Team Davison

Hearts

2012-02-07T21:23:00.000-07:00

Kailei celebrated the arts while celebrating hearts. She participated in a cute little program tonight where the kids jumped rope for hearts, sang songs about hearts, and created heart art. We loved watching all the kids but of course our heart belongs to Kailei.

Happy Couple!

2012-02-06T20:39:00.003-07:00

Snow Day!!!

2012-02-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

Didn't expect it but loved having it. Got dumped on with snow so they had to call a snow day. Made a big breakfast for the family, baked cookies with the girls, started and finished a book, went sledding with Dad...it was awesome!

2012-02-02T16:45:00.000-07:00

A Mother

2012-01-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

The young mother set her foot on the path oflife. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guidesaid, "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before youreach the end of it. But the end will be better than thebeginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything couldbe better than these years. Soshe played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clearstreams; and the sun shone on them and the young Mothercried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the night came, and the storm, and the pathwas dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with hermantle, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, foryou are near, and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbedand grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she saidto the children," A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, andwhen they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not havedone it without you."

And the mother, when shelay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a betterday than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face ofhardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I've given them strength."

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, andthe children groped and stumbled, and themother said, "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light. "And the children looked andsaw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided thembeyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I haveshown my children God."

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, andthe mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her childrenwere tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they liftedher, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to ahill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. Andmother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. And now Iknow the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walkalone, and their children after them."

And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, evenwhen you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot seeher but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is morethan a memory. She is a living essence."

Your Mother is always with you... She's the whisper of the leaves as you walkdown the street; she's the smell of bleach in your freshly launderedsocks; she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your Motherlives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every teardrop. She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's themap you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and yourfirst heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you.
Not time, not space... not even death!

Home is where your story begins.

MWCC Chinese New Year Celebration

2012-01-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

Got together with everyone on Sunday afternoon to celebrate Chinese New Year. Everyone was able to attend which is always a treat. Normally we have an evening event but this one was scheduled for the afternoon and worked out very well. Naturally there was Chinese food, music, crafts and conversation. To my surprise the mom's also gave me a gift certificate to a spa and some special notes from each of them for organizing many of the events that we do. I was touched and humbled to say the least.

Kailei-ism's

2012-01-23T16:27:00.001-07:00

As we passed Chick-fil-a and saw the big cow waving at us, Kailei was star struck and insisted we stop and get his autograph.

*****

We were talking about marriage at dinner today and I was saying you have to take the good with the bad when you decide to marry someone. Very seriously Kailei asked, "Do you really? (she was definitely concerned) :)

*****

Kailei had Zeb empty out her dream catcher last night. She said it was full. :)

*****

Is it true that you can make a wish on the first star of the night?
Remember that time i wished on a shooting star in the daytime? I wished for super powers, but it didn't work.

JCCC Chinese New Year Performance

2012-01-23T16:25:00.003-07:00

From September until Chinese New Year the kids work hard on their dances. It so pays off. Today we enjoyed watching Kailei in her Peacock Dance as well as many of her friends. I think watching all the kids perform is one of my favorite things. Kailei was a little nervous but she did just fine. So proud of everyone.

Stock Show

2012-01-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

Can't believe how fast the year is going already. Time for the Stock Show this weekend. The girls had the day off so both Zeb and I took the day as well and enjoyed the rodeo, very expensive funnel cakes, cotton candy, snow cones, bbq and dog agility. The tradition continues but it sure is getting expensive. Keara had to bail on us early as she had a birthday/sleepover to attend. I think we are moving into that stage where friends are more important than family. Oh well, I get it. We had a good time anyway and look forward to next year.

BIG Announcement!

2012-01-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

We are heading to China this summer! The whole family will embark on a 2 week journey to visit Kailei's homeland. We are very excited. We had not planned on going back this year but the stars aligned (finances) and we needed to take advantage of it. We will be traveling to Beijing, Xi'an, Chendu, Guilan and to Hengyang. I can hardly get my head around it right now but will share more later.

So True...

2012-01-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

MWCC New Year's

2012-01-02T12:27:00.002-07:00

We were invited over the the Merwin-Olk's for new year's eve and so we headed down to Denver for a little fun. Paul cooked up a wonderful dinner, the kids played so nicely and we adults had time to talk and play a board game. Loved the company. It was a great way to spend the evening.

Ice Skating

2012-01-02T12:20:00.002-07:00

Zeb took the girls ice skating the other day and they had a blast. Kailei was fearless and skating circles around folks. Keara stuck with her dad and mastered the art a little slower. While they complained about their legs hurting, it didn't stop them from asking to go again this morning. They padded their legs in hopes that there would be less bruising from the ice skates. I'm avoiding the ice. The thought of falling makes my back hurt at the mere thought of it. I do have fun watching them though.

An Early New Years Eve

2011-12-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

Decided to celebrate the new year with the girls on Friday. Took our chances in being able to get a table at Carmine's (our favorite restaurant) and luckily were able to get in. Enjoyed the food and family time. Shortly after dinner we were going to go to the blossom of lights but once again the line was huge so we decided to catch a movie and saw Hugo. It was a very good movie and one we recommend. Really enjoyed just spending time with the family though. I sure love them all.

Christmas Day 2011

2011-12-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

It took Santa a while to show up at our house because Kailei was waking up about every two hours in order to see if he had come. Finally, he was able to slip in and leave us some nice presents under the tree. The girls woke up about 7:30am which wasn't too bad for Mom and Dad. They opened their presents and were grateful for all that they got. I think what I loved most was how kind the girls were to each other. (see video below)

After presents are over, we quickly get dressed and head over to Grammy's house for the best breakfast ever. I actually suggested at one point of moving the Christmas breakfast to another day so Grammy doesn't have to cook all day but the resounding "NO!" from everyone lead me to believe this is a tradition not to be messed with. So we ate, opened more presents and ate some more. Grammy's meals were delicious and the kids were spoiled as usual (actually, we all were). We missed having Kevin and his family but they were in our hearts. I'm bummed that my camera battery died so I only have a couple of pictures but trust me that good times were had by all.

