Fun with Yie Yie Part II

After several beach days in a row, we gave Josie Dong Dong a break by taking her to baby school for a few days. This also gave the rest of us some time to do some bigger kid stuff.

Speaking of big kids, Yie Yie is the biggest one I know! He and I took a day to ourselves to enjoy the scenic cliff walk in Newport. We've walked this before, but its been several years and we thought it would be fun to see it again.

For my non-RI stalkers-- the cliff walk runs along a cliff that overlooks the ocean. The mainland side of the trail is some really haughty taughty mansions-- many with big stone walls so you can't see them.

Look at these pretty views!

Here are some shots of Yie Yie out on the sea rocks! I told you he is the biggest kid I know!

The next day Wim, I, Gabrielle, and Xavier took Yie Yie to Purgatory Chasm-- another favorite hiking place that Yie Yie has not visited for a few years.

It is a big geological site with oooodddles of big boulders to climb over. The 'boulder' portion of the trail is only about 1/4 to 1/2 mile long. Xavier was way in front, followed by Wim and Gabrielle. Yie Yie was bringing up the rear with me in between trying to get some good pictures.

Once past the boulder section we found a stream and decided it was a nice place for a little rest.


Gabrielle and Xavier also discovered it was a good place to find frogs and they had a blast catching them.

Later in the week we had a nice treat-- Wim's cousin Carly and her little 2-year old daughter Ada came to visit from Colorado. Much of the family gathered at Wim's Uncle Peter's home to say 'hi.'




Ada especially wanted folks to say hi to her belly! Here she is with cousin Emily, who didn't quite know what to make of her cousin and her cute little belly.

Uncle Peter-- or I guess we should say, Grandpa Peter playing with all the kids. That is cousin Nate in front and Ada in back (in the dress) and cousin Blake in the waaay back . Grandpa Peter is in the middle (in case you were wondering).

Grandpa Peter did a good job of playing with all the little ones and getting them all riled-up!

Does Josie Dong Dong look like she is having a good time or what?

We did manage to get one more beach day in before Yie Yie had to go home-- but I forgot the camera that day.

We all had a really good time and Josie Dong Dong asks for HER Yie Yie every time she sees an 'arrowplane.'

Bye Bye Yie Yie!

WE LOVE YOU!

Fun with Yie Yie

The past week was filled with much fun and good times. It will likely take a few posts to get through it all. To start off-- We FINALLY received our approval documents from the US Immigration Office to move forward with our second adoption. The approval date was July 17th, but we found out on the 18th, which, as many of you know-- is Wim's B-day.

This was a really nice way to kick off our week vacation along with an always highly anticipated visit from Uncle Earl, who has now been officially dubbed, "Yie Yie." I am not sure if this is the correct spelling-- pinyin, I'll have to check. But, it means Grandpa in Mandarin. One of Josie's cartoon's has a Yie Yie in it and we thought it would be fun for her to have a Yie Yie of her very own.

Without further ado, Yie Yie, on the night he arrived. There is a whole lot to the story of this night and all was captured, somewhat, on video. I will try to get it posted in the coming weeks.

Josie Dong Dong wasn't exactly sure what to think about Yie Yie the first morning, but it didn't take her long to find out what he is really like.

"Mommy is really happy to see you Yie Yie. I am happy too. Mommy is cooking breakfast for you and us. I am going to cook for you too!"

"Yie Yie! That's silly! You don't wear eggs on your eye! You eat them. Here, have some coffee. Mommy drinks coffee with breakfast."

"Yie Yie is funny!!! I like him. Look at the big breakfast I cooked for him!"

"I'm glad you came to visit me Yie Yie!"

We spend several days going to the beach. We've had the rainiest July on record since they started keeping records! Look out Seattle, here we come!

Luckily, we had a three day sprint of beach weather and made the most of it.

Josie Dong Dong loves hanging out with here Jie Jie and Guh Guh.


Everyone wanted to try and build a sea wall to stop the tide from washing onto our beach blankets. Gabrielle and Xavier crafted a plan.


As hard as they tried, the sea decided to claim the wall and our beach spot! We actually had to move back THREE times because the tide was coming in so high.

Josie Dong Dong was getting a little Wiley after the sea wall, so I decided to take control of her the best I could.

"Look at what My Mommy did to me!!!"

"Again Mommy! Doooo AGAAAIIINNNN!"

Here we are-- a different day, different beach. Wim is kicking back with a good book.

Yie Yie took to the water like a native New Englander.

The water was a bit more calm on this day and much to our surprise-- Wim found a quahog while wading around in the water.

For our friends outside of New England, Quahogs are type of hard shelled clam.

Josie Dong Dong was a little tentative about the clams, especially when she saw them moving round with their big, pink slimy foot.

"I no like it Jie Jie!"

Here are Jie Jie, Yie Yie, and Josie at our beach site looking at the clams.

Soon, the whole gang, sans a few of us were out in the water seeking out our supper for the night.

"Hey! Wait for me! I want to find clams too!!!"

More Parties

As you can see, much fun was on hand last weekend at Josie's cousins birthday party-- Abbie and Nate.

Josie Dong Dong got the party started with a rousing hop around the bounce house.






It didn't take Josie long to notice the kiddie pool at the back of the yard--

Different party, different pool, same action shots!

Watch out boys! Here comes Josie Dong Dong!













Watch out! She's loaded and ready to squirt without warning!










Wim and Gabrielle found a nice spot in the shade where they could watch the all the action in the wave pool.

Xavier spent most of the day reading.

Little Emily was full of so much fun and cheer-- she couldn't contain herself!



Several of the 'bigger' girls made sand art jewelry. Josie is a lucky little girl to have a super nice big sis to help her out.

The Birthday Girl, cousin Abbie, showing off the "Gem" of her sand art necklace.

Gabrielle coaxed Xavier away from his book to climb a tree with her.

Birthday boy Nate, emerged from his nap a little bewildered by everyone at his house-- but ready to join in the fun and games!

Abbie showing off her tattoo.

Gabrielle muscling-up to carry Josie Dong Dong and little cousin Emily. What a pretty trio they make!

This one is short and sweet! I am now just starting my vacation and we are off to the airport to pick up Uncle Earl, who is officially being crowned as Josie Dong Dong's Yie Yie on this visit-- that is Mandarin for Grandpa.

"My Yie Yie is coming to see me today!"