random!  That's what happens when you play catch up!  Doesn't my baby boy look grown up in this picture?   Anyway, we've been trying to spend as much time outside as we can.  The fall weather has been beautiful.

Had to throw in a picture of Sarah's cute sweater...

and our cute beagle, Sunny.   Just so you know, we love our beagle.  She is the sweetest dog.  I would highly recommend a beagle as a great family dog.  :)

Logan turned eleven (!) this month and had a great time with friends at a place with lots of trampolines.

And lastly, we scored BIG on our local online classified.  This is definitely not the type of toy we would normally buy.  Lots of fun, but way too pricy.  I happened to run across it online just minutes after it was posted-- CHEAP.  We thought about saving it for Christmas, but it's definitely an outside kind of toy, and not great in the snow!   

Blurry, but you get the idea.  :)   The three "littles" have loved it (and it wears them out, too)! 

Happy fall!  :)  

still here...

Yep, still here.  It's been far too long since I've updated, but life seems to be stuck on fast forward lately.  School has started, and we are all adjusting. 

This year's line up:  Logan-5th grade, Jason (he was unhappy in pic, but loves school!)-1st grade, Evan-sophomore, Sarah-kindergartner, Justin-senior

And just in case you missed that, we have a senior and a kindergartner this year!  Perfect timing!  :)

And now, for some comic relief... This picture demands an explanation, no?   On Sunday I stayed home from church with Jason, who was not feeling well.  Hubby got Sarah up and got her ready.  (Need I say more? ha ha) This was the fashion forward "Daddy do" she sported for the entire congregation.   Awesome, right?  I didn't see this masterpiece until they got home around noon.    Ah, well... at least he tried, right?  Heh.  :)

worth the time

Do you have N*tflix? I'm not trying to be a walking billboard for them, but N*tflix has some great documentaries/movies about adoption and Chinese life and culture. We've only had it for about a month, but I've enjoyed some great films that are well worth your time.   Here are some of my favorites:

Please Vote for Me: This enlightening documentary captures all the action as three Chinese third-graders vie for the position of Class Monitor in a democratic election (this was fascinating to watch on so many levels-- and as a teacher I've always wanted a sneak peek into a Chinese classroom).

Last Train Home:   Lixin Fan follows a Chinese couple who left their rural village for work in the city, leaving their children to be raised by grandparents. (the scenes of the very crowded train stations were unbelievable)

Daughter from Danang: This 2002 documentary follows a woman who reunites with her Vietnamese birth mother after being separated from family and flown to America in 1975.  (heartwrenching, bittersweet-- and didn't end how I expected it to.  Still thinking about this one.)

Up the Yangtze:  When the Three Gorges Dam makes life hard for the Yu family, daughter Yu Shui must take a job aboard a cruise ship, where she enters into a dizzying microcosm of modern China. Meanwhile, her parents face the rising waters of the Yangtze.  

Mao's Last Dancer:  Peasant villager Li Cunxin studies ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China's greatest dancers 

China's Lost Girls:  Accompanied by her team from her travel show, "National Geographic's Ultimate Explorer," reporter Lisa Ling flies off to China with American parents set to adopt baby girls, the casualties of the country's long-standing one-child policy. In hewing to this strict rule, families wind up aborting, abandoning or hiding their daughters, many of whom end up in the United States, brought by couples longing for children.

Together:  A young boy, Xiao Chun (Tang Yun), proves to be a massive talent when it comes to the violin, so his father (Liu Peigi) helps him find the best teacher in Beijing, far away from their hometown. There, Xiao Chun meets a nightclub worker with a heart of gold and finds true friendship.

These are just a few I've enjoyed recently.  Word to the wise--preview them before watching any as a family.  Some content may be upsetting/inappropriate for children for various reasons.  If you've seen any of these or have other movies to recommend, I'd love to hear from you!