LEGO brick fest

Fun with bricks.

Sunday Chinese school

Mason and Audrey started Chinese school on Sundays.  Every Sunday from 2-4 pm they will go to Bohua chinese school to learn mandarin.  Although they have had chinese lessons at Broomfield academy and private lessons, this program is much more structured.  

There different tracks, one for kids who speak Mandarin at home, where all instruction is in Chinese, and another for kids learning Chinese as a foreign language.   Audrey is starting in the first class (CTE-K) although I feel that may be a little easy for her.  Mason started at CTE-2, but we decided he would be better in CTE-1, since he hasn't learned much writing before.

The parents get to stay in the class and watch.  Bill will be joining Audrey, so he can learn some mandarin too!

It sure eats into the weekend, but learning languages at an early age is so much easier than later on.  It is important to me that Mason and Audrey can speak to my parents and be fluent in at least one other language when they grow up.

1st day of 1st grade

Audrey started 1st day with Ms Kover.  She is such a friendly and nice teacher.  Audrey came home saying "Ms. Kover is nice she will be easier than Ms. Egging". We had a great first few days, no homework struggles (she has been doing her homework at BASE).  Hope this continues throughout the year and that Audrey blossomes into an independent, confident and eager to learn student.

Another year

I felt so spoiled on my birthday!  Cards, hugs and kids from the kids and Bill, breakfast burritos and mimosas, followed by lunch with my work besties, cupcakes baked by Adrienne, and dinner with the family at Korean BBQ.  Calls, wishes and cards topped it off.  40 was great!  Hoping for another great year ahead.

First day of 3rd grade

Mason is still on the waiting list for Hulstrom.  Chances are low that he will get in, so he started at Broomfield Academy.

Ed and Johana's wedding

Our nephew Edward got married to Johana a couple of weekends ago.  It was great to see everyone back in Colorado (Heather and Jamie are now in Portland, Ed and Johana are in Chicago).  It was too short, but at great celebration!

Johana is a wonderful young woman.  The stories that her family and friends shared are a testament to how loved she is.  She is going to medical school and will no doubt make this world a better place.  We are so happy for them.

Estes park hike

Last minute get togethers are the best!  We got together with the Hevers Saturday morning and drove up to Estes park for a hike with the kids.  We hadn't seen them all Summer.

We hiked to the top of Emerald lake and back (~3 miles round trip).  The kids did great and Audrey set the pace most of the trip, and didn't ask for a "power break" until the end.  Mason and Payton (9 months older than him) talked to whole way up and down - I don't know how they have the lungs to do that.  We did a fast pace up and down, and hung out up at the lake for about 15 minutes for a snack, and played with the marmot that we encountered (it liked pineapple).  Lots of chipmunks unaffraid of humans.

Beautiful hike!  Wonderful company!  

Mechanical bull elbow injury

All the Sales folks from the Oracle Data Cloud came to Colorado for training 2 weeks ago. The team is now over 200 ppl worldwide.  I had a busy week ahead of preparing presentations and meetings, but planned an outing for our UK team who I had growth close to.  For a typical American experience we took them to the Grizzly Rose - line dancing and mechanical bulls!

It was a Tuesday night, so fairly slow and the new day the Sales summit started.  We paired up an American to each English member on the dual mechanical Bulls.  We kicked ass as we won each dual!  But as I dismounted, I hit the bull and landed on my elbow.  Ouch!

I could tell it was very hurt, but it didn't seem broken.  I decided not to go to the ER that night, as I had to be there for the meetings at 8 am.  Ice and Aleeve were my friends, and next morning I picked up a sling at the walgreens on my way in.

I don't remember this, but apparently my VP told me "don't get hurt on the mechanical bull" as we left the previous afternoon.  And as I walked in with a sling, "what happened?" was the greeting by everyone I encountered.  My injury was referred to jokingly by at least 3 presenters including during the opening, by the afternoon, I had to present to group of 275 with my sling, but at least I got a big cheer!

A week went by and I felt it was getting a little better, but still swollen.  I finally got it x-rayed to confirm there is no break or fracture.  Now we continue to wait for full healing!