It Was One Year Ago Today...

One year ago today (China time), Rachelle, Chris, Vivienne and Olivia became a family. It's amazing to me that those once tiny girls--who could not get enough of the babbas full of formula--are now full-blown toddlers with a huge vocabulary and an affinity for apple juice, Elmo, stickers and bubbles. We ask them now, "how much does mommy[daddy] love you?". Their response--hands waving--"too much, too much.". Never too much!

Here is a recap of some of the funny things they say now.

"Too heavy!" (response to things heavier than stuffed animals)
"I go in there." (when they want to sleep in our room)
"Vivi dood it!" (Olivia's accusatory tone)
"Livi dood it!" (Vivi's answer)
"Bad news, mommy." (When something isn't good)
"What's up, bear?" (Their morning greeting to the old--and giant--Seattle FAQ Schwartz bear that lives at day care)
"My Sophia!" (Vivi's assertion about her bunny)
"My Katherine!" (Livi's assertion about her cat/purse)
"I sleep more!" (What they say after keeping us up at night wanting to "go in there")
"I pet the kitty" (Usually uttered before grabbing Ophelia's tail)
"That's mommy's juice[daddy's beer]." (Wine is juice--technically.)
"Where [insert name of stuffed animal or parent] go?" (constantly!)

This week they also entered the early pre-school class. This year has flown by--too fast, too fast.

Writing, Swimming, and Blue Cheese

I had a busy evening. I was trying to wrap up some work, and finish an essay I had due in a class I am taking. All this while making salads for dinner as Shell comforted the girls who were crankily trying to sleep in the heat. We had a heat wave today--it reached 83 or something like that! You non Northwesterners can laugh all you want. It was warm--really warm.

Anyway, as I was in the midst of wrapping up the essay formatting and assembling one of my signature salads, Shell made a quick call to uncle Cookie. Here we are multi-tasking our butts of, and what is uncle Cookie doing? Getting tipsy by the pool with some other friends, who shall remain anonymous (you know who you are!). I guess that's the life of an uncle of twin girls from China--chilling pool-side on a school night while the rest of are (gag) writing essays!

Have a drink for me, Cookie! I'm jealous. :)