What a Good Lookin' Couple

2011-12-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

This year we headed out to Kiowa for Christmas Eve mass as Nic was a scheduled to be a greeter at church. We all managed to get a seat which was a bonus this time of year. The mass well done and soon after we went to Tracie's house for some party grub. We have our traditional finger foods and enjoy eating a lot.

Wildlights

2011-12-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

Met up with the Wyman crew to view the wildlights. It was cold so the walk was quick but the kids had a good time. We watched The Grinch on the big imax screen and enjoyed the holiday atmosphere.

Caught!

2011-12-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

If you don't watch Nala closely, she often gets into trouble. She particularly likes food so when Kailei left her mac n' cheese on the table, Nala took full advantage.

Cookie Day

2011-12-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

And yet another tradition that can't be overlooked is Cookie Day. I can't even remember how long Lynn and I have been doing this but we have it down to a science. That said, we still look forward to the day when Keara and Kailei run the show. We made caramel corn, sugar cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, chocolate chip cookies, split seconds, snickerdoodles, fudge, dipped pretzels, rice krispie treats and mice and reindeer cookies. Always more than we need but we enjoy sharing.

Family Dinner

2011-12-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

Well, it would not be Christmas without our annual family dinner out. The gang got together and went to Olive Garden this year. As usual it was a great time and fun to be out together. Why we only do it once a year is beyond me but guess I'll take what I can get.

Kailei-ism's

2011-12-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

(at the cookie counter)
"Tell him what you want to order Kailei. "
"Hold on Mom, I'm thinking of my speech."

*********

So my extremely stubborn 7 yr old daughter (so stubborn that her apologies are in sign language which is huge for her) got mad tonight and when she went to apologize to me she put on pink sunglasses so she didn't have to look at me directly. It was sooo hard to take her seriously.

*********

I was telling Zeb that I had captured some of Kailei's recent performances on video so he could watch them later. Kailei quickly piped in, "I'm better in 3-D though."

MWCC Playdate

2011-12-19T19:54:00.001-07:00

Enjoyed the company of Lynn Merwin and her family today. Also had a few other children to share in the fun as well. So nice not to have to go to work so us moms had tea and got caught up on life and the kids did come crafts, played, and decorated cupcakes. It was a great way to spend a Monday.

The Nutcracker

2011-12-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

Purchased tickets to the new theatre in Parker that recently opened and we went to see The Nutcracker. It was done by a local ballet company with kids playing all the roles. The girls were very excited to go. Personally, I prefer jazz or better yet a musical with words but who wouldn't love the seeing the excitement on the girls faces as they watched the performance. You would have thought we were at a rock concert because when it was over the girls had many of the the dances sign their autographs on the program. It was too cute.

Our friends the Wymans were also there so we enjoyed sharing the experience with them. Their kids are even bigger Nutcracker fans. We all went out of pizza after which provided bonus fun.

Kailei's JCCC Program

2011-12-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

Kailei has been in Chinese since September so today we got to go into the classroom and hear a little of what they are doing. I'm always so impressed to hear her language skills. I hope she continues to enjoy learning Chinese.

Our Big Date!

2011-12-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

I have no pictures of this occasion but wanted to make sure it is documented so I can blackmail my husband when needed. We had a big date scheduled for today. Kids are staying the night at Grammy's house so we have the whole afternoon and evening to ourselves. We got all dolled up as we were to attend the theatre and then do dinner after. Things were great as we headed downtown to see West Side Story. I was thrilled to have some alone time with my hubby but as we sat in line to park the car Zeb's phone rang. It was his work calling and they needed him to take care of some items. Knowing he would not be able to focus on the show and that duty called, it was decided he would go home. So Zeb dropped me off at the curb and I saw West Side Story by myself. It was probably the best show I have seen in years and he missed it, and I was alone, and I looked fancy and it was a bummer.

Zeb did redeem himself a little by taking care of business in time to meet our dinner reservation at The Broker. We used to go to this restaurant a great deal but have chosen other places the last few years. It has wonderful atmosphere and I did enjoy having dinner with my handsome husband.

That said, he won't get the chance to live down ditching me. :)

Kailei's Holiday Program

2011-12-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

Unsure if it was really a holiday program but the 2nd graders at Kailei's school put on a program today. It was very cute. They have been studying various countries around the world for the past few weeks and so their program took us on a journey of music and facts. The kids were adorable and the program was very well done. I enjoyed myself a great deal and was glad I took off work to be there. Unfortunately Zeb and I had to divide and conquer so he want to Keara's party in the afternoon. After the program, the students returned to their room for a small holiday party.

Kailei's First Confession

2011-12-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

So today Kailei made her first confession today. We are so proud of her but the journey wasn't easy. Poor thing has been terrified every since she learned what she had to do. I think she just doesn't want to admit any wrongdoing on her part. She was great about memorizing her prayers and she dutifully did her workbook so I thought it would go OK but not so.

Prior to her class meeting today she spent 40 minutes in Daddy's arms crying. She rallied for a little while in class and we had a pizza party with her classmates prior to the advent service.

It was a short service and all was going well. We rapidly got in line in order to avoid the long waits and then the tears came again. The line was long so I popped in first. When I came out I attempted to send Kailei in. She was not having it. She was scared and crying and just beside herself. Meanwhile everyone is watching us and trying to talk her in there. I did tell her that she did not have to do it now and so did the priest. We wanted her to be ready but that didn't seem to cut it either. I let someone else go and told her we were going to go ahead and leave and we would come back another time. When that person came out, she decided to go inside. I was shocked but I think she just wanted to get it done too.

She came out and did her penance but was still unsure about the whole thing. She commented that, "If you didn't make me do it Mom, I would have never done it." She has also told us that she is OK with doing it once a year but no more than that.

Well, it is done and she is very relieved to know her first communion only involves saying "Amen."

