Ander Man

Ander turned one last week. I followed him around the yard (in weather that with humidity felt like 111*- only one of us minded) and took some pics of him playing. He has so many different expressions and looks that I wanted to try to catch just a few before they morph and change into something even more grown up.
I think back to September 21 of 2009 and I have to admit, a bit selfishly, that it was kind of a big day for me. It marked the first time that I faced the fact that I now lived in a different country and I began the very long process of accepting it. From the time we landed in Taipei until the moment I delivered Ander, I was very much in survival mode and the first thing I needed to do was have that baby. Don't talk to me about anything else until I have done that.
The second thing was that I was able to accomplish a personal goal of mine which was to have a baby naturally. There were many reasons why and some are too personal to share here but let's leave it at- it was something I wanted to do for myself.

I am surprised to find that countless times over the last year when faced with something that seemed too difficult, almost subconsciously I knew I could do it because of my experience giving birth to Ander. A large part of it was being prepared, like any challenge we face in life. But I have also come to believe that birth is meant to be a gift from our Heavenly Father where he shows his daughters how strong and capable we are.

(I have this urge to write more about how I am not judging any one else's birth choices (hey, I have 4 kids and one was quote, natural) nor am I ungrateful for the help and safety doctors have provided several of my family/friends. But I also just wanted to share that I was surprised and grateful for my natural birth experience.)
And as the months went on I finally faced my new reality of stinky, confusing, strange Taiwan where as I had heretofore been a competent adult, I was now illiterate and unable to communicate. I felt depression was imminent. Yet I had this sweet little bundle who needed me and whose hungry little cries forced me out of bed and my selfish/blue moods. I had a happy, healthy, sweet little baby to hang on to when I was having my regular "I HATE TAIWAN" days, and I knew that was more than some have. I think Ander's appearance, though the timing at first seemed obnoxious and inconvenient to our plans, turned out to be my saving grace in my fight against culture shock.
The last thing I wanted to say, and I know, you're thinking, how could there possibly be more?! But having had my first 3 children in Boise, swarmed and surrounded by family and friends- my experience here in Taiwan was obviously much ... different. I thought for sure I would mourn my family missing each new milestone Ander would make. And there have definitely been days when I wish everyone who would care, could see how dang cute my little man is.

But the reality is Ander has had many, many more people love on him and express his blatant adorableness or early mobility, or whatever it may be. They were mostly just perfect strangers. Perfect Asian strangers. I never would have thought it, but these Taiwanese people have loved my little baby. And I needed them to. Does that make sense?

Stopping me on the street to squeeze his chubby thigh and induce a dimpled smile around his two fingers in his mouth- echoes of "hoa ke ai" ( so cute) following us through crowded market streets- or a favorite, being surrounded in the Taiwan airport on our way home this summer, all of these grandmas taking turns squeezing the stuffin' out of Ander and then passing him on to the next grandma. They may not know him but I know they loved him, and that he made their day just like he would've his own grandmas.

K- that's not to say there haven't been a few creepers or annoying people trying to take pictures, but on the whole, the gestures were innocent and kind.
Maybe because with each child you realize more and more how time unfairly slips away when you have a new baby, but I tried really hard to take each moment to snuggle up this sweet boy of mine. Wonder if that had anything to do with why he started crawling and walking earlier- to escape? But I think not since even now in the midst of his literal running around the room, he still comes to me for hugs, I bend down and he leans in and pats my shoulder. If that doesn't melt your heart, you should get that checked out because you probably don't have one.

H20 in September

Kennedy just finished up her first of two swimming sessions during school. This time they showed us how they had learned to exit a large boat (maybe aircraft?!) in an emergency. They held their life jackets with arms crossed over their chests then jumped in the water straight as can be, finally signaling to the next in line with a raised arm that it was safe for them to jump.
Kind of a fun picture, Kenna is in the middle with her feet facing left.

Next we have 30 seconds of a rain storm from the other day. Even with all of the drains our yard has it was still flooded. Taiwan can be efficient at dropping the rain, that is for sure.

You may have heard we had a typhoon this last Sunday, this video is not that. The typhoon was kind of weak sauce if I am being honest. But glad we were all safe.

Lastly, we have the most random of all, right outside our house we discovered this geyser spewing forth one afternoon. I gathered the kids to investigate with me. The construction guys had set up a sign but it was all in Chinese so I assume it said, "We make big mess, long time fix, No sorry." or something along those lines.
In the end we had ZERO idea what caused the geyser but we were pleased when it soon stopped along with the mysterious little stream that had been leaking across our drive for the past week or so. It was probably my neighbors toilet water or something. Maybe that's what the sign said.

