Momma Chups!

Hello!
It has been a long time since we have updated our blog, due in part that we left a camera cable in Tahoe two weeks ago. Anyway, we are happy to have a replacement and to be able to post some photos of this past month.

We took our first trip (if you don't count traveling in China and coming home) with Joy to Lake Tahoe to see our friends, Lauren and Justin, get married. It was a beautiful wedding and a gorgeous day. We were hoping to eacape the heat wave while away. Unfortunately, it was just as hot up there during the day as it was here when we left, with the exception of the nights, which were really chilly.

Joy did really well on the flights (nothing direct from San Diego to Reno?). We flew out of Carlsbad for the first time. It was fantastic! It felt like we were flying in the 1950's! It is a really small airport with a tiny little terminal. Quite a change from LAX.

We had a wonderful time at the wedding a really relaxing time in Tahoe visiting Squaw Valley, Fallen Leaf Lake, a park, a toy store and going on short nature walks. We can't wait to go back there when Joy is a little older. While we were in up at the top of the of Squaw, we found a patch of snow and Joy went for her first sled down a hill!

One day while we were driving along in Tahoe (and probably fantasizing about living there) we heard from the back seat and very muffled "Momma Chups". We turned around and said, "Yes, isn't it pretty here? Do you see the trees and mountains?" Then we went back to chatting. Soon, the "Momma chups" became "MOMMA CHUPS!" We weren't sure what she was getting so worked up about until we saw the bag of Ritz Chips which were jammed between the seat. We count this as Joy's second "sentence" in addition to her "NO GO!" when getting out of Serena's pool.

This past month, we also celebrated Joy and Jarrah's first birthdays (albeit belatedly) with our families. My favorite part was the panda cake that Auntie Debbie made for the girls. Delicious! Still there is something that seems kind of wrong about eating a panda.

We also had a delightful visit with Sedona and her mom and dad, Kim and Michael. Sedona was Joy's roommate in the orphanage in China. It was really great to see them and catch up with each other. The girls enjoyed splashing in the pool in Jarrah's backyard and eating ice cream cones after the BBQ.


It is hard to believe that the end of summer is fast approaching. We have really enjoyed staying at home with Joy. We are planning on fun visit with Paul's brother and his family who arrive from San Francisco tonight. We hope you all are having a relaxing summer. This last photo is one of my favorites.