tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10535223719613910572024-03-13T09:13:45.664-07:00Vive...rie...amaLive...laugh...love
Life with 4 kids 6 and under. Our trip to pick up Tonito in China is: mid-March 2008 through April 12. Our trips to pick up Ricky in Ethiopia are in June and August of 2010.Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.comBlogger463125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-88079817270923756932011-11-09T10:41:00.000-08:002011-11-09T10:43:18.451-08:00My newest project!Please stop by my newest project:www.kidworldcitizen.orgMy goal with this web site is to share the global activities that I have used in my classroom and with my 4 children. You will find games, recipes that please even the most discerning tummies, art projects, endless reviews on children’s literature related to world cultures, games, and other activities that help enrich little minds. Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-78226777893224231802011-03-14T23:26:00.000-07:002011-07-22T19:35:25.870-07:00Day 2: Magic KingdomDay 2 was equally fun- we went to Magic Kingdom and headed straight back to Fantasyland to ride all of the little kids' rides. They absolutely loved it, and it wasn't even crowded (yay for no lines!). We went back to the hotel for a lunch and nap, and then returned to the park for some more rides. While waiting to enter Mickey's Philharmonic 3-D show, all of a sudden we realized that in 15 Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-13898042640867073092011-03-13T21:16:00.000-07:002011-07-22T19:26:04.558-07:00Day 1: EPCOT!EPCOT was so much fun! Disclosure: I am a type-A, extreme planner. Because of this, I had read every single blog and guide to DW, analyzed the attendance history of each park (to determine which had less crowds on which days), saturated my brain with random tips from other moms, and had made up an itinerary that would allow us to see the most possible, with the least waiting in lines. If you are Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-68523946657906161832011-03-12T22:09:00.000-08:002011-07-22T19:15:55.650-07:00On our way to DW!!!We picked up the kids from school on Friday afternoon, and started driving east! They had no idea where we were going, and just went with the flow. We told them we were going "on vacation" and that we would be staying in a hotel (just that simple fact had them excited!).We drove until they were asleep, carried them into the hotel, and then at 4am the next morning we got in the car and told them Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-64499850627253789792011-03-09T22:37:00.000-08:002011-05-31T20:13:58.743-07:00Yeee-haw! The Rodeo!We got some free tickets to the Rodeo (thank you Melissa!:) and Tonio, Tonito, Vivi and I were so excited for our first visit! Looking around at the other rodeo-goers and the ubiquitous fashion, it was immediately obvious that we were not in any way cowboy or Western or even Texan. Regardless of our lack of boots, fringe and leather, we quickly became fans. Walking up to the Rodeo, we had to passVive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-58249827624713743562011-03-02T20:21:00.000-08:002011-05-30T20:40:52.023-07:00First game of T-ball!Their first t-ball game!!!! First of all, I love our coach. This was an email he sent us before the first game (this is my kind of coach!!!!):"Our players will run the wrong way, play in the dirt, not pay attention all the time, and occasionally test our patience. They are 4, 5, and 6 yrs old. That's just the way it is. The idea is for them to have fun playing a team sport. Don’t expect Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-202257397535083232011-03-01T19:40:00.000-08:002011-07-22T18:44:45.327-07:00The Ricky and Maya showI have been having fun this spring taking Ricky and Maya on little field trips- just the 3 of us. Recently we went walking around some parks and to the Children's Museum. They had a lot of fun and enjoyed getting a little more individualized attention- and they both got to hold one of mommy's hands! (a frequently contentious issue when the 4 kids are together)---Ricky and Maya make me laugh so Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-25132152168199210412011-02-27T19:14:00.000-08:002011-05-26T19:27:17.959-07:00Swimming in FebruaryThis morning I ran a 10K (yay!) and we decided to relax a bit in the afternoon. The kids (except Maya) claimed that they were "hot" and officially opened our swimming pool today. We do not have a heated pool, and I personally thought the water was really cold (Ricky's teeth were chattering!)- but they swam for a little bit and laughed the whole time. Do kids just not notice the temperature!? We Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-9630563257476227492011-02-25T21:49:00.000-08:002011-05-26T19:08:40.546-07:00School Rodeo
Today we had the rodeo at Maya's school, so I brought Ricky and friend to enjoy the games!
