Our little Lijy Bear

He's over a year old now and what a year it has been!

He has lived in 3 different states since he was born.

He definitely knows what a hotel is.

He is a little garbage disposal because he eats everything!

He love girls.... they make him smile.

His sister makes him laugh all the time.

We all love ya little guy!

Oklahoma girls!

Even though we celebrated little mr. Lijy's birthday on the road trip ( over a burger and a sundae in a local burger joint in Cheyenne, WY) and feel that we should be honoring him in this post, I need to download some recent photos of him..... so the big sister gets to take over again! She is happy to be back in Oklahoma with her friends here and loves her school! She truly is growing up so fast.

BARRE 3- OKC

I am pleased to announce that we are officially opening a barre 3 in Oklahoma City!! I could not be happier. I heart this workout more than ever as it has changed my life and it has so much depth. We are on a mission to change the lives of others in the Oklahoma City community.

p.s. this has just a "little" bit to do with why I have been absent from my blogs. I'm back!

check us out at www.barre3.com

Woo hoo!

almost 1!

Can't believe it Lijy..... you are almost 1. Where has the time gone? We are trying to plan your 1st birthday party in the midst of a very big move.... I'm thinking giraffes for you little guy, even though elephants are your favorite. Hmmm. Have to think this one out.

Love you tons.

Mommy

USA vs. Ghana

Kell's Irish Pup in Portland, OR

Sad to say it came to an end today for our team USA. Oh how we never wanted it to end... but Ghana's second goal to win the game was pretty sweet. The last few games at Kell's bright and early in the am will be memories that won't be forgotten. The energy in this place was beyond words. Jumping up and down with baby in hand cheering this team on was a blast. My Dad was a trooper.. he was the first one in the door at 6:30am this morning to secure a table for us for the kickoff at 11:30am. I joined him at 8am to cheer on the Korean crowd that was there bright and early but unfortunately they were knocked out today as well. Here's to team USA for what they accomplished in the World Cup 2010. Brazil might see us there in 2014!!

Summertime.

Things to do before our big move:

-tackle our last 2 weeks of Spanish immersion camp(with our favorite maestra)
-find a house!
-pack up
-sell some furniture
-watch USA continue to kick butt in the World cup bright and early at Kell's
-pace ourselves with the best restaurants in the NW
-take a trip to the zoo
-get some sun
-play in the water @ Jamison Park


We will miss you Portland!

The OR Coast

Elijah being busy

Daddy and the kiddos

Hide me Lijy!

Jada loves the water!

Family photo on the driftwood

Happy Father's Day! We went over to Lincoln City, OR this past weekend to celebrate Father's Day and indulged in a non-working, very relaxing weekend of doing nothing.

Bean and Bear

Hey sissy!
Hey Lij!

I'm glad we are bonding. Let's talk about our upcoming book we're going to do...any ideas?

only 4 days left of school....

oh! How we have fallen in love with Jada's school! She has been in full Spanish Immersion since January and she has accomplished so much.... a few of her accomplishments that she has done that we are so proud of are:
*opening Latino festival by microphone in Spanish in front of 200+ people.
*her ability to adapt to the language
*is able to communicate with both of her teachers in Spanish
*has learned numerous Spanish songs and dances which she wants us to be a part of
*and last but not least, teaching her mama y papa the language!

WE LOVE YOU BEAN and are SO proud of you!!

Off to Seattle!

Train ride to and fro, great friends, glasses of sangria, carne asada/fish tacos down by the lake, LOVELY weather, flip flops, espresso chip ice cream from a family owned ice cream shoppe, homemade pulled chicken sandwiches, lemon whippersnapper cookies ( and chocolate chip), a stroll through Pike Place market, a text from our realtor saying that we are expecting an offer on our place tomorrow, and TWO nights in a row of baby Elijah sleeping through the night?

Needless to say, the weekend was perfect. Abundance. Thank you Lord! And thank you to the Conniff's  for a wonderful weekend.

