Last Minute Trip to the Zoo

If you haven't noticed before, I have a hard time deciding which pictures to post from our adventures. So, I tend to fall on the post-them-all side. This past weekend we planned a VERY last minute trip to the zoo to visit with our cousins. My cousin Jordan was down from Ohio visiting my sister in Raleigh so we met up so we got to see him too. :)  It was also the day after Caleb's 4th birthday! Happy birthday buddy!

Pierson LOVES "Jor-an". I think Jordan gained some muscle mass carrying him around all day! Thanks Jordan!

We went to the sea lions first. It was a great show as the lions were very active and kept swimming in circles in front of the glass. The kids would line up with noses pressed against the glass then jump back and scream every time they passed! Over and over they did this. Each time they acted as if they were really surprised that there was a large animal in the tank!

The teacher in Ayi (Aunt Kristi) came out. She had all of the kids hold their breath to see if they could hold it as long as the sea lions. Caleb thought he could. He didn't quite get the concept that just closing your mouth wasn't holding your breath.

Hiding in the polar bears den!

Pierson is the polar bear. Caleb is the brown bear. :)

We felt extra special because we got to see an African band playing. They taught us dance steps and even let the kids play some instruments with them! It was a lot of fun!

Pierson didn't want to go up front with the others so he stay back with Jordan who held his drum for him.




I also got a work out. The stroller I brought had room for three. The girls gravitated to mine. The boys went to Kristi's.There are a LOT of hills at this zoo. Our bums got great work outs! :)

Pierson and Maylin love elephants. When we first got to their habitat they were a little far away. But with Maylin and Pierson's professional elephant calling skills the elephants marched right up to the water hole. One of them even trumpeted for us!

Riding the carousel was a must!

Pierson thought the geysers were really cool. We'll have to get him to Yellowstone sometime.

All to soon it was time for the cousins to go. They had prior commitments for the evening and needed to leave by 2:00. Pierson was very sad to see Caleb go. He stood and waved at them yelling, "Bye I yobe you!" until they were out of sight. Then the tears came!

We moved on quickly to distract him. He was very impressed that the Polar Bear's hand was sooo big!

The zoo has a great area called the Kids Zone. The sign said 'messes encouraged'!  And that we did!
Maylin went fishing.

Pierson planted a garden.

They painted on a wall. (with water)

They dressed up in silly costumes.

(this is Maylin saying "you listen to me!" Pointing from her eyes to mine. LOL

We played with lions and alligators!

Beat drums.

And wrote some more. (Above says 'Maylin'. Below is how old she is.)

We looked closely at butterflies

And built forts!

(Notice the girl in the white shirt. She was probably about 7 years old. Pierson followed her around and "helped" her build a fort. What ever she did he did! He has a thing for older girls! lol)
All in all it was a great day at the zoo! It is such a blessing to be able to explore life with Pierson and Maylin!
Jor-an, Ky-eee, Ca-ub, Garcy and Ayi we love you and are so glad we got to spend the afternoon with you!

My Daughter at Riverbend Farms

Tuesday was Maylin's first field trip with school. She was very excited about going somewhere fun for school. Riverbend Farms is only about 10 minutes from Grandma's house but for some reason I have never been there before.

First things were first we got to go on a tractor ride (we were in a large covered wagon) to the pumpkin patch. We were let off of the wagon to pick out our very own pumpkins! Maylin wasn't exactly sure what to think of this.  As all the other kids scattered in pursuit of their perfect pumpkin Maylin stood back and watched. It has been so fun for me to share all their firsts in American culture. All the while I can't help but wonder what the kids think of our silly traditions.

"Why ewybody wear dat?" (the response I got when I tried to explain Halloween costumes)

"Dat Scawey! Why her have dat?" (the reaction to the scary masks at Wal-Mart)

"That a loc of candy!" (the first sighting of the Halloween candy area at Target)

"AHHH!" (the only thing I heard while Maylin RAN away from a life size talking witch at Lowe's)

When you think about it we really do have some strange traditions in the country!

 Soon enough Maylin figured out what was going on. I am not sure if she quite understands why having a pumpkin is so cool yet, but she figured out that everyone was trying to pick the biggest and the best.  She preferred the polka dotted pumpkins to the solid orange. (That kind of matches her personality!) She was proud of her "pumk with da yong stick and dots"!!

