Our semi annual blog update

Well, we've been very busy since our last post back in March. We figured it was about time to update everyone.



Not long after we got back from China, we started to work on Aaron's treehouse. He had been asking for one forever, but we never had the time before. As with everything, this project grew in size until we wound up with a guest cottage in the trees. We rushed to get it done in time for Aaron's birthday so he could have his spy themed birthday party with his friends.

Hello, welcome to my place...

Discovering all the great stuff Mommy stashed in the Treehouse for him

Team Cobra..an elite team of operatives

In May, Aubrey started at preschool. We were all nervous about it, but Becci needed to get back to work. After a few trial runs of a few hours, we did our first drop off. It's been amazing to see how well she has done at school. She participates in everything (even nap!) and loves to sing songs. She has even recently started saying that she loves her friends at school. They had an end of year show that was super cute and we got to see Aubrey perform with the other kids.

" sun, sun..please shine down on me"

Aaron wrapped up first grade and finished really well. He progessed so much in the last few months, improving his reading and handwriting and making us so proud.

Tearing it up and fun and friends day

Aubrey has just completely made herself comfortable with her family. Her personality is coming out more on a daily basis as she can express herself better. She is also less prone to knock down tantrums, though still fiesty. She is affectionate and caring to her family and loves to read stories. Her favorite is Winnie the Pooh. She asks for a kiss from everyone each night..."Mama kish, guh guh kish, Daddy kish"

A story with Guh Guh

Aubrey is just crazy about Grandma and Grandpa Francis and loves to go visit, especially in the camper

"Shwim"

King of the marshmellowsKids in the camper
Mama kish

She's a waterbaby, for sure

The bear in our backyard, we usually only have bunnies

Drake keeping an eye on the proceedings

Aaron and Aubrey get along pretty well, though there are daily fights over toy ownership. Somedays are like this

Others look and sound like this

Here..have some water

"Freebird"

Going for a ride at Grandma and Grandpa's

Becci's Brother Rob and his wife Sheri got a new puppy.

Aubrey is unsure of the puppy, Hiro.

Aaron is all about it

In June, we celebrated our first Birthday with Aubrey. She loves birthdays and sings the song all the time. "Happy to you". For hers, she was always pointing at Becci's earrings and saying "happy to you Aubey Chen",

so we got her ears pierced for her. She was very brave up to the point that they did the piercing, both at the same time. Luckily, the piercing place is right next to an ice cream stand, and as always, ice cream makes everything better.

She also got loaded up with lots of fun girlie stuff like a tutu. Aaron made her a magic wand and decorated it for her with beads and sparkles.. she loves it.

"I wish everything was pink"

and she got a new car

It's just crazy to think that we've only been together for a few months now. I can't imagine life without Aubrey, she absolutely belongs to this family. The first few months home had some rough patches, but recently we've hit our stride and newness of it all has been replaced by deep and profound love for our little girl.

Bye for now.

Jim, Becci, Aaron and Aubrey