Football and fun with family

This weekend was a fun family get together with some cousins on Jenny's side and their kids in Akron.  We had a great time and some of them got to meet Carter for the first time and we got to meet one of their newest...Ava.  With a big back yard and tons of toys, the kids (and grownups) had a blast.  While there was a game of soccer, some playing bean bag toss and games of chase or hide and seek, the big hit was the football game.  There were no major injuries although I think Uncle Brian and I both knocked Carter (our teammate) down during the game.  Carter was not happy about that, but after a hug from cousin Mariska, he was all better and had his game face on again.  It was a great time and the kids both fell asleep in the van on the way back to Columbus that night.

 

 

 

Carterisms

Our little man, Carter Ming, has picked up English faster than we could have imagined.  He is a little sponge! For someone who had never heard an English word until he was 21 months old and only has one fully working ear, we were not sure what his development would be like.  It has been nothing short of remarkable.  That being said, he does have some very interesting Carterisms that we love and wanted to share... 
He enjoys "Pretty school" (otherwise known as pre-school), but does not like to go to the "factory" (otherwise known as the nursery at church).   Carter also loves to sing along to many songs that he has memorized...sort of.  He usually has his own twist on the words.  One of the bible school songs that he and Cassidy really like has a line that says..."I know you feel the beat so...", but Carter sings it as "I know you feel the pizza..." 
If you are wondering about the picture...it is his home-made snorkel.

Puppet Show

The kids recently put on a nice puppet show for us.  Cass is using a Grover that is almost 40 years old as it was mine as a child.
BSS

  

Tailgating with teachers

We recently attended a tailgate party at a school where Jenny used to teach.  In addition to some of the current teachers of that school, there were several teachers (like Jenny) who used to teach there.  Carter and Cassidy enjoyed the great food...and even set up a pretend ice cream stand to sell to the teachers.  They also liked playing with (and disassembling) the ring toss game, playing with the corn hole game (and sitting on it) and Carter especially liked walking over to the High School with me to watch the marching band practice.

Keep it clean

Cass loves to "help" out however she can.  She wanted to wear Mom's gloves and wash some dishes.

Preschool...for real

While the kids got a taste of their new rooms and teachers last week, this week was the real start of preschool for them.  Both kids are on their own in the classes now with no parent there to hang on.  Cass started Monday and Carter started today. They both did great and neither one seemed concerned about leaving me at the door.  The only concern was on Carter's behalf as he wanted to know what he could put in his new school bag.  He saw Cassidy bring things from school home last year and he wants to put things in his bag as well to take home.  He did enjoy handing one of his teachers each of the school supplies he had brought in today.

Soccer time

Today we became "soccer parents".  While Jenny took Carter to his monthly Chinese group

 play date, I took Cassidy to her first ever soccer practice.  She was excited to go and jumped right in practicing kicking the ball all around before the practice even started.  She lined up and did most everything that her coach asked her to do...even though she had never done most of the drills since we are not a soccer family.  I paid close attention so we could practice them at home.  While there were some kids who cried and others looking at butterflies, Cass hung in there and just waved at me from across the field every now and then.  By the end she started to get a little tired and wanted to stop, but overall she did great!  Hopefully she will want to stick with it.