a 3 month catch up

here's a catch up post. Since July, all 3 have had birthdays, they've been introduced to Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and now we're in the middle of winter. They do ask often when the snow will be gone...they want to ride bikes. Of course, in Alaska, the snow is never gone, haha. below, Mei-Mei and Zhong-Lin's birthday August 17

a great kid pic taken after church, super hero and all

We waited til literally the last moment to figure out school options for the fall, just waiting to see how things really would be with everybody at home after some months of adjustment. And let's just say that it was plenty loud and chaotic. We ended up with Zhong-Lin going to kindergarten half day, and Mei-Mei and Han-Han doing a little 2 day a week co-op preschool and that has been working for all parties, especially me. The school would have preferred for him to be there all day, but we really felt that this year, being part of a family that other half of the day would do us all good. Sam and Emma are doing many classes online at wacademy.org which they've enjoyed. Can't always get them the quiet they need, but we're working on better solutions! Thanksgiving dinner at Zhong-Lin's school

English acquisition has been different than what I expected. It felt slow in the beginning; we used our 25 Chinese phrases endlessly and google translate was our best friend. But after 2 or 3 months, when the itouch got dropped in the toilet, no more google translate and it has been good. Honestly, kids are amazing in how quickly they learn...and that is with simple interaction, no classes or special assistance. They rarely, if ever, ask what is meant and they're fearless at using language. We all speak more choppy..."no listen daddy, You no go swim" or whatever. Emma has mastered the shortcut speech.

a bear hunt in early fall