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Where Did May Go?

How, how, how is it June already? Seriously. The spring is flying by, and here we find ourselves at the threshold of summer… a move home… a new career… a complete change in life, really. My head spins just thinking about it. We have been talking to Isla about our move. We tell her how we will fly home to America and see all our friends and family. Every day she says, “I-ya go to airport.” and “I-ya fly big unpane soon.”  She then proceeds to rattle off names of our family and friends back in Oregon (including our dog, Bella). The movers come tomorrow and there are only 18 days until we board that plane. Crazy! So, before we dive headfirst into a new season, both literally and figuratively, here are a few favorites from our final spring in Shanghai…

 May_0001May_0002The weather has been very lovely and mild this spring. Thankfully, it was just cool enough to keep the mosquitoes at bay until mid-May, so we were able to enjoy a lot of time in our backyard. Our sweet girl was a prime target for the nasty bugs, and got a few big bites on her face. She pointed them out to everyone. With a stern face, she would somberly explain, “skeeto bite.” May_0004May_0003Isla’s first pony tail! It was Daddy’s first pony tail too- well done, Daddy!May_0013The birds made quick work of our cherries. The fruit barely had time to ripen before they were plucked from the trees. Unlike the fleeting cherries, the birds have stuck around. Unfortunately, they have decided that waking Isla every morning between 4:45 and 5:15 is their new calling in life. May_0006May_0005May_0007May_0008May_0009“Where’s I-ya?” We play this game A LOT. Isla is a patient and quiet little hider too!May_0010May_0011May_0012May_0014May_0015May_0016Isla’s passion for drawing continues to grow and she is now making circles, in addition to lots of bold scribbles and straight lines. She identifies her crayon marks now (water, fire, cat, Auntie Money) and even points out the same lines days later, and reminds us of what she drew.May_0017May_0018May_0019May_0024May_0020More than anything our little explorer loves to be “ow-side.”May_0023May_0021May_0022May_0025May_0027May_0026May_0028May_0029We have been letting Isla paint over the top of her crayon sketches with watercolor and the resulting paintings are really beautiful!May_0030May_0031Isla is further developing her yoga skills, and asks to do “yogo” every day. I bought her a kid-sized yoga mat and cannot wait to show it to her when we get home to Oregon.May_0032At some point during the past month Isla developed a passion for shoes. Each morning she rummages through the shoe basket near the front door, collects as many of her shoes as she can carry and parades them through the house. This kid. She cracks us up.May_0033

Posted in Life in Shanghai

Happy birthday, Isaac!

Happy birthday, my love! Today you begin your 35th year and I am so thrilled to be celebrating with you!

Last night when you arrived home, Isla greeted you with, “Happy birthday, Daddy!” You looked at me and smiled. My cover was blown and you knew we had been practicing for today. That’s okay though. I want you to know that we adore you and are always thinking of you.

 

On May 27, 1980 the world became a better place because of you. Seriously, babe. Your kindness, integrity, compassion, humor, thoughtfulness, understanding, creativity, and loving heart have positively affected so many people all around the world. You inspire me to better myself simply by being you. Now I have the joy of watching you inspire our beautiful Isla. You are helping to shape her into such a wonderful little person. My heart melts every time I see her big blue eyes fixated on you. I can’t help but laugh as I watch her mimic your words and movements. She adores you, and I can not imagine a better person for her to wish to emulate.

Your 35th year is sure to be exciting! We are changing continents, homes, careers, and our way of life for the past 8 years. As we prepare to set off on our new adventure together, we are facing many uncertainties, but this I know will always be true: I love you with all of my heart.

So, in keeping with tradition and in honor of your 35th year, here are 35 things (some sentimental, some silly) that I love about you:

1. I love your beautiful heart

2. I love that you are a loving, patient, and playful Daddy to Isla

3. I love how you put peanut butter on everything… yes, even pancakes (gasp!)

And speaking of pancakes…

4. I love that you make the world’s best pancakes, with crispy edges

5. I love dreaming about the future with you

6. I love how you mimic the cats to make me laugh

7. I love that you are adventurous and eager to experience new places and cultures

8. I love how you snuggle me on your chest every night as we fall asleep

9. I love that you wheel my motorbike out for me each morning- those little acts of thoughtfulness mean so much!

10. I love and admire your patience… seriously. You are amazing!

11. I love how you curl your toes when you’re tired

12. I love when you laugh so hard that you can’t stop and tears form in your eyes

13. I love your ability to find ways to be artistic and creative in all you do

14. I love that you recognize my efforts and are so appreciative… thank you!

15. I love the look you give me after we put Isla to bed every night… filled with love, gratitude, and pride for our baby girl

16. I love how much you love your family, and how you treat my family as your own

17. I love that we share a mutual obsession for tacos

18. I love how you act with integrity and kindness… always

19. I love that you are meditative and look for ways to grow yourself

20. I love that you battle the craziness of RT Mart, so that I don’t have to

21. I love how you perch on the couch with a steaming cup of coffee and your sketch book

22.  I love how you squeeze my hand and smile at me

23. I love that you make the world’s best smoothies

24. I love how you skip sand dollars at the beach

25. I love your cute buns… yeah, I went there.

26. I love your passion to learn

27. I love how handsome you look with that beard

28. I love that you are my biggest fan… pun intended

29. I love how you quote old movies and TV shows

30. I love that you proofread my writing (hope I didn’t make any mistakes!)

31. I love that you are loyal and caring

32. I love how you read aloud to me

33. I love that trusting smile you give me when I’ve convinced you to hop on board of one of my crazy ideas

34. I love when you give me foot rubs … and then end them with the funny clapping movements like they do in Thailand… you’re such a ham!

35. I love, love, love how greatly you love… me… Isla… our families… friends… others… the world around you.

 

Happy happy birthday, my sweet Isaac! I am so grateful to have you in my life and look forward to celebrating many, many more birthdays together!!!

xoxo

Posted in Celebrations