Reunited

From left to right: Paul, Jackson, Marsha and Rebekah Heath, Lucy Breakwell, Emily Heath, Abaigeal, Christa and Barry Breakwell, Mara, Kevin and David

We spent the weekend in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hell area and could not have had a better time or better weather. It was hot and sunny, just the way I like it. We flew out Thursday night and headed out Friday morning for a very delicious brunch with my friend and former Duke roommate Erin. David was a little shy at first, but once he realized she would laugh at him if he acted cute, he put on a show.

After brunch, we went back to our hotel and were joined shortly thereafter by special guests Grandmama and Granddaddy, who David is now calling Nah-nee. We'll see if that name sticks. The five of us spent the afternoon visiting Duke. We hit the highlights, including the gardens, the chapel, the bookstore (new Duke shirts for me and David) and Cameron.

David with me (and without me) in the Duke Gardens. Us in front of the chapel.

David learning the reason my parents paid all that money for me to go to college. Education schmeducation. Duke basketball is the best.

Went spent a good portion of our Saturday having a mini-reunion with two of the four families we travelled to China with. (Dangling participle.) We met the Heaths in the morning at Marbles, Raleigh's children's museum. We were impressed we the number and variety of activities. There were four kids ranging in age from 2 to 11, and they all had a good time. After the museum, the Breakwells joined us for lunch. It was such a treat to get to see these families who shared such a special time with us, to see how the kids picked up like we had just left each other yesterday and had so much fun together. It will be a year next week that we all walked in to the civil affairs office in Chongqing together and met our children together, and a year later, I am happy to report they are all thriving.

Fireman David and his buddy Emily. The Heaths (Marsha, Paul, Jackson, Rebekah and Emily) and the Maases. David hearts hockey.

David and Jackson had a blast together waiting for lunch to arrive--so cute! Two pictures of the kids, one with David screaming his head of and one without--Rebekah, Jackson, Lucy, Emily and Abaigeal.

This morning after we checked out of our hotel, we had some time to kill so we wandered around Duke again before we met my friend Susan (also from my college days), her husband Peter and their son Jack (who is crazy cute) for lunch.

Back on campus

After lunch, we wanted David to burn off some energy before our flight, so we went...that's right...back to Duke. Yes, it's that awesome. David fell asleep for a while in the car, so we drove around a little bit to see such sights as my old apartment and Ben and Jerry's. Once he was awake, we went back to the gardens and let him run around until it was time to go to the airport. It was another beautiful day, and David enjoyed seeing all the ducks (including a bunch of ducklings), geese, swans, a blue heron, some turtles and (his personal favorite) lots at lots of pup-pups out for their walks.

Peter, Jack (much more interested in the water than the camera), Susan, me and David.

Back at the Duke gardens

David slept most of the flight back. Coming in to Midway, things got a little choppy, and we made a very hard turn pretty low to the ground. We came it really fast and hit the runway pretty hard. Nothing super dramatic but enough to make me a little nervous and to make the pilot say "whew!" over the intercom once we were taxiing off the runway. David woke up as we hit the ground, and when we turned to see if it had bothered him at all, he said "fast!" and gave us a big grin. He then sprinted from our seat on the plane all the way to the baggage claim. I am amazed I ever got him back to sleep tonight.

Back in action

We had a busy week and weekend, which included a camera purchase, so we are up and running once again. Kevin was in Anaheim Monday through Friday for work, so David and I were on our own all week. Naturally, for the first time in almost 17 years of owning a Saturn, mine decided not to start Tuesday night--my late night at work when Kevin is thousands of miles away and poor Alma is already working 2 hours later than normal to help us out. We couldn't even jump it. Our receptionist Nancy lives close to the office and graciously offered me her car for the night. I can't thank Nancy enough. It allowed me to get home on time in spite of the car debacle. I had my car towed the following morning and it was ready by the time I was done at work. Thank you also to Karen who drove me to pick my car up Wednesday afternoon. And, for any one out there who is curious, it was a broken ignition switch. Other than my car fiasco and David flat out refusing to sleep in his crib Tuesday night, our week sans Kevin went pretty smoothly, but we were both very happy to see him Friday afternoon.
We celebrated Kevin's return with a family walk. We took David's Radio Flyer car, hoping he would ride longer in the car than he does in the stroller, but half way in to our almost 2 mile walk, he decided he wanted out. This prolonged the walk considerably, which was fine with David and the dogs (and really with me, too) but was less fun for Kevin who was in charge of our two poorly behaved beasts. At least we all got our exercise. After the walk, we played outside with some of the neighbors and then hit Oberweis for some delicious ice cream.

Yesterday we finally applied for David's passport. As usual, he was very good and patient, even when it took about a dozen tries to get a passport picture with him looking directly at the camera. We don't have any immediate plans to leave the country, but we'll be glad to have that done with when the need does arise. Plus it means no more dragging his birth certificate with us whenever we fly. We went to Best Buy and made the big camera purchase after that so that Kevin could take pictures at the afternoon's big event: David's first Cubs game with Kevin, David's godfather Steve and a couple of their friends. On account of David napping and Kevin watching the Bulls playoff game, they got there a little late but still managed to catch 9 full innings of baseball because the game went in to extra innings. And David sat through the whole thing. They didn't leave their seats once. Most adults can't manage that for 9 innings.