The Davison Christmas

2011-12-11T17:33:00.001-07:00

We had the Davison Christmas today. Merle and Phyllis drove up for the festivities. A soup and sandwich spread was enjoyed by all. The kids had a great time as usual and were grateful for the gifts they received. Merle is looking better and the best gift for us all is that he is feeling well right now.

Anticipation in Hong Kong

2011-12-06T12:33:00.001-07:00

(Zeb was cleaning recently and came across this. He wrote it in China when we were adopting Kailei. I had not seen it and he recently shared it with me.)

Nine July, two thousand five, Hong Kong.

Anticipation, though not for a show

Busy streets, people, autos, shops and carts

Interesting Asian take on Italian cuisine.

Bamboo scaffolding supporting steel and concrete

Neon lights illuminate and draw the eye

Shops stay open late, attracting crowds

Street market sells an eclectic mix

Several blocks of tiny, mobile stores

So many deals, but no cheap sneakers

And no size thirteen or XL

The harbor beckons, something is going to happen

A strange thrill

My hand on Jackie Chan's stone handprint

A buzz is building here

Crowd is gathering along the water

Looking across the bay

Lasers and fireworks, choreographed

Colored lights reflect off rippled waters

Firework smoke haloing building towers against an overcast night.

Photos and video don't do it justice

Head back to the hotel.

Still anticipating.

MWCC Holiday Celebration

2011-12-05T09:20:00.001-07:00

Got together with the Mom's with Children from China (MWCC) group this pas Friday night. We had our annual holiday gathering. We were minus two families this year who we missed dearly but hope to have them next year. As usual we ate, we crafted, we talked, and we watched the annual slide show I put together. I'm going to insert it below but because of copyright issues, the music is stripped out of it. Trust me, the music adds a lot but you will be able to see the adventures we had this year. We are truly grateful to have such good friends in our life.

Getting in the Spirit

2011-12-05T09:18:00.001-07:00

Keara's Choir Concert

2011-12-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday morning this school year Keara has been getting up a little earlier to attend choir practice. She really enjoys it and we got the chance to see the results of all her efforts on Thursday night. We just loved the whole concert. I'm sure we will be hearing and seeing more of Keara in choir. Way to go Keara! We are so proud of you!

Just Because

2011-11-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving in Walsh

2011-11-27T20:45:00.001-07:00

We left after school on Tuesday and headed down to Walsh. It was actually tough to leave just because we were scrambling to get Keara some glasses before we left but somehow we made it out the door. We actually got stopped twice for a broken headlight but fortunately no ticket. Grandpa and Grandma were happy to see us and we were them.

Grandpa is losing his hair now but really is as handsome as ever. Mitch and Lieu came down as well that night so the cousins got to maximize their time together. Zeb and Mitch took the kids to climb Two Butte's Mountain which is really just a big hill but they had a great time. The weather was gorgeous so we got to be outside a lot.

Thursday brought Curtis and Amy, Sue, Uncle Alvi, and the Griffin family who all joined us for Thanksgiving dinner. Phyllis made a great feast and we were quickly full. There were mean games of Nertz (card game) going for most of the time in Walsh. I always volunteer to play and be the loser so no one feels bad. It's my duty and I do it well.

We left on Friday so I could begin the holiday shopping as our time is short this year. Had a great time in Walsh and look forward to seeing the family again soon.

A Trip to the Grocery Store

2011-11-27T20:00:00.001-07:00

So I sent my Zeb to the grocery store with a list that was numbered 1-12. He actually bought that many of each item instead of just the 12 items. 12 cans of pears, 11 tomatoes, 10 bags of corn, etc. Being married to an engineer can be interesting at times. :)

Things I'm Thankful For by Keara

2011-11-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

Since it almost Thanksgiving I've been thinking what I'm most thankful for. There are lot of things to be thankful for like the arts, electronics, animals and family. I love everything but if I wrote down everything, that would be a long story.

The first thing I'm thankful for is the arts. One of the arts I'm thankful for is art. In art being creative is a good quality. You also have to have a good imagination. I also like music. Music is amazing because you can express feeling and emotions with every note or word. It is also soothing, so if you're angry or sad turn on music and calm down. Theatre is another art that I'm thankful for. It makes me feel like an eagle, free, free in the sky. It also makes me feel confident.

I'm also thankful for electronics. The electronic I'm most thankful for is my kindle. I like my kindle because I can learn new words and read new books. Another think I like about the kindle is that you can download flash cards in different language so you can learn new languages. I also like computers because they can help with homework and project for school. You can also play games. They can be educational or just for fun.

Another thing I'm thankful for is animals. I'm thankful for a lot of animals but dogs are way up there. I like dogs because they are loyal and friendly. They also can help police, the blind and investigators. Other than dogs, horses are my favorite. I love horses because they are gentle giants. They are friendly like a dog and they certainly are pretty.

The important people in my life are at the top of the list of things I'm thankful for, even thought it is the second to the last paragraph. My friends are important to me. All my friends are nice, caring and special in their own way. My family is special too. My mom, dad and sister are very supportive of what I do and love. My extended family is also great. My cousins Nic, Syd, Keenan, and Tighe are fun but my Grandpa who has leukemia is the one I'm worried about. Soldiers are important too because they save lives and help many people.

Obviously I am thankful for a lot of things and wish I could tell you all of them. Happy Thanksgiving!

Giving Thanks

2011-11-24T20:26:00.000-07:00

Kailei: "My family and stuffing."

Christine: "My family, and friends. Our health and happiness."

New Glasses

2011-11-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

Well, the $500 pair of glasses lasted two months. We were hoping for more but such is life. The dog ate Keara's glasses last night. Nobody was happy about it but the new glasses come with a warranty.

Turkey Cookie Time

2011-11-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

As is tradition, we made turkey cookies again this year to distribute to the girl's classes. It is a fun tradition and we invited some members of my mom's group also came. Chocolate was everywhere but there was not denying the fun that was had.

Kailei-ism's

2011-11-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

Kailei just informed me that the pumpkins need to stay for the "twelve days of Halloween."

************

So Keara walked into the kitchen and said, "We weren't eavesdropping."
Kailei walked in behind her and said, "Yeh, we aren't pig droppings."

