Puppy Update

So night one the puppies went to sleep at 10:00 pm.  They went into their crate unassisted and they slept till 6:00 am.  They went for multiple walks on Sunday.  The girls have been impressive in their puppy walking.  I really did not expect it to go nearly as good as it did.  They also gave them a bath and hand fed them their food.  I was wetting the food, but found yesterday that they really liked it better without the water.  

Everyone took naps yesterday.  

Ohana and her stuffie

Gia sleeping in my lap

Rose 

Roni 

Then last night - both girls had trouble going to sleep. I think it was a combination of too much puppy excitement and too late of a nap.  Rose actually did no go to sleep till 9:30 pm (their bedtime is 7:00 pm). They woke up at 4:45 am and come into our bedroom fighting.  Of course they woke up the puppies who are sleeping in our bathroom.  Ugh!  I took the puppies out and left the girls to go to sleep with daddy (but he thought I was coming back to bed) so the girls never went back to sleep!  

The Puppies Are Home

This morning we drove out to the farm and picked up the puppies.  The girls were so excited that they barely ate breakfast and it took some convincing to get them to agree that the puppies had to ride in the crate and not in their laps on the way home.  We stopped at our local Pet Smart to pick out harnesses and supplies.  The girls each rode in a cart with their puppy as we rolled round the store.  Ohana quickly established that she was the alpha pup, she barked at all the dogs, big, small and in between.  

When we got home we introduced them to the kitchen which we have gated off as their territory for the  first few months.  The pups settled right in like they had always lived here.  Rose and Roni spent the entire day by the puppies sides holding them, brushing them, playing with them and walking them in the front yard.  They even spent time "sleeping" with them.  It was hard to get them to go to bed.

Flashback Friday - Christmas Trip to Detroit 2011

We took an awesome trip to Detroit - my hubby grew up in Oak Park - in 2011.  The girls were real road warriors - watching tons of Curious George and Dora the Explorer DVDs along the way.  We had tons of fun, the girls saw snow, met their Great Aunt, their aunts and cousins and became hotel junkies.

Somewhere in Tennessee

Roni napping

Rose modeling new clothes from her Aunt Sharon

Snow!

More snow!

The train at the park in Oak Park (daddy played at the same park as a boy).

A snowman?

Roni wearing my hat.

Rose playing at an indoor pkayground.

Using trash cans to reach the hotel sinks,

In Georgia on the way home.

School Photo Day

Today was photo day at school.  The girls did not have to wear school uniforms today.  Both girls opted to wear the birthday clothes their grandma Kasia gave them.  They looked really cute.  

More Things They Do and Say

Evidently Roni has been watching closely when I dress.  The other day she told me.  "I don't want to be a mommy, I want to be a princess, because mommies wear bras and princesses don't." - I'm pretty sure Belle wears a bra...

When my dad and Kasia were saying their wedding vows and exchanging rings Roni went up to check out the ring.  That girl she sure loves her bling.

Both girls loved running around the bed and breakfast where the wedding took place.  At one point Roni came running up to let us know that Rose was upstairs "talking to strangers".  Her dad went to fetch her, evidently she had joined the next wedding party and was helping them with a video.  - We really were trying to keep them contained - it's just some things are just gonna happen.  

The girls are starting a unit at school about patriotism.  They have been learning the pledge of allegiance.  Yesterday they told me they were praying to the flag.

Author Recommendation

In October our local FCA (Families With Children from Asia) chapter is hosting Grace Lin.  Grace is a children's book author and illustrator.  Her parents immigrated from Taiwan and she grew up in New York.  I have been reading some of her books to prep for her visit and have shared several with my girls.

Her first book, The Ugly Vegetables, was published in 1999.  She has subsequently written and illustrated numerous children's books and novels, including the Pacy series and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon which was a recipient of a 2010 Newberry Honor book mention.  Her most recent novel is Starry River of the Sky.  I have not yet read Starry River of the Sky, but I read and loved the Pacy series, especially Dumpling Days and I particularly enjoyed Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.  

In addition to these books she has written two early readers, Ting and Ling Not Exactly the Same and Ting and Ling Share a Birthday.  Rose and Roni love both of these books.  They are about twins and are comprised of six short chapters per book.  The illustrations are adorable and the stories are cute and for the mom of twins oh so spot on.  

Rose reading Round is a Mooncake, illustrated by Grace Lin

Wedding Bells

The girls were flower girls at their grandfather, my dad's, wedding.  The wedding was at a local bed and breakfast.  It was a beautiful site and everyone had a wonderful time.  I was so proud of the girls.  They did a terrific job.

Flashback Friday - After School Fun Spring 2013