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Many people couldn't view this video through youtube, so I'm trying with Google videos...

Toddler Hayden

Ever since his first steps, Hayden's took off walking. It's such a joy to hear another little pitter patter around the house. Yet it's also sad because it really makes it seem he's not a baby anymore. *sniff sniff*

What's for dinner?

I think, it's broccoli & chicken & cheese. I love it, Mommy!



Lizzy, do you like it?!

Alright, so Lizzy's not a fan. She doesn't like cheese, but she's gobbling up that bowl of salad so I'm not complaining.
I count myself very blessed to have two children who love to eat!! I guess they take after their mother! :)

Hard Rock Beijing

We went to Beijing a while back to give the children their wellness checkups. Health-wise everyone is fine. We talked about Hayden's cyst on his eyebrow - doc said it's just cosmetic but we'll need to have surgery. I'm kind of worried about the full body anesthesia that he would need to get so we'll probably just wait until he's a little older. The fun part was the shots. When they're babies shots are so easy. Now that Lizzy's 4, she totally knows what's coming and she screamed and fought, J and I AND 2 nurses had to hold her down to give her the two shots. Hayden made a peep when he got jabbed and that was it.

Anyway, after the doctor's visit, we took advantage of being in BJ and went to have lunch at the Hard Rock. Here's Lizzy and her special treat - a milkshake!

Here's another shot, I think J spilled ketchup on himself...

Pinic at the People's Park

So we thought, what with it being Spring and all, a pinic at a park sounds like a splendid idea. We wake up Thursday morning and what do you know, it's grey and downcast, the air is chilly, and ayi comes in announcing her daily weather report - "there's a 80% chance of rain today". Oh well, we bundle the kids up and head out the door. One can't wait for the perfect day to go have fun.
Here we are at the People's Park. It is smack in the middle of downtown, and no one was there that day (gee, I wonder why, the weather was so nice...).

This old park had some surprises! We saw white tigers (somewhat of an endangered animal!)

We fed some animals (okay, Lizzy and I stayed at least 3 feet away, Mommy was afraid too)

We saw a beautiful white peacock

Parks in China aren't known for their high safety standards. Check out this slide?! Who in the right mind would let their kid go on this thing?! Come to find out you have to pay to go on it?!

The kids rode on some rides, this was a hit, they loved it.

With our wonderful weather luck, it started to sprinkle as we were getting ready for our picnic, but we found a pagoda, roof over our heads, laid our blankets down on the cold concrete floor and picnicked away!

Despite it all, we had a wonderful time, and the children had a blast together. What a blessing that kids don't care about weather and mud but just enjoy each other's company.

New bike

Spring has come and Lizzy got a brand new bike. She does okay but I can't say she loves riding the bike. She usually rides for a while and then wants to "park" it and just play with rocks and stuff. O well, at least the bike only cost me 200RMB (USD28).

Hayden's first steps

Vera

Meet our friend Vera. She and her Mommy and Daddy stayed with us for a few days last week. They were our friends who lived in Tianjin but now they live in Xiamen. She's 18 months old so just a few months older than Hayden. We had so much fun playing with her.

Hayden shared his toys with her, "Vera, here's a bunch of grapes!"

"Let me show you how to drive this car."

"Hey Mommy, (Auntie Cindy), you want to play with us?"

"V, you can borrow my high chair, but you gotta share some of your crumbs with me." Actually, the two babies shared a lot of their crumbs with each other throughout the few days they were together. Vera would eat, then Hayden would crawl over a few minutes later and pick up the crumbs off the ground and eat them. Then Hayden would eat, and Vera would toddle over and pick up the leftovers. At this age, food always tastes better when they're off of the ground.

Thanks for staying with us Vera! We miss you!

Hayden's first cake

Here are some pictures from Hayden's birthday party. His first birthday cake:


Who? Me? Is it my special day?

Opening presents with sister and friends:

Enjoying my cake. Yum, yum, yum.

Goofy Hayden

Happy Easter

Lizzy dye-ing (how do you write this word?) Easter Eggs with some friends. I felt bad because we only had brown eggs in the house, and they don't show color very well at all. Sorry Lizzy, next year, Mommy will make sure we have white eggs.

Here she is getting ready to go on an Easter egg hunt!


Here's one in the tree!


Check it out, Mom, I found one!

After the egg hunt, the kiddos played duck duck goose

What egg hunt? I'm happy just to chew my sock off...

We had so much fun with our friends - happy Easter everyone!

Happy Birthday Hay!!

One year ago today, April 5, 2006, God gave us this beautiful gift

Happy one year old birthday, Hayden! Mommy & Daddy and many others love you very much!


Note on this riding toy: it is called a plasma car and to "drive" it, you turn the steering wheel back and forth, the swinging motion moves the car forward. I couldn't believe it but Hayden learned how to drive it all by himself, it's pretty sophisticated moves! He seems so little to be driving around on this big riding toy, it's so cute. Very impressive, Hay!

Unfortunately, Hayden is recovering from some kind of virus that kept him in a fever for three days, and a rash that broke out all over his body. He is very weak and spends a lot of time sucking on his paci and laying on us.

Silly Girls

Lizzy's friend Adah came over to play - here they are playing dress up: