Better Late Than Never

It seems like I am always late when it comes to posting pictures of the kids. Here are their pictures from Valentines Day and Caleb's seven year-old portrait.

Hey, at least it's still in the same month... that has to count for something, right?

Cuteness

Hanging out while brother is in Karate class.


Getting an early start on lunch.

Xin Nian Kuai Le! 新年快樂!

Happy belated Chinese New Year!  We wrapped up this special celebration by meeting up with some friends downtown at the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center.  It's very cool that Phoenix and Taipei are Sister Cities.  There was authentic food, games and crafts for the kids, performances and, of course, shopping.  We sampled Red Bean Buns, Dim Sum, Potstickers, Taiwanese Sticky-rice and Wontons.  Myah didn't want anything to do with the food and instead spent most of her time eating oyster crackers and hanging out in her stroller.  If I had to guess her ethnic background based on what she likes eating most, she'd be Italian.  Lot's of carbs there!  It was very cool to see all the sights and we all had a good time.  We even got to see an authentic Dragon Boat that came all the way from Taipei.  

Caleb, Myah and Leo

The Battle for 'Ma-ma'

Hearing Myah say 'Ma-ma' is a rarity. Don't get me wrong, she can do it (and has for a while) she just seems to know that it's the one word that I really want to hear. To illustrate this point I will let you in on a recent conversation.

Me: Myah, say Ma-ma.
Myah: MA-MA.
Me: Good girl! Say Ma-ma.
Myah: (smiling) Da-da! Da-da!
Me: No, I'm Mama. Say Mama.
Myah: (smiling real big) No!

This was the first time we've heard 'no' out of her. I think it's her idea of a joke to say 'Da-da' when I ask her to say Ma-ma because she always smiles like a fool before she answers me.

7 Year Old Honesty

Caleb's prayer at dinner tonight:

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for our food. Thank you for the beautiful day. Thank you for my family... (5 sec. pause)
And Myah...
Even though she cries a lot... (another pause)
And it's really loud...
Amen.

She Walks - Finally!

Myah has finally decided to start walking. Granted, it's still not something that she does unless she wants to, but at least it's starting to sink in. When she went to the doctor's office for her 15 month check-up she showed a bit of her 'true colors'. The doctor smiled a very knowing smile and said, "My, she's quite strong-willed isn't she?" I have to laugh because it doesn't matter what it is, if Myah doesn't want to do it, good luck getting her to. My girl can be sweet and silly one minute and stubborn and demanding the next. I guess we better watch out - we've been told this is just preparation for the teen years.

Myah took her first 'step' in November over Thanksgiving. It was literally one step. Her balance is absolutely amazing and it's totally been a stubborness issue - she just hasn't wanted to walk. Over the past few months she's taken a few steps here or there (all on her terms) but tonight was the first time that she walked any distance beyond a few feet. Hopefully we're turning the corner with this. Now we need to work on the little old woman walk. lol

Silly Baby Girl

We were eating lunch and Myah was in such a silly mood that I just had to grab the camera.

Why we love Phoenix

Today is January 19. Do I really need to put a caption with these pictures?

Please don't send hate mail. :-)

Birthday Cake

Every year the kids get to make and decorate their own birthday cake. This year Caleb made a confetti cake with chocolate icing. On top of the chocolate layer he added another layer of icing to make an American flag, then he finished it off with sprinkles. Just to answer your questions: Yes, it was all his idea and he decorated it all by himself. No, I don't normally let my kids lick icing off of knives, but he is seven, he was being supervised and it was a very dull butter knife. Yes, he's wearing an apron.





Caleb got so excited after blowing out his candles, he forgot exactly how many fingers to put up. At least that's what I hope happened - if not, I need to have a talk with his math teacher.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Caleb hit the big 7 today. Man is he getting old! He woke up this morning convinced that he grew an inch overnight and declared that he is ready for second grade now. Every year on his birthday he gets to have anything that he wants for his birthday dinner. Usually this involves some type of fish or shrimp since that's a rarity in our house. This year, he decided to go a different direction.

Here's a little bit of the background: The school Caleb attends does not have a cafeteria so the kids bring their lunch everyday. He usually gets a sandwich, cheese stick, fruit and crackers. Several of his friends take Lunchables. Caleb has wanted to take a Lunchable to school for the entire year. To help him understand why he can't, I explained that Lunchables are too expensive and the food in them is not very healthy for a growing boy. I did tell him that if he still wanted one, he could have one on his birthday. Guess what? He remembered. He decided he didn't want to take it to school, because apparently all the kids try to snitch the 'treat' that comes in the box. He decided that he wanted his Lunchable for dinner. I offered shrimp, I offered fish, I even offered steak. Nope. He wanted a pizza Lunchable.

Have you ever bought a Lunchable for an overly excited child at 6pm at the grocery store? It makes you feel like a bad mother. We get to the cash register and Caleb is dancing around singing a song about his lunchable. The cashier gives me a knowing look and says, "Too rough of a day to cook tonight?" How do you explain that you're not too lazy to cook, only that your son has been looking forward to this moment all year? You don't - you just smile a half smile, pat your child on the head and let him carry his precious cargo out of the store.

I did have to laugh at Caleb while he was eating his pizza. He declared that he didn't really like the sauce because "it doesn't taste like our normal sauce - it's probably non-organic". Seven year olds can be soooo picky.