April 13, 2009 at 12:33 am (Family, Graham, Holidays, Surae)
What a beautiful Easter weekend! Yesterday, we went to an Easter egg hunt at the home of my co-worker Frances. There were so many eggs and the kids had a blast running around.
Today, the family came over for a big Easter egg hunt and dinner. We all had so much fun and ate way too much! The weather both days was amazing. So good to spend time with family!
February 8, 2009 at 7:39 pm (Holidays, Out and About, Surae)
Michael and Surae went to the Chinese New Year celebration put on by the Greenville Chinese Cultural Association and Families with Children from China Upstate (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FCCUpstateSC/ ). Half of the fun is dressing Surae up in her beautiful Chinese outfits. It’s the year of the Ox. Surae was born in the year of the dog which is supposed to mean that Surae is a giving, compassionate personality. They are good listeners, always available to lend an ear or a shoulder to a friend in need. They are incredibly attentive people. Graham was born in the year of the monkey. They are curious and clever people who catch on quickly to most anything. Monkey people generally can accomplish any given task. The curiosity sure is true of Graham!!
December 30, 2008 at 10:48 pm (Family Time, Graham, Holidays, Surae)
Christmas was absolutely wonderful. We spent some time the weekend before Christmas downtown at the Holiday Village. Surae and Graham love that carousel.
On Christmas Eve night, we went to Andrew and Kelly’s house, and had a wondeful time. Dinner was delicious and it is always so much fun to watch the kids play together. The kids all looked beautiful in their Christmas clothes. They are a cute bunch of kiddos!
The kids got to bed late because of being out for Christmas Eve dinner, so they actually slept in a bit. We didn’t get downstairs until close to 9!! Graham was so excited. Surae was great too and really enjoyed opening her presents.
Last year, Surae was really sick on Christmas Eve and Christmas day and had only been home for about a month and a half. Christmas was pretty much overwhelming for her last year. So, needless to say, Christmas this year, was a whole different story. She had a great time. Surae feels so immensely more comfortable now and it is really showing with her interactions with others. My brother, Chris, spent a lot of time with us over the holiday and she really adores him. She climbs all over him and gives him kisses. It is great to see her loving on her uncle!! Of course, Graham loves Chris too due to his common interest in Star Wars, action figures, legos, and transformers. Can’t ask for more than that in an uncle!
My dad and his girlfriend, Roni, came over as well as Michael’s parents. We had a full house all day, but it was so much fun and the kids loved seeing everyone. We are so thankful to have our whole family so close by, so that we can all spend time together with relative ease. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas too!
December 15, 2008 at 12:35 am (Family Time, Graham, Holidays, Surae)
This weekend was again packed with Christmas excitement. Saturday, we met up with the Families with Children from China Upstate group at the Hyatt to look at the Festival of Trees. The trees were really beautiful and all the kids had a good time together.
Today, we headed over to Eden Farms for their holiday fun. Eden Farms is a horse boarding and instructional facility that also provides therapeutic riding for people with disabilities. During Christmas time, they open up the farm for Christmas celebrating for the two Sundays prior to Christmas. This was our first time out there and it was really worth it. There are wagon rides, horse rides, a live nativity scene, crafts, hot chocolate, cookies, and of course Santa. Graham had a great time doing everything. Surae was a bit apprehensive, well hysterical, when given the opportunity to ride the horses and sit on Santa’s lap. She wanted nothing to do with either. Her favorite activity of the day was definitely drinking hot chocolate.
December 7, 2008 at 7:07 pm (Graham, Holidays)
Last weekend, we bought our tree and the kids have been having a great time decorating it. Surae is really enjoying seeing all of the Christmas decorations and lights.
Graham was also in a Christmas play at his school on Friday. He was a camel and did a great job in the play. It was really cute!
November 28, 2008 at 12:46 am (Family, Graham, Holidays, Surae)
All of the family came over today for a big Thanksgiving feast. It was so much fun and I was so happy to have everyone over on this special day. We are a lucky group of people. My brother came into town yesterday and was able to spend some extra time with me and the kiddos. Graham and Surae absolutely loved playing with him. Surae became particularly attached to him. She is getting so much better with letting people play with her and hold her. It took a year, but she is finally warming up to other people. I am so thankful today to have such a wonderful family.
November 1, 2008 at 2:25 pm (Family Time, Graham, Holidays, Surae)
The kids had a blast trick or treating yesterday. They both went to school in costume and stayed in them all day. Surae went trick or treating at USC Upstate yesterday with her class. Graham had a party at school with games and cupcakes. Then, I took the kids to Michael’s work for more trick or treating. Finally, we ended the night with even more trick or treating in North Main. There were some great costumes out and about and wonderfully decorated houses. It was such a fun Halloween!
Batman strikes a pose
Michael being scary
The end of the night- enjoying the treats!
March 24, 2008 at 2:00 am (Family Time, Graham, Holidays, Surae)
We had a great weekend filled with Easter fun. On Saturday, we went to a fantastic Easter Egg Hunt at my colleague, Francis’s house. The weather was beautiful and a ton of people came out to join in the fun including the Easter Bunny himself! Graham was definitely a bit starstruck.
Today, Graham and Surae started the day finding their Easter baskets and the eggs that the Easter Bunny left around the house.
Then, we went to Melanie and Dave’s house for Easter lunch. Graham was so excited to see all of his cousins, while Surae approached things a bit more cautiously. She loosened up a bit after a while though. Surae still approaches people with some uncertainty and clings to Mommy and Daddy pretty tightly.
February 18, 2008 at 2:30 am (Family Time, Graham, Holidays, Surae)
This past Saturday, we attended a Chinese New Year party sponsored by the Greenville Chinese Cultural Association. This is the Year of the Rat, not one of my favorite animals, but what can you do? We dressed Graham and Surae up in red, which is the traditional color of Chinese New Year. Red is thought to drive away bad luck.
The event had a really big turn out. There was traditional Chinese dance and some not-so-traditional (macarena, anyone?), martial arts, theatre, and song. We feasted on some delicious Chinese food. Graham surprised us by eating the fried smelt which are served whole. For a boy that barely wants anything besides a peanut butter and jelly, it was shocking to see him bite the head off of a fish. Graham also met a precious little girl named Mia and played with her the whole time. He is going to a ladies man! We had a great time and will definitely make it a tradition.
January 3, 2008 at 7:26 pm (Family, Family Time, Holidays)
Nana and Poppy came over this past weekend and we had Christmas all over again. It was wonderful and Graham and Surae loved seeing them! Surae is feeling much, much better, thank goodness! She is barely coughing at all anymore. She should be just about ready to start at the child development center on Monday where I am sure she will be exposed to a whole new slew of illnesses. It may just be one long winter!
Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years Eve and Happy New Year to you all!
