Soccer Season Underway

Soccer is in full swing. That means practices, meetings, and games.

Spencer is a referee again this year. He is only wearing the hat of official though this season. Last season, he was a player and a referee. He decided this fall he would only referee and allow himself to be free to try out for the high school junior varsity team. (I am still getting use to the idea of having a child old enough to be in high school.) He does look very "official." Connor is a having a great time. His coach is allowing him to play forward and midfield, so he is trying to make the most of his opportunities.

Gator Football Season!

Yippee! We all live for Gator Football! This should be a good year for the Gators! It is Urban Meyer's second season as the head football coach, so the players and coaches should be better familiar with his spread offense.

Mikayla is looking totally adorable in her Gator cheerleading outfit. She can already do the gator chomp! That's our girl!

Just Sharing Our Joy

Mikayla is jubilant with her new Dora the Explorer Little Tikes car. We took her to Toys R Us and she tried out all the options. The boys wanted her to get the battery powered Corvette, but Mommy wanted something to help with her walking coordination.

As you can see, she is having a good laugh with Connor. Later in the even-
ing she was having a good sniff of her
blankie after her bath. She looks
sleepy (& precious).



And our future rock star is working on her percussion skills.....

Chicago, Chicago!

We had our first Hubei Reunion in Chicago! It has been 8+ months since most of us had seen one another. Our flight in was uneventful, but that was not the case with Laura & Annslee. A cancelled flight and an unexpected delay with a 21 month old was a bit trying. But, Laura as usual took it all in stride. She arrived a day later than expected on a different airline looking like it was a normal occurence. All the delays were worth it, though.

We hung out the first evening. The next morning we headed off to tour the city. We spent time in Union Station and then tackled the Navy Pier. It was hot! I thought Florida could be hot, but this was hotter! Lots and lots of sweat! The Sears Tower was our next stop. It is beautiful on the 105th floor, but there is a certain anxiety about feeling the building sway ever so slightly.

We thought we would hop on a train back to the hotel, but that turned out to be another adventure. After using the Metro in DC, the trains in Chicago were a bit disappointing. In DC if you missed a train it was no problem as another one was just minutes behind. In Chi Town, if you miss a train, it is a couple of HOURS before the next train on the weekends. But, alas, we made it back to the hotel on the last train out of downtown.

The next morning Patty & Liana had to leave and so did we. The rest of the crew (the Wares & the Maddens) headed to China Town. They said the food was great and they had a great time soaking up the culture.

We had no issues getting home, but that was not the case with the Wares. (Glad we left early...) Their flight home to Tennessee was cancelled. Flights cancelled twice in one weekend trip? That has to be a record of some kind. Anyway, after renting a car, taking on a couple of stranded fellow Tennesseeans (is that a word?), and a most unhappy Annslee, they made it home.

We are looking forward to the next time when we can get together with our extended Hubei family. The 5 year reunion is set for Disney World and the 10 year reunion is a return visit to China for the girls to reconnect with their home country.

Summer Fun

It has been hot! So, what better way to beat the heat? Yep, hit the pool. This was Mikayla's first real sojourn into the cement pond. She did great. The boys couldn't wait to play with her and paddle her around the pool.
She was initially a little hesitant but warmed up quickly. The boys did their usual horseplay. It amazes me how such silliness can be hysterical!

The 4th of July

The Stars and Stripes cake....yumm...

Fun with the twins....

We had a great time just hanging out at the house with Uncle Bill, Aunt Susan, Sarah & Grace. The twins are doing fantastic! The are so beautiful! Uncle Bill & Aunt Susan arrived with a bubble maker machine---an instant hit with all 3 girls. Also, a styrofoam plane and a hover disc were bestowed on Spencer & Connor.

Uncle Bill couldn't resist teasing Mikayla. Sarah and Grace had a blast in Mikayla's room which is high praise for us. I cannot believe how quickly these girls are growing. The twins are speaking in full sentences, can spell their names, count, and say their ABCs. They are only 15 months older than Mikayla, so I better be ready to meet the challenge.

After much eating and playing, we watched fireworks on TV and outside our home. After visiting DC earlier this summer, this holiday was a little extra special.

The National Zoo, the Smithsonians, & the Monuments at Night

We had to go to the National Zoo to see the pandas! How could we not be just a few blocks away and not go? We also went through four of the Smithsonian Museums (there are 7 all together). Linda's favorite was the Natural Museum because it was displaying the Hope Diamond and other precious pieces of jewelry. (Wow!). We also toured the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, visited the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, then we were off to the Monuments at Night tour. To stand at the base of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial and witness the statues surrounding Teddy Roosevelt's Memorial is something truly special.

We had an amazing time in Washington, DC. We would love to go back again sometime soon. If you get the chance, go and take your kids. They come away with a new perspective of what it means to be free.