***********

After putting some powder on Kailei stated..."My stomach is as soft as a baby's foot."

**********

"I don't know how to draw a monkey Kailei.".
"Come on Mom, do it for the kids."

Jungle Book

2011-11-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

The girls auditioned for another Missoula show. This time both got to be a part of it. Keara was the assistant director and Kailei was a monkey in the show Jungle Book. Both were ecstatic to be a part of the show. It was a whirlwind week and Keara got especially exhausted trying to juggle being out late, up early, homework and activities but she did it and we were very proud of her. It was another great show and the girls look forward to the next one.

A Favorite

2011-11-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

A teacher isn't supposed to have favorites but sometimes there are those that just work their way into your heart. Andrea is one of those people. Got to have lunch with her again this month. It had been too long but it is easy to pick up where we left off.

Kailei's Recital

2011-11-06T13:37:00.002-07:00

I love that the girls are both enjoying taking music lessons. Keara is taking guitar but doesn't really have the opportunity for a recital per se. Kailei is taking piano and we had our first official recital. It was so much fun. Maybe I'm living vicariously through my children since I have no musical talent whatsoever but I sure love that they are enjoying it. Kailei has been practicing like crazy. Originally she was supposed to have it Friday night but as luck would have it, she got strep throat and we had to cancel. Fortunately, there were two other times so her teacher was able to move her to Saturday for which I am grateful. It was a really fun event and I can't wait until the next one.

Can't resist those eyes!

2011-11-06T13:20:00.002-07:00

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T13:08:00.000-06:00

Another year of pumpkins and Halloween costumes. The pumpkins were carved with care. The girls looked great. The weather was terrific. Tracie's family along with Mom, Dad and Mark came over for pizza and then we hit the neighborhood. Syd and Kailei literally ran from house to house. Nic and Keara were more cool in their approach but enjoyed the goodies nonetheless.

Discovery Education Workshop

2011-10-30T13:11:00.000-06:00

Somehow I got myself roped into helping out with Discovery Education events in the state of Colorado and we had our first big even on Saturday the 29th. I enjoyed it but what made it even better was having Lynn there.

Zeb's Artwork

2011-10-30T12:57:00.000-06:00

Zeb left this drawing and this note for me...

Christine,
Over the past month or two, I've been drawing this in my spare time. Maybe I think of a place where you and I can get away for a picnic or a relaxing walk together. And, like you, it always makes me smile.

Love, Zeb

Keara's Artwork

2011-10-26T12:50:00.000-06:00

Kailei's Artwork

2011-10-25T12:51:00.000-06:00

Kailei-ism's

2011-10-24T20:26:00.002-06:00

So the kids were talking about rude hand gestures. Keara was trying to show me that the pinky finger was considered rude to Chinese people. Kailei said, "I am the Chinese people."

Kailei came to work with me on Friday. She was a treat to have. Naturally I was working on the computer quite a bit. At one point a student came by and needed some assistance. Kailei promptly said, "Finally, you are doing some work."

I was telling Kailei her adoption story last night. At one point she said, "I am the Chinese person, there are two Irish people and one regular."

Zeb and his Dad

2011-10-18T13:32:00.000-06:00

We headed down to Walsh this weekend. It was a quick 24 hour visit but Merle was done with his first round of chemo and we wanted to see him before his second round started. The timing was pretty good so we just packed up and headed out. It was fun because Sue was there as well as Mitch and the kids. Almost like Thanksgiving. Phyllis once again out cooked herself and we enjoyed being with everyone. Merle continues to be in our prayers and we hope that he can beat this thing.

Kailei at the Piano

2011-10-05T18:53:00.000-06:00

Race for the Cure

2011-10-02T19:16:00.001-06:00

Got up way to early for a Sunday but it was Race for the Cure today. Keara really looks forward to doing it and this year, I decided to try and bring Kailei. It is 3-mile walk and fortunately the weather was beautiful. We had a little hiccup during the walk but I'm sure Keara would prefer I not post it to the world. All in all we had a great time.

Harvest Festival

2011-10-01T19:20:00.000-06:00

I love the fall!!! The colors, the temperature, the smell...I just love it. Escaped from work for a short time today to enjoy the Harvest Festival at Four Mile Historic Park. We had Lily Trautman over for a playdate earlier so she joined us. We met the Peterson's there from our MWCC group and enjoyed walking around we them. The girls panned for gold, tried to walk on stilts, walked through the pumpkin patch, took a wagon ride and enjoyed caramel apples. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.

Kailei-ism's

2011-09-20T19:02:00.001-06:00

Kailei: (sigh) I've always wanted to be a princess...
Zeb: You're MY princess!
Kailei: Too bad you're not the king of the world!

Kailei's fortune: Don't ignore minor details; they are the key to your success.
After reading this she said, "Oooh! Now I have a key to my success!"

Kailei bought a necklace today at Kohls' that had a gift tag on it to fill out.
She filled it out: To: Kailei
From: Kohl's

At dinner...
"Can I fix your potato Kailei?", I asked.
"Why? What's wrong with it?", she answered.

After Zeb returned from a trip, Kailei ran up to him while stating..."Our family is complete once again. Group hug everybody!"

Kailei-ism: "If I don't get all the questions right on my reading test tomorrow, I'm sooo getting an easier book."

Turning over the hourglass I could hear Kailei saying, "You have 3 days to say your sorry. If you don't, you will have to stay in your room forever. And forever is a very long time."

Kailei's Card

2011-09-05T14:52:00.002-06:00

Sometimes we forget how Kailei's life started. It seems like she has been more interested in her story lately. We are happy to tell her what we can but occasioally we know there will always be an empty space in her heart.

The other day she wrote me this card. It was too sweet.