History repeats itself

One winter when my older sister Natalie was about 7 we were sledding at my grandparents house in Montana. At one point Natalie randomly picks up a saucer shaped sled, puts it on her head and says in a loud, monotone voice, "I'm a China girl, ahhh!" For whatever reason this 5 seconds of family video became a classic. And in my offspring I have produced the sequel:

A pretty legit sequel if I do say so myself.

A gardener comes every 2 weeks to tame our massive jungle and Kohen has taken to being his "helper". The gardener Daniel probably hates it but he is too nice to say anything. I came outside to find Kohen wearing this local hat, hauling all of the huge tree cuttings up the drive way and picking up other branches and putting them in the bag. He was certainly pulling his weight.

Kohen was in love with the hat. He wanted it. But I convinced him he needed to earn his own. And he really needs to because it does seem to fit just right.
He's a China boy, ahhh!

Handerpants

I was recently given the best, most pee in your pants funny kind of gift. It was extra funny due to an inside joke but I have confidence it is funny enough on it's own merits to share. And I'm just gonna give you this caution: BEWARE. Once you see this product you are going to wonder how you ever lived without it. No, it's not the Snuggie, though this product would compliment one well. I present to you:

Handerpants- Underpants for your hands!!!

As you can see there are "hundreds of uses", namely Texting, Construction, Cooking, Cruising, The Elderly(???), and Night Blogging.

I can't believe I have engaged in so much night blogging without the safety and comfort of my Handerpants! tsk tsk on me.
Now I've discovered that Handerpants work wonders for "Night" Texting too!

Not to mention doing your hair,

Channel Surfing,

Warding off attacking Crocodilian,

Truly, the uses are endless! Do you know what is already awesome but becomes dazzling with Handerpants?....

Jazz hands!!!!!

Don't Sweat It

We have a sliver of a backyard with a 30 ft jungle covered wall on one side and the back side of our house on the other. Because of the house the backyard is shaded most of the day which creates a slightly cooler atmosphere for the kids to play in. That and the fact that I don't have to slather them from head to toe with Sunblock (The UV index in Taiwan is very high and very dangerous most days from May through August) makes this a fun place to play.
On this scalding midmorning I discovered my little crew of artists were giving the backyard a makeover. And yes, that is like a wool beanie Kohen is wearing, it's his favorite. He wasn't taking it off. Anyway, they painted away for literally hours. I checked on them often and had them keep hydrated, but I am telling you, in this heat there really is just nothing that helps if you have to be in it.
Sweat beading down their bright red faces doesn't seem to phase them, at least not enough to come in. And that my friends is where I draw the line. I go inside to bask in the glorious A/C and keep an eye on them from the window.

So what, you may wonder, does one do when they need to exercise in such a hot and humid place. Simple answer? SUFFER.

I have recently started running a bit- infrequently- because exercising in the best of conditions is not my fave, so add Dante's inferno and imagine where my attitude goes (here's a hint *flush*).

The humidity is the killer. I looked it up on Wikipedia ergo I'm pretty much an expert. Normally our bodies cool us off by sweating, right? Well, humidity essentially disables your body from sweating properly, making it difficult -if not impossible- for your body to cool you off like it should.

I came home from running the other night and told Nathan that never before had I been so tempted to tear my clothes off in a public setting before. Seriously! It felt like I was suffocating and every where that cloth was touching my skin felt like when you stand too close to the camp fire- I just wanted it off! Possibly my skin too. I mean when you feel like you are burning from the inside out, somethings got to give.

I have never been one to blush or have much of a flushed face from exertion, but check out what I look like after my non-impressive run + 6-8 min drive home in a highly air conditioned car:

I heart humidity.

Mind the Gap

Shortly after Ander turned 9 months he started walking. I guess it's only 3 months I feel ripped off from the immobility I could've still been enjoying, but the kid is bright and healthy so I shouldn't complain, nevertheless... Our house is not baby proofed, and thanks to Taiwan quirks/oversight/indifference we have an extra layer needed to secure our home.
Take the stairs for example. On the third story up there is a gaping, and I mean gaping opening in the railing. The above shot shows how if someone was as unlucky as this doll was- and fell through the gap, it's fully two stories down before you meet the hardwood floor.

