Family Fun

Earlier this month we had visits from Popo and GungGung, and Aunty Evelyn and Cousin Robyn. Maeve was thrilled to spend time with relatives whom she doesn't get to see very often.

We also took a road trip up to Caledon to help Robyn's Oma Renate celebrate her 70th birthday. Maeve was her usual shy self with Evelyn's family, but she had a great time playing with Robyn.

Her favorite game? Pulling Robyn around in a wagon. No wonder her foster family nicknamed her zhuang zhuang (which means strong; robust).


Maybe giving them big mallets wasn't a great idea...but at least they didn't hit any people with them.
Hanging out with Popo and Gunggung
Let's dig down to China to find my Mei Mei
Uhhhh, you're braver...you go first.
If you look closely, there are 2 rainbows in this photo. They appeared to help us celebrate Oma Renate's birthday.

Catching up with Eli

On July 4th we took a little road trip to Toronto for the annual FOI picnic. It was wonderful to see Yulin and Bob again and catch up with other friends. The biggest treat was meeting up with Maeve's Xinyu sister Elizabeth, her sister Katie, Aggie and Rob. Maeve was a little shy at first, but soon she was following Eli everywhere.

It was great to see you guys! Hope you enjoyed the rest of your vacation.

The girls check out a princess bride.
Maeve, Eli, Kaelin (a friend from Katie's adoption group), Katie
The Xinyu sisters sharing a moment
Say cheese girls!

Quiet Canada Day

Ok, I know this little late... Here are some photos from our quiet Canada Day. It rained in the morning and then was overcast all afternoon. The local Canada Day celebrations are in a grassy field, so we decided against checking them out in case it was all wet and muddy.

So we took a nice walk to the local park and then on to Starbucks for a treat.

That night PoPo and GungGung arrived for a visit. Maeve got to stay up late and watch the fireworks display, which we can see from her bedroom window.

Happy 3rd Canada Day Maevey!



Look there's a spot on this plane for my new MeiMei!

Thing 1 or Thing 2?

Maeve had her hair up in a pony tail on top of her head. When we took it down, this is how her hair looked.

I think the hair looks like the Things from Cat in the Hat. Hopefully she doesn't get that mischievous!

The bib might look familiar to some of you.

Maeve's Green Thumb

We had a mixed bag of weather this weekend. Cold and rainy on Saturday, but improving as the weekend progressed. Yesterday was cool but sunny so we pulled on our wellies and trouped outside to attack the jungle in our backyard.

I decided we needed to pull out all the forget-me-nots before they seeded into our lawn--even though our lawn is less than 50% grass already. Maeve was in her glory helping out!

"I be a good helper! I pick all da weeds and flowers for you."

"Mama, I need a bucket for me." Apparently putting them in the big grey bin wasn't good. They had to go in a Maeve sized bin first and then be dumped into the grey bin.

"I don't bend down like you. I need my chair. Mama may you get my chair for me please?"
I tend to garden in a squatting position that is uncomfortable for most people except my mom. She can be in this squat all day and not feel it. I had a slightly sore lower back and neck after 6 hours of it.

We gardened for a couple of hours in the morning (yes, she helped for the whole 2 hours). Then we went in for lunch and her nap. She was so tired and full of fresh air she actually asked for her nap--which lasted about 3 hours. As soon as she woke up she was raring to come out and help some more. I let her help a bit more but then sent her off to the park with her dad so that people wouldn't think I was endorsing child labour.

Here she is sitting on her pink Muskoka chair (Adirondack chair for those of you outside Ontario) picking the flowers and throwing them into her bucket.



And this is the face I get when I ask her to smile for the camera.

Thanks for all your help Maevey. You ARE the best helper.

Bollywood bound?

Until recently, Maeve was too shy to actually dance in front of people--including us. But she seems to have gotten over that.

Here she is dancing to her favourite song off the Slum Dog Millionaire soundtrack. Many people with way too much time on their hands have set various Bollywood dance sequences to the song and posted them on YouTube. Maeve likes to watch them and try to imitate the dancing.

Unfortunately, my video camera ran out of tape before the song ended so this ends a bit abruptly.

Happy Easter

Just like the mysterious Santa Clause came to leave presents at Christmas time, the mysterious Easter Bunny stopped by our house with some presents and chocolate. According to Maeve he also nibbled on a few cookies while he was here...just like Santa Clause.

"'member Santa came our house and ate cookies. Easta bunny came too. Maybe he ate cookies."

Maeve had a great time doing Easter crafts at school and at home. Then when the big day came she was THRILLED to hunt for presents around our house and at Grandma's house.

She talks a mile a minute now, but only at daycare and at home. In public she'll only talk if she thinks no one else is paying attention. As soon as anyone focuses on her she is silent as a mouse.

She loves to discuss how she is a big girl now and can do lots of things by herself.
"Don't feed me like a baby mama. I feed myself. It ok I use my fingers? 'member I was a baby in China you fed me noodles? I like noodles. I love you mama. You hold me forever?"

We're currently working on getting her not to boss her friends around at daycare. She loves being the teacher's helper, but thinks that her helper status extends into being able to tell her friends what to do and how to do it. I hope she's not learning to be bossy from me...

The Easter Bunny left his glasses here!
Yay PlayDoh!
Catching a quick nap in the car between church and Easter brunch.
Hunting for Chocolate eggs at Grandmas.
In her Easter finery.
Happy Easter daddy!
The Easter Bunny left some bubble soap for Maeve too!
My cousins are my best buddies!