David at the Friendly Confines. Steve, David and Kevin at the game.

Today we ran a few errands and got in another visit with Steve, and this time it was at Allan's place, which means Linus the beagle was there. Poor old Linus lives a happy quiet life with Allan. I'm sure he wants nothing to do with a running, jumping, yelling 2 year old who wants to pet him constantly and follow him wherever he goes, but Linus is very very tolerant.

David and Steve. David and sweet little Linus.

It is past my bedtime, and we have a busy week ahead getting ready to head to NC to visit lots of friends and getting the house ready for dog sitter and uncle extraordinaire Dave. That's right. We're cashing in our Christmas gift from Dave, and he's watching the house and two bad dogs this weekend while we're away. Wish him luck.

The Lord is risen. The camera is dead.

David has been a little out of sorts this week--possibly because he has a cold, possibly because he is cutting two molars, possibly because he is working on his 2 year attitude or, most likely, some combination of those and a few other factors. That being said, even a grumpy David is more easy going than your average 2 year old. He got a lot of quality time with Sabrina, who was on spring break this week, including a trip to an indoor water park. She brought one of her balls over, and it made it 5 full days at our house before Snoopy punctured it, which has to be a record.
David lounging at the water park

Yesterday while I worked, Kevin and David took the "L" downtown to the Art Institute, which David apparently enjoyed. He took a particular interest to a statue of Buddha and even pointed out his butt. He is truly a critic of fine art. In the afternoon, we were lucky enough to be visited by the Januszes (is that the plural of Janusz?) plus Adam. It was great to see them, and David had a lot of fun playing with Amanda.
David with Buddha inside and with Kevin outside the Art Institute

David and Amanda. The Januszes and the Maases. 605 S. 5th St. mini-reunion (Kevin, Adam, Allen and the kids)

We had a lovely Easter today. David was very excited about the kiddie laptop the Easter bunny brought him. He opened his first plastic egg and could not have been more pleased about the peanut butter cup inside. Then Kevin told him that the Easter bunny had hidden some eggs in the living room and dining room that looked like the ones in his basket. Miraculously, Snoopy only got to one egg before David did. When he spotted the first one, he looked at it then checked the eggs in his basket to confirm that this was, in fact, the correct type of egg; and only then did he pick it up. Later as he was stuffing his mouth with the contents of the plastic eggs, he picked up one and shook it. Kevin asked him what was in the egg, and he replied "breakfast." Breakfast indeed. We went to church at 10:30. David and I spent as much time in the car eating goldfish as we did in church, but we did manage to make it through the service without biting the priest or making her eat off the floor, so overall I would have to say it was a success. After David's afternoon nap, we headed for Great Grandma Lil's house where we were fed an obscene amount of food. I really think Kevin's family eats more at Easter than at Thanksgiving. It is completely out of control, and David thoroughly enjoyed it. On the way out, Kevin dropped our camera, which was only hanging on by a thread. It is now officially deceased, so pictures for the next week or two might be few and far between. Never fear. We have big plans two weeks from now, so we'll be up and running again by then. (And I think any of you who know realize that it is entirely possible that Kevin will have impulse-bought a new camera before I publish this post.)

The egg hunt

Four generations: Kevin with his mom, grandma and David

Galena weekend

We kicked off our weekend by completing David's adoption. Everything was finalized in China, but we were required to do 30 day, 6 month and 12 month post-placement visits with our social worker. Jacque came by Friday at 11:30, and we are now officially done. Crazy.
After Jacque left, we packed up the car and headed for Galena. After what felt like a very long drive (which included a stop for a butter burger at Culver's and another stop for groceries during which David ran wild through the aisles of Sullivan's), we got there around 4:30. Not long after that, we were joined by Adam and Laura and eventually Grandma and Grandpa Maas. Kevin, Adam and David worked on filling the bird feeders after we arrived. David was somewhat surprised the the birds did not immediately swoop in to take what he was offering. Kevin said he kept trying to call them, " 'Mon, birds! 'Mon!"
David on the ride to Galena. David playing in the yard with Kevin.

Saturday we went into town where we ate too much, bought our favorite popcorn and browsed at Poopsies. Kevin, Rich, Adam and Laura played golf in the afternoon. David tried out his new golf clubs, too, but despite Grandma Maas's best efforts, he had no interest in swinging the clubs correctly...or really in using them to hit a ball at all. He definitely prefered whacking the driveway, floor, furniture, etc. to the more conventional uses of his clubs.
That evening we went back downtown to watch the Michigan State/UConn game. David sat for the first half, and he and I spent the second half wandering the streets of Galena. After the game, we went back to the house where everyone had a good time playing Rock Band
David demonstrating his golf technique and allowing Grandma Maas (only this once) to show him hers. The group in downtown Galena--David, Kevin, Adam, Rich, Laura and Sue.

David on drums without and with Grandpa Maas. Guess what the next toy Rich is buying for the Galena house is going to be...

This morning we had a nice breakfast and hung out around the house until it was time to hit the road. Thanks to Adam and Laura for tolerating the high Maas to guest ratio. We had a really great time!
My personal favorite picture of the trip: David kicking Jackie Boy out of his rocking chair.