A Mini-Vay-Kay

My boy craves quality time. He certainly has ample quantity of time with me, but his little emotional bank depletes quickly when our time together has been limited to errands around town or projects around the house. As the last six weeks has been mostly those things, you could tell we needed some time away...desperately (I'm really not sure whose attitude has been worse recently, mine or his!)

Praise the Lord for a well timed, last minute Groupon to the Great Wolf Lodge!  It was a quick mini-vacation (just one night away) but we both had a blast and came back with much better attitudes (I think the ice cream helped).  We had been once exactly 1 year ago and I wasn't sure Isaac would remember, but when we walked in the door he gasped and yelled "Yes!" then rapidly signed "swim, swim, swim!" Then I got smothered in kisses...there were A LOT of kisses in our 24 hours away. I think my boy was happy he got the quality time we so desperately needed. 

Getting out of work and school early for an ADVENTURE!

Someone was super excited to be here!

Lots & lots of kisses <3

Accidentally walked under the 50,000 gallon dump area. Oops!

Wave Pool Selfie

I LOVE how he sits!

The bubbles coming from his pants make me nervous...

Underwater piggies

Someone is all done

While I am convinced there is no greater hell then putting on a wet swimsuit, we had a great time. He played hard and practiced his swimming well...even several times pushing himself away from me to go underwater and kick. The FOUR adult size pieces of pizza he ate in our room is proof of how hard he played.   Looking forward to our next adventure...which isn't that far away. :)

Thanks for a great trip!

Chinese New Year

I've struggled to find OUR Chinese New Year tradition as we've done something new every year depending on our schedule and local events. Ultimately, I've decided that NOT having a Chinese New Year tradition will indeed be our Chinese New Year tradition. :)  

This year we are splitting CNY into two parts: We celebrated the first half this weekend with an afternoon at the Lunar New Year celebration in International District.  (Wouldn't you know it...I forgot the camera. Darn it. Samsung selfies will have to do this year). 

Packed house

Isaac really enjoyed the Kung Fu exhibition!

My favorite...Japanese drummers

Fresh dumplings

Enjoying lunch with my Chinese boy
(And I used chopsticks!)

No matter what we choose to do every year, Chinese New Year is about celebrating my boy's first home, his first family, and the wonderful Chinese Christians who loved & protected Isaac while he waited to come HOME. We eat dumplings and think of them. We hear drums and pray for them. We watch Kung Fu and remember their sacrifice. I look at my Chinese boy and melt at God's love for us and them equally. He is the God of the nations...ALL of them. 

God of Nations

God of all nations, Lord of creation

It’s in the bonds of love we meet

We come together at Your feet

Equal in Your sight, Made one by Your might

You’ve called us to restore Your lands

And place them back within Your hands

So tonight, be glorified

Be magnified, as every nation lifts You high

Oh, Father tonight, it’s our desire

To see Your kingdom shine

On earth as in Heaven tonight

God of all nations, Lord of creation

Your purpose is our hope, our bread

All You’ve planned and all You’ve said

Lord of the heavens, Lord of the ages

The church You build shall never fail

No gate or border will prevail

Tonight, be glorified

Lifted up high, it’s our desire

So tonight, be glorified

Lifted up high, it’s our desire

Oh, Father, tonight, it’s our desire

You’re magnified, lifted up high

Nothing says Chinese New Year like silks and a construction hat!

 Chinese New Year Part 2...coming in April!!

Building Stuff

Has anyone heard of the Kids Workshops at Home Depot??  VERY cool. We made our first field trip there this morning, where Isaac got to build his first real project with real tools all by himself. He did such a GREAT job and was super excited to use the hammer and nails and screw driver. I wish I could have captured his "Mom! I got this." face when I made a sorry attempt to help him.  And oh, the absolute pride that beamed from his face when he got to show Gramma his finished project...PRICELESS!

Lining up the nails in the right spots

Lots of hammering

It's a new way to hold a hammer, but it works

Checking the directions about the placement of the mailbox flag

Hows that for fine motor movement?!

Taking his painting VERY seriously

Certificate of achievement

Checking out his Valentines Mailbox pin.
Hoping to add lots more pins in the months to come.

If you are looking for a fun & FREE event for your kids, check out your local Home Depot for information. I highly recommend it! We'll be back again next month for sure. 

He Keeps Growing

Isaac's pattern of growth tends to be l-o-n-g seasons of what seems like non-movement followed by SHARP! UPWARD! SPIKES! of development. Goodness me. After three years, you'd think I'd have figured out that cycle, but I am still shocked & delighted every time it happens.  Even last week at Isaac's annual check up when he measured over the 90th % of height I was boggled--where did all that height come from?! The last few weeks have seemed to offered something new and exciting nearly every day in the world of Isaac. Our family mantra continues to be "life with Isaac is NEVER boring". 

Emotionally, he has made a jump in growth too. I've been able to leave him in the evening with Gramma twice now in the last couple of months (HALLELUJAH!). In fact, he waved me off both times. Apparently, he had better things to do than to coddle my fragile emotions. He's also started following more complex directions: "Isaac, you can do X but not Y. Do you understand? X but not Y. Yes, Isaac?". I smirk as I watch his little brain contemplating the true value of Y but then look at me earnestly, "Yesssss, Mummma" and obey appropriately.  Now for that to continue for the next 18 years! 

Drawing has become VERY important of late. And not just any ol' coloring. We are talking the work of ar-teests!  Colored pencils, if you please.  I brought home a clipboard from work and Isaac carries that thing everywhere along with his pencils, taking notes, sketching and I'm sure journaling thoughts (or preparing to submit his own report to the parenting board. Yikes!)

  

This made me SO proud!  

He has taken a lot of interest in helping me in the kitchen and "cooking" on his own. He can make his own toast with minimal assistance. And if I lay out all the ingredients, he can assemble pizza bagels as well. This evening he took the lead on turkey stroganoff!

I think my favorite is watching him through the window at school in the afternoons before I pick him up. He has finally made the transition from parallel to interactive play, which has made both his teachers and myself super proud. Instead of sitting peacefully NEXT to his classmates playing on his own, he is now happily engaged in a game of "Sorry" or Duck Duck Goose (Duh-Duh-Goo!) with his friends during free play. 

Tonight as I was tucking him into his big boy bed I said "let's think of all the ways you are learning to be a big boy." With each item I listed Isaac answered with a "Yeah!" and with each "Yeah!" he got louder and more animated. What fun it is to be a growing boy!  He makes my heart happy. <3