school pictures 2009 Savvy's turn

Moon Festival October 4th, 2009

Our local Families With Children from China chapter hosts a Moon Festival celebration every fall. We got a rough start on this Sunday, but we had a great time celebrating together at a local farm.




Our adventure started with a hay ride to the pumpkin patch.

Julia likes this one.

This is definitely the one. I will explain the bunny ears later.

Savannah takes a turn posing with our find.

I know what you are thinking, and the answer is 38... and this explains the bunny ears. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?

The choice has been made, but Wyatt wants a picture of this one. He is obedient and does not pull it from the vine.

Is this Cinderella? She keeps sitting on the pumpkins.

The size of a tractor wheel impresses this city girl.

We are heading into the corn maze. Maybe this doesn't surprise you, but I am from the city, and hanging tobacco smells awful. Gag!

This is a nice corn maze.
We still like each other.

I have my pride, so I am not posting the three or four attempts to get this shot.

I think they are done with the picture taking. Too bad for them. I am not finished yet.
-or "too bad, too sad" as Wyatt would say

It would be sad to miss these shots, wouldn't it?

Craft time

Zach pitches in to put paper lanterns together for the craft.

The finished product

free time!
Actually we were supposed to be getting ready to release helium balloons, but since our little people lost the balloons to the high ceiling of the barn, we played instead.

That little guy almost knocked Zach off of this...so funny. He caught Zach off guard and almost toppled him.

the lantern parade

an attempt to capture the group

sometimes there is no explanation for Wyatt

can't miss this shot

Rachel, Julia, and Annika. Rachel and Julia are in AHG together, and Rachel's mom is the leader. Annika and Julia attend school together, but they are not in the same class. Rachel and Annika are friends.

the barn at sunset

sunset on the pond....don't miss my previous post with this same setting just a little while later

"Buddies" I ran to try and catch them and get this shot. He still often calls her Xiao Bai "Shall By" which means "fair, little baby" (her orphanage nickname, and the name we called her while in China)

It's time to pack up and head home. This has to be one of the best days I've had in a while.

artist....God

This picture from our day on the farm was the last picture taken, and I thought it deserved a post of its own. The day started poorly. Nobody was prepared for church. The kids had nothing to wear as I have not pulled off the fall and winter shopping yet. Finally dressed, we left home so late that we turned around and returned. So when the evening ended with this sweet hug from God, I so needed it.

a birthday surprise brings a kiss

Zach turns 14 on October 17th. I know what you are thinking. I can hardly believe it myself. As this date looms ahead on our calendar, Zach has one big gift in mind...a big gift that comes in a small package, mind you. After some discussion Andy and I decided that we would get him an iPod Nano and make this dream come true. This breaks our typical birthday budget, but Zach has gone through three or four MP3 players that were cheap and not too hardy. He listens to his music daily. The decision made, we were awaiting a birthday surprise when trouble arrived. You probably guessed it! Yet another MP3 player bit the dust, so Andy and I spilled the beans and let Zach choose his own engraving on the iPod then placed the order. Now this is where it gets really cool.......Zach kissed me when we revealed the news. How often does that happen with a thirteen year old boy??!! Well I will tell you that I can't remember the last time he kissed his mom. We ordered it in late September, and Zach anxiously awaited the arrival on October 1st. More cool stuff-
Before buying the iPod, I learned from a colleague that iPod Nanos ordered online can be engraved. Hmm, I thought this to be quite nice for a young teenager to have his name and phone number engraved on such an expensive toy, so I investigated. Sure enough, two lines of engraving are available online at no extra charge. Shipping is also free. Zach has his name, phone number, and "Cereal Man" engraved on his iPod, and it looks as if it is supposed to be there as it is very nicely done. Don't ask about "Cereal Man." It is a nickname that is part of Zach's lofty goal to be class clown. Nice, huh?!
I still use my own MP3 player, so I am not well-versed in this iPod stuff, but these new Nanos also have pedometers. Zach has had a great time showing off the neat assets of this little gadget including the screen that flips from horizontal to vertical and vise versa when you turn the iPod. He can and has loaded a movie on this baby. Amazing!!! Wonder how quiet the van would be if we could afford these for all the kids? On second thought I am not sure I want to just plug the kids in and ride in solitude.
Zach let us know that his 13th birthday was kind of a let down, so hopefully, we have redeemed ourselves. In Zach's defense we had hoped to take each child on a weekend getaway to celebrate turning thirteen. Unfortunately, last year was not as we expected on many levels, and that trip has not been cancelled but postponed indefinitely.

School Pictures 2009

so I wasn't too thrilled with Wyatt's school pictures, scab on face, blah smile...you get the picture, so I decided to see if I could do an okay job myself, and this is the result...what do you think?

I will do the same with Zach and Savannah and, hopefully, get some better shots of Julia. I do have a couple of Savannah to be posted later in the week.