Elias is 7!

One of our family traditions is to have a photo taken on your birthday wearing something that you'll eventually grow into and marking your birthday height on the garage wall. Elias has been having his photo in Dad's Husker sweatshirt.

The same sweatshirt seems to have shrunk since 2003 by way of comparison.











Elias was persuaded to choose China Star for dinner on his birthday. He probably would have preferred dinner at home, but wouldn't have had a preference for what it was, but it was a weeknight and none of the adults, or the kids, was willing to cook that night. We enjoyed our usual, General Tso's Chicken-not spicy, Hot and Sour Soup and Plain Lo Mein. Elias got "Alvin" the Webkin, a new helmet and knee and elbow pads, and opened a scooter that he will be the first rider on, but will share with his siblings -- we'll let you know how that works!

Ice Skating Birthday for Elias

Elias turned 7 on October 16 and enjoyed ice skating with his friends Brock and Matthew. Our friend, Mirza came along and of course, Yasmin, Kia and Ahn-Bao joined them on the ice (albeit, the little ones without skates). Here are a few photos from the birthday party on Saturday, October 11.

Play-Doh!

We think this was Ahn-Bao's first play-doh experience. I don't know for sure that they might have had play-doh at the orphanage in China, but the fact that he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to touch it at all, and then whether he might like to eat it, suggested that even if he had seen it before, he didn't remember it.

The Witching!

Grandpa Hubert is an expert with a divining rod. He ran some expert testing on both Kia and Ahn-Bao when he was visiting in Minnesota. He seems to think that Kia has some natural talent as he claims she was able to consistently locate a quarter in the garage!

Pecking Order . . .

Ahn-Bao is finding his way to determine where he stands in the pecking order. Most of the time, he spends his day following Kia and imitating her every move. This is good most of the time as this gives Kia the perception that she is in charge. Other times, she just wants him to leave her alone. They'll just keep working on the pecking order!

First Day of School - Round 2!

Kia and Ahn-Bao are attending preschool on Monday and Wednesday mornings at Kingdom Kids Preschool. They both have adjusted very well. Ahn-Bao surprised us by having a few of the first days with some separation crying (a good attachment sign) but on about day 3, he had already learned that, "Daddy always comes back." As of October, Ahn-Bao is especially proud on Sunday and Tuesday nights to recite all the children in the family who will go to school tomorrow, including himself!

First Day of School - Round 1!

Elias and Yasmin started 1st and 3rd grades at Bamber Valley Elementary on September 2.

There's an interesting tradition continuing again this year at the bus stop across the street from our house. The kids wait in the driveway of the neighbor's house for the bus (#14 Dolphin) and while they wait, they line up their backpacks to save their place in line to board the bus. Its always a funny sight to see the kids milling around and the backpacks all in an orderly queue for the bus!

The whistle has been passed this year from Elias to Kia to continue the other tradition that when the bus is in sight of the Hubert driveway, Kia is now the one to blow the whistle to send all the kids scurrying back to their lined-up backpacks.

Elias came home from school the first day with his pencil box filled with all the wonderful rocks collected from school that day. And he hasn't let many days go by since without leaves, rocks, bottlecaps or some other treasure coming home in the backpack.