what a great kid!

Meili started preschool two weeks ago. She's not there full time - she just goes to a special speech/articulation program two mornings a week. Her teacher, Miss Chris, says that Meili is an absolute joy and a blast. We didn't get a picture of her getting on the school bus the first day. (Sorry Mom! They pick her up from daycare!) Meili seems to love that part of going to preschool too! She has about a 25 minute bus ride back and forth. We're starting to think that she sleeps on the way back each time because she hasn't been taking naps when she gets back to daycare. (Thanks for the cute slippers Dennis and Kendall!)

Moon Festival

We celebrated the Moon Festival last week by getting together with a group of families who have children from China. Here's a description of the festival, and then some pictures from our celebration.

"The Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) is one of the two most important holidays in the Chinese calendar, and is a legal holiday in several countries. Farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvesting season on this date. Traditionally, on this day, Chinese family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomeloes together. Accompanying the celebration, there are additional cultural or regional customs, such as: Eating moon cakes outside under the moon and carrying brightly lit lanterns (or glow sticks)."

eating a moon cake

getting ready to send balloons up to the moon

camping again!!!

Labor Day weekend we took one last camping trip to Mackinaw City. We went to our new favorite campground and had a marvelous time. The weather was just beautiful - people near us said it was the nicest weekend in Mackinaw City all summer. We camped with our pop-up this time - we had our three dogs along and didn't want them escaping from the tent!

Meili enjoys sitting in her camping chair at the campsite. Thanks Oma!

Catching a wagon ride at the campground...

Swimming in the Straits of Mackinaw/Lake Huron...

Riding the ferry to Mackinaw Island... Meili loved her first boat ride.

Biking around the island...

We caught a great sunset over the Straits of Mackinaw & Lake Michigan when we rode the ferry back one night.

We did the Labor Day bridge walk over the Mackinaw Bridge. Meili was super grumpy because she didn't fall asleep until after 10 the night before and we woke her up at 6AM to get to the bridge on time. We were blessed with another beautiful day!

We were blessed with many wonderful camping trips this summer. Last night we cleaned our camper, packed it up and pushed it into the garage. It's sad to be done with camping season. Can't wait until 2009!

family camping

There are not many weekends before school starts so we're filling them with camping. First, we camped in Indiana; last weekend we tented in Ontario; and next weekend we're camping in Mackinaw City. We're looking forward to going back to a campground we love and to doing the Labor Day Mackinaw Bridge Walk.

Here are some moments from our Indiana camping weekend:

ready to ride to the beach

enjoying a scooter ride with Cory & Jana


riding to the beach with Allison


Camping food is not the same when Cory is around.
YUM!!!!!!!!


learning how to take pens apart... THANKS Jana =)


someone found Menga's lipstick


"Cory is a crazy driver." (according to Meili)

Meili on the beach with Mariah and Allison

Meili loved getting a chance to "drive."

swimming lessons make me so tired

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Lakewood

Here are some pictures from our time camping at Lakewood after the family reunion. We're so glad that Meili loves camping as much as we do! Can't wait to go again soon!

hanging out by the camper

reading books with Daddy

testing out a new sleeping bag


playing in the wading pool


walking to the beach

taking a wagon ride through the campground

Family Reunion

We attended a VanArragon family reunion this past weekend. Here are a few pictures from the festivities.

all the cousins enjoying a slurpee

sharing a book with Oma

Jean and Meili wait for a turn on the slip and slide

3-D sidewalk chalk and glasses!

YUM!

What a fun summer day. Meili and I walked around Reeds Lake, went out for coffee together, picked strawberries, took the dogs for a haircut, and walked to the library. This is what summer break should always be like! (except for the part when I had to do my homework during Meili's nap...) Meili was a great picker this time and was much more happy about being along. (Last year she cried about sitting on the wet ground and she ate lots of leaves.) This time she started picking right away. I wasn't really watching her so it took a little for me to notice that Meili was taking a bite out of each strawberry before she put it in the basket. Funny! We'll find all of those tomorrow when we're making jam!!!

the newest member of the family

our new puppy Ace

summer break!

I'm done! I cleaned my classroom, turned my student files in, locked my classroom door, and took my rat home! It's great to be off for a few months! I'm looking forward to all the fun stuff Meili and I will be able to do this summer! Here are two favorites of hers: reading and playing with water!

this didn't sound as good as it looks!