Imagine my surprise when I downloaded pictures the first time after getting to Boise and found these gems. After laughing my head off I focused and uploaded for your viewing pleasure. Please take a moment to scroll through the following photo shoot which I would like to entitle: Digital Improv By Kennedy and Kohen.
Aly was so excited the morning of her 4th Birthday. I've decided 4th birthdays are my favorite, they are beyond thrilled about everything and appreciate it all. 
After the movie we all went over to Nathan's parents house for treats and swimming.
As I watched the little trail of smoke fly away from the extinguished candle, I couldn't help but think about how with that one puff of breath my little Aly officially left her toddler hood behind. I thought of that aaand how she probably wished for everyone to find her "Knock-knock-whose-there-EYEBALL!" joke to be hilarious.
Unbeknownst to her, this little cutie has officially turned four years old. We are waiting until her Daddy gets back to celebrate together but meanwhile I've had a few days to quietly reflect on how much I love this 35 lbs of pure moxie.
Aly has discovered her Aunt Ashley's extensive collection of heels and is in love. She is determined to break her ankle in the name of fashion. I'm just glad it's someone else's shoes for once since many times over the last few months when we were rushing into the car to go pick up Kenna and Kohen from school, Aly would come clip clopping out of the house sporting a pair of my heels, ready to go. Frankly, she wears them more -and better- than I do. 
This Father's Day Nathan is working in Taipei and the children and I are in Boise. That means that we are apart and Nathan will spend his day uninterrupted by well meaning children, he will attend church where he will actually get to listen, and since he is on his own there is really nothing keeping him from getting a nap.... wait a sec. Those are all the things I want for Mother's day! Well, though it isn't my first choice for Nathan I hope it will be all right till next week.
As I considered what to write about Nathan I thought of all of the many, many, MANY things he does for our family and at first I thought if I wrote things like, "he plays with his children", "he does the dishes", "he tries to teach his children right from wrong" etc.- that it'd be gag worthy because all Dad's are this way. But you know what? You know what I've realized? Not all dad's are this way. Not all dad's care if they play with their children, help out around the house and take the time and effort to try and teach their children right from wrong. In fact anymore I'd say it's becoming more rare to find men like that. So it does need to be said. We are blessed to have many awesome BILs, FILs and Dad's in our lives who have been amazing examples of all that a father can and should be. But make no mistake about it, if you have a good man as a father in your life, you are lucky. We feel we are Four-Leaf-Clover-kinda lucky with Nathan.
Happy Father's Day Nathan!!! We love you! Buhboo! xoxo ej, Kennedy, Kohen, Aly, & Ander
Speaking of good men. My brother Justin, Natalie, Ashley and I were lucky enough to grow up with this guy as our Dad. Before I go any further I have to confess the reason my Dad's Father's Day card from the girls and I will be late is because I didn't get it to the post office. I am lame sometimes, please don't let this be a reflection on my upbringing. :)
One thing that I think happens to most people who have children is that at some point, maybe the night you are up all night rocking and worrying over a sick baby, or maybe just those quiet moments together snuggling up your newborn, completely in awe of them- you will have the realization that your mom and dad did these exact same things for you and what's more, they felt about their baby just like you do about yours. They absolutely were in love with their little bundle, they loved me as much as I love my baby. When I first had this realization I just sat there completely overwhelmed with the sudden understanding and knowledge of how much my mother and my father loved and cared for me.
But you don't have to be a parent to appreciate your own. These 3 ^ knuckleheads pretty much adored their Dad... At least until 13 ish when we discovered we actually knew everything and went on a sabbatical of sanity and didn't return until we were... much older. We are grateful he has loved us through it all. And of course Justin and Dad have been practically inseparable since those fateful words, "it's a boy!" and, as I imagine it, my dad let out a huge sigh of relief.
Anyway, we love you Dad! xoxo Natalie, Erin, Ashley, & Justin
I aspire to be more like this woman who, when faced with a room full of boisterous 4/5 year olds, continues to speak more and more quietly until the noise level slowly retreats to meet hers. It magical. 
I contrast that with Kennedy's year in 1st grade. When the girls in the class informed her that they had all been together since preschool so they were not going to be her friends, I think she was a little shocked. Especially after her Kumbaya-esque year in Kindergarten. I think I was shocked too. At first I thought things would iron themselves out over time but the girls held firm. 
Anyway! Much of the friend drama took place during recesses. During class things usually appeared to be okay. Kennedy loves school, especially reading and science. The school's science program is amazing. She would come home inspired all of the time wanting to recreate experiments.
Kenna brought home a CD with over 1,000 pics from the school year and it was fun to see so much of what went on during their school day.
Overall Kennedy enjoyed 1st grade. I am trying to block out the social failings she experienced and hope she overcomes them with ease next year. Meanwhile I find myself at 30 yrs old, resisting the juvenile urge to draw horns and scribble out a few choice faces on the above picture. 
