A few photos from April and then I think this blog is done. Blogger doesn't let me have my gmail address as my only email address and that is the only one I want. And now, my browser is no longer supported by Blogger, so I can't really even see what I am posting/writing right now. Maybe in the future I will craft a new blog, but for now I'll just have to email photos to you, Gran! Besides life here in our guo ji familia has pretty much caught a nice wave & we're happily riding it out 'til the next phase. Thanks to all who've read this for years. You can still find us on Facebook too.

Zippy Turned Nine!

It has already been nine years since those forty long hours of labor brought our beautiful younger son into this world. He is still my sunshine just as he was that evening of his arrival nine years ago. True to himself always and a kind, thoughtful, mature litle soul. And a bit flamboyant too. Happy b-day, Zippy!!

Another Gymnastics Party

Another Birthday!

The Spark turning eight holding a photo of her from the week we met seven years ago in Hunan.

More pics after her gymnastics party tomorrow!

CNY, pt.2 + birthday boy

Finally, the rest of our Chinese New Year photos! Above is Cupcake and her friend, E. Below is The Spark with BFF and another good pal.

Our failed attempt at getting a group shot. Three of the kids (two from China) are missing b/c they were a little too shy to even get that close to this mob scene.

And now for the birthday boy:

Opening presents. Some new lacrosse gear:

Yeah! Pumpkin Pie!

Chinese New Year pics, pt. 1

A few photos from last week's Chinese New Year party. There will be more if I can find the camera cord. Plus we have pics of #1's birthday on the same camera with missing cord. It's been a busy, fun couple of weeks.

weekend pics

The Spark's second gymnastics meet was tonight. This was a much bigger competition than the last one with somewhere between 25-35 girls in her age group. She got FIRST on bars! 9th on floor. 13th overall. And she cleared the vault both times (phew!). It was destined to be a late night since it was far from home and started late afternoon/early evening, so J and her brothers took her. And Gramma Ramma, Grampy Dude, and Aunt Caitlyn went to cheer her on too since it was very close to their house. I'm hoping J got video of each event, but luckily big brother #1 with the steel trap memory was there so I know I'll at least get to hear her official score in each event. It was a 9.45 that gave her the top spot on bars, her favorote event. Woo-Hoo!!
And I got to leave work early to make a few runs with the Middles yesterday. Turns out Cupcake is now the only snowboarder in the family who's still slower than me. The Spark has passed me by! She hung behind and after 1/2 of our first run she said, "Mom, I usually go faster than this so that is why I keep getting kind of close to you." I asked her if she'd rather go in front, but she said she liked riding so that she could keep me in her sight. The tables have turned.

I'm hoping I was slow because I broke (or sprained) my second toe on New Year's Eve when I stepped on Cupcake's portable umbrella that Santa brought. It wasn't hurting anymore until I jammed it into my snowboard boot. It's just a toe, and I waited a week. But I'm going with the toe excuse. And if Cupcake keeps getting out there which she will since she has the get-up-and-go that her oldest brother always has, she'll be flying past me in no time. She's linking turns on the flatter stuff already. Best part is, she's hooked. She loves it! She and #1 were cut from the same cloth in so many ways.

Christmas vacation

Zippy with his new (hand-me-down) iTouch. It seemed to be fused to his hand for the first few days after Xmas.

J trying out one of his assorted fake moustaches from The Spark:

The first gift Xmas morning...

All four after seeing Santa at the town Xmas party:

Skating in WV

New board!

Cupcake really got the hang of snowboarding this vacation.