Happy Birthday, Annie!

Annie had a blast on her birthday partying with some of her buddies!

A Kiss for Annie on Her Birthday!

I wasn't sure if the letter that I wrote to the Independent Airline Pilots of Austin would be taken seriously when I asked them to write kisses in the sky for our Annie on her birthday! But as you can see they got the letter and kindly obliged!
We love you Annie!
Happy Birthday from Mommy and Daddy!
XOXO

Chinese Lion Dance

We're dressed up and ready to go to the Lion Dance

Our studies have brought us to China this month. We began with a lesson from Grandpa Chuck. He and Papa Lu traveled there in October. We got to see all of their awesome pictures and souvenirs including Jade, clothes and an oyster shell with pearls still in it! So far, we've made a paper model of The Great Wall of China, we watched a video of the wall too, were fascinated by the Terra Cotta Warriors, made our very own dancing dragons, and learned about the Chinese Zodiak. We've read several awesome traditional Chinese Folk Tales including The Water Witch, The Persimmon Monster, The Waterfall of White Hair, The Empty Pot, The Seven Chinese Brothers, The River Dragon, The Runaway Rice Cake, The Story About Ping and Kites: Magic Wishes that Fly Up to the Sky.

Tonight, at the grand opening celebration of a local Asian restaurant, we got a chance to see a Chinese Lion dance which traditionally represents good luck.

We will continue our China studies until February 7th when we have our own Chinese New Year celebration!

Check out this video we took tonight.
Click on the arrow below the picture.

Feet!

Annie's always taking pictures....check this one out that she snapped of Mommy and Emerson reading.

GeoCaching

You have to admit they are adorable! This past saturday, Daddy, Annie and Emerson went geocaching. The treasure was located at the Slaughter Creek Dam, and so we had to hike on a semi-dried creekbed to find a place where we could cross. We never found the cache, but the kids found ton's of 'treasure'...including clamshells and stones!
-Posted by Mike

Emerson's Garbage Truck

Santa knows what my little guy likes. GARBAGE TRUCKS!! This model was built by Daddy and Emerson this morning. (Notice his new train set in the background)

Bees Wax Nativity

Check out this beautiful nativity scene Annie sculpted in December with modeling beeswax. They are both fascinated with Baby Jesus. She sculpted Mary, Joseph, Jesus, a manger, a cow, and a sheep.