Fall Colors

The autumn has been beautiful here in the mountains of North Carolina. Luke and I (Paul) often go to the Boone Greenway, where there is a trail and fields for running and kicking the soccer ball around. There i nothing like a sunny fall afternoon for capturing a few photos of a 2-year-old:

Poznań, Poland

Paul (that's me) was in Poland for about 10 days in October, in and around the beautiful city of Poznań. I was traveling with two other faculty members for the College of Education here at Appalachian State University, and we were able to find funding to bring along four teachers and administrators from local schools systems here in western NC. The goal of the trip was to meet with counterparts at the university and local school systems there, to organize cross-cultural projects. We also helped organize a conference at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, where we offered workshops, and I presented one of the keynote talks.

I wan't really expecting Poznań to be such a picturesque city, and very European. In October, the days were clear and dry, with plenty of sunshine. Here are some photos from around the old part of the city:

The K-12 schools we visited were also surprising, in that they seemed to me to be more like museums! Can you imagine going to school in building that are inspirational? With natural light, plants in the hallways, and hardwood floors? We had a chance to talk to many teachers and students, and in particular I remember one student who remarked, "we love our teachers".

Here are some of the photos from K-12 schools we visited in and around Poznań:

Retro Camera

Luke and I (Paul) have been playing around with the "retro" camera app on my Android phone recently. Here are a few examples...

Surprising visitor

Our neighborhood has a few hummingbird feeders. But I have never seen a hummingbird yet, actually in my whole life -- only in photos.

When I was get ready for dinner today, I heard a really loud noise in the living room. I saw a black shadow flying around the glass door. I thought it was a beetle which I saw quite often come into the house when I was young. But when I looked at it carefully, it was a little bird! A hummingbird!!! I screamed to ask Paul to come down stairs to help the bird. I was afraid that the little thing would get hurt. But maybe the bird got scared because of my screaming, and he found a way to get out by himself!

I can't believe I wasn't able to take a picture of my first hummingbird sighting --- hahaha
But I'm so happy to have finally seen one!

Playground with Dada

Paul is always spending time with us on Saturday! And today, we decided to go to the playground and walk around the park in the morning. It was a cloudy day, but it was perfect weather in the summer to spend time at the playground (this playground doesn't have any trees or shade around).

Luke is getting really good at climbing. He likes to use the "rock climbing" wall to get up to the big slide now. I always wanted to take picture of that, but I need to watch him carefully -- so as not to fall off the climbing wall. So, I didn't have chance to take photo until TODAY! Thanks to Paul, coming with us.


It is always makes me nervous when he reaches the top. But he has been successful in climbing up there every time (so far...)!
And after he reaches on the top, he love to slide this tube. But he still can't go by himself. So, I slide this tube with him A LOT! It's pretty fun actually. In this picture, you think that Paul went slide with Luke today. No, no. Paul asked Luke to go another slide, but Luke wanted to go in the tube... I climbed up (not the rock wall) the stairs on the other side and slid down with Luke as usual. But something was wrong today... I was wearing something that made extra slippery... I couldn't stop the end, and end up in the mud... Luke and I got really wet. Paul, you made a good decision not to going on the tube slide!

After the play ground, we walked around the park for an hour or so. And we a nice lunch before coming back to home (^v^) What a wonderful day!

Beaker

This morning when Luke woke up, his favorite friend was out side the door. His name is Beaker, our neighbor's cat. Luke made a crazy noise to tell me he want to go outside! So, I let him go play with Beaker.
Luke likes him a lot, but once Beaker come close to him, he will get scared and asked me to come outside, too.
And Luke love to follow Beaker everywhere. We spent a little while following beaker around and playing with him. And while we were doing so, I burnt an English muffin... our fire alarm was ringing... good thing that Paul was inside, and he was dealing with the smoke... Luke was not happy to go inside, but he will see Beaker soon again (^-^)

Fun Visitors

These past couple of weeks, we have been blessed to have wonderful company here in Boone! First was a visit from Paul's old college friends and their kids. We spent time with them only one afternoon, but I heard about them many times when we were still dating, so you can tell how excited am I to see them finally. And also Paul, too. Because they haven't seen each in many years. He told me that last time Paul saw them were when Shelly was pregnant with her first baby which I met today that the baby is already 14 years old!!! Hahaha time goes by so quickly!