"Dear Mom,
I now you for seven years now. I was born in China but I had old parant but they could not take care of me. So they left me on a rock and put some money and some milk. I love you so much. You are the best. What is your birthday? Love, Kailei"

Winter Park

2011-09-05T14:06:00.002-06:00

Woke up yesterday with a desire to do something fun. We decided to head for the mountains since it was a beautiful day and landed in Winter Park. The alpine slide was calling our names. We had Nic with us and we all had a blast at the Winter Park Fun Park. We got to go down the slide 3-4 times and then Keara and Kailei also did the trampoline jumpy thing. Nic and Zeb both wiped out on the slide but fortunately it was on the last run for the day. Not sure what they did but they scraped themselves up pretty good. We had a great time. Looking forward to next year.

Kailei's 7!!

2011-08-28T20:04:00.003-06:00

Kailei celebrated her birthday again with Sydney this time. We decided to have a pool party which would have been awesome had the weather held out. Fortunately we got there early because it was soooo hot so everyone got to swim before the clouds rolled in and forced us to head to our house for dinner and cupcakes. The girls were spoiled with gifts from family and Kailei's godmother, Lynn. Kailei did get her first American Girl doll which was a big deal. She has been playing with barbies, listening to the Glee Concert cd and pretending her AG doll, Molly is going to school. Happy to see her happy.

The Critters - I Love Them!

2011-08-22T21:10:00.001-06:00

Back-to-School-Night

2011-08-20T19:56:00.000-06:00

Had Back-to-School Night for the girls already. Enjoyed the evening. Keara's teacher did a great video that highlighted their school day activities. It was pretty funny actually. Kailei's teacher was more traditional in nature but enjoyable as well. Nice to be as informed as you can be.

Keara's First Riding Lesson

2011-08-19T21:21:00.000-06:00

Riding Tiz

Sittin' and wishin' (I wonder what it's like to ride a horse...")

The Coolest Fireman We Know

2011-08-16T21:17:00.000-06:00

Britt's husband is a fireman so after the Boulder Asian Festival we dropped by the firehouse and got a personal tour. The girls loved getting inside the truck, trying on the clothes, working the hose and knowing the coolest fireman ever. It was such fun to be there. Thanks Mr. Scott for the private tour.

Boulder Asian Festival

2011-08-16T16:30:00.000-06:00

My friend Britt was heading up to the Boulder Asian Festival and asked if we wanted to join in the fun. Couldn't think of anything better than to be in Boulder so we headed out of town. Unfortunately the rain decided to come as well so we didn't get to do or see quite as much as we hoped but the kids had fun despite the weather.

Another Mountain

2011-08-15T21:00:00.000-06:00

Zeb has been itching to go mountain climbing this summer so when his friend Scott asked about some available time, Zeb jumped on the chance. His first set was Gray's and Torrey on the 6th and then headed down to tackle Challenger Point on the 13th. They actually headed down the night before and got up at 3pm to do Challenger Point (that is enough for me not to want to climb 14ner's). Have to admit the views are spectacular however.

Girl's Night

2011-08-13T21:07:00.000-06:00

While Zeb was away climbing mountains the girls and I played a little miniature golf. I forgot how much I like. Not sure who won but we had a good time.

Birthday Cousins

2011-08-06T21:28:00.000-06:00

Today was the first of a few birthday parties Kailei will have. We celebrated Anika and Kailei's birthday today since Merle and Phyllis could come up and join us. We had it at Mitch's house and as usual Lieu cooked up enough food to feed an army. I don't know how she does it but everyone loves it and I think she enjoys seeing people eat her food. Anika turned four and Kailei will be seven later this month. The cousins enjoyed themselves and it always makes it special when Grandma and Grandpa come up.

First Day of School

2011-08-04T18:19:00.000-06:00

Today was the first day of the 2011-12 school year for the girls. Keara is going into 5th grade and Kailei is starting 2nd. We met their teachers yesterday and they both seem nice. Keara is a little nervous as she has a male teacher this year for the first time. He has a good sense of humor though so hopefully he will win her over soon. The girls were both excited to get back to school as is their parents to get back to a routine. They have a new principal this year so we will see how that plays out. I'm sure she will be fine.

Anyway, I'm so proud of the girls and hope they have a fantastic year.

Dragonboat Festival

2011-08-02T21:19:00.000-06:00

Kailei and I decided to go to the Dragonboat Festival yesterday. I've missed the last few years and was anxious to start going again. Kailei was on her second day of medicine for strep throat and past the contagious point so we headed up north while Keara went swimming with a friend and Zeb worked on the dog fence.

It didn't take me very long to remember why I've missed it the last few years. It is hot. Sweltering in fact. It seems like it always is and despite the fact it is by a lake, we just melt. All Kailei and I could do was eat snowcones and slushies to keep us cool. We watched a few races, walked around, watched some dance competition and then Kailei hit her breaking point with the heat and we had to go. She got no argument from me. We were just melting. I wish it would have been cooler but we had fun anyway.

Horse Camp for Keara

2011-08-01T17:00:00.000-06:00

Keara has been talking about horses a lot lately and wanting to take some riding lessons. I wasn't quite sure how sincere her interest was so I decided to send her to "horse camp" (a.k.a. Aunt Tracie's). She spent a few days out in Kiowa mucking stalls, feeding horses, brushing and riding. When I came to pick her up, she was beaming. She loved it and naturally I did too (although for a brief moment the dollar signs flashed before my eyes). She did a great job with Mary (Sydney's horse) and solidified her interest in horses with me. Guess I'll have to "pony up" for some lessons.

A Special Lunch

2011-07-30T16:00:00.000-06:00

Every once in a while there are students who make their way into your heart. Mandy is one of them. We connected on all things Asian. She worked for me during the summers. She taught me. She volunteered for me. She etched a small place in my heart.

We got to have lunch the other day and it was such a treat. She is growing up to be quite the young woman and I'm so proud of her.

Mommy/Daughter Date

2011-07-29T20:36:00.000-06:00

Kailei and I escaped one evening and had a mommy/daughter date. She got to choose what we did so we had spaghetti o's for dinner, went to the park, had a double-scoop of ice cream, and rented Tangled to watch on TV. She absolutely loved the day and naturally thought we should have more of them. I have to admit that I liked it too. What a treat to have some one-on-one time with my girl.

