Zoe goes to Branson Missouri and Silver Dollar City. Fun for all!!!!



Last week we drove down to Branson Missouri to take Nathaniel to the Sho-Me baseball park and go the Silver Dollar City. Due to the recent flooding on the Missouri River, due to all of the detours, it is about a 7 hour drive.  however, we stayed in Kansas City the first night to watch the Kansas City Royals play against the Tampa Rays. Sonja would be the first to add that they won the game. Then we drove the rest of the way to Branson.

Nathaniel has gone to this camp for the past four years, they stay in dorms and all they do all day is practice baseball and then play a game  in the evening, each night. Nathaniel's team won 3 of the 4 games.  He had a great series as no one scored on him when he pitched and his on base percent was at around .750.  But the great thing about this camp is all the boys he gets to hang with.  They all love baseball so it is a great camp for him.

Nathaniel at Sho-Me Baseball Camp

While he was at camp, Zoe, Sonja and I shopped...oh...boy! And boy did we shop.  Sonja made sure we hit the two large outlets malls, the down town mall and a number of stores in between. Zoe and Nathaniel both scored big. We also went to a movie and then caught Nathaniel games in the evening while he was at camp. The camp is a closed campus. so that is the only time parents are allowed on the camp site. Very secure.

Probably the funnest part was going to Silver Dollar City, an amusement park.  Both Zoe and Nathaniel had a great time. As you can see by the pictures below...It was a great experience for Zoe.  She enjoyed all the rides....she is much like Nathaniel in that they are both dare devils. Zoe waved from all the rides and really had a great time. We had only one mishap.  There is an exhibit at the toy area hat has a animatronic dinosaur. I took a picture of it, I believe it is the last picture.  Well, as we got close, Zoe instantly started crying so we backed away.  I petted the dinosaur to show her it would not harm her but she wanted nothing to do with it. Oh, well...

I was just talking with Sonja and we are both amazed with how quickly Zoe is picking up English. She is now saying simple phrases that she hears "Oh my gosh, just a minutes, Nathaniel did it...etc." Just amazing. She no longer has any issues with the two dogs and she loves watching TV.  She likes Ne hao Kailyn and Dora. So, for the most part everything is going well.  Zoe is adapting and is learning quickly. Sonja has enrolled her into a couple of sporting activities for the fall and starts preschool next week at a local child care center close to home. Sonja returns to work tomorrow so cross your fingers all goes well.

Zoe's older cousin Hallie is in Norway playing in a 16U soccer tournament and we wish her well. Her dad Jack helped to arrange the trip and is thier rooting them on. They won their first game against team from Noway 2-0. Awesome.  Maybe we can have Hallie teach Zoe a few moves as Zoe starts soccer in the fall. We are following the team on facebook (Magpies 16U). 

Anyhow...all is well....we made it home in one piece. . I will let you know how Sonja's return to work is as well as Zoe's first week or so at day preschool/daycare. Should be an interesting week. Thanks for dropping by...

A outlet mall spaceship ride...Zoe loved it!

Zoe on the swings at Silver Dollar City

Sonja, Nathaniel and Zoe

Zoe at the hotel with stickers all over her

Zoe and Nathaniel on the Frog ride. She loved this ride.

Zoe on the carousel and Silver Dollar City

Zoe wasn't too sure about Tom and Jerry

Zoe taking a quick break at one of the gift shops in Branson.

Zoe on the ladybug ride....it was a hot day out.

Zoe and Mom on the Spanish Galleon Ride.

Zoe and Mom on the elephant ride.

Zoe at one of the gift shops in Silver Dollar City

Zoe striking a pose, isn't she adorable

Zoe outside the Osceola Cheese Store in Osceola Missouri

Zoe and Mom...wasn't to crazy about the mouse.



Nathaniel and Zoe having fun at Silver Dollar City



Zoe on the caterpillar ride

Zoe met her match...she did not like the Dino in front of the toy store

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZoe

T-Minus 4, T-Minus 3...and the count down begins.  Sonja has less than two weeks left before her FMLA leave of absence expires and will be returning to work. Sonja and Zoe have really bonded, last night Sonja snuck out about 8:00 pm to pick Nathaniel up from wwrestling camp and about 40 minutes later Zoe was asking where "Mommy" was, when I said she was out she looked around the house and then looked out the window when it dawned on Zoe that Mommy was away from the house.  You could tell Zoe was upset as she started to get upset and then Ne Hao Kailen (a cartoon) came on and Zoe was fine.

Sonja is currently looking for daycare.  She is looking at both in-home and center day care providers.  She has talked to a number of different providers and trying to determine which one Zoe would be most comfortable in. So I assume she will make a decision shortly.

Last weekend we took Zoe to a Holt International (our adoption agency) picnic.  They had a number of activities which included face painting, balloon blowing shapes upon request and a bounce house.  They also had a Korean food as part of the picnic.  It was organized well and low key.  They were a large number of adoptive parents with children from a number of countries including but not limited to Korea, China, Ethiopia, etc. Although it took a little coaxing, we were able to convince Zoe to go into the bounce house.  Once she got in there she had a lot of fun bouncing around with the other kids.

