Kindergarten at local school

In September after we got back Reister started at a new local school for halfdays. It is an elementary school near our home. He is in the "xue qian ban" which means kindergarten. Here are some pictures of him with his teacher and in the classroom with his 39 classmates!!

Reister's Austin Birthday

We celebrated Reister's 6th birthday early (sometime mid-August of this year) while we were still in Austin. We went to the same play area we went for Mason's birthday with the same friends - The Frey family! Our boys LOVE the Frey boys (my friend Kim from high school)

Kim's 5th child, (and only girl), Haddie, was really into Micah that day when she had just woken up from her nap

Peyton with his "Auntie Kim"

Loving the BeyBlades from the Freys

Jaden, Reister and Issac

Our boys took over this part of the place playing BeyBlades

Afterwards we made a spontaneous trip to a pool near Kim's house - everyone had lots of fun!

Duck Duck Goose poolside

Trying to get Jaden to pose for a picture (he's not a picture kind of guy;) )

I can read Reister's mind - "Jadon, you're my hero!"

the Six (or almost) year olds

Kim and a shy Mason

BFFs

Me and Jaden - just a side note, he went to me and Micah's wedding in utero. 

later at LiLi and Poppo's home, getting more BeyBlades

Thank you LiLi!

Thank you Poppo!

A Wedding!

Well, it's about time I posted... And, I'm backing up to before we went to the US to post about a wedding we were a part of. It was a small one, but meaningful nonetheless.  

A friend of the bride is a professional accordian player of all things - she really was amazing!

Micah and the Groom

Bride and Groom

Peyton was very popular that night

Girls picture

Another girls picture

Flower girl and Ring Bearer (we didn't know about this till we arrived)

Bride sharing

Groom sharing

Happy Married couple with our family (less the ring bearer)

More of Peyton's admirers

It was a fun night - very local in flavor, but yet the ceremony itself had western aspects as well. For example, it was not planned out very far in advance, just kind "fly by the seat of your pants" type of thing. But it ended up fine.  And, the bride wanted to "walk in with her father". So in the middle of the wedding, she goes to her father and pulls him to the back of the room so he can "walk her down the aisle". Ha ha! At first I was like, what's going on? Is her father upset about something?  They also did the traditional local part of the couple going to each set of parents and showing their respect to them.  Normally I think they serve them tea, but I think they just went up to them and hugged them or something. (Hey, this was almost 5 months ago, and I've got mommy brain, and I was trying to keep 3 kids quiet, so I don't remember details) Oh, and Micah officiated by sharing a little, having them say their (personally written) vows, and proclaiming them husband and wife.  This couple is now living in a nearby city and is expecting their first child. Micah was able to visit them recently and help them work through some of the first year of marriage bumps in the road ;)

Mason's Birthday Take 1

On June 30, 2012 Mason turned 4!  We were able to celebrate twice, though - once in Austin and once in Sulphur Springs.  Here are some pictures from the first party in Austin.  My family and bff Kim and her 5 kids made the party complete!  We went to an indoor play area (interesting to compare with the indoor play areas we go to in our country) and then to a burger restaurant for dinner and cake.

Mason and Jaden - Jaden is 8 and took Mason  kind of under his wing for the day since it was his birthday. This MADE Mason's day.

Isaac and Reister - buddies (Isaac is 3 months older than Reister)

Reister, Peyton and TJ in the baby area

Me and Kim

Burger Time

the 4 year olds, Liam and Mason

Daddy and Mason

Mason chose Transformers for his cake - but this time I didn't make it, just paid $20 at HEB!

Forgot to buy or bring candles so Micah quickly downloaded a virtual candle app on his phone - ha ha!

I guess the kids all thought that was cool but a little odd in terms of blowing it out

Mommy and the birthday boy

Peyton with Poppo and LiLi (my parents)

the Imaginext Joker castle from Poppo and LiLi

batman car from Uncle Sean and Aunt Jenna

Reister was getting into the present opening too

The sun was shining a little bright so you can't see it that well, but the  restaurant had a great outdoor playground by the outdoor seating - great for the kids!

Attempt at a family picture

The beautiful Texas sunset after the party - we'll miss that!