Happy 9 month birthday Lijy!

Well, I passed the test at the doctor's office! I'm officially on track and allowed to eat an assortment of big boy food including pizza crusts, garden burgers, the usual fruits and veggies, pancakes and burritos! but please, no more prunes and oatmeal because you know what happens every time I do Mom! I blowout the nasty all over the place! Besides my occasional flare ups of eczema and super sensitive skin, I think I'm good until my one year appointment!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's out there!!

The Silken Tent

She is as in a field a silken tent
At midday when the sunny summer breeze
Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent,
So that in guys it gently sways at ease,
And its supporting central cedar pole,
That is its pinnacle to heavenward
And signifies the sureness of the soul,
Seems to owe naught to any single cord,
But strictly held by none, is loosely bound
By countless silken ties of love and thought
To every thing on earth the compass round,
And only by one's going slightly taut
In the capriciousness of summer air
Is of the slightlest bondage made aware.
Robert Frost

Feliz Cinco De Mayo!!

Are you kidding me? What is better than chips and guacamole, ceviche, carne asada tacos and a big ole glass of sangria on Cinco De Mayo?? Can't say I'd rather be anywhere else than this cute little whole in the wall that is very close to the best tasting tacos from Cabo! Yum......for those of you in Portland, you have to try this place! It's SO good!

Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone! Hope you spent it wisely! or still are...

We are ready for summer!

My little "big" fish!

Well, today marked Jada's 7th swim lesson here in Portland and I must say she is coming along! She is now in the "big" pool and is swimming very well. We are so proud of her! She found these flippers today and would not let them go.

Good Friends!

Such a great visit to OKC! We got to catch up with some of our good friends, saw two amazing Thunder games ( which the series with the Lakers is now 2-2 ) Go Thunder!! went to the Arts Festival, and went to a event at a casino in Oklahoma ( blackjack was fun, felt a tad like Vegas...lol) and looked for a new home..... It was a very packed but fun trip! These pictures are from Jada's best friend in Oklahoma's birthday party art VZD's which we took a cab to get to right when we landed....wouldn't miss it Pie! We love you!! Happy 5th!

Oklahoma!

Oklahoma, where the wind comes
sweepin' down the plain,
And the wavin' wheat can sure smell
sweet
When the wind comes right behind the
rain.
Oklahoma, ev'ry night my honey lamb
and I
Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk
makin' lazy circles in the sky.

We know we belong to the land
And the land we belong to is grand!
And when we say - Yeeow! A-yip-i-o-ee ay!
We're only sayin' You're doin' fine,
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma - O.K."


.....and we're off to Oklahoma until Sunday! Gotta love this State!

A First for Everything

Jada's first attempt on her bike

and she's off!

Santa brought Jada a bike this past Christmas and this was her first time on it! Something is wrong with that, it's April! Anyways, it was quite amusing because she wanted to brake every two seconds and she looked everywhere else except straight ahead as if she was on a conveyor belt... all in all, she did pretty good, but we definitely need to work on steering a bit, thank goodness driving permits don't come until 15, we got some time!

 

and a look at Lijy...he is so into the washer! 

Easter Sunday!

one egg. represents an individual
a dozen eggs. represents us as a family
a relationship. represents teaching and learning
a bird. represents life

God gave us a life to teach and learn as a family and as individuals. What we do in this life from what we've learned is what counts.

Spring Break!

all we wanted for spring break was......snow! so, we went and found it! It was a 3 1/2 hour drive away but we got it and it was a great time for a change of scenery. We spent 4 days over in Sunriver with some close friends of ours and took a family trip to Mt. Bachelor for the day. My husband has never been sledding a day in his life, so to see him pacing down the mountain on an inner tube was quite amusing. Life after basketball....needless to say, we are enjoying it!

our family at the slopes!
                                                        

mase on a tube

Jada's very first ski lesson!

beautiful Mt. Bachelor

all dressed up and nowhere to go except for the slopes!