Merry and Bright.

Most of you had just about given up on me ever blogging again. 

Here's a condensed version of our life the past 10 months. 

Month 1: move to Fremont, CA enjoy life in an extended stay hotel

Month 2: Go visit UTAH!

Month 3: Road trip back to Fremont to visit a lonely OJ, camping in the Redwoods

Month 4: The kids and I back to Utah, OJ off to China. Rehearse for Wizard of Oz.

Month 5: Still in Utah...perform Wizard of Oz. Thinking surely we will go back to China soon.

Month 6: Still in Utah...Plan to move back at the end of the month. 2 weeks before flight...stay in America extended another month.

Month 7: Move back to Fremont to be with OJ for a month before we fly to China. More extended-stay hotel fun (ants, a mouse, bed bugs.....GETMEOUTTAHERE) My sister surprises me with a trip to Fremont to see us one more time before we leave.

Month 8,9,10: Move back to Dongguan, China to our lovely new home, which we love. OJ has been busy with work. I have been busy with getting us settled, getting Graham in school, and of course the onslaught of holidays that greeted us upon our arrival.

Its been an interesting year, one that I didn't anticipate. It was wonderful to be able to spend so much time with family and friends...oh how we miss them when we are away. But we also missed being away from OJ. It was hard on all of us. But we learned once again that we can do hard things! It was nice to get back to China and unpack our suitcases for good and all be together under the same roof.

Enjoy some pictures from our Christmas season...

Our new house! Just renting....but, so nice to be in a place that has a garage and a backyard! We put a studio inside so that I can start teaching in the new year.

bedtime stories and cuddles before bed!

OJ and I were Christmas shopping and met some players/coaches from the China NBA. OJ was excited...even though we had no idea who they were. We ended up talking to one of the coaches in a shop for quite awhile. He played for the New York Knicks for awhile and then recruited for them. By the way he was talking we knew he was important....we just had no idea who he was :)

Sitting on Santa's lap at the branch Christmas party.

Sunday before Christmas in Hong Kong at our friends home.

Lots of dressing up. especially now there is a studio with mirrors. Finley could watch herself all day long. :)

Graham came down one morning dressed like this. A pirate hat, dinosaur tail, and a beard I made for the prophet Isaiah for sharing time. 

Our get-a-way trip with the Oaks family to The Hyatt in Dongguan.

After riding boats at the local park we passed tandem bikes that you could rent. They all came with a baby seat on the back. We jokingly thought it would be fun if only they had another seat. :)

All we had to do is ask and they rigged a basket on the front. Only in China...

If we weren't the freak show before we certainly were after we rode this around the park.

It was a fun day. We loved having OJ all to ourselves. We don't get to see him very often with his work schedule.

Finley Mei

Our Finley Mei turns 2 this Saturday. I'm feeling especially sentimental about it.

Finley is our spunky, sassy, smiley little girl. She can charm you in an instant and just as fast have you counting to ten. This girl wants to do EVERYTHING by herself. She has to put her clothes on, shoes on, open the door by herself, put the key card into the door by herself, push the elevator button, climb in the car, climb in her carseat, and buckle her car seat...ALL BY HERSELF. If she struggles she will try again and if you interrupt that trying with an offer for help.. she melts down. The girl has determination. I reminded an impatient OJ in the car this morning as we were driving to drop him off at work (he didn't anticipate that it would take 15 minutes to get to the car) , "We wanted our children to be independent right?"

Although Finley has babbled in her own language....She has recently exploded with a vocabulary we finally recognize. Our favorites are:

*Wadoo : Water (repeated over and over again until she gets a drink)

*Don: Don't

* Daddy (Since moving to CA she says it ALL day long)

*Guck: Stuck

*Sues: Shoes

* I do (while jabbing at herself in the chest. We obviously hear this one alot)

*Ook: Look

*Bee: Please

The list goes on. We will however miss our silent skilled communicator. Who was very good at letting us know exactly what she needed using only her finger, grunts, and facial expressions.

Our stubborn Fin has a soft spot in her heart for OJ. The girl loves her Daddy. She has a love/fight relationship with Graham. Man, does she know how to push his buttons. And she knows it! :) But oh how she loves him. Always stopping randomly to hug and kiss him and feed him. They are turning out to be quite the playmates.

And me? I'm just figuring her out as I go along. I love my Finley girl and loving this stage. So grateful for the life that she adds to our family.

Happy Birthday Finley Mei Mei!!

