Photos from Disney World

Our first exciting view of Walt Disney World! We had to stop by the military resort, Shades of Green, to pick up our tickets. I had no idea the military had a rec center at WDW!





The Magic Kingdom! It was so fun to see the kids so excited to be there.

Our one family photo taken by a kind stranger who, thankfully, didn't run off with the camera! You always wonder if that's going to happen to you when someone comes up and says "You want me to take a photo of all of you together?"

Daddy got the joy of riding the Dumbo ride with Katie Mei. It was hard to get a photo of her because her head was too low in the seat. This was the only photo I got where you can actually see her face on the ride. They hadn't even started moving yet. I also let Jay take the kids on the Mad Hatter tea cup ride; I knew I didn't have the constitution to handle that one. He regretted that later, as he was a little green around the gills and ready to yak up his morning coffee when I met him after the ride was over.

I took the kids on the carousel while Jay ran off to buy a new SD card for my camera. Wouldn't it figure I only had room for one more photo on my memory card when we got to the park? Fortunately, I took two cameras, so I could still get pictures.

Sometimes Katie Mei tries really hard not to smile. I don't know why she likes to play this game, but she'll just make a neutral face and avoid eye contact when you ask her to smile. But she really, really wanted to go on the carousel, and once she got on her horse and it started moving, she could not supress her smile. She tried, but it didn't work. This isn't her best smile, but she really was delighted to be on that horse.

Tuesday was Katie Mei's birthday, and she was given a Happy Birthday pin to wear around the park all day. Employees of the park greeted her and wished her a Happy Birthday everywhere we went.

Daddy and Katie Mei with the cake at the Princess Storybook Dining Buffet Hall. This is the lunch where we were constantly interrupted by princesses.

Katie Mei surprised us that she wasn't the least bit shy around the characters. Merrilee and Jacob were more than excited to meet them all. We couldn't get Jacob to shut up...he had to tell every princess everything about his entire day. I don't know how those women put up with all the excited kids, day in and day out. I think I would make a lousy princess. I'd probably get fired for telling a kid to put a lid on it!

Sleeping Beauty was the sweetest princess. She seemed like she really was as nice as she was pretending to be. Snow White was a bit freaky...she waved her arms all around and used a very weird, squeaky voice while talking to the kids. I told Jay I think she watched the original movie Snow White over and over again every night to really get herself in character. She was absolutely bizare!

We stopped to get some ice cream and saw Pooh and Tigger heading for the bathrooms (yep, even Pooh has to poo!--the kids loved that!). When they came out again we realized they were headed for a designated area to sign autographs and pose for photos with the kids. So Katie Mei and I put our ice creams down and went to stand in line. The line moved pretty fast, and after about 15 minutes we were fourth in line to meet the Duo. That's when they took off, with Tigger running across the road and back toward the bathrooms. I'm not really sure if the big, orange tiger was having an Immodium moment, but he sure was in a hurry. Anyway, we waited several more minutes and they returned to their adoring, and apparently patient, fans. I was kind of concerned that Katie Mei would freak out at the last moment and wouldn't want to say Hi to Pooh Bear, since she's really rather shy and doesn't like big, obnoxious, scary things. But she surprised us all with her warm hug for Pooh, and she posed for a photo to my heart's delight!

On our last evening there, Jay ran out for some popcorn for me, and we let the kids eat it in bed even though they had already brushed their teeth (yeah, I'm a bit of a stickler for no food after teeth brushing). The three of them had a grand time being allowed to eat in bed!

Notice Katie Mei's newest addition to her stuffed animals. We let the kids each get a toy/souvenir from WDW and she picked out a Pooh Bear. Merrilee chose a Tinkerbell book, and Jacob got a space shuttle model, of which he he immediately proceeded to break pieces off, of course. Pooh and Katie Mei have been close friends ever since we left the park.

Finally, we picked up the photo we ordered at Epcot. We had ordered and paid for a 5X7 photo, and when we picked it up at the photo place by our resort, there was a note in with the picture. It read "Thank you for letting me take pictures of your wonderful children! I have sent you an extra 8X10! I hope you have a wonderful vacation! Lisa S."

I don't know if she does that for lots of folks she photographs, but she did comment on how well-behaved and orderly our kids were. I was thankful for the fact that, for the most part, our kids were very composed and obedient. Yes, they had their moments and managed to ruffle my feathers here and there a bit, but really, they are great kids. Jay and I feel so blessed to be able to call them ours, and are thankful we can treat them to fun vacations like this once in awhile. God is so good!

Good-Bye, Grandpa John

Jay's dad passed away last night. It wasn't a total shock to us; he's been in and out of the hospital a few times already this year. His health, or what there was of it, was failing. But no matter how prepared you are for a death, it's never easy to let go and say good-bye.

John, or JB to many of us, was a bit of an enigma. He put on a show of being tough and mean, but he was a tender, caring man when he was put on the spot. There are family stories of how he provided Christmas gifts for a child who wasn't his own, but was in need. He offered advice to Jay throughout his healthier years whenever Jay called on him, especially when Jay and I were first married and were trying to get ourselves established. He could cook too; JB would whip up a great pot of chicken and dumplings when we came to visit, and often made the potato salad for our family reunions. There are so many sides to this man, whom I only knew for 22 years. Unfortunately, when I first met him, his health was already declining, so I never got to know him in his more robust days. But I do love to listen to the family stories.

My two older children remember their last visit to Grandpa John in 2007. Merrilee has prayed for him and laments his passing. We will miss him, and I am thankful I got to know him.

Good-bye, Grandpa John. We love you and will cherish the time we had with you.

Love,
Petrie and the kids

Wishes for a Merry Christmas

God Bless Us, Everyone!

We hope you are all enjoying your Christmas Day. We sure are! We opened presents, started the turkey, went for a long walk/bike ride in St. Mary's City, and are now in napping mode. Jacob got a new bike and has reveled in his new freedom. The kids loved the long bike ride with Mom and Dad walking along, and we explored some parts of St. Mary's City which we hadn't been through before. The day was beautiful and I loved trying out my new camera.

More photos will follow, but for now we send our love and Christmas wishes to you.

Love,

Jay, Pet, and the kids

Way to go, Jacob!

After two and a half weeks of taking Tae Kwon Do, Jacob earned his White Belt this evening. We are so proud of him. He got A's on all aspects of his examination, and is now ready to move up into the other classes. Tae Kwon Do is the first sport he has been involved in, and he's been so good about maintaining his excitement and enthusiasm for it. He hasn't complained once about it, even though he's been doing it three times a week. That's quite a bit for a four-year old. Did I already tell you we're so proud of him? We really are!

After Jacob's class, we let him choose his restaurant for dinner. He chose the Teariffic Tea Room, one of our family's new favorites. It's a new place in town and the woman who runs it is from Hong Kong. She has treated us so well since we got to know her. Last week, the week of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, she introduced us to some tasty treats called Zong Zi, made of sticky rice wrapped in corn leaves. Inside the rice were peanuts, and all was boiled and steamed to a sticky, sweet perfection. Her mother made them and the kids and I just loved them. She taught us to cut them into pieces and dip them in sugar. Heavenly. And today, in celebration of Jacob getting his white belt, she brought us some little pastries made with red bean paste, my absolute favorite flavor in the whole world. If you've never had a Chinese treat with red bean paste, you don't know what you're missing.

So our family has had great joy today in rejoicing in Jacob's accomplishment, and it's just one of many days that will be a wonderful family memory. Thanks be to God for each member of our family, and the individual gifts with which He blesses each of us. May our children use their gifts for His glory.