 While she was searching for the perfect pumpkin for Pierson she got distracted by a lady bug. Oh how her little mind is so much like Mommy's! Focus on what is in front of you until something little and cute distracts you!

 Once both pumpkins were decided upon she marched her little self back to the wagon with the same vigor and satisfaction that she has every time she learns something new/ conquers the world!

 After the pumpkin patch the kids got to play on the 'silo slides'. They climb up the stairs to the top of the silo and slide down giant slides at breakneck speeds! I did it once... and that was all! :)

 Maylin is an adventurer. She lives life to the fullest and stretches as far as she can reach for what she wants.

 She is an explorer. She pushes it to the limit climbing every obstacle in front of her.

 She melts my heart. She is becoming more and more affectionate and sweet as the days go on. Every day I learn how much more my heart can expand. Just when I think I couldn't love her anymore she squeezes my neck and says, "Mouwm, I yove you soooo much!" She leaves me speechless!

 She is precious. She takes time to smell the tractors roses.

 And she thinks she is WAY bigger than she is. She could take on any giant chicken any day of the week!

 She has a glow about her that lights up a room. She is joyful!

 She is ornery!

 She is physically tiny... yet bigger than life!

 She loves animals. (this puppy almost got stashed under her shirt.)

She is determined! She wanted to feed this turkey sawdust. She couldn't understand why it kept running away from her and wouldn't eat her treats! :)

She is my daughter whom I love!

Two Word Tuesday

Don't you?

A beach trip in October?

At first thought October seemed like an odd time to head to the beach. As it turns out it was perfect! It was a little brisk at times but nothing a towel or pull-over couldn't take care of. And since I have definitely passed the point in my life when the only reason for going to the beach was to get a sun tan we were in business!

 It left lots of time to build sand castles with Daddy,

 Be buried by Mommy,

 Be turned into a lobster by Brandon,

 Sport Katie's sunglasses while posing as a Mermaid,

 And watch Andy, Brandon and Daddy be pummeled by record high waves! This pictures don't do the waves justice at all. It was quite amazing! I tried to go out twice... neither time lasted very long. The first time I couldn't keep my bathing suit in place. The second time I came back in because I got nailed in the face by my boogie board. OUCH

 The kids who had very much enjoyed the water in August also found themselves 'in over their heads'! Maylin got tumbled in 10 inch water. Pierson did pretty well all things considered but was just worn out from trying to stand. I have never seen the NC water so rough and tumble!

 Pierson found a crab. (a dead crab). He became very attached to the little guy. So much so that he wanted to give it a proper burial ceremony.

 He climbed the dunes to find the right sea shells and grass.

 He then laid them in the arms of the crab and talked to him for a long while. I couldn't hear much of what was being said but I could understand his kiss and tears. I know that the Taiwanese take their burial ceremonies very seriously and want to provide their spirits with things for the afterlife. I can't help but believe that is what Pierson was doing. It almost brought me to tears watching him. He has lost so much in his little life. And probably so much more than I am even aware of. The only thing I could offer him during this time was to wait patiently for him and hug him when he was through.

 That evening we (our bible study group) went to eat at a waterfront dive. Provisions has the best shrimp burgers around. It also has one of the best views around!

 We got to take our family portrait! I think this might be one of the best family pictures we have.

 One evening we headed out to play putt-putt! Pierson got TWO hole-in-ones!!! Let's just say that none of the adults were able to pull off even one! The irony is that we were really trying and Pierson didn't have a clue what was going on. He just enjoyed hitting the ball around. :)

 Maylin was a little bit wacky with her golfing! But when she finally did get it in the hole she was thrilled and would yell, "Mouwm, I ged it!!!"

 We enjoyed a wonderful night of putt-putt, friends and ice cream! What could be better than that?

The next day Pierson decided that he was going to plant trees on the beach. So he found these sticks and would say, "Deese are gwow weal weal big!" Knowing that we won't be back to this beach for some time I simply smiled and said I am sure they will! We will check them out next time!" He was satisfied.

 Our last day at the beach was full of building sand castles,

 bouncing balls off of our heads,

And declaring to all that Maylin is in fact a princess!!!

Bye Bye Beach! We'll see you next summer!