Easter!

(narrated by Mommy)

For the boy who loves eggs and hiding, this was probably the best holiday yet.

Here's a shot of our 35 colored eggs, ready to be hidden by the Easter Bunny.
As emergency vehicles top Jack's list along with trains, we couldn't not make a police car egg.

Ready to go egg hunting!

Ready... set... go! Our backyard was the site of a 74-egg hunt for a bunch of our friends. You can barely make out Jack's stripes as he is nearly trampled in the stampede. Awesome!
Egg Hunt, Take 2! Jack requested an egg hunt the next morning, so he got one of his very own. Bets are still out on who had more fun... Jack finding eggs, or the "Easter Bunny" hiding eggs. Apparently the Easter Bunny can't wait until Jack is older and can make even more challenging hunts.

Missed one!

But made up for it by looking UP -- a good strategy when the Easter Bunny likes to get tricky.

Easter basket loot.

More loot.

Two very special Easter trains from Nana Peggy and Grampa Kent. Thank you!!!

Enjoying the easter candy and trains from Nana and Pa.

Ah, yet another holiday marked by consumerism and lost religion... we'll take it!! Cheers.

...and we're back!

Mommy says that we've surfaced from the depths of the un-bloggable, now with a job secured, a house on the market, grand rounds complete and an almost-2-yr-old on our hands (that's me!).



For this return to the blogosphere edition, a special shout-out to my friend, Will, with whom I got to play last weekend. He is teaching me about the new responsibilities that I will face being 2. Here, the subtle nuances of train driving.
I'm catching on!

Here, Will is teaching me that it IS ok to be the rider once in awhile (I usually PUSH the car). I'm not convinced. Mommy, however, looks thrilled.

I'm also very lucky that my friend Will has outgrown his toddler car bed. He gave it to me!! (thanks to Will's Mommy and Daddy!!) Here I am hamming it up by my new bed.

Organizing all my stuffed friends in my new bed is thrilling.

Organizing receipts in my new bed is more serious, apparently.

Intensity.

Finally, in honor of easter, I thought I'd cook up an egg in the handy-dandy egg cooker.

Eggs apparently sleep peacefully when they get cooked.

More to come. We promise!!! ;)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!! It's been a long time since Mommy got some photos up here. We hope you enjoy! I got to spend Christmas with my two Nanas, Grandpa Kent, Mommy and Daddy. Here are some photos from our fun week together!

Here I am, the chrismas doggie, picking flowers from a tree.

Mommy and Nana Peggy.

Me and Na Na watching the WonderPets and eating uncooked noodles (my new favorite thing from the pantry).

Christmas cookies decorated by Mommy and Nana Peggy. You can see that most of my favorite things are represented: moons, stars, octagons, and cars (the kitties/bee-yas are on a different plate).

Here I am "helping" Nana Peggy wash some dishes... I think it helps to put your whole body into it.

But clearly it's much easier to wash if you get in the sink with the dishes.

Displaying the ambulance (or "ammu") cookie Mommy made for me

Laughing with Daddy.

Saying "cheese" with Grandpa Kent (aka "Pa" and "Ye-Ye")

One of the new games called "more!"

Playing at the museum with Mommy and Daddy.

Me, demonstrating how long my arms have grown since last Christmas -- a lot!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!

China Trip Part 3

No trip to China is complete without a big bowl of steaming hot noodles.
Unfortunately, I missed out on this.

Luckily Daddy has a strong back, so he didn't mind that I was hanging from him during his entire meal. Mommy had to rig-up one of my shirts around my neck to keep my head from doing some major bobbing.

Here's me and Mommy on the train to Quzhou, which is Nana's hometown. We took a side trip there for a few days to meet Nana's entire family! The train ride used to be about 4 hours, but now with a new high-speed train, it was less than 2! You can see the train is pretty nice and very clean.

The first item of business once we arrived in Suzhou was to meet my other Tai-Tai (Nana's Mom) for the very first time.

Tai-Tai's house is where I learned to drink tea... and now I love it!!

Here I am just checking things out in Tai-Tai's door.

Washing up with Daddy and Ye-Ye outside my Tai-Tai's apartment.

The view from the sink seen above.
Taxi alternative. Kinda fun. Kinda scary.

The restaurant version of a high chair... a box of beer under a red napkin. Lasted maybe 30 seconds or long enough for this photo.

Anyone notice a movie star in this picture? My great-uncle. He's the spitting image of Kyle MacLachlan with a Chinese twist.

One of the newest additions to the city of Quzhou is a giant underground Walmart. Outside the Walmart there was a man selling rides on a bunch of remote controlled cars...

Mommy and Daddy let me try!!

Turned out I was good for business, so the man let me have a few more rides on the house. When it was finally time to go, I cried hard.

On a walk outside one of the city gates.

Final goodbyes at the train station with my great-auntie and great-uncles.

Me and Mommy on the train ride back to Hangzhou. Until next time Quzhou!!

Stay tuned for the final installment...