Thanksgiving

We drove to Indiana to be with my sister for Thanksgiving. It was our last opportunity to do so before she moves to Mexico City.

We had a wonderful time together. We ate a delicious Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.

On Friday, we visited Churchill Downs, where we saw a real live horse race!

Friday night, we celebrated Stephen's birthday. We made a monster truck cookie cake for him and he ate exactly one bite. I should have stacked up some yogurt cups instead.

The trip was a success and thankfully we did not get stuck in West Virginia this time. Here are a few things I observed during my trip that I'm grateful for.

Mei Li is adaptable and resilient.
It was cold at the race track, and we forgot to bring any outerwear to Indiana. Mei Li wore just a sweater, skirt, and tights. Mei Li was smiling and seemed to be invigorated by the cold wind. I asked, "Aren't you freezing, Mei Li?" Her response was, "Yeah, but I have pockets!" And she continued to smile and twirl in the cold.

Stephen loves his cousins.
As we got ready to leave Indiana, Stephen cried over and over again, "I don't want to go back to Virginia!" As much as it hurt my heart to see him so sad, I was also happy to see that he had formed a bond with all four of these cousins.

Mi Na is indeed smilingly tender.
I sat next to Mi Na on the drive to and from Indiana. There was one time when she was so tired and crying so much, but could not be lulled to sleep by the moving car. So I smiled at her, and she smiled back, and we exchanged smiles for a few minutes until she smiled herself to sleep. She's a keeper.

Steve is better than Superman.
Some of you know about my Superman fetish. Steve is my Clark Kent, my Gilbert Blythe, my Superman, all rolled into one. He's sensible and nerdy, he can tease me with charm, and he can drive straight through the night and only stop for gas. Most importantly, he is good through and through, and I am reminded of that daily.

Ie Mei is an angel.
I'm sure I've said this before, but she truly is one of the most Christlike people I know. She lives her life in the service of others. Brad is lucky and deserving of her, and they are raising some great kids together.

I have much to be grateful for, more than I deserve. I suppose the best way to deal with that is to keep on being grateful and serve my family and others.

Happy birthday, Stephen!

Stephen turned three today!

There was some confusion about his age. This morning, Steve bought four balloons and a number "4" candle for Stephen.

Mei Li was sad about him not being four because she wanted to be twins with him.

And Stephen does not want to be three, he wants to be one.

I, Stephen's mother, am absolutely positive that he is three. Sorry, buddy.

The day went something like this:

pancakes made by Steve for breakfast

various activities at home including naps for Mi Na and Stephen

a visit to the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum, where I left my camera

Papa John's pizza for dinner

When the cupcakes were ready and presents were wrapped with Mei Li's help, we called down to the boys and said it was time for cake and presents. Stephen came running in and said, "I want some yogurt." That's my boy. He has a yogurt and fruit obsession.

We'll be doing a birthday celebration with his cousins later this week and I'm thinking that instead of cake, I should stack up his favorite yogurts instead.

We all wore blue party hats, except for Stephen. He didn't want one.

We turned off the lights to sing his birthday song, and presented him with his lighted cupcake. Just as we ended the song, Mei Li blew out his candles for him. So we sang to him again.

Stephen didn't touch his cupcake, but went straight for the presents.

Just before he started unwrapping his wooden toolbox when Mei Li said, "Aren't you so excited, Stephen? It's a toolbo-! Oops. Sorry."

Steve and I laughed.

Then he unwrapped his new long-sleeved t-shirts and said, "Oh."

Mei Li said, "No, Stephen. Say, 'I love these!'"

So Stephen said, "I love these!"

Lastly, he unwrapped two small toy motorcycles, and that's when the big smile came to his face. It made me smile. I love his smile. I just want to get as many smiles as I can out of that boy.

It was a good and funny day for a good and funny boy. I love you, Stephen dear.

Our kiddos

The choke hold

sisters

funny and handsome

Thanks for taking these, Jenny!

Rachel got married!

Steve's little sister, Rachel, got married last Friday. Being at the Los Angeles temple together to witness Ken and Rachel's marriage will always be a beautiful memory for me. The place was filled with love, and it made me feel all over again all that I felt the day I married my Steve.

It's kind of crazy how Rachel and Ken went into the temple that morning as single people living their own lives, living in different places, and they left the temple married and bound to each other, never to part.

Rachel looked stunning in her lace, adorned with flowers gown, and Ken looked dapper in his gray suit.

The reception was gorgeous and elegant with delicious food. I didn't take a single picture, but fully meant to. My hands were full of Mi Na most of the night who did manage to have a blowout on her silk dress, just like she did on her blessing day. I am grateful that I followed the inspiration to bring a second dress.

Mi Na was happy and napped in my arms for a little bit. She charmed many with her smiles.

My Stephen was cross every time he was needed for a picture, but his tired, napless, still on east coast time, little body held up pretty well for the day.

Mei Li was in Mei Li land for the whole reception. She felt lovely in her pink sparkly dress and played near the rosebushes and collected rose petals (my apologies to the Wiley family).

Steve looked handsome in a bow tie. It was the first time I'd seen him in one. I need to get away with that man.

You can find pictures of Rachel and Ken's big day on Annee's blog. It was a beautiful day. And now Rachel and Ken are in Bora Bora. I'm not jealous at all. Really.

Who Loves the Little Lamb?

Speaking of little lambs, my favorite library book from our current stash is Who Loves the Little Lamb? by Lezlie Evans.



I met her at a Relief Society meeting last month. She taught a workshop on child literacy and I was completely inspired. She is lovely. This book is lovely. My children love it and I have loved reading it to them.

Halloween 2010

Happy Halloween from Tinkerbell, a BYU Cougar, and a little lamb!