Bedtime Stories

Tonight as I was tucking Graham into bed we had the following conversation.
G: "Mom, do you think when Jesus comes back he will want to come here to see ME?"
Me: "Of course, he loves you so much."
G:"Will he still have his nails in his hands?"
Me: "No, he doesn't have the nails in his hands. Just the marks that show where they were."
G: "Why did he have those nails in his hands?"
Me: "Remember those wicked men put them in his hands because they didn't believe he was the Son of Heavenly Father."
G: "Yeah, he was like this (putting his arms straight out to his sides) and he had those other two guys that were by him."
Me. "Yes, he did."
G: "Mom, did you know that Jesus has light in him? He is so bright that I have to do this (puts his hand to his brow) Do you think he's really bright, or is he just a little bright? Why is he so bright?"
Me: "Well, he is perfect and pure and holy, which is probably why he is so bright."
G: "Mom, do you think Jesus likes us to talk about Him and His light?"
Me: Getting choked up as I explain to him that not everyone knows or understands who Jesus is and what he did for us. So of course He likes us to talk about Him and His light because everyone deserves to know who He is.


I think I have an old soul on my hands...I'm worried I'll run out of answers for him before he's five.

Easter outfits

from the mouth of Graham

* "Mom, when you get married again...I want to marry you."

* When I asked him to help me he responded with, "Mom, I can't I'm terribly, pretty busy right now."      

    Maybe a little too much 'Charlie and Lola'?

*"Hey Mom,  my hair is growing up."

* This morning at 2 AM I wake up to G at the edge of my bed. His pj's are around his ankles and his diaper is in his hand. "Mom, I did it! I went pee in the toilet and not in my diaper. Can I have a treat now?" This is HUGE considering potty training has been/is a battle.

Easter highlights

I can't get over the green grass and blue skies. So beautiful.
I have a question...whatever happened to plain plastic Easter eggs? Ironically enough I could find them in China before I left. Not here. Nope. Instead someone else gets to choose what I put in my eggs? I don't like it, not one bit.
Couldn't find the kids new Easter clothes. They got lost somewhere along the way. Good thing I let them wear them our last Sunday in China.

Although we were once again separated from our friends and family for another holiday.I was reminded how much I enjoy being with my little family and how much I love them.

Sunday afternoon we watched "The Lamb of God" with Graham. He was really into it asking me questions throughout the movie. Later that night he came and kissed me goodnight. After kissing me on the lips he pulled away and said, "Mom, now I'm going to kiss you on the cheek like that bad guy did to Jesus." ---Ahhhh, how I love being a mother.

Hope your Easter was a happy and peaceful one.

Jet lag may be the end of us.

(Let me explain these pictures. Top Left: Let's just say jet lag has brought out the more extreme/obsessive behaviors in Finley. Top Center: Enjoying having a REAL bathtub again. Top Right: Just some morning coloring. Bottom Left: Landing in AMERICA (not quite as exciting when you don't have familiar faces greeting you at the airport). Middle: At the park. It may look like she doesn't want to swing, but she did. She also just wanted to hold her piglet and her stroller at the same time.) Bottom Center: Watching movies at midnight. Bottom Right: Of course out of all the movies he could pick Graham wanted the Christmas one.)


Its been awhile. I've had every intention of updating but our life has been crazy busy for the past month. From OJ leaving town for a week for job interviews, to a wonderful visit from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, to accepting a new job, to packing up and moving and flying out of China...all in a week and a half. Phew! It was crazy.

For those of you who don't know OJ accepted a new job with a company based out of California. We are here in CA now while he trains for 3-5 months. Then we will be heading back to China. I'm not going to put too many details here. If you want to know more email me and I will fill you in.

Anyway, exciting opportunities. I have mixed feelings about all of it. I'm excited for OJ. Not so excited to be living in transition in a hotel for those 3-5 months. This is a longer commitment which is always a little scary. I really thought I was done with China this time around BUT as always Heavenly Father has proven to me that He is in control not me. I'm missing the boat on the "having faith" principle. So we are having another go around. I have a feeling there will be many more rounds to go.

As for now we are struggling with jet lag. I know I've complained before but honestly this is the worst it has ever been. Finley and Graham have been awake from 12:30AM-6:30AM or longer every night. Then I try and keep them on their schedule during the day. And keep their nap short. We are going on 5 nights of about  3-4 hours of sleep for all of us. Its really starting to take its toll. AHHHHH its torture.

Hopefully we will be over the worst when my family arrives next week for a visit!

Missing this guy.

He's only been gone 5 days and I'm done. No more.

He's in the States while I'm here in China. Never thought that would happen. :)

Lots of changes on the horizon. Many big decisions to make.

Its been a crazy few years and I'm craving some stability and consistency.

---in whatever form it will come.

For now, I'm looking forward to Thursday.

17 months and 3 1/2 years

Oh how I love these cute faces.

at 17 months:

*Finley will dance to ANY music that she hears. Including in the aisle during the closing hymn "There is sunshine in my soul".

