Joey's First Day of School!

I am way behind on this, but nearly 3 weeks ago now, Joey started his first year at Chinese Kindergarten! Hard to believe he is ready for school already! It's been a rough start because he's been sick off and on and has had to miss a few days, but overall he loves it!!

Ellie showing him the way to school (and apparently carrying his school supplies for him). It was Ellie's first day back to school after a WHOLE WEEK of summer vacation!
Trying out his new backpack!
And one more pic, this time in his "chicken clothes" (ie school uniform)!

While Daddy's away.....

The other week Andy was gone for a couple of days so I the kids and I decided to put up a "tent" in the boy's room. The kids LOVED it! We laid Joey's quilt over some of their chairs (making for a really LOW ceiling), then brought books and games in the tent to read and play with. We'll definitely have to do this again!

Family Vacation

Last week we went on our first ever, "just the 5 of us", family vacation. We didn't want to go too far away, so we headed a couple hours south, and into the mountains just a bit, to a cooler part of the island. We had a nice couple of days, despite the nearly constant rain, courtesy of a hotel with a pool!!!

First stop, Museum of Entomology.....butterflies, bugs, and more!

Elle next to some ishy bugs!

A Taiwan beetle (well, one of many of them)

Next stop, Sun Moon Lake. We were there in Dec and it rained, too. Oh well! We took a shuttle boat to the different tourist stops around the lake.

We had to purchase cheap slickers for the kids. Much easier than umbrellas, and it left their hands free so they could use the binoculars they bought with their very own money!

The perfect use for a slicker....a GIANT bib for the ice cream cone they got before heading back to our hotel!

We almost made it to the top of HeHuan Mountain before the kids woke up. All they wanted to do was go back and swim. So....

.....we happily obliged...

...and they spent the next couple of hours in the pool!

Then it was back to our comfy room for dinner, showers, and bedtime!

Last stop was to visit friends who took us to a park with fun rocks to climb on!

...and make Mom nervous!

My Little Helper

It's peach season, so I decided to make a peach crisp (I've never made one before). Ellie was right there to help me and she made a GREAT crisp!!!

Joey's last day home alone with Mom!

Joey's off to school on Monday, so on his last day home alone with me we went out for a "treat." He LOVES food from 7-11, which is a bonus for me....nice and cheap! We headed to the one at the train station and he got to pick out his lunch. Then we went to the Starbucks next door so Mommy could get her treat as well. I'm going to miss my little guy, but I am so excited for him to meet new friends and learn lots!!!

Our Graduate

Isaak graduated from Chinese Kindergarten tonight! It was a very cute ceremony that included performances from all the classes. Those pics will come later, but here are some that the school took. Congratulations, Ike!!!

Riding on His Own!

Last weekend Isaak came back from horse back riding with A Ba and was oh so proud because he got to ride the horse all by himself!! Way to go, Ike!

Taking after Uncle Kyle

The other day Joey helped himself to a cold hot dog. I had to take a picture because it reminded me of my brother when he was about this size (maybe a little older).

Recital Pictures

Today was Ellie's recital! She did a great job!

Getting ready...hair and make-up

Waiting with her friends

Show time!!

Ellie's First Ballet Recital!

A Week Away

Last week we headed a little south for the annual Taiwan Missionary Fellowship conference. We had a great time learning, being in the Word, seeing old friends, & meeting new friends! The kids had a blast attending their classes (kind of like VBS) and swimming every afternoon!

Our little fish (well, not so little anymore)!

Ellie wanted to be in the big pool but needed a little help because she's too short!

Riding his surfboard (ok, it was a kick board, but he had fun)

A pretty worn out little boy! It was a BUSY week for him!!

Random Shots

These are all shots that were taken on Father's Day (I know...really late!).

Joey's version of a "thumb's up"....He's going to have to work on that!
Ike was so tired at dinner that he started falling asleep while eating!
Lucky for him he has a great dad who carried him up to his bed!
Just to prove that Ellie really was there to help her dad celebrate Father's Day (the better pics are on Andy's camera, sorry).....

Donut Face

This is the face of a happy boy eating a chocolate donut (thus the chipmunk cheeks)!

"Speed! I am Speed!"

3,4, and 6

3

4

6

3, 4, and 6!

Joey turns 3!!

Joey turned 3 on Monday! I had to steal his cars in order to make his race track cake. He didn't seem to mind, though! Happy birthday little guy! We love you!