A big 4 year old!

Happiest of birthdays to our sweet Mei Mei who turns 4 today!  You are a joy and constant source of laughter to us.  We are beyond blessed to have you as our daughter and little sister!  We can't wait to share in your special day today :)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to PA we go!

So we stepped into the pages of the Storybook Forest and Idlewild this past weekend.  

Of course, we had to get there first.  Hello road trip!  After leaving slightly later than expected (just one more potty stop), we finally got there!

It did not disappoint.  Perfect weather.  I mean, hello?! Mid-'70s and sunny.  Gorgeous!

 We tried out some of the "bigger kid" rides,

 but still found the charm in the land of make believe, fairy tales and nursery rhymes.

All last year, Mei Mei's preschool class would jump over a candlestick before they left their classroom at the end of the day.  She was so excited to see Jack--we had to text her preschool teacher this picture :)

 Such sweeties!

 After walking around for a while, it was nice to take a break and enjoy a train ride.

 A quick ice cream break before hitting up more rides.

What mini-vacation is complete without a dip in the hotel pool?  We were fortunate to have the pool to ourselves that night.

The next day it absolutely POURED.  Thankfully we had planned to go to the Carnegie Natural History Museum and Art Museum. The Noodle continues to be enamored with dinos.  How funny is this picture of Mei Mei sticking her head into the dinosaur's mouth?!  She was all like "Hey Mama, watch me and take my picture!".  Ha!

It was so cool to be able to see a real, live palentologist at work!  Right now, that's what she wants to be when she grows up.  #yougogirl!

 Love that expression on the Noodle's face!

 Googles?  Check.  Chisels?  Check.  Brushes?  Check.  We're ready for the dig.

After going to the Natural History Museum, we hopped over to the Art Museum.  There was an exhibit all about architecture and the design process.  J was striking a pose.

The weekend was a great little escape, filled with something special for everybody!

What's Up Wednesday

It's the last Wednesday of the month, so that means I'm linking up to participate in a "What's Up Wednesday".

What we're eating this week:

A friend of mine had sent me the recipe for Cantonese Soy Sauce Pan Fried Noodles and since it is no secret that there is a certain love of noodles in this house, I decided we're going to try this one out later this week.

Another staple that makes a fairly frequent appearance on the dinnertime table is Cajun Shrimp and Rice.  Again, shrimp. rice. 'Nuff said.

What I'm reading:

It seems to be my track record to get through about two books a month.  I started off with One- Impossible Starts Here by Suzanne Mayernick and Gwen Oatsvall.  Great read.  Loved it.  Wrote a separate post about it here.  No hesitations--go read it and then do that one thing that the Lord places on your heart.

The other book was Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen.   A few months ago I read another book by her.  She's an author that I always enjoy and find myself getting lost in her books.  Always a good thing, right?!

What I'm reminiscing about:

Back in 2011, when the Noodle was 4, we went on a little road trip and visited The Storybook Forest. It is such a sweet step back in time--all of the nursery rhyme and fairy tale friends gathered together in one place.

We're not big amusement park people, but this place is worth the drive!  

What I'm excited about:

We're heading back to visit and I think Mei Mei is really going to enjoy it! The Noodle will still be able to go on all the rides, but this is probably the last year that we can get away with it.

What I'm loving:

Looking in the backseat and seeing this.  I use to always read in the car anytime we had to drive somewhere.  I love seeing the Noodle engrossed in a book.

This view, because, come on--gorgeous!

 Seeing this little one in her ballet outfit.  Precious!

Watching how both my girls embrace their heritage and are so proud of their birth country.  I know that this may change over time, or at least conflicted feelings may surface, but for now, when they want to wear their "silks" I want to support them 100%!

What are we doing for the 4th of July?

Our little neighborhood, for quite a long time, has been lacking in the kiddo department.  In fact, it was really just our two girls and one other little 2.5 year old boy.  Recently, however, we've had a few more families move in and so we decided to have a Independence Day bike parade.

We'll also go to our town's carnival and maybe (?) watch fireworks out over the Lake down at our neighborhood park.  Sadly Uncle and Aunt C won't be able to join us this year.  Boo--we'll miss them!

What we've been busy doing:

These past two weeks we've been doing swimming lessons in the mornings.  Both girls enjoy them and thankfully the weather hasn't been too frigid!

 

Mei Mei also had a check up down at the main campus of the hospital and everything looked great! We don't have to go back for another 6 months.  On our way home, since we drive through AsiaTown, she and I decided to stop for lunch.  

Love seeing her use chopsticks!!

That about sums us up lately!

Father's Day!

This year we were able to stretch Father's Day over two weekends.  Yipee!

We started off by going on a train ride with Grandpa.  Both girls love doing this, and the track is small enough that the Noodle was even able to drive the train around a couple of times.  Bonus!

After riding the rails we headed out to the beach.  It was suuuper rough so there wasn't (too) much swimming, but lots of laughter and running in and out of the waves.  It is always fun to wander up and down on the beach looking for beach glass and cool shells or rocks.  A certain little person may or may not have been poking dead fish with her stick too.  Totally gross!!

Then, this past weekend, J and I started off with a date night.  Our church had a praise and worship night, so Lollie and Papa babysat the girls.

Saturday we had our neighborhood's annual pancake breakfast so J was busy cooking up cakes.  The girls and I took him out for dinner on Saturday night to a local tex-Mex restaurant.   The burritos are bigger than your head but soo good.  No surprise, both of the kidlets got beans and rice ;)  J jokes about how we're alwaays eating beans-n-rice, but it is a winner in our household and who am I to mess with that?

Sunday, after church and quiet time, we went to Lollie and Papa's condo to go swimming.  The pool was a hit and after working up an appetite, we had us some Greek food from a local festival. Yum-O! I think eating ethnic food is one of my love languages.  Seriously.  Greek, Indian, Thai, Mexican, Chinese...my mouth waters just thinking about it.  I know Papa and J feel the same way!

We are so fortunate to be able to spend lots of time with both Grandpa and Papa.  They have been wonderful inspirations as to what being a father means.  I know J respects and looks up to both men and I am blessed that they are now pouring into our girls, just like they poured into us.

Happy Father's Day!