Sea Horses

This is Anna's favorite sea creature so we spent all day learning about them.  Amy seemed to really enjoy also.  We painted seahorse watercolors, made sparkly seahorses with gems and stamped thumb prints on them to make a pattern, then brought out the play dough to shape seahorses.  Watched videos and looked at lots of pictures on the computer. Anna told us all about them as she did a project on them last year.

Sand Art Fish

Magnets for our refrigerator made from leftover sand

We started out with stripes in our sand art fish, but Amy, being on the move as she is, now has a multicolored fish.  Looks like she shook it up......I am sure hoping the plug we glued in.........HOLDS!

After a few days, Anna's fish got a little mixed up too.

Under The Sea

Because we are going to the beach soon, we have been learning about sea creatures.  Amy loves the Pout Pout Fish story book and that started her interest in the ocean.  We began with Jelly fish.  We look at pictures and video on the computer, try to get a book from the library and do some crafts.  Anna and Amy made their Jelly fish "swim" all over the yard pretending it was the big wide ocean.  Had to hang them up where they could see them at bedtime. The ceiling fan blew their "tentacles" and Amy would call out....."they swimming, the jelly fish swimming"! Over the week we focused on a different sea creature each day.  Too bad I keep falling way behind on blogging.  All the crafting.......keeping us busy!

Girls on the Go

One of their favorite shirts.........Thank you Aunt Darcey

These kettcars were Wesley and Will's when they were little.....lots of miles on them!

Having Some School Time

Because of our trip to China and allowing flexibility in our schedule as we adjust as a family, we have a little bit of school to finish up.  While Anna does her math and language, I am working with Amy on her numbers and letters.  She can count to 10, sing the ABC song and can write a few letters and her name for the most part.  Amy will be starting kindergarten in August, so we are trying to get a little bit of school in this summer for her also.  It is too hot to be outside during the afternoon anyways!

Anna's Mystery Birthdays

We did Anna's birthday differently this year.  Because we now have Amy, and Amy would not understand the whole, sister is getting presents thing.....we had mystery birthdays for Anna.
 The plan was for family members to take Anna out secretly for dinner and a gift.  She did not know when, where or with whom she was going until a few hours before hand.  Nannie and PaPa took her to Long Horns one night for a steak dinner.  Upon discovering it was Anna's birthday, the waiter made her a giant fancy ice cream sundae.  Then they went to the bookstore for books. She picked Horse Diaries collection.  Nannie also took Anna by Bed, Bath and Beyond to get a  sound maker so Anna could sleep at night. Anna and Amy share a bedroom for now.  Amy sucks on her fingers sometimes and it is loud. The sound maker has the choices of white noise, rain, brooks, evening sounds etc. but their favorite sound is the ocean waves, and everyone is sleeping better now.  Nice mystery birthday night for sure.
Her next mystery birthday was a lunch at Olive Garden with Wesley and Will.   They had presents for her and she quietly put them away when she got home so little sister would not feel left out. Another afternoon, there was a secret outside scavenger hunt and Anna found one of her birthday presents to be 3 riding lessons at the stables down the road from us.  One early morning, a  secret inside scavenger hunt led Anna on a long search for a new sparkly purple finger nail polish. One mystery Saturday, Anna and mom went out for lunch and a day of shopping and opening up a few more gifts.  Daddy plans to take Anna out at some point so her birthday has lasted several weeks.  Very special to have some one on one time with our birthday girl.  We did have a nice big cookie cake and ice cream on her actual birthday per Anna's request and a spaghetti dinner  the day after as that is one of her favorites.  We love and cherish you, our sweet Anna Faith Rui.  You are beautiful on the inside and out.  It is the beauty of you, that caused us to pray, seek the Lord and then return to China one more time, for another blessing..... for sweet Amy. You gave us bigger hearts, eyes that see and ears that hear. We will never get over the blessing of being your parents. Happy 9th birthday to you our very precious daughter.

Sisters in the making

We knew adding a second princess to our family would be somewhat challenging.  We just didn't know exactly how that would play out as everyone takes their new position in the family.  Anna has done really well in the big sister role.  She is not often jealous but does feel a bit pushed to the side at times.  Amy has decided she really likes her new momma and babba and she would like most of our attention.......thank you.  Amy can be combative with Anna when she is frustrated or feeling as though Anna may be taking our attention away from her.  This issue is one of the harder issues we are facing.  We have seen much improvement but we have a ways to go.  Anna has had a few melt downs but Scott and I are working really hard at making sure everyone is getting the love and attention they need. Some days go really well, others not so much. Anna has a nurturing personality and that overrides some of the tough stuff she has to endure for now.  Every now and then, Anna and I take some time away while Scott and Amy pal around.   We will get there.  One issue is that Amy would like to be in the big sister role.  She does not want to be little sister.  I think we have found a solution for that at least for now.  We have gotten her to drop the whole "jie jie" eldest sister, "mei mei" little sister titles and just say .....sister, sister. Will thought of it.  Thanks Will.   It has worked.  Taken some of the competitive edge off some how.  Yes, we all know Anna is older sister,  and she is not going to let anyone forget it, but she knows we are trying to get through a rough patch here and not making a big issue over it.  Amy has dubbed her dolly "little mei mei" and oh my goodness, poor little mei mei gets talked about.  Amy has risen to big girl status and it is really quite something to see the difference now in how much she puts into doing things the way a big girl should. Living out what she believes!  She just has to be reminded. Sometimes more than once.  This whole dolly little mei mei has come in handy as we work on manners, behavior, eating,  and responsibilities around the house. An example would be something like, little mei mei spills her plate when she carries it to the kitchen because she goes way to fast. But big girls like you and Anna, walk very carefully with their plates.  Wish you could see Amy restrain her urge to zip by...... spilling things the way she used to.... as with great pride, she walks so carefully with her plate.  Little mei mei does not get to go out for chicken and french fries because she does cartwheels and misbehaves in the restaurant. Big girls like Amy and Anna get to go out to eat, and even wear dresses and necklaces.  Poor little mei mei will never grow any bigger because she just will not eat the things that are good for her. Big girls eat their food and try new things.  We can not take little mei mei  to the library because she is way too loud; she needs to learn how to whisper and handle books carefully like Anna and Amy.   The list goes on and on.

Mind you, we would never even think of being unkind to little mei, mei as she is just little and is trying her best to learn how to do all these big girl things.  It is just that, well, we talk a lot about the things she really needs to work on.  You know, in a loving helpful sort of way. WE are Very Good to little mei mei and are loving her through as she learns the ins and outs of being a big girl, little sister.  We all have a special place in the family.

Just whatever you do......don't call Amy "little mei mei".........thems FIGHTIN words.

Amy and Little Mei Mei

Amy reading to Little Mei Mei

 Amy making sure little mei mie stays on her best behavior as we have errands and lunch date!

Sister..............Sister