Ricky with his little Spanish-speaking buddies;)-
"Milking" the cow (a glove with white paint!)-
Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-51085804612234930322011-02-24T21:12:00.000-08:002011-05-23T21:21:35.838-07:00Scavenger HuntI made a really fun scavenger hunt for the kids to do with our mom's club (send me your email and I will send you a copy). I went to the lake while the kids were in school, and hid juice boxes, and various snacks along the way (and hoped that no critters would find them before we got there!). The kids had to follow the hunt in the order it was laid out, and find one object at each pictured Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-62020212803433109082011-02-23T21:03:00.000-08:002011-05-23T21:12:17.752-07:002 peas in a podSometimes I feel like Maya and Ricky should have their own TV show. If only there were an invisible camera that could follow them around.. they are absolutely hilarious in a way that is indescribable. When I try to imitate them or explain to people how funny they are together, I end up laughing and laughing at the images of the two of them and the other person just stares at me and wonders why itVive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-21222628726125392962011-02-19T20:56:00.000-08:002011-05-23T21:03:07.938-07:00Garage Sale and a haircutOur lemonade stand, and Ricky's haircut when papi takes him by himself:)---Today we had our garage sale! There were 6-7 moms that participated, and we each made a couple hundred bucks- not bad! I think the key is to over-advertise on craigslist. We not only listed the garage sale, but individually listed many of the bigger items (car seats, treadmill, strollers, TVs, etc). The kids sold Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-89528595171410321272011-02-18T20:46:00.000-08:002011-05-23T20:56:01.919-07:00Swine flu & gardeningRicky loooooves playing in the mud! Oops, I mean gardening! Today was a work work work day.Despite testing positive for the flu, Vivi was a huge helper in planting our garden, and in getting ready for the garage sale! Maya and Ricky were trying to be big helpers, but it will be funny to see how the seeds come up- crossover rows, renegade salad leaves, and surely some bare spots. We planted tomatoVive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-50398047346173178722011-02-16T20:14:00.000-08:002011-05-23T20:26:22.492-07:00Ricky's been home 6 months!My beautiful baby Ricky has been home for SIX MONTHS already!!! I can't believe how fast time has flown by, how fast he has adapted to our family, and how much it seems like he has been here forever. Here are 2 recent funnies involving Ricky---Overheard from Maya to Ricky:"Sit here. You're gonna be my turtle and I'm gonna milk you." (I peeked in and saw Ricky dutifully sitting on a spread out Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-58428863895324074572011-02-14T20:38:00.000-08:002011-05-23T20:45:55.928-07:00Valentine's DayI am the luckiest mama in the world:). Today I got to celebrate Valentine's Day with my 4 beautiful kids at a red and pink Valentine's Day party at their school! Here is Tonito with his buddies:and Vivi with her girlies:Me with my two beauties:and my 2 handsome boys:Happy Valentine's Day to my best friend, who (despite not enjoying running) ran not only 1, but TWO marathons with me:)... my best Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-84205094497242967782011-02-12T20:26:00.000-08:002011-05-23T20:37:32.228-07:00Chinese New Year and TballWe started the day with a huge Chinese New Year celebration at the consulate, arranged by the local FCC group. The craziest coincidence was the one of Vivi's friends from school was one of the Chinese dancers performing for the families! Her family is from China (she is not adopted) and she belongs to this dance group from Chinatown. We were both surprised to see each other there! The food was Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-75383168380161040702011-02-08T20:02:00.000-08:002011-05-23T20:13:24.342-07:00You know you live in the south when...the "threat" of snow means cancelled school. So last Friday there was a *possibility* of snow (a chance of snow) and they cancelled school. Now we get an email saying that we have to go to school on President's Day to make up the day. WHAT!?!?!? Seriously. Not that we would have been celebrating our federal leaders, but I did plan a fun day with our playgroup. I know it's not the end of the