The North Pole (or should I say "down pour")

2011-07-24T20:17:00.002-06:00

My last official day of vacation so I decided I wanted to do something fun with the girls. We couldn't decide and despite the fact that earlier in the day the cousins were busy, they changed their minds and decided to join us for our adventure down to the North Pole. Now granted it was in the 90's here in Denver so a little mountain coolness was going to be welcome. As we drove further south we got caught in a rainstorm. That didn't stop us however. It appeared to be past the North Pole so we continued on. Got there and ran around for an hour before the clouds once again opened us on us. It was a downpour. We took shelter under a small building overhang but not really ideal. It rained...and rained.... Tracie wanted her sweatshirt and we knew there was an umbrella in the car so Nic and Keara traveled through the downpour (not once, but twice) to get these items. Needless to say they were soaked. It was actually fun in a cold, and wet way. Finally, the sun came our about an hour before the park closed so we made the best of it and enjoyed our time there. Can't say it wasn't memorable. :)

Us Time

2011-07-20T18:22:00.002-06:00

While the girls were at Camp Walsh, Zeb and I managed to squeeze in a little R&R together. We headed up to Morrison, had lunch, parked ourselves by a creek and read all afternoon. I would have stayed their all night if it hadn't started to rain. We sat it out in the car for a while. I continued to read and Zeb took a nap. Since it didn't appear it was letting up we headed into town and went to dinner and movie. It was the perfect day UNTIL....

....we came home to a dog who had diarrhea and got it all over herself and the kennel and another dog who promptly went outside to throw up 3-4 times while she also tried painfully to go poop and caused her to bleed. After Nala had a bath, the kennel got cleaned and Lea turned down dinner they both crashed. Kodo was A-OK fortunately. Gotta love the critters. :)

Camp Walsh

2011-07-20T18:14:00.000-06:00

Sent the girls down to what we affectionately call "Camp Walsh" which means time with their grandparents. Here is the report of what they've been up to.

" Dear Bruce and Chris, Just to let you know some of the things we have been doing. We are doing swim lessons every day. Keara goes at 9:00 and Kailei at l0:00. They are doing really good. Today Keara dived into the water at the deep end and swam the length of the pool. Kailei can swim on her front for a little, then turn to her back. Keara is the only girl in her class. Monday afternoon we tie dyed Kailei's shirt. She is happy the way it turned out. A lady from here brought some beads that you put on a form, then we iron them. Pretty neat, the girls have had a good time with them. That evening we went to the park for awhile. Yesterday afternoon we went to this store in town that does monogramming. Keara picked out a horse and Kailei a fairy. Looking forward to seeing the results. Keara made some brownies and Kailei iced them. Last night we went to this farm. The girls held some baby chicks and climbed into their boat looking baby kitties, which they did not find. Then Ruth took them for a ride in their semi. Told them all about it. They checked out the garden, looking for cucumbers. This is Wednesday, they went to Mildred Walkers and did some work with the clay. They won't get to bring home the finished product. We will bring it when we come in Aug. Thur. we are going to the Senior Center for lunch, then we are going to Johnson to the "Ole Store" they have an old fashioned fountain. We may do the museum. Friday we will be doing laundry. The nursing home is having a cook out, we plan to go to that. That's about our week. See ya' Grandpa and Grandma

MWCC at YMCA

2011-07-18T16:14:00.001-06:00

Our traditional MWCC mother/daughter weekend was expanded this year to include the dads. We also changed locations and tried the YMCA Camp at Estes Park. Holy cow! It was great!
There is so much to do up there, in such a beautiful location that we could not go wrong. And to bring the dads along was genius because now the moms can escape for a little bonding time and so can the dads. The weather was beautiful and I could not have enjoyed it more. Here are some of the highlights...

Thursday: walked around Estes Park; park
Friday: played kickball; hike; tree art class; friendship bracelet class; hay ride and cookout
Saturday: Lake Sprague in Rocky Mtn. National Park hike and picnic; nature art class; animal detective class; arts and crafts center; park
Sunday: slides in Estes Park and then we headed home

Some of Keara's Poetry

2011-07-18T14:29:00.002-06:00

Keara
Kind and helpful
Sibling of Kailei
Lover of dogs and horses
Who fears spiders and getting a bad grade
Who would like to see a dolphin and the ifal tower
Resident of Parker
Davison

************

There once was a dog
Who's friend was a hog
Who love to play
Together all day
In the misty fog

************

I'm from dog hair, TV and books
I'm from gardening, jumping and climbing
I'm from friends, neighbors and dogs
I'm from Mom, Dad, Kailei and Nala
I'm from tuna noodle, mac 'n cheese and salad
I'm from bike riding and basketball
I'm from "Live, Laugh, Love"
I'm from the secrets in my drawer.

Kailei with the Video Camera

2011-07-13T17:13:00.002-06:00

Another 14er Conquest

2011-07-12T15:10:00.007-06:00

Zeb is really into climbing mountains these days and while he wishes that he could do it more often he did manage to escape and conquer Quandary Peak today. Here he is at the top. The views are spectacular.

Family Day

2011-07-11T22:02:00.009-06:00

Family Day snuck up on us this year so we were unable to make any big plans for the entire day. I still wanted to make our time together special so I talked with Zeb and we decided to take the girls to Mt. Fuji (a local hibachi restaurant). They ask to go all the time but it is quite expensive so once or twice a year is our max. They of course were thrilled to be able to go and we were full in no time.

Since we finished dinner a little early we also took the girls to see The Zookeeper at the movies and so our Family Day turned out to be pretty great after all.

Jump Rope Camp

2011-07-08T17:29:00.004-06:00

Keara attended a Jump Rope Camp on the 8th. Who knew there was so much you can do with jump rope? I know I didn't. The lady who runs the camp is second in the nation so it is no joke. Keara liked it but came home exhausted after jumping for four hours. :)

Celebrating the Fourth

2011-07-05T21:41:00.012-06:00

As is quickly becoming a tradition we started our July 4th celebration by participating in the neighborhood bike parade. The kids enjoy decorating their bike and make a short loop around the park. It was hot out but for some reason the heat just doesn't seem to stop these kids. Our Stonegate pals the Wyman's and Lawrence's were also there and enjoyed the ice cream, face painting and jumpy castles after the parade.

