Swim like a fish

Everett swam in a city wide school swim meet on Wednesday. He had a really good time--and he got to miss half a day of school--who wouldn't love that??

The schools they were swimming against have pools to practice in and his school doesn't, so the CDIS team was at a bit of a disadvantage, but placed third and had a great time!

Here he is taking off in the 4x25 meter freestyle relay.

Showing off his ribbon.

He placed third in both events he swam--the relay and the 25 meter freestyle.

Everett, Daniel, and Madison

Here is a little video of E swimming. Mainly for the grandparents :)

Lego Tower

Recently these two have been playing so well together! One of their favorite things to do is build a tower taller than Mommy. Not sure why I am the measuring stick, but it is what I have become :)

Here is a picture--not taller than me--but I haven't taken one since they have acheived that.

Reid with his "helper". He is SO patient with her when she knocks the whole thing down while trying to add more blocks. I try to distract her at the end, so he can add the last blocks peacefully!

So proud!

 He has since discovered that building a wider base, makes it more stable. Maybe a budding architect?

160 mph

At the beginning of the month a super great friend of ours, John Gunter, had his birthday. He lives in a different city now, but was going to be here a couple of days after his birthday. A bunch of the guys surprised him with a BMW 500 series sedan. Well, not for him to keep, but for him to drive on the racetrack they had rented for an hour and a half!

Here they all are by the car. They took turns driving/riding, and I think it may have been the most fun any of them have had in awhile.  There is a video--not of Matt--but I don't have it. I will tell you that I have seen it and the two men on it are squealing like school girls! And one of them may have been the birthday boy.......

coming around the bend.

Matt came in third for timed laps around the track and I know he is dying to get out there and try it again! It was crazy inexpensive (compared to the States) for them to do this, and such a fun experience! I am told that the car could "fly" and the tires were totally shot by the time they were finished. Ah, signs of a great time!!



Victory stand!

So sweet......

So the other day I was just having a crummy day and we went out to meet Matt and this just happened as the littles were walking in front of me.......

I didn't have to tell anyone to slow down, walk, be careful of the car/poop/bike/unknown wet substance.......

It was just what this mama needed :)

Sleepover

The other night E went to a friend's hosue to spend the night, so we made our house into the Reid and Rylie Sleepover Party! We made homemade pizza, watched a movie, made oreo milkshakes, and had a dance party!

Getting a quick chapter of Flat Stanley before bed

They were SO excited to sleep in the same bed. Maybe a little too excited.....Ry ended up in her own bed because she kept waking Reid up!

23 weeks

How far along? 23 weeks
Weight Gain? I've gained three pounds! So that only puts me down 4 from where I started. But I feel sure it is going to start piling on.........
How big is baby? the size of a grapefuit!
Sleep? Been sleeping pretty well! So thankful!

Maternity Clothes? Still in that akward regular don't fit but maternity ones look ridiculous phase, but have some maternity clothes that my sweet sister Caroline and sis-in -law Andi lent me :)
Food cravings? I have been eating a lot of apples and cereal. And I am patiently waiting for the clementines to come into season here.......I have seen some on the streets, but they are still pretty green :)
Food aversions? still better most days! I mean the smell of most foods cooked over here (especially on the streets) is not my favorite, but we can avoid by smelling a tea bag instead!
Symptoms? still throwing up......
Doctor’s Appointment?  Have one in two weeks in Hong Kong for another big ultrasound

Movement? He is moving around a lot now! mostly when I lie down to go to sleep at night :)

Belly Button? In--mine has never popped out with any of my pregnancies!

What am I looking forward to? Seeing our little guy again on the ultrasound in Hong Kong (and a fun girls trip to Hong Kong!)

What do I miss?  sleeping on my belly!!
Best Moment this week? all the kids getting to feel Knox moving around in my belly! So sweet! Rylie was especially in awe.....

Getting a Chinese Drivers License

Warning: super-long post. But it's not nearly as long as the process--I promise. 

So, as many of you know, when we got back to our city one of the first things on the list of things to do was get our drivers license. The main reason we need them is carpool for the boys school, but Matt will also use it a lot with his work.

Remember how everytime you go to the DMV in America it takes "so long" and "is such a pain"? I was right there with you......until I got my drivers license here. I'm about to give you some perspective people.

1. The first step is getting your eyes checked. We have to do that in America too. At the DMV. You look in a box next to the lady issuing your license and tell her if you see the red light.

Here we spent the day here:

at the cancer hospital. For our eye exam.

After we had the paper we thought we needed in hand, we left. 4 hours later.

2. The next step is getting your US drivers license translated. By an official translator, who puts the official red stamp on it.

3. Next you register with the local police so that you can get your official residence papers. With the red stamp.

4. Next step is make a copy of every official document you have ever had. Not really but it felt that way. Copy of US license, passport, translation of passport, certification of translator, residence papers, eye exam, etc.