And second visitor was James! He is Paul's cousin, Bob and Lynda's son. James is a rock climber, and he was planning to go to rock climbing in Tennessee with his friend. But his friend couldn't make it this trip, so James decided to come to North Carolina. We were so glad that he called us and would like to stay with us for couple of days. He came over at night after Luke went to bed, so the next morning when Luke woke up and found out James were sleeping down stairs made Luke excited. He showed James all his toys, even though James was still half sleep. But James was so nice and good with kids, Luke immediately felt comfortable with him, and after that moment Luke didn't need Mama or Dada around him. We hope James come visit us again sometime soon.

Third visitors were Paul's sister Liz, her three kids (Olivia, Scott and Alison) and Paul's cousin Bob and his wife Lynda. We had such a wonderful time together.

On the first day, we went to blueberry picking -- which is my first time time, and the first for Paul, Liz and her kids too. Bob and Lynda had done this before, so they know what to do! It was a very beautiful place on the side of a hill, looking out into the mountains of North Carolina, and we enjoyed it very much!
I didn't know there are both sweet and tart blueberry bushes. Of course I went to the sweet bushes, and Paul and I picked one gallon. I never tasted blueberries this sweet before!!!! Luke loved them too--maybe too much. He ate so many blueberries while we were in the field today!

Scott is a very good blueberry picker! He picked so many so quickly! Lucky Liz, she had such a great helper (^v^)
And thanks for Olivia and Ali for playing with Luke while we were working! I didn't have to worry about Luke at all -- they gave me time to focus picking berries and eating them :) Paul and I were taking about coming back here again to pick more, but we have to find some kids to come with us (to look after Luke)! Hahaha.




The next day, we went to Blowing Rock. We had yummy ice cream and play at the play ground in town.
We all enjoyed the morning, and had fun with kids!
And after the Blowing Rock, we wanted to go to Grandfather Mountain. We drove along the Blueridge Park Way, and near Grandfather Mountain, we saw a deer running along the side of the road. It was beautiful and little scary, because they were too close to us... We reached Grandfather mountain, but we decided to not going though the gate, it was little late and Bob and Lida had to go back to home that day (plus, it was very expensive to go in!). Instead of the mountain, we decided to have lunch in Banner Elk. After lunch we stopped by the Scottish shop in town. It's a very small shop, but there were a lot of Scottish items that you can buy. And I'm very impressed to see people proud of their heritage and traditions. I found the "Wallace" tartan, and though I'm not a Scottish ancestor it made me excited to see them and feel part of it!
Here is Paul and Luke at the Scottish store (Oh, this is not "Wallace" tartan).

We always take a picture at this spot. We took another one when Luke was few months old!

Liz and the kids stayed a few more days, and we had a fun time. We wish we could see them soon again before Luke forgets how to say "Yaya (Olivia)" "Cotty (Scott)" and "Ai (Ali)".

Nana & Papa's House

Luke loves to visit Nana and Papa's house in Virginia Beach. We visited them for a week during the 4th of July. We went to the beach almost every day. And this year, Luke was enjoying he beach better than last year! But still he mostly enjoyed playing in the sand...
And Nana had nice surprise for Luke. She got very nice riding toys for Luke -- in fact, two of them! He enjoys riding those toys (especially, the "Rocket" one) everyday. We decided not to bring them back to Boone, but Luke will enjoy them when we visit Nana and Papa's house (^v^)

News Paper Hats!

We got another package from Japan. When my mom sent a package, she also put Japanese newspaper in the package -- mom want me to read those things in the news paper! Those topics are usually about children, health and other things that she enjoys reading.

After I read all the news, Paul made news paper hat for Luke! They were so cute together (^-^)
Paul is such a sweet dad!

Let's go to the Pool!

