Family Beach Trip 2015: Duck, NC

We had a blast this September on our first-ever combined family beach trip to Duck, NC. Hoping to make it an annual tradition.

We were so excited to make these pictures dressed in white on the ocean. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate (although I don't regret using the good weather days at the beginning of the trip to enjoy the beach!) There's always next year! The photo failure was almost ironic after I went to such lengths to make sure the kids matched because I forgot the suitcases with Archie's and Grace's clothes! (Packing fail.) Thankfully, friends and family helped out.

Archie was not shortchanged on birthday celebrations this year. Yet another eighth birthday party at the beach!

Good friends:

We love grandparents! 

And siblings!

And having fun!

 

Our excursion to Jockey's Ridge let us see nature at its finest and give thanks to our Creator.

Happy Third Birthday, Grace!

 Happy Birthday, Grace! Even in the midst of a move, we were able to celebrate the special day (three separate times). My parents came up for a pre-birthday party and her friend party. She was able to invite three friends for the Big Three! She wore her fancy party dress, and she was a perfect birthday princess. I was really proud of the Dora princess cake I made for her even if it was a bit lopsided. My neighbor really saved me by giving me some colored fondant to make the bodice.

The partygoers! (We made the fun crowns together.)

Where is Grace starting her third year anyway? At Grandma and Grandpa's! The kid and I are anticipating being here for about a month before we are reunited with Daddy and move up to Maryland to start his new job. Here's wishing happy (and speedy) thesis writing to Hunt!

Six Years Plus Five Kids

The last time my college pals, Rebecca, Angela, and Hannah and I were all together one of us wasn't even married. We said goodbye to Hannah in '05 then started scattering around three different continents and four different countries. Although several of us have individually had opportunities to see each other over the last six years, this was the first time we all four shared together. It was so great for everybody to reunite (minus one husband).

Girls and kids. Archie's the oldest and baby Conner wins the youngest prize.With Hannah headed back home overseas and another reunion looking like it will be at least two more years away, we have a bet going on. Next time we're guessing we'll have NINE kids between us (one more for everybody).

Just the girls.
We loved having the reunion on a farm. Hope to post some pics of farm life soon.

Life on the Farm!

Life on the farm is pretty cool! Two weeks ago, I braved another car trip with the kids to go see a college friend. With her sister's help on the road, we made it to Pennsylvania and had a great time! It was my first time spending extended time with old friends since being back in the States. We dressed the kids up for Halloween and made some cool pictures. That's a monster pumpkin (but I think our little pumpkins, i.e. kids, are cuter still).


Archie's favorite part of the trip was a tractor ride! Thanks so much, Uncle Karl! When we took Archie to see the dairy calves, he was a little scared and his response was priceless. I was holding Grace and my friend was holding Archie. When she asked if he wanted to get down and walk, he just said "NOPE!" Keep him away from those cows. MOOO!

Aren't they precious?

My favorite part of the trip was playing Settlers of Caton after the kids went to bed. I never won, though :( Maybe next time.... The kids slept in the kitchen and it worked great (although somehow Archie always ended up on the air mattress with me before morning.

We can't wait to go back!

Archie's new Jie Jie

We had a great time stopping through Shenzhen on our way back home. We got to see some of our friends from our Louisville days. When we first met them, we were the home culture and they were the guests. It was fun for the tables to be reversed as we were the guest culture visiting their homeland. Archie's favorite thing about the trip was his new Jie Jie (older sister). Their little girl is almost five, and Archie was pretty smitten with her. He got ridiculously excited and was always saying, "I hold Jie Jie's hand. I hold Jie Jie's hand!" They walked around hand in hand all day at the park (except for when they were racing each other).

We took the subway from Hong Kong to Shenzhen and went through customs where we got out. Archie likes the subway.

Here is our friend Weiqi holding Grace. It was our first time meeting each other's children since our children had not been born when they were in America, and their little girl wasn't able to come with them.

Here's the group (minus Weiqi who was taking the picture).

Another trip to Oil City!

We had so much fun last year in Oil City, we just had to go back. Remember this? It's the ubiqutious oil drill. I heard there are over 40,000 in the city. The literal translation is "nodding head machine" cause that's what it looks like's happening.

Here we are at the train station with our friend Laura and her parents. (This station is one of the suburb stations so it's different than the one we rode into last year.)

Laura is a college student where we live so she rode back with us. Archie liked watching videos with her:

This was one of our train mates. I thought she looked like a typical older woman from our culture so I thought I'd post a pic.

This little friend was Grace's favorite train mate! They had a real baby connection.
Here's a nice family pic from after we arrived:

We didn't do much sightseeing this time around. The best part of the trip was hanging out with our Asian friends and their families.

Archie getting dressed for an outing:

Quality brother-sister time:

Grace enjoyed the full-length mirror:

She also enjoyed studying her characters. Haha!

She slept between us on this bed:

But, she took her nap on this pallet on the floor: