Living out of a suitcase

Today I am packing again. I have lost count of the number of times that I have packed and re-packed our suitcases this summer (I am guessing at least 5-6). We come to the U.S. with several LARGE suitcases. If this is any indication, our kids have appropriately dubbed the biggest one of them "big red." Since big red does not need to accompany us everywhere, I usually just use one suitcase for all of us. Living out of a suitcase is not my favorite thing and poses some logistical challenges. Case in point the camera cord (which thankfully, I finally found just yesterday). And earlier in the week, I couldn't find the kids hairbrush for several days. But now that I have found that cord, I will think about posting some pictures from the summer.

In other news, Andy is safely back in China. I am so thankful to our friends there who are looking out for him while we are away. He has only been back 4 days and I think he has seen friends 3 of those nights.

Goodbyes abound

Yesterday I dropped off Becca at camp for the week. I am so excited for her and the fun things she will get to experience this week. But my excitement does not even begin to compare to what she was feeling. She has been looking forward to this for months. She was all packed up and ready Saturday (honestly, if we had been in Cincy earlier I think she would have been packed up way before). Then this morning Andy boarded a plane to return to China. While I don't regret our staying longer, we miss him so once he leaves. But it is worth it to get extra time with family and friends. I mean once we have come all this way (and only returning to the US once a year), it seems silly to return after only 2.5 weeks. Right now the younger two are outside enjoying Josh's new rocket launcher. We are off to run one errand (I have promised the kids that it will be only one. I think we are just a bit done with shopping). Then we are off to enjoy this beautiful day at a park. Quiet days like this are the whole reason it is worth it to stay. So I hope that you too can enjoy this wonderful day.

Tire swing

In Cincinnati, we stay with Dwight and Duease (Andy's mom and step-dad). She had told us about a tire swing that they recently had put up in their backyard. Our kids have been LOVING it! I will let the pictures speak for themselves (these were before our camera cord went MIA -- see next post for more).

This is seriously one of the longest tire swing ropes I have ever seen. Can you see how high up it goes?

Our kiddos had the great idea that they could put the sprinkler by the tire swing and swing through it. Doesn't this just epitomize being a kid in the summer?

I feel like this is a punchline to a joke. . . how many kids does it take to pull the tire swing?

3 weeks already?

We have been in the U.S. for 3 weeks and I am just getting around to blogging. While it is true that we have been busy, mainly I blame it on our camera. Somewhere along the line, I have lost the cord for our camera. Considering we are on our 3rd state since arriving, it is not too surprising. Ah the joys of living life out of suitcase for weeks on end! Somehow to me blogging without pictures is like only telling half of the story. Know that there are stories to be told and adventures are being had. Hopefully, sometime soon I will be able to communicate them to you.

Anyway. . . we have been in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and even took a trip to the Smokey Mountains. While it is great to do fun and exciting things (like go to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, an event that clearly needs its own entry), I must confess that some of our favorite things have been the mundane: going to the library, playing outside, and seeing people we love.

Celebrating the 4th in Ameri-Pan

While both Dave and Amree and ourselves live outside the US, our experiences are much different. Becca kept commenting that it didn't really feel like we were in another country in most ways, but in some ways it did. Before long, she coined the phase "Ameri-Pan" (for America-Japan). And she was right. Living so close to the navy base, and especially on the base provides a much different experience than what we are used to. No one really stares at you (because there are so many Americans), there is tons of familiar things available (especially food), and because of this it just has a bit of a different feel to it.

Because I had been up most of the night with Dave and Amree, I spent much of the morning napping. After lunch we headed out to a park with fountains and an old Japanese navy ship. We explored the ship, found a great playground, then headed to the base to eat dinner with Dave. We then finished our day off with ice cream and fireworks. What a terrific 4th!

Nothing better on a hot day than playing in a fountain.

I particularly enjoy Josh's pose (of course my boy is sporting a gun), but what is Becca doing?

Becca and Josh were pointing at a sailboat in the water, but umm T, where are you pointing?

My favorite quote of the day. . . Tori came running over to me and grumped, "Mom, that little girl just stole my machine gun!"

Josh practicing with the guns. Such a boy!

Eating Baskin Robbins while watching the fireworks

Our princess couldn't resist dancing because as she said, "The fireworks are so beautiful, I want to dance with them."

Welcome!

On our way back to the US, we stopped in Japan to see Dave and Amree. They were due to have the baby any day and selfishly, I (and the girls) wanted it to be born while we were there so we could meet him. We arrived July 2 in the evening. July 3 we were able to enjoy time with Dave and Amree. But by the evening, it began to look like the little one wanted to make an appearance. So I want to introduce you to:

John Hezekiah

born on July 4th at 5:01 AM

weighing in at 9 pounds, 14 ounces

I love this picture of the new family!

Meeting his cousins. . .

Tori loved to touch his hair. She kept saying, "I love it. I love him. His hair is so soft." (over and over)

Going home?

We have been getting ready for our annual trip to the US. As I have been talking to friends here, I keep saying, "we go home _______." , "when we go home, _______". But the other day I got to thinking. . . where is home? Because by the end of the summer, I am again telling people, "we go home ______." Is our home the US? Of course. This is especially true for Andy, Becca, Josh, and I. B in particular has distinct memories of living in the US. But we sometimes wonder what our youngest actually remembers of living in the US. And even if we moved to another country tomorrow (not that we are planning on that, I'm just saying), the US would still be home and claim a piece of our hearts. But then, is China our home? Definitely, we have a house here, a life here. But does one trump the other? And that, I think, is a truly hard question. This is illustrated as we fill out forms. Just yesterday Andy was trying to pay with Paypal, but because our phone number wasn't located in the same postal code as our address, it freaked out and refused the transaction. We claim an old Indy phone number (cause really, who wants or will honestly call a China #?), with a Seattle address, but actually are in neither of these places. From the outside, it sounds like we are a little confused. Or you can see the evidence in talking with Tori as she jumps from Chinese and English with ease. I think one of our great lessons is to find home no matter where our family is. Because what really defines home? A place? Last summer when we returned to China, I got off the plane in Shanghai, breathed in the thick, humid air with that distinct China smell, and I felt like I was home. Or in the US as I hear our kids laughing and playing with friends they have known their whole lives, I am home.