Long time no post

Wow, I can't believe it that I have not posted anything here for more than a month. A lot things have happened obviously. One thing for sure is that we have been very busy. The boys finally got home from their summer camp at the beginning of the August. They had great time there. They worked more than 12 hours a day and 6 days a week. They learned a lot on leadership. Most important of all, they made a lot of friends. They were kind of "home" sick after they came home because they missed their camp friends. They refer them as their 2nd family. In reality, I felt that this home is their 2nd family and camp was their first family.
I was looking forward for them to be home at last. I really missed them very much this summer. However, it did not take them long before they wanted to go on a trip again. Being home only less than three days, Toby got a call from a friend they met at the camp about an opportunity to go to the Boundary Water in Minnesota to attend boy scout Northern Tier Canoeing Trip. It typically requires more than 2 years of preparation and sign up ahead of time to attend such trip. Because someone had dropped off from their friend's troop, they were offered the opportunity. Within two days, they were off again for another week of camping and canoeing trip. They had another fun week.
On Labor Day weekend, our family finally spent time together for the first time this summer. We camped with some colleagues from Bert's work place. We had great time together as a family. A week later, we spent a day at Michigan Adventure for Sue's company's annual outing.
School started immediately after the Labor Day. Anna and Jenny are still in the same school this year. Anna is in 3rd grade and Jenny is in 2nd. This is Toby's last year of high school and work part time (CAD drawing job again). Besides keeping up with a lot school work, he has to finish his college application. Joshua is in his 2nd year in High School. Right now, he is deep involved in his new iPod. I am so jealous that my kids have better electronic gadgets than I. I really can't complain much because they have worked and saved the money on their own. I just wish they could share some of the responsibility for the college expenses.
The girls started their dance class last week. Very soon, they will have swim practice. We are busy, but I am happy that we are now back to a normal school year routine.

After a long day at the camp, Anna and Jenny watching TV before bedtime in the camper. This is one of their favorite thing during camping.

Toby with kids in the Bear Cave - This cave was full of bats. I was not too fan of these bats because they could not see and sometimes they just flew right into your face!

We did a lot tubing that weekend while we were camping. St Joseph river was very quiet. The weather was perfect and the water was beautiful. The girls loved tubing. This was Ann and Jenny on the tube together.

Toby on the tube. With the boys, we could drive faster on the boat. Our goal was always to throw them off the tube.

Toby was driving the boat. This was also the time that Joshua could drive. One day, both boys went out together for a spin. On the way without traffic, they were allowed to get a little wild.

Toby and Anna were on the same tube together. Anna was so excited to ride with Toby. This way, they could go a little faster without fear. Toby tried to teach Anna a few tricks too.

Bert drove the boat as fast as he could with curve and turns with a purpose to throw Toby off the Tube. It was tough, but he did it! This is the moment before Toby fell off the tube. It was fun!

We develop a sign language while we tube. Thumbs up means go faster and thumbs down means go slower. Normally the girls called for going faster and faster. It seemed we never going fast enough (without throwing them off the tube, that is). This was a few moment that they actually wanted us to go slow!

I took this photo while I was on another boat from one of Bert's colleagues. Joshua was the proud driver. The little boy was Zachari - John Smith's son. He is also Anna's best friend.

It was Joshua's turn. It was harder to throw him off.




Can you see Jenny's smile? She loved it when Joshua ride with her.


Up then, Anna and Jenny had been riding together all the time. Jenny was the first one who initiate the idea of riding by herself. Anna was afraid that Jenny would be afraid. Jenny, on the other hand, being so competitive, she absolutely wanted to show off. Here she was. Not only she was riding alone, she was showing off without holding the handle.

Don't know what Toby was talking about. It sure looked like that he was having fun. The boys also knew how to enjoy themselves by bathing in the sun.

After Jenny had her turn of riding alone, Anna just had to give it a try. She is just as competitive as her little sister. Not only she rode alone and did all the tricks Jenny did. She added some new tricks too like standing in the tube. It looked easy, but it was really hard as the water speeding under your feet.


Happy kids at Michigan Adventure (9/6/2008). It was hard to get all our four kids together. They actually listened and sat down and posted for us!!
Anna and Jenny met their friend Tacara from School at Michigan Adventure.
Jenny was not so sure about lot of the rides at Michigan Adventure. After going on the big sea dragon, she cried. Was a Joshua a big brother or not?

Did you see Jenny screaming? It took a while for her finally to get used to some of the rides. At the end, she could not have enough of them.


Jenny was not always happy after some of the rides.

She finally took a simple ride, but you could tell she was quite bored.

Joshua was being silly with a lens cover.

