Tate--Frisbee and Mom

At the summer concert it was so much fun eating on the field and playing frisbee all night long (in between performances.)

This is a picture of Mom and me. It took us about 20 tries to get both of our heads in the frame because Mom doesn't have an iPhone 4. 

Larsen--Summer Concert and Butters Birthday Bash

At the Summer Concert I played the gong, the alto xylophone, and recorder. I sang a few songs and did the choreography while wearing huge star sunglasses and a fedora. I was awesome.

Our friends the Butters are moving to the States. They've lived in China 18 years! We had a Butters Birthday Bash and Waffle Fest. Their son and I have had a competition going on between us since I moved