*Music is the only thing that will pacify Finley. But it has to have a beat...a strong, fast beat. Seriously, you've got to see it to believe it.

*She constantly has a doll/stuffed animal under her arm.

* Loves the shower. Can't shower while she's awake or she will jump in fully clothed.

*Takes one 3 hour nap.

*Sings to herself when she's tired.

* Signs more, all done, water, milk, eat, dog

*Dad is her favorite word/person.

* Loves to tease Graham. She steals his toys, dangles them in front of his face and runs away.

*Has 14 almost 15 teeth.

* Loves shoes.

*Wishes she could ride a bike like Graham.

* Will snuggle when she's tired.

* Has the cutest bow legged pigeon toed walk you've ever seen :)

* Loves when I read to her one on one.

* She's feisty and has a TEMPER!

* Loves to get into every cupboard.

*Loves to be tickled on her head/neck/ears.

*Loves to play chase.

at 3.5 years:

* Graham is kind and thoughtful.

* Working on writing his letters.

* Loves me to read books to him.

*Has the BEST imagination.

*Still loves anything with wheels.

*Often pretends he is an airplane, race car, or train.

* Pretends anything is a musical instrument. From batteries to screwdrivers.

* Gets so excited about anything and everything. Makes you feel like a million bucks.

* Always thanks me for dinner.

* For the most part pretty kind to Finley. (Tonight at dinner he said, "Hey Dad, Finley is our princess girl huh?!"

* Has the longest attention span ever.

* His favorite friends right now are Maya T., Maya S., Virginia, and Macy. Yes, they are all girls. There are NO 3 year old boys that we know.

* Is a procrastinator.

* Gives up if things are too hard.

* Is a perfectionist.

* Hates having his hands dirty.

* Is terrified of pooping.

* Loves to help me make dinner.

* Is the best eater! Will try anything.

* Is very articulate.

*Loves to play "fighters"

The Kiwi's.

One of the things I love most about our --going on three years-- in China, is the people we've been able to meet.

Meet Nikki and Shai.

They are from New Zealand.

Nikki teaches at an International school and is raising Shai here by herself.

I met Nikki because I am her Visiting Teacher.

Let me start by saying that before I met Nikki I didn't have much of a testimony of Visiting Teaching. Okay, I didn't have one at all.

-gasp-

I do now.

Before, it was someone who was "assigned" to be my friend. An insincere gesture at most. Another thing to "check" off the list.

Nikki has taught me a lot about love---the roll up your sleeve, get your hands dirty, hard work, accept people for who they are and what they have to give----sort of love.

The beautiful things is that we are so different. We are at different stages in our life, had different life experiences, have different interests.

And now, I get it. I really do. I see how it's meant to be. I understand the big picture.

And while I guess doing something because I'm supposed to may work for a minute.

I'm not doing myself any favors until I'm doing it for the right reasons.

Thank you Nikki.

Phuket.

Who knew all we needed was a little sun, sand, and blue sky to get us back in the groove of things. Phuket was wonderful. We spent our time on the beach, in the pool, eating, sleeping, riding elephants, driving the island, visiting an aquarium, watching the Disney channel, crashing motorbikes (OJ), and did I mention eating??

The first day we were there OJ had a little accident on his motorbike. He hurt his hand and spent 1/2 the next day at the hospital getting it checked out. Luckily, it wasn't broken. He was pretty bummed though, as it meant no kite boarding for him.  :(

Apart from our topless beach....it was a great vacation. :) We had friends that recommended the "family-friendly" resort. They went during the off season and didn't seem to have the same problem. Oh dear...

The Thai people are beautiful and kind. Although we've been to Thailand before it was nice to come back and visit a different part. It was a nice break from China...

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Happy Chinese New Year!
May this year bring you health, wealth, and happiness.
Love from our family to yours.

Lets go fly a kite.

OJ just got two new kites.

He's been like a giddy little boy.

Just in time for our trip to Thailand next week.

Apparently one is for me.

I think he should recruit Finley and Graham instead.

They were so excited to blow it up.

Kiteboarding here we he comes.

Happy Birthday Owen J.

Today is OJ's birthday (Well, last Tuesday. I didn't get a chance to post this). He doesn't like to make a big fuss about birthdays. I do.

I'll tell you why.

Let me start by explaining this picture.

--This was taken after he had been awake for about 38 hours. He is sitting on a plastic child-size chair in a chinese hospital. He has dried throw up all over that sweatshirt under his vest. I never once heard him complain. This is who OJ is. (not a smelly, sleep deprived mess :)A kind, sincere, unselfish human being who hardly ever takes a moment for himself.