Zoe transition continues to go well. We have had no problems with her diet.  She loves fish sticks, spaghetti, hot dogs, mac-n-cheez, and has a sweet tooth.  She loves M&M's! She continues to pick up a new word here and there and he pronunciation continues to improve.  Although it took her a while, she now calls her self  "Yoe" and "ZZZZZZZZoe".  So she is finally able to sound out the letter Z which has been difficult for her.  Our only real challenge at this time is when she goes to sleep.  Almost every night she wakes up somewhere between 3:00-5:30.  When she wakes up she cries.  If we hear it we come up and comfort her and she will often times go back to bed relatively quickly, however poor Nathaniel. His room is next door so when she wakes he does as well. So, hopefully, she will get more comfortable.  I'm no expert but I am guessing she gets scared when she wakes up in her room.  I am assuming she slept with a number of children when she lived in China so it must be scary and very lonely. 

Next week we are going to take her to Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.  It should be fun, they have a large children's area which includes rides for children, place to climb and a arts and crafts area.  Should be fun to watch her as she takes it all in.  My biggest fear is how hot it's going to be...if it is anything like Nebraska we should expect some pretty hot days! Anyhow, all is well for now.  Nathaniel finishes his wrestling camp this week and goes to a baseball camp next week. He has gone to this camp the last three years and has a great time with kids form the south and mid-west.  He knows many of them now so he looks forward to catching up with them.

Finally, I wanted to "THANK" Joni Wheeler and family for the nice books and his Aunt Nicole and Uncle Mike and family for the nice dress. She looks great in the dress and it fits.  Nathaniel loves the Texas Longhorns Jersey.  Very thoughtful....we really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Anyhow the is it for now...Thanks for dropping by and I will update you with some pictures when we come back from Silver Dollar City! Bye for now!

Picnic Pictures

Picnic Pictures

Picnic Pictures

Zoe bouncing at the bounce house

The bounce house

Zoe continues to transition well....and so are we....

Summer is in full swing. I love summertime.... It has been amazing to watch Zoe adjust to her new surroundings.  I am amazed how well she has adjusted to new foods and to the people she has met.  She likes chicken and fish sticks, french fries, hamburgers, pizza, popcorn, Cheez-its (the hot ones), Chex Mix, fruit snacks and mozzarella sticks. When we go to Nathaniel's ball games she has made a number of friends and they always look forward seeing her.  Nathaniel's baseball team always gives her high fives and say hello... Zoe is shy at first but warms up quickly...and likes to run around and explore. unfortunately exploring has its consequences...as she has pulled down a crystal bowl and it did not survive the hard tile floor and once she wondered onto the baseball field between innings. We thought she might not like the child seat in the car as she did not have to sit in one of those while we were in China.  Within minutes of getting her into the child seat she falls a sleep. Good to know on those evening when she has a hard time going to sleep...

This past week Zoe celebrated the 4th of July for the first time! We bought fireworks that Nathaniel set off. At first, the noise of the fireworks startled her but as the night went on she started to enjoy watching them. She even got into the act, we gave her several boxes of snap and pops.  Half of them she threw and the other half she stomped with her sandals. She had a great time doing that. Foe as much change as she has experienced she is doing great.  If there is one area she is still adjusting, it is sleeping, almost every night she gets up at around 4:30 am.  however, when we bring her back to her room she gets to sleep pretty quick and sleeps for  few more hours. I think everyone is started to become more comfortable.  Zoe and Natahniel are becoming more friendly and they both like to gang up on me when we wrestle....no fair!!!

Zoe has received a number of cool gifts from a number of people.  It is really nice of everyone.  We really appreciate it.  This week she received a really nice book from Karen Whalen and team.  The book is a personalized book that she likes to look at.  She already recognizes her name in the book.  Very cool gift.  She also received a very nice personalized blanket from Kristi Wolff all hand done with princesses on it.  very cool gift I know she will treasure.

One side note.  A few things Zoe likes to do...she likes to look at her self in the mirror.  We catch her often admiring herself as she gazes into the mirror.  Sometimes she will stay there 5-10 minutes...hmmm.she must like what she sees! She also likes her jump rope she received from Carolyn and Ralph. She does not know how to jump rope yet...it is funny watching her try....but she likes to take one end and talk into it while giving the other end to someone else to talk into.  Almost like having two tin cans and a string...in the old days....it is amusing to watch her ...she will have a regular conversation with you in Chinese...

Bonnie who works with Holt International dropped by today. It was good to see her and have her meet Zoe. Bonnie has helped us throughout the adoption process.  She conducted our home study and has been one of our biggest supporters. Although Zoe was a little shy...she began to open up after about 30 minutes or so....Zoe showed her new room to Bonnie and started talking a little bit. I think they became fast friends and will build a good relationship as time goes on....

Sonja, Nathaniel and Zoe are driving to Sioux Falls South Dakota for Nathaniel's last baseball tournament for the year.  I have to stay back as I am traveling to business to Atlanta and have to leave a few hours before they will make it back.  They should have fun and wish Nathaniel good luck and his team as his season comes to an end.

Well that's about it for now..thanks for dropping by! Have a great weekend!

4th of July, with snap and pops in Zoe's hand!

Throwing snap and pops on the driveway!

Nathaniel lighting a firecracker hoping to explode a plastic water bottle.

Zoe in a new outfit!