This is typical in most houses we saw when house hunting. The railings would often be short, about the height of my hips, and then the spindles are spaced quite far apart. Most people I know buy netting that they tie across the spindles for safety. Thankfully our banister is higher and because of the glass there are fewer gaps to worry about. But what an impressive gap it is. Right now we have some temporary safety measures in place -velcro, is surprisingly strong. I had Kennedy hold Ander by the stairs to illustrate the problem clearly.
Besides the plethora of oddly placed plug ins right at a toddler's eye level, several dozen unforgiving wooden stairs, and plenty of bite sized toy parts/bugs hanging around, I guess there isn't too much to worry about.

(notice the Cheerio up on his ear, saving it for later)

Ander just turned 11 months old, he has now perfected his walking skills to the point that he practically runs from place to place. He still loses his balance a fair amount though but pops right back up without skipping a beat. I continually underestimate his abilities, he is learning so much faster than I give him credit for. I've had to take the knobs off of the oven, and push things further back on the table/counters because he has go-go gadget arms. He long since discovered the toilet- I found him the other day happily watching his handy work, a new roll of toilet paper soaking up fresh pee water in the toilet, clapping his hands all the while.

Here is a video to show a smidge of the walking...

And then a clip of Nathan trying to change Ander's clothes while the babe does an uncanny pig squeal impression, and I get busted at the end.

I know each child is different, but I don't remember wrestling with my other children like this until they were closer to 18 months?

Lastly, I have to say Ander is a happy, HAPPY boy* (*Unless you try to change his diaper or his clothes). He is pretty darn patient with his siblings "playing" with him and doesn't seem to get too upset when he can't figure something out, he just tries over and over until he succeeds. Who knows if his determination will remain so strong as he gets older, but for now it seems to serve him pretty well.

And did I mention he's a mama's boy? yeah, I love that part.

First Day of School 2010

At TAS they stagger the start day of the KA and Kindergarten students from the rest of the schools so Kennedy started school the day before her brother and sister. She is showing she is starting second grade here, though it ironically looks a lot like a classic Asian picture pose.
This was Kennedy's day two and Kohen and Aly's first day of school. Isn't Aly's first day of school outfit adorable?! Yeah, she starts a half hour after her siblings. Which, since the bus won't come up our hill, it makes for a lot of driving back and forth for us (8am, 8:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm) I might as well drive a taxi.
Kohen is starting Kindergarten. It is an all day program here and I hope he will adjust well to the curriculum. Nothing reminds me we are in Asia more than when I review what they are supposed to learn in a year. Like Kennedy's new teacher pointed out, here it is the "in" thing to be smart and do well in school. That is what is cool to these kids. Not sure Kohen is the bookworm type. Though I bet he could imagine and draw a cool one...
After much, much, MUCH indecision, debate and prayer we finally decided to put Aly in the Kindergarten A (like a pre-K) program at TAS. As soon as we made the decision and moved forward we knew we had made the right choice. I am so grateful when prayers are answered like that. Sometimes you have to move forward in faith before you get that reassurance, and it's always so hard to take those first steps.

Aly has been telling me that she misses me (literally just because she doesn't want me to feel bad) but also making sure I know she loves her new school. I really am going through Aly withdrawals. She is such a little comet- flying through life on fire.
I have to show the back of her hair, I love this do on her. It's easy, keeps her hair out of her face, stays in and it compliments her little face.
And a picture of these two because it makes me smile each time I see it. I don't think I noticed it that morning in all the chaos but I like that tie babe :)

And more on Ander to come... he. is. killing. me. Still want to just kiss those cheeks right off him though.

Sir Kohen's 6th Birthday

I was excited to enjoy Kohen enjoying his birthday this year. Then I came down with an ear infection and a sinus infection in my upper and lower sinuses. As all of you mom's out there know, there really is no such thing as a sick day- one of the biggest crimes against motherhood I say- and though Nathan did come home early the day before, I was really still struggling on Kohen's big day. I decided two main things had to happen for the day to work. First, I had to let go of about 30% of the decorating/playing/errand running I was going to do. Second I needed to grit my teeth and pushed through it.

It was worth it. I vacillated back and forth about whether or not to do a regular cake and stick a 6 on top or to do the dragon cake I had planned. At the very last second I went for it. Before you can see the picture please read the following.

DISCLAIMER: I could not find many of the suggested items for decorating the dragon. They do not exist in Taiwan. Wicked high humidity and frosting are not friends. In fact, they are enemies. I had to work quick. And lastly, I may have mentioned, I felt like crap. Thankfully, I made this cake expressly to impress my son and not my peers. I accomplished that, so what else matters right?