I like having a day to celebrate him. Who he is and what he means to us. We are so glad you were born OJ. Can't imagine making this difficult, joyful journey through life without you.

The Zoo.

I made the mistake of telling OJ not to take any days off for Christmas. I figured he might as well save them since we had nothing planned. Well, by the time New Years Eve rolled around I had learned from my mistake and told him to take the day off. If I didn't get out and go somewhere I was going to explode. So we took the kids to the newly opened Zoo here in Dongguan. It was pretty impressive by China standards. It was a beautiful day, the kids were in heaven, and we had Dad. It really was a great day.

My intentions were to tell you about all of the pictures I posted because a lot of them have funny stories to go with. But I think I will just summarize :) I know, I'm sure you are all sad.

There was a big lake/pond in the middle of the Zoo where you could rent paddle boats. There were also 2 "shows". The animals did tricks and then the humans did. They had bears riding bikes, elephants standing on their hind legs and putting hats on kids. Then they had chinese acrobats perform. Chinese performances always seem to be a little dramatic...which is always entertaining/funny. Although I did want to barf when the dancers were rolling around on the ground where the elephant had just pooped on stage. Graham and Finley sat through the whole thing (1hr 30min) Which if you know Graham is not so surprising BUT if you know Finley it is surprising. The girl has no attention span.

There was a huge cage full of exotic birds. You could pay and get a small bowl of food to go inside and feed to them. Now, if you know me, I HATE birds. OJ loves them. So he was all about taking Graham in and feeding them. I told him fine but that I was waiting outside. Well, Graham is a bit of a worry wart and it took some persuading to get him in there. Of course when they go in all of the birds started flying back and forth in the cage. Well, that freaked Graham out. Graham is hysterical. Finley is sitting in the backpack oblivious. OJ is yelling for me to come in. So I went in and rescued Graham, oh the things we do for love.

No more ideas from OJ :)

Graham and Finley are always so popular with the natives. The Zoo was no exception with everyone wanting their pictures with them or just walking by and staring.

We really had so much fun--minus the bird incident--

2nd Christmas

Another benefit of living in China is being able to spread out Christmas. A few days after Christmas OJ brought home two big boxes from Grandma's and Grandpa's. They were so excited! I took this picture after everything had been opened and spread across the room.

Thanks for spoiling us!! We love you and miss you!

Say Hello....

to our newest sunbeam.

Graham made it clear he did not want to be a sunbeam. Weeks before I started talking it up and reminded him that his days in nursery were dwindling. He'd cry and cry and tell me he didn't want to be a sunbeam. Can you blame him? Lots of snacks and that really cool dump truck? Needless to say, I was hoping it would be a seamless transition. But, I did have my doubts.

Luckily because I was recently called to be the primary chorister I was able to watch the whole thing go down. I could tell he was nervous as he walked into primary with his arms folded scanning the room. The first person he recognized was his friend Macey's mom so he went and sat directly next to her. Problem is, she wasn't his teacher. So the counselor herded him over to his seat. He clearly and confidently stated his name when he was asked. I got up to lead the music and a big grin spread across his face. I continued to introduce a new song. Children kept volunteering to come help me up front. This went on for awhile until at one point I was standing directly in front of him and he raises his hand and sweetly says, "Hey mom, can I help you too?"

After church I was gathering up all my things. Out walks a confident boy with a purple crown on his head. As he runs across the room he yells, "MOM, I'M A CHILD OF GOD!!!" He continued to excitedly tell me about his experience in class. After a minute he paused and said, "Mom, are you done being a teacher? Can you be my mommy now?"

I'm not sure what happened in those 2 hours but he grew up.

I know, I know, its only the beginning. I just don't know if my heart can take it.

Christmas 2011

Better late than never. :) We spent the morning opening presents, skyping with family, and watching a movie in our new tent. It was a freezing, rainy day. I didn't want to cook. I had something planned but I had been cooking all week so we bundled up and headed out to Papa Johns. Yes, Christmas dinner at Papa John's...we're classy like that. Nice thing about China...nothing is closed on Christmas day. We were going for kid-friendly but had forgotten they didn't have any high chairs or rather "baby chairs" as they are called here. So we took turns making sure Finley didn't jab her eyes out with a fork, slam her fingers in the door, or get trampled by people walking in and out. We couldn't catch a taxi home so we all walked home in the pouring rain. It definitely was memorable!

PS. Doesn't my blog look great?! Thanks to my awesome sister-in-law. She's the kind of person that just has creativity spilling out of her brain. The ideas NEVER stop. She's pretty incredible. Not only does she do this but she does this as well. Among lots of other things. I'm just glad I get to benefit from her greatness. Thanks Dani, love you!