Today is Luke's pool debut! We went to Appalachian State University pool with Kendra and her three kids (Sage, Gabe and Maggie). When Luke first stepped in the pool, he start screaming... He was scared of the big pool. I almost took Luke home, but thanks to Sage, Gabe and Maggie! They entertaining Luke in the water, they came up a lot of fun games that Luke was so interested and enjoyed. He start enjoying the water and we spend almost hour in the pool. We are planning to go to the Blowing Rock outdoor pool next week with them. It's going to be fun!

Room Curtain Project

Finally, I finished Luke's room curtain. When we were visited Paul's parents in Virginia Beach sometime ago, Mom and I went to Joann's to get few fabrics for this project. Thanks to mom for helping me out to find good fabrics!

Here is the curtain in Luke's room (^-^)

Mugicha

Mugicha (something like roasted barley water) is a Japanese traditional summer drink. We have to have this in our refrigerator all summer long! I remember I got mugicha tea bags from my mom last year, so I searched all the cabinet and I found them (^-^)

We are enjoying this summer drink, and now I feel summer is here!

Koinobori and Gaga

We got a package from Japan. My mom sent Koinobori for Luke and my aunt sent him for toys. It was arrived when we was taking a nap. I wanted to open it right away, but I was very patience! I waited until Luke woke up and we open it together.

He opened it, and immediately start played with toys!
This is a toy he calls "gaga" (for no reason). He was enjoying moving different handles and bars. This is an age 3 toy, so he still gets frustrated sometimes when he can get is right. Hahaha

Luke also got a koinobori. In Japan, we have Boy's Day (and Children's 's Day on May 5th. If you have a boy in your family, They will decorated with koinobori from April to early May, in honor of sons and in the hope that they will grow up healthy and strong. And my mom sent Luke a little koinobori to decorate for this celebration.
Luke swings around the koinobori everywhere, and he even carried this little when we took walk around our neighborhood this afternoon.

Here is the picture after I decorated on our porch.
And this is the real koinobori in Japan!

Girls, don't worry! We have a Girl's Day on March 3rd, and then display beautiful sets of ornamental dolls, just like this one!

Maggie and Luke

Here we are! We went to Todd Lots again--yes, we are going there almost everyday. But today, we had nice companies, Maggie and her mom Kendra! We had such fun time together. Especially me, talking to Kendra is always so much fun (^0^). And Maggie is always loving, caring about Luke so much, I'm sure Luke had great time, too!

Todd Lots

We have been going to "Todd Lots" park (and playground) almost everyday, if the weather is nice. I like to come here in the morning, because it is much cooler and not so busy. Usually in the afternoon it will get little bit crowded -- sometime two or three school buses bring kids over here! It's fun to see a lot of kids, but at the same time, it's difficult for the small kids to then play around freely.

Luke loves the sandbox the most. If I let him, he might stay and play there all day long. I also loved playing with sand (well, more dirt...) when I was kid, so I can't blame him--hahaha
This sandbox has always has a public shovel, bucket and all other fun things that you can play with sand, so it is nice! I don't have to pack anything before we come here! And Luke can learn how to share with other children.
Another one of Luke's favorite is the slide. He is getting much better going up the steps and sliding by himself. This playground has both a baby section and an older kids section.

Here is the baby section slide and other fun things:

And this is the older kids section:
Luke prefers to go to the older kids section and do the slide, because it's much higher and a lot of fun shape slides there! Also there is fun tube or steps to climb up the slide.
But sometimes, Luke gets scared in the tube, and says "mama... mama..." asks me to come with him. So I had to get in the tube with him, and I wish I won't stuck in the tube... this tube (in picture), you have to climb a pretty steep tube to go up -- like little rock climbing inside. It is very good exercise! I always enjoying myself when I play with Luke after a while (^v^)

He has so much energy and enjoys being outside every minute.
Also Luke love to go and check out baseball field cross from the park. We usually go there before we leave the park, and end up playing in the baseball field for long time.
Always our shoes get dirty with red sand all over! Hahaha

And after the park, a nice nap time is waiting for Luke and relaxing time for Mama (^V^)