Fun on the water

Today is the 2nd time Jenny had been on the boat. The weather has not been very cooperative this year. So far, we only went out twice with our boat. Jenny was very excited the first time, but I did not have my camera with me. Last time we went to Lake Michigan. Anna and Jenny kept saying "faster, faster!". They loved the speed and joy of bounce over waves! Their command fits Dad's desire. Once getting in the boat, he acts like a teenager:). I am the only one who cries over speed.
Today we went to Lake Michigan again, but the waves were too high. We immediately turned around and spent most of the afternoon in the Macatawa Bay. It was quiet area. We could swimming and tubing. Anna and Jenny loved the excitement of tubing. They screamed with every bumps over the waves. There were times they bounced so hard that they kept bouncing onto each other. I suggested that they do separately. Anna immediately refused. She said she did not want Jenny to be afraid. She became a very protective sister. Last year, Anna had tubed with the boys. She went on a few times on her own. She knew how scary it might be if you fell off the tube.
We developed a sign language while tubing. Thumb up means to go faster, thumbs down means to go slower and cross arm means to stop. Most of the time they both asked for faster, but a few time, Jenny had her thumb down, but Anna had her thumb up. Jenny is still a beginner, but she surely enjoyed every bit of it!
We are having fun with the girls, but we miss the boys too. They both are at Gerber Boyscout Camp working as youth counselors. Joshua has been there for 6 weeks and Toby has been there for 3 weeks. They both will be there for another 2 weeks. Joshua is quite independent. He only came home twice. Toby has been home three times. This weekend, he was home for his friend, Drew Coffin's Court of Honor. They have been friends since elementary school.
We hope we can go more tubing again this year. We hope the boys will be home soon so we can go with them. It would be more fun to have them with the girls!

"I have two cats" by Jenny Franz

I have two cats.
Their names are Cinder and Alli.
Cinder is black, brown and white.
Alli is black and brown.
I like my cats because I love them.

Jenny Franz
7/25/2008

6 Months ago, she did not speak any English. Can you believe it!

"I love my dad when he...." by Anna Franz

I Love My Dad When he....by Anna Franz
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Makes egg sandwich for me every Saturday.
When we go shopping together.
When I am crying and my dad carries me to bed.
Sometimes he lets me sleep with him.
He watches movies with us.
He picks apple with me.
He takes me and Jenny to the park.

Anna Franz
7/25/2008

Blanket for Jenny's Adoption

When we adopted Anna, we traveled with 7 other families. I made a blanket for Anna that has 8 handprints from the original 8 Anhui dolls. Since we came home with Jenny, Jenny has been admiring it and wished she could have a similar blanket.
I finally made one for her. Since she really did not have a travel group, I made the blanket with 4 hand prints from her brothers and sister. In reality, these were the kids who traveled with us to get her.
Needless to say, Jenny and Anna both are very excited about the blanket. Jenny calls it her favorite!
Thanks for Toby and Josh - You are probably the only two teenagers I know who are willing to print their hand prints on a blanket! Can't love you enough for everything you have been!

Leco Picnic

Once a year, Bert's company will have a company wide picnic at the river front park in St.Joseph. It was whole afternoon event with a lots of food, drinks, all kinds of rides and games and prizes. When Toby and Joshua were little, they were always looking forward to it. It was like taking them to an amusement park. Jenny had heard all about it from Anna. Both girls were so looking forward it too this.

Each year, there is a theme. Some employees will dress up costumes that match the theme. The animals are typically there every year. Bert was tigers for two year. This year, he is a pink monkey. Kids or adults who come in costumes will get prizes. This year's theme is "Western".

We have two cowgirls, two beautiful cowgirls. When I searched cowgirl costumes online, Jenny would have preferred a different kind of cowgirl costume that Mom and Dad would not allow her to wear:). Anna really liked the cowboy type of costume that Mom and Dad like too. They had great time and won a lot prizes. Unfortunately, we were not the grand prize winner (again). We will try again next year:).

The 4th of July Weekend

Since we returned from Miami, Anna had been asking when she would see her Anhui sisters again. Unfortunately, most of their families have other plans this weekend. Luckily, we were able to have the Wess' visiting us. We promised each other that we would have a relaxing weekend. We did just that and truly had a great time.

We really had very good use of our pool this year. The weather has been perfect the whole weekend. Kids in and out of the pool most of day. We tried to take our boat out, but it did not work. Toby took the Mountainer with him to camp. The new hitch on the minivan was too low for th boat. Instead, while Bert and Craig went out golf, Cindy and I took the kids to the beach. We had to climb 128 steps up then uncounted number of steps down to the beach. It was so tiring for the Moms, but kids ran through the whole thing without a blink of eye.

While Cindy and I had some time off to ourselves shopping and dining in Saugatuck, dads took the kids to Timer Park in Zeeland. They all caught fish. Kids were so excited. Adam was so patiently waiting for the fish to bite, he felt asleep on the dock - so cute! Anna and Jenny was so excited about their little fish they caught. Jenny was quite unhappy, though, when dad had to put her fish back to the water. She thought she could have it for dinner:)

On Friday, we all went to Koln Park to watch the firework. Anna was a little unease that she had to share her friend Natalie with Jenny. With Jenny's easy going personality, she never had problem getting friends. I, on the other hand, had good time to cuddle with Anna. The firework was spectacular!

Like every good party or reunion, we always hate the part when we had to say goodbye. Anna and Natalie schemed that they would switch places. Adam cried first because he would miss Natalie. Frustrated, Natalie hurried up and went to the car. She was afraid to say good bye. Two minutes after they left, we found out that Natalie had left her hair accessory box. When we called, Natalie did not want to come back because she was afraid she would cry. Needless to say, she did. At night, Anna cried too because she missed Natalie.

It is so good to see their sister's love. We wish they keep their bond. As they get older, they will need each other. Their parents also need each other to help them understand their past, presence and future.

On Sunday, we had the Timmerman-Sanford's over for a BBQ after church. It was another beautiful day again.


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