He was really into character for a while with his armor and the PB castle I got on clearance like 10 months ago (woot woot!) and his dragon cake. He made hilarious faces all night, it was classic.
This is the type of hug you get if you give Kohen a How To Train Your Dragon coloring book~

And the kind of face he makes when he is trying to show you his new lantern revealed something creepy- good chance of that at our house...
This puppet was a hit thanks to Nathan's antics with it. Kids think everything is funny. So good on the ol' self esteem, ha!
He blew out the candles and officially turned 6. Six years I have been blessed to have this child in my life.
See, I told you he loved the cake. It was worth all of the trouble, ten times over.

ps- We let the kids watch How To Train A Dragon for the first time for Kohen's birthday and they love it- how cute is that movie?!

Thrill Seeking

For Nathan and Taylor's July Birthdays Kysa and I surprised them by taking them up to Horshoebend area to a really cool Zip Line course. It was so much fun. A series of 6 different zip lines, one of them being the longest in the Northwest.
The last zip was a race (below), so I got a head start and then Nathan took off after me on a line running parallel to mine. In a classic move our camera fell out of his pocket shortly after take off - I saw it fall down, down, down. Our guide went part way down the hill and looked for about 10 minutes and unbelievably, found our camera. We were told people aren't usually so lucky. If you're wondering, Nathan still won our race. So maybe he's just lucky.
Non-interesting fact about me- I know, hard to believe there is such a thing- the day before I was leaving for college 11 years ago I was scheduled to go skydiving. It was canceled due to weather- and then off I went to college.

Fast forward to five years ago when all of our family went to watch my SIL Tara go skydiving for her birthday. My MIL Bonnie mentioned that she thought it would be cool to go some day too. Have I mentioned that she is a double amputee?
Present Day: So for her birthday this year all of her kids surprised her by taking her skydiving! We all showed up to cheer her on and Tara went with again and Taylor and Kysa were scheduled to go too. Bonnie and Tara were first. In case you were wondering she did not wear her prosthetic legs to skydive- apparently anything that could come off -be it shoe, watch, arm or leg- is best to leave safely on the ground. I think Bonnie was a little nervous to dive but Tara was the pro and apmped to go.
A few of the grandkids watching the plane take off, they all think their Grandma is so cool. She is.
Believe it or not there is a Grandma under those layers of grandchildren. Bonnie was engulfed in a scrum (that's for you Furni) of grandchildren the moment she landed. She thought the experience was amazing and she can't wait to go again.

So guess what else happened that day? Nathan and I spontaneously decided to go skydiving as well. I am still surprised we decided to go. I had literally rolled out of bed, threw on the last of my clean clothes - I didn't even have proper foot attire so a shout out to my niece Rylee for lending me her lace up shoes :)
Nathan and I flew up together with the guys we were jumping tandem with. The little Cessna plane certainly didn't instill much confidence in it's ability to get us safely up to 10,000 feet. It had all these bare wires showing and ripped upholstery on the only seat in the tin can, the pilots. I may or may not have had thoughts like, if this is the upkeep on the plane... what about the parachutes??? For whatever reason I still got in. It was a beautiful flight getting up to altitude- the Treasure Valley was gorgeous from above.

Before I knew it the door was open and I was free falling, trying to catch my breath. It was amazing. AMAZING!
Though I went out first Nathan had a smaller chute so he landed first. Look at that handsome face, thankfully still in one piece. He doesn't usually wear Daisy Dukes, but the harness rides up in a way you won't soon forget.
My take: Stepping out of the plane you have a few last thoughts seriously reviewing your sanity but in an instant you are free falling, a freight train in your ears, hardly able to catch a breath trying to take it all in even though you are on sensory overload- and then, too soon, a big jerk as the parachute explodes open and tears you away from the greedy grasp of gravity. And then quiet. The float to the ground was so calm after the free fall. It was a bit like what I imagined, actually. Except for the insane adrenaline rush. Hard to imagine that.
Don't judge. I warned you I didn't dress (read: shower) for the occasion.

I was happy I didn't die. I love my husband, I love my children, and most days, I love my life....

But I still loved skydiving.

**Statistically speaking there is more risk each time we get in our car than going skydiving. Like by a lot. (okay, that wasn't exactly "statistically speaking" but you get what I mean) I just wanted to say that for my friends/fam (*cough* DAD!) who think we were crazy. :)