I think I hated them the normal amount until they started playing dirty and attacking us at night. Like the morning Aly woke up looking like she had a bad case of the Chicken Pox but no, it was just 30+ mosquito bites, twelve of which were on her right upper arm. I was livid. How can you fight something in your sleep?!! It wasn't as if our home was inundated with them, all it takes is a few glutinous suckers to make a smorgasbord out of you while you're out cold drooling on your pillow.
And it's not like I'm stingy about my blood, heck I've given it to the Red Cross plenty of times. I'm just saying if something is going to come suck my blood, can I make a request it be this ^ guy, or maybe one of his brothers? I may not be a "Twihard" but I know a better deal when I see one. 
It's become a family effort, the kids often spot them first and ring the alarm Beyonce' style. I have good eyes but wow, theirs are better. Anyway, I'll go get the Racket of Death, two if I'm feelin feisty, and we hunt the offender down until we hear the most satisfying *ZAP!* - a sound that gives me a high I could easily become addicted to. Never mind that I just took out a bug that I am roughly 200 x's bigger than, by swinging around a large bolt of electricity. Over kill? I think not. Not when they play dirty and leave behind a reminder of their silent assault for days after they are gone.
These are our battle faces. Don't mess.
It might be a little hard to know the real focal point in these top pictures but the kids were insistent I get some shots of them with their new pet snails.
After some unusually cool temperatures this spring the heat, it seems, is finally here to stay. The proof is on Weather.com where it says the current temp. is 91* and with humidity feels like 103*. So we can all call me an idiot for wishing for warmer swimming weather just a few short weeks ago. On the up side the kids are loving immediate access to the pool and I'm loving the new 'motivational' tool I have for them to get their stuff done.
Anyway, I came out to find they had all adopted pet snails which they were quite proud and defensive of.
They had made them each a bed of flower petals,
then jumped back in the pool, content that their new family members were making themselves at home......
Never, have I seen 3 snails move as quickly as these guys did. They must have sensed their minutes would be numbered with my kids.
You are looking at the Gold Bullion of Taiwan. After I discovered the price of baby food here I realized investing in it could be a great way to diversify our portfolio, though not if I intended on feeding it to our son since that would be akin to flushing our money down the toilet.
68 dollars for a stinkin little jar of baby food?! Well, NT dollars anyway but still. That is about $2.15 U.S. on a good day. Granted, a lot of imported foods -and basically much of the food we buy to make our meals- is actually quite expensive but that is a story for another day. When I realized how much I could end up spending in baby food I indulged a slight panic attack before getting my hysteric breathing under control, putting down my brown paper bag and reminding myself that I used to make baby food for Aly so... I can do this... I think. 
One of my favorite things here is this little truck. See that cement dome in the back? That is an oven where they cook a couple different kind of potatoes. One or two nights a week Nathan regularly picks up baked sweet potatoes for dinner. They are delicious. Not only that but they are a super food, highest nutritional veggie score thank you very much. Don't believe me? Click here. 
For as expensive as foods are the produce is actually better, thankfully. I have been steaming and pureeing carrots and green beans etc. for the little guy but as reported before the green beans are not his favorite. If I put a little with the carrots he doesn't gag as often and will eat them without the afore mentioned tears. So, progress?
It does feel good to feed him something that I know is fresh. And nutritious. I save a few jars of baby food for emergency's but it feels good to avoid it with that price tag. One interesting tidbit, Ander does so much better eating with a regular sized spoon. I'm not sure why but it's SO much less messy when I just use a regular spoon. Bonus!
And finally, I am pleased to announce that Ander is going to have a little baby...........tooth! What did you think I was going to say? Ha! Definitely not that. Yes, after literally MONTHS of drooling we have spotted a little tooth poking through. Finally! Proof that all that drool "ain't been in vain for nothin." 
I am grateful to have friends in the know. Otherwise the Yangmingshan Calla Lily Festival would have come and gone and I never would have been the wiser. Thankfully I got to go up The mountain to have lunch with a few friends and see the sprawling fields of Lilies all in bloom. It was exquisite.
We took some time to snap some pictures though it's hard to do the scenery justice. I felt like I was in some scene from a Chinese movie or something. I would have hardly been surprised to see people flying/fighting through the air.
All of us minus Cici, on our way to go pick some lilies of our own!
I don't know why I love this pic of Aly so much. Maybe because it's so reAlyty. A new word Nathan and I have cause to use frequently with this one.
When I saw this guy walking by I wanted to ask how much for that bouquet? They are all so perfect and beautiful even in an old bin, I'm thinking I like lilies in mass. We actually picked our own which was fun, especially at only 10NT, or roughly 30 cents a lily. Even Aly got to pick a few and add them to our pile. It was such a beautiful and unique way to spend a morning. So glad I got to go!