worldVive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-36992060123425291522011-02-07T19:53:00.000-08:002011-05-23T20:02:37.010-07:00Ethiopian food!Some yummy Ethiopian food!!!! We made the cabbage/carrots/potato dish, the green bean/carrots dish, and some shiro (from shiro flour I brought home from ET) and then I had some mild sheep feta that I gave the kids as well. The girls could eat their weight in injera (and fortunately when I sent Tonio to buy the injera he bought enough to satisfy the whole family:). The boys love everything- Ricky Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-6647885205010612932011-02-06T19:37:00.000-08:002011-05-23T19:53:44.469-07:00My soccer playersIf there is one sport that all of my kids like, it is soccer (aka futbol). They love running around, chasing that black and white ball, and finally screaming "gooooooooooooooooooooooool" when they make it in the net. Of course we would be happy with any activity our kids choose-- but for now I'm thinking that as an international family, soccer is very appropriate. Now all we need are some MexicanVive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-39234802054191313542011-02-05T19:58:00.000-08:002011-05-21T20:55:43.755-07:00A birthday of PURE JOY* Scroll down--- mid-post there's a video of the lemur:).Today we celebrated Vivi's birthday in the most spectacular way- an animal birthday party, screeching kindergartners, and a ring-tailed lemur as the star guest. We started with an obstacle course and some "animal" races. Vivi did not know that we were bringing real animals, and she thought the whole party would be these animal games (Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-11742871974167559612011-02-04T18:58:00.000-08:002011-05-19T19:58:04.676-07:00Turtles, Macaws, and Porcupine CupcakesA couple of months ago, I asked Vivi what kind of birthday she wanted. It didn't surprise me that she asked for a "lemur" birthday (her favorite animal). I asked her if we could make it a little more general... sort-of an animal birthday party that had some lemur aspects. Vivi thinks we invited a bunch of her friends over, and that we will play some animal games, and pretend we are lemurs (her Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-37592936642112998752011-02-01T18:34:00.000-08:002011-05-11T06:48:45.193-07:00Kindergarten Chinese New YearI repeated almost the same activities for Chinese New Year with the kindergarten classes. I read 2 different books about Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin, and Dragon Dance by Joan Holub. It would have been better had I found a super-large book, so that the 70 kids could see better, but I think the props helped to keep their interest. About 5 other Chinese moms brought in a lot of other propsVive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-25589039261122837322011-01-30T20:22:00.000-08:002011-05-10T20:46:40.623-07:00CutiesI think there is such a tight bond between brothers and sisters and I wish I could capture their silly moments.. and their lovey moments. The boys and the girls have these special relationships, with secrets and giggles and squeezes. Now don't let these pictures fool you into thinking it's all roses and rainbows- these angelic smiles also wrestle, fight over toys, and say mean things to each Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-50702435247545853762011-01-29T19:48:00.000-08:002011-05-10T20:12:16.676-07:00Nian GaoFor our Chinese feast, we had dumplings (crescent-shaped Jiaozi are a symbol of wealth and prosperity because they resemble ancient Chinese money), a mushroom dish, fried rice, and baby bok choy. For dessert we made a rice cake...In getting ready for CNY, I got out some books from the library. One of them we read was this book: The Runaway Rice Cake" by Ying Chang Compestine. Then we followed Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1053522371961391057.post-86302873214290131742011-01-28T19:15:00.000-08:002011-05-10T20:21:33.671-07:00Chinese New Year at preschool!As we were getting ready to celebrate Chinese New Year at preschool, Ricky goes "When is Africa? I Africa, no China." hahahahaha. Don't worry, Ricky- we'll get more involved in Ethiopian events this year... Anyway!Xin nian kaui le! (Happy New Year!) We first read a book by Karen Katz called "My First Chinese New Year." Before reading it, I handed out props for the kids to hold. When we reached Vive...rie...amahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689677555426341628noreply@blogger.com0