Our Neighborhood Park

These boys love being outside. In our new neighborhood, there's lots of space for safe bike riding, and the park is only a 2 minute walk. We are so grateful!

These boys love to antagonize each other. They still are talking in Chinese, as their common language. lol. Tanner is now speaking less English than Chinese. Thus proving Hunter's theory that the reason why Tanner wasn't talking with us earlier in life was because his native language is Chinese. LOL!


Hunter is into big sticks and swords. He always seems to find them wherever we are. He's been super excited for Halloween. And we've been surprised to see him become more of an extrovert this month. He loves being out and about, he loves to go on scooter rides. He is still great at buttering us up with phrases like "you're the best in the world. I love you so so so much!" He's been home from school for an entire week b/c of a chest cough. It's been great having him around, he loves to watch me and tell me where his imagination has taken us. I've come to see that anything can be a spaceship. He has cheerfully helped me with the morning chores. He helps make his bed, opens the curtains in three rooms, collects the night time sippy cups, laundry and toys, and puts them away with me.

My house is not always tidy and perfect, and is not "company ready" at all times, but at least we're having fun together here, and the kids like being home. Try this idea for a week, and you'll see how much more fun you'll have with your little dudes; and not so worried about the house.


Last time we were the park, Hunter's new BFF, "Sisu (see-sue)" was there. Sisu lives across the street, and the two boys are always knocking on each other's doors to ride bikes together. Sisu is from Finland, and doesn't speak English. Though he has blonde hair and blue eyes, the two only communicate in Chinese, their only common language. The other day at the park, they sword fought in Chinese, with the all-time universal boy language of sword/light saber sounds: "psheeeew, shwoosh" etc.

Tanner is still my little charmer. He loves to be clean. He asks for his nose to be wiped, and always says thank you. He needs at least one bath daily. Tonight he helped me with the dishes for at least 30 minutes (we had a total of 5 adults and 8 kids at our house for dinner).

When he and Hunter wake up in the morning, they always lay in bed with us for about 5 minutes. Many times, we hear Tanner laughing down the hall as he makes his way to our room. He is also a worrier. When he sees Hunter crying, he'll cry a sympathy cry. I'll never forget the time he absolutely lost it at the water park when he saw Tim fall off his intertube. He was truly worried out of his wits! He's good at saying "sah-wee" when he breaks things. Which happens more often than it should :).