Not being on top of my game this year I didn't organize anything for the evening. I thought about going out to Tracie's house but we kept playing phone tag and I just didn't want to show up without an invite.

That said, I also didn't want to be alone I called our friends the Trautman's and they happened to be free for an impromptu weenie roast. Nothing fancy but we certainly enjoyed their company.

Another Show for Kailei

2011-07-03T16:32:00.011-06:00

Both Keara and Kailei auditioned for another childen's theatre show this week. They both did such a great job but unfortunately only Kailei made the cut. It just broke my heart honestly because Keara had her best audition ever. It is a hard life lesson for both Mom and daughter to deal with but we were certainly happy for Kailei.

The show was The Tortoise and the Hare and Kailei was part of the Hare's fan club. She did a great job and enjoyed having her friend Sam in the show with her.

Chinese Heritage Camp for Adoptive Families

2011-06-28T14:22:00.004-06:00

Each year I try and make time to send Kailei to this Heritage Camp for Adoptive Families. It is just an extended weekend camp but is a great opportunity for Chinese children to learn and surround themselves by the amazing camp counselors. I can't tell you how much the kids love their respective counselors and this mom loves having such positive role models for Kailei to be with. Kailei is not the only camper as this was Keara's second year attending as well. She was one of a few white kids this year but I was proud of her participation. Adults participate at camp as well. I cut watermelon for lunch and then attended a few classes of interest to me. A few of the mom's from my mom's group also attended and their company makes it that much more enjoyable. We will be back again next year I'm sure. Maybe Dad will even have the chance to join us. :)

Good-bye Taylor

2011-06-23T16:18:00.000-06:00

We had to say good-bye to Taylor today. She was a great cat and lived to be 17 years old. Naturally we are very sad but we know she is joining Maya in heaven and will be in good company.

Pool Fun

2011-06-22T15:08:00.000-06:00

Khiem's Birthday

2011-06-19T19:36:00.002-06:00

We celebrated my nephew Khiem's birthday today. He is six now and will be going into first grade. As usual, Lieu cooked up enough food to feed an army but it is delicious. Grandpa and Grandma came up so we were excited to be able to spend time with them. Everyone had a great time but no one more than Khiem (as seen by the picture).

The Best Father's Day Poem Ever!!! (by Keara Davison)

2011-06-19T17:39:00.001-06:00

Dad

He's a
Daughter lover
Child hugger
Gold star carer
Love sharer
Loves to draw
Loves puppy paws
Fear blaster
Love master
Basketball player
Bad dream slayer
Loves books
An OK cook
Never lies
Sometimes wears ties
He loves me so
From head to toe

The Girls Visit New York

2011-06-18T19:03:00.000-06:00

Immediately after I was done with school the girls and I took advantage of our airline miles and headed out to New York to visit family and see the sites. We had such a fantastic time. We stayed with my cousin Sharon and her family for the first half of the week and then stayed with my Aunt and Uncle the second half of the week. They were all very gracious in opening their homes to us and we were grateful to be able to spend time with them. Below are the highlights from our trip.

Day 1: subway ride; Mars 2112 restaurant with Sharon and family
Day 2: Botanical Gardens; dinner with my Uncle Brian and Nana hosted by Sharon
Day 3: Alice's Tea Cup; American Girl store; Central Park; Hello Kitty Store; M&M store; Toys R Us store
Day 4: Bronx zoo; dinner with Sharon's crew, Nana and Bernice; Broadway (Sister Act)
Day 5: Visit with Aunt Patsy and Linda; Walter's; Carvel; park
Day 6: Park; Big Apple Circus; Walter's; Carvel; catching fireflies
Day 7: Jones Beach; pizza dinner

Kailei loved her first trip to the Big Apple and Keara enjoyed some of the new sights we experienced. We had great weather, wore ourselves ragged visiting everyone, and loved every minute of it. Can't wait to go back.

Kailei-ism's and a Keara-ism

2011-06-18T16:26:00.001-06:00

As we walked past the center of the airport where you wait for people to come up the escalator Kailei said, "This is where you come to get adopted." (flashback to when we brought her home and have seen some of her friends come to America)

Keara also made a funny on our way to NY. She asked me, "What do you call people who live in New York? New Yorkians?"

Kailei's First Tooth

2011-06-09T19:51:00.000-06:00

Kailei lost her first real tooth today (we don't count the one that had to be pulled when she was two). She was very excited. I have to admit I was a little worried because it seemed all the other kids her age were losing teeth left and right and it didn't seem like Kailei would ever get rid of any. Fortunately, it happened and the tooth fairy brought her a gold dollar.

Kailei-ism's

2011-06-09T13:34:00.000-06:00

In the toy store, getting excited: "I'm a little over-reactive!"

As I returned from an overnight trip to California, Kailei greeted me in the morning with, "Good morning my beloved...wanna smooch?" (I'm thinking she is watching too much TV.)

Memorial Day Weekend Gathering

2011-05-29T21:58:00.000-06:00

Tried to get the MWCC gang together but many folks had plans. Fortunatly the Parker crew was available and so we whipped up some traditional memorial day fare...chinese. We were going to have a BBQ but the weather has been so unpredictable that we didn't want to take a chance. Naturally, it was beautiful out and we could have had a great BBQ. Oh well, we had some good food anyway. Love my MWCC family.

Kailei's Tribute to Keara

2011-05-27T21:39:00.003-06:00

Kailei's wrote and recited this story about Keara. I cried. Makes all the fighting seem trivial.

My Sister Keara

by Kailei Davison

My big sister is ten. She shoots a lot of hoops. She does Irish dance. She reads a lot and watches TV. She has a lot of books. She is very tall. She is so smart - very smart! She is beautiful. She always does the nicest things. She says "I love you so much." That makes me feel happy. She does a lot of braids and buns in my hair. She shows me how to do the computer. I have know her all my life.

