Phase 2

We've left NYC.  I realize, in the short two weeks we spent there, how much I love that city.  It helps to have my sisters there, too.  I'll have to post more pics of our stay there.  We'll go back for one more week in August.

We're now in the IL/WI portion of our trip, in Joey's hometown of Oglesby.  The last few days have been spent mostly outside, in the garden.  The kids are really enjoying all the space that Joey's parents have outside.  And, real grass under their feet.  Just this afternoon, during a slip'n'slide session, they discovered a real earthworm!  Oh, the wonder.

I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends and visiting our old hometown, Madison, WI.  It still holds such a special spot in my heart, mostly because of all our dear friends who still live there.  And, many of my memories were made there. 

I'll be on again soon to add pics.

At first sight.

Meeting Milo

I'm in love with my new nephew.  He's so gorgeous.  And I'm loving that I can share motherhood with my sister.   I'm just loving being with both my sisters.

We're in NYC for a week.  We've been busy hanging out with the kids, visiting coffee shops and parks.  I love this city. We've got one more week here before moving onto IL/WI.  We'll be back in August, thank goodness, so I can get another fill of Milo before heading back to Hong Kong.

Here are just a few pics I've snapped (there are so many)...

Just the "boys"

Cousins and Auntie Poochie

Uncle Jared has a nickname for each of my children.  Buddy is squirt.  Ella is squish. Cally is squeak.  (With her bout of jetlag and being a toddler, she could easily be named squawk).  I've given Milo his nickname.

Can you guess what it is?

Milo's swirl

I'll be on to add more pics soon.  In the meantime, enjoy these.

Hello, summer!

School's out. 

HKD end of year party on our roof.  What a great bunch of kids! 

All of the end of year things (soccer, farewell parties, grades, etc) are all winding down.

Buddy loves to be goalie.

We're out of here tomorrow.

The plan?

NYC for a few weeks.  Midwest (IL, WI) for a few more weeks, then back to NYC for one last week.

I can't wait to meet my nephew tomorrow.  I can't wait to see my sisters and Jared because it's been a year. And for Rob, it's been two!  Likewise, it's been two years for Joey and his sisters and for all my lovely Madison friends.  What fun we'll have to see each other and make introductions.  Cally will meet her two aunties and her godparents this summer!  I'm hoping to meet some of my 'virtual' friends, like Becca or Erin.  Funny to think that someone I have connected with so much in this blogging and facebooking community is someone I've not actually met in the flesh.

May, Niki and Bessy are off to college next year.

And, I can't wait to catch up with the rest of you state side friends.  Madison for a week will be divine!

But, the end of a school year is always a bittersweet time, too.  I've said enough goodbyes to students, colleagues, parents and friends in the last two weeks to last me a good long time.  It's a hardship of this lifestyle, if I had to name one.

This year's HKD group was a special one.  Very tight knit and a big part of Ella and Buddy's lives.  In fact, they even inspired Buddy to jump up at Music Share on Monday to dance in front of all his friends.  You could pick out the dance moves that he's obviously watched over the course of the year.  I'm so proud.  And thankful that he's had such good teachers in these kids.  May, Niki and Bessy are only three of ten kids that I'm losing from HKD this year.


Dear May has especially touched our hearts as a family this year.  She'd always come to play with Ella, Cally and Buddy on the field, or knocked on our door to come in and see them.  All the while, she greeted them with warm hugs and kisses.  She even came over for dinner and a family movie night.  I loved hearing her and Ella sing songs form The Little Mermaid.  We'll miss her tons.

Just days away

...from meeting my sweet nephew.

Bring on summer!

Progress

We've just received a new progress report from Ella's school.

We are especially proud that she received top marks for these:

Able to do a simple statistic

and

Able to accept the election result

We'll be keeping Ella at this school one more year because, all jokes aside, she's so happy there.  And, as a bonus, she's picked up Cantonese.  Brilliant!