5. Then you have to have at least 6 passport pictures to attatch to forementioned documents. With the red stamp on them.

While you are doing these tasks, you must also be studying for the drivers test. Now, because we have a US license, we don't have to take a road test, but we do have to take the written test. It is in English---sort of. There is an app on our iphone that is immensely helpful in this process, as you basically have to memorize the questions. All 1356 of them. The test is 100 questions from a bank of 1356.

Here are some sample questions:

Q: When a head on collision is unavoidable, the driver should free the steering wheel, raise the legs and lie sideward on the right seat at the moment of the head on collison. this can ensure his body is not stuck by the steering wheel.

true or false

This is true people. Take note.

Q: When encountering pedestrians wearing cotton-padded caps or overcoats in winter, the driver should honk and be ready to brake.

true or false

Answer: true.

But what if they are wearing a wool hat?? I feel so unprepared if I encounter that.

Q: When a vehicle rolls continuously to a deep ditch, the driver should swiftly hide his body to the lower space in front of his seat, hold ________ to stabalize his body so that his body will not roll and get hurt. 

a. the pedal

b. the steering column

c. the steering wheel

d. the gear level

Answer: b

The questions are a variety of subjects, including hand signals, paramedic duties, traffic laws that NO ONE follows, street signs, and a LOT of what to do when you encounter a pedestrian. And starngely enough the answer is always evade. You should never speed up and honk at them. Surprising, I know.

Also, you have to know the fines for breaking all the traffic laws. Can't the police just learn that and tell me when I get the ticket?? And it is almost aways 200-2000 kuai. ($32-$320) Quite a span......

So when you think you might be able to get the required 90% on the test, you take your handful of papers and catch a cab out to the Traffic Control Department of the Public Security Organ. ( i promise that is the translation.)

And you see this sign. Totally clear as to where you should go right?

You go in one building get a number and wait for it to be called. When they call you, you show them your paper work and they say it looks great. Or in our case, Matt can't even take his test because his visa doesn't have a long enough duration, and we have to go get another eye exam because our first paper didn't have this picture:

seriously--they take a picture of you like this. To prove you have hands? I still have NO idea what purpose this picture serves, but apparently it is super important. All guesses are welcome.

So we went to another hospital, got our medical forms, and went back to the first building and got another number. And waited for it to be called. Then we show my papers, get the all clear and get a number to take to another buliding where we take the test. We head over to the other building and arrive at 12:33. The lady is carrying her nap mat and pillow in to the room, smiles at us and locks the door behind her. We then sit and wait until 1:30 when rest time is over. (the entire country pretty much shuts down for a rest during this time)

At 1:30, I am called in, take the test and score a 94%! I was pretty proud :)

I then take another number back to the first building and show it to someone who takes my picture and gives me another number. We wait for that number to be flashed on a screen and then they hand me this:

I can offically drive in the chaos that is the streets of our city!!!

Oh, except that the car we are borrowing is a stick shift, and I never learned to drive one.

So, off to the chaos we went for me to learn to drive a stick!!

So, the next time you have to go down to the DMV, give them a hug from me for being so efficent :) And maybe bring some cookies......

Supergirls!

Rylie had Laura Cate come over to play the other day and this is how they came out of their room.

So cute!!!

Newish furniture

So the other day we were coming in from a LONG day of getting our drivers license ( post coming about that soon!) and we saw this piece of furniture by our gate. I thought "oh thats a cute piece" so we walked over to look at it. The guards asked us if we liked it, we said yes. They said the people are throwing it away, ask them if you can buy itt. WHAT?? They are throwing it away?? Well, they were really selling it to some people who take it away for you. So,  we talked to the lady who was overseeing the transaction, and she said they would sell it for 100 kuai.

Thats $15 people. So we paid them......

and Matt helped the guy carry it to our apartment.

Love it!

Now we are trying to figure out exactly where to put it.......

Rylie's New Fort

We've been doing a bit of rearranging since we have been back. Ry's room had SO much furniture and we are going to soon add a baby to the room! And though Knox will be small, he comes with a lot of stuff!

So we took the bottom bunk out of the room and left the top bunk in there on the floor.....it is just high enough for Rylie to have a little play fort underneath.

Rylie "helping" Daddy

Matt hung a strand of lights underneath and I am planning on putting some fabric over the front.

Rylie and Reid excited to play!

The lights are a little black lightish.......but thats what you get over here :)

First playtime in the fort!

18 week Update

another catch up post.....



How far along? 18 weeks
Weight Gain? none so far. I've actually lost about 7 pounds. Probably all the time I've spent with my head in the toilet............

How big is baby? the size of a sweet potato

Sleep? I've been sleeping pretty well, falling not quite so asleep early, but have been waking up early in morning to throw-up.

Maternity Clothes? in that akward regular don't fit but maternity ones look ridiculous phase. Wearing all the loose fitting things I have :) Not to mention I don't have ANY maternity clothes because I got rid of all of mine because we were done. ha.
Food cravings? grapefruit, watermelon, and frozen yogurt. and I've been eating a lot of cheese and cereal because soon I won't be able to get it

Food aversions? getting MUCH better. still throwing up, but most of the time can eat in betweem without feeling sick--SCORE!

Symptoms? hair still falling out, still throwing up,

Doctor’s Appointment:? Had one last week and all looks good, after our little scare, it is always SO comforting to hear that sweet heartbeat! Had a surprise ultrasound and found out ITS A BOY!
Movement? some little flutters here and there.....

Belly Button? In

What am I looking forward to? moving back around the world to our house in a week! Can't wait to be settled and see our friends there!

What do I miss? my normal day to day life with the other kiddos. yep, still miss this. although it is getting a bit better maybe??

Best Moment this week? finding out God is blessing our family with another sweet boy!!

12 week update

Catch up post.....I'm actually 20 weeks now!

How far along? 12 weeks

Weight Gain? none so far. I've actually lost about 5 pounds. Probably all the time I've spent with my head in the toilet............

How big is baby? about 2 inches long and weighs about 1/2 ounce. Quite small to be causing my whole body to go into crazy mode :)


Sleep? I've been sleeping pretty well, falling asleep early, and can usually go back to sleep when I wake up to pee all. night. long


Maternity Clothes? Not yet. Shirts are a bit of a problem because everything I own is made for my flat chest, which is nothing close to flat these days.


Food cravings? cottage cheese, watermelon, and frozen yogurt


Food aversions? any meat, anything with a strong smell, pretty much anything but cottage cheese, watermelon and frozen yogurt.....


Symptoms? I have felt symptoms since week 6......the nausea is still going strong and zofran is my best friend. I also feel like I’m going to pass out every time I stand up too fast. Also, my hair is falling out like nothing I have ever seen. And without further detail, I will share that I now take fiber on a nightly basis, along with my prenatal vitamin and iron supplement. Apparently I need a medication organizer…


Doctor’s Appointment:? We had our 12 week appointment and ultrasound in Denver yesterday and all looked great! The ultrasound tech said "maybe it’s a boy!”


Movement? not yet


Belly Button? In


What am I looking forward to? not throwing up

What do I miss? my normal day to day life with the other kiddos.


Best Moment this week? watching our kids see our sweet little peanut on the ultrasound!



First Day of School

The boys started school on Tuesday. I can. not. believe that we have a fourth grader and a first grader! Didn't we just graduate from college? oh wait, that was....awhile ago.

the boys all ready to go. Ry showing how she feels about them leaving.

The boys.

waiting outside our gate for carpool

In front of school. with the peace sign.

while an east asian custom, it drives. me. crazy. in my pictures.

Everett with his fouth grade teacher Mrs. Scranton

at his desk. thats his "mom--seriously, can you please stop taking pictures??" face

Reid and his first grade teacher Ms. Cole

Reid at his desk. And he's not too cool yet :)

They both had a great day! I think it's going to be a wonderful year!!

So thankful for their school!

Great Wall

On our way in country we stopped for an overnight in the country's capital. Matt's friend from years ago lives there, and we were going to have dinner with him and his new wife. Sadly, our plane was 3 hours late, so we missed dinner. But they decided to come to the Great Wall with us the next morning instead!

This was the kids first time seeing it and they were so excited!

We rode a cable car up.  May have been the kids favorite part. Might have scared me to death....

Kiddos checking to see if any enemies are approaching

Looking out over the wall

My favorite picture!

Seeing as I am really supposed to be on moderate bed rest, I didn't walk with them on the wall. Just took pictures from afar.

through a window of a tower

the fam

you can really see the newest member in this one. yikes.

Our friends who joined us on the wall. What a blessing!!

Our sweet three littles

One last family pic

Saying good bye.....

I feel like I type the title to this post far more than I would like to.....

but we must do it!

dinner with Nikki and Mandi

Sweet Lauren and Shelly drove to SSI to come say good bye!

Dinner with Diane

The Newtons came by to say good bye!

My sweet roommate from college Stephanie

Miraculous Pictures

While we were in Atlanta this summer, our paths crossed for ONE day with these sweet frineds. They now live in Tennessee (but still bleed red and black!) and we are on the other side of the world. The wives' parents still live in Atlanta, so every once in awhile we are there at the same time.

We went to college with the Chad and Jess and then spent a year in EA with them. 

This is our gang 9 years later.......

and notice that EVERY. ONE. of the 10 people in the picture are looking at the camera and smiling!! What? Miracles do happen I tell you.

The kids--Reid Middlebrooks, Rylie, Ellie, Asa, Reid Laughlin, and Everett

See, we even share kids names :)

We both have another little one--theirs was napping, ours hasn't been born yet.....

Love that we got to see them, even just for a brief swim! And so sad that we didn't take picures while the Dooleys were still there! Loved seeing y'all too!