Kailei's 1st Grade Graduation Program

2011-05-27T20:59:00.004-06:00

Keara's Skit

2011-05-26T21:26:00.002-06:00

Part of the curriculum in 4th grade is Colorado history. Keara has been researching about boomtowns and today her class put together a series of skits that showcased all that they have learned. Keara was a casino owner in her skit and the group did a great job.

End of Year Chinese Celebration

2011-05-21T20:56:00.000-06:00

Another Trip to the ER

2011-05-21T15:46:00.001-06:00

Nobody in the Archer or Davison family has ever broken a bone. Somehow I think Keara is making up for all of us. Took a spill getting off the slide today and sure enough broke her arm. Keara never cries so it is sometimes hard to tell with this tough cookie but she seems to know her body well so we took her to Children's where they xray'd her arm and put it in a splint. We will visit the orthopedist tomorrow for a cast. And just in time for field day this week. Never a dull moment.

Kailei-ism's

2011-05-17T21:32:00.001-06:00

So Zeb was giving me a hug when Kailei walked in the kitchen and said, "Have I entered love land? Not around me people."

So Kailei has moved up to new level in piano. On our way home tonight she asked if we could go celebrate. I told her that sometimes the reward is in the satisfaction of having accomplished something. She replied with, "Um, yeah...I think my idea is better."

Kailei's Reader's Theatre

2011-05-15T20:39:00.000-06:00

Team Davison

Hearts

Happy Couple!

Snow Day!!!

A Mother

MWCC Chinese New Year Celebration

Kailei-ism's

As we passed Chick-fil-a and saw the big cow waving at us, Kailei was star struck and insisted we stop and get his autograph.

*****

We were talking about marriage at dinner today and I was saying you have to take the good with the bad when you decide to marry someone. Very seriously Kailei asked, "Do you really? (she was definitely concerned) :)

*****

Kailei had Zeb empty out her dream catcher last night. She said it was full. :)

*****

Is it true that you can make a wish on the first star of the night?Remember that time i wished on a shooting star in the daytime? I wished for super powers, but it didn't work.

JCCC Chinese New Year Performance

Stock Show

BIG Announcement!

So True...

MWCC New Year's

Ice Skating

An Early New Years Eve

Christmas Day 2011

What a Good Lookin' Couple

Christmas Eve

Wildlights

Caught!

Cookie Day

Family Dinner

Kailei-ism's

(at the cookie counter) "Tell him what you want to order Kailei. " "Hold on Mom, I'm thinking of my speech."

*********

So my extremely stubborn 7 yr old daughter (so stubborn that her apologies are in sign language which is huge for her) got mad tonight and when she went to apologize to me she put on pink sunglasses so she didn't have to look at me directly. It was sooo hard to take her seriously.

*********

I was telling Zeb that I had captured some of Kailei's recent performances on video so he could watch them later. Kailei quickly piped in, "I'm better in 3-D though."

MWCC Playdate

The Nutcracker

Kailei's JCCC Program

Our Big Date!

Kailei's Holiday Program

Kailei's First Confession

The Davison Christmas

Anticipation in Hong Kong

MWCC Holiday Celebration

Getting in the Spirit

Keara's Choir Concert

Just Because

Thanksgiving in Walsh

A Trip to the Grocery Store

So I sent my Zeb to the grocery store with a list that was numbered 1-12. He actually bought that many of each item instead of just the 12 items. 12 cans of pears, 11 tomatoes, 10 bags of corn, etc. Being married to an engineer can be interesting at times. :)

Things I'm Thankful For by Keara

Giving Thanks

New Glasses

Turkey Cookie Time

Kailei-ism's

Kailei just informed me that the pumpkins need to stay for the "twelve days of Halloween."

************

So Keara walked into the kitchen and said, "We weren't eavesdropping." Kailei walked in behind her and said, "Yeh, we aren't pig droppings."

***********

After putting some powder on Kailei stated..."My stomach is as soft as a baby's foot."

**********

"I don't know how to draw a monkey Kailei.". "Come on Mom, do it for the kids."

Jungle Book

A Favorite

Kailei's Recital

Can't resist those eyes!

Halloween 2011

Discovery Education Workshop

Zeb's Artwork

Keara's Artwork

Kailei's Artwork

Kailei-ism's

So the kids were talking about rude hand gestures. Keara was trying to show me that the pinky finger was considered rude to Chinese people. Kailei said, "I am the Chinese people."

Zeb and his Dad

Kailei at the Piano

Race for the Cure

Harvest Festival

Kailei-ism's

Kailei: (sigh) I've always wanted to be a princess... Zeb: You're MY princess! Kailei: Too bad you're not the king of the world!

Kailei's fortune: Don't ignore minor details; they are the key to your success.After reading this she said, "Oooh! Now I have a key to my success!"

Kailei bought a necklace today at Kohls' that had a gift tag on it to fill out. She filled it out: To: Kailei From: Kohl's

Is it true that you can make a wish on the first star of the night?
Remember that time i wished on a shooting star in the daytime? I wished for super powers, but it didn't work.

(at the cookie counter)
"Tell him what you want to order Kailei. "
"Hold on Mom, I'm thinking of my speech."

So Keara walked into the kitchen and said, "We weren't eavesdropping."
Kailei walked in behind her and said, "Yeh, we aren't pig droppings."

"I don't know how to draw a monkey Kailei.".
"Come on Mom, do it for the kids."

Kailei: (sigh) I've always wanted to be a princess...
Zeb: You're MY princess!
Kailei: Too bad you're not the king of the world!

Kailei's fortune: Don't ignore minor details; they are the key to your success.
After reading this she said, "Oooh! Now I have a key to my success!"

Kailei bought a necklace today at Kohls' that had a gift tag on it to fill out.
She filled it out: To: Kailei
From: Kohl's

At dinner...
"Can I fix your potato Kailei?", I asked.
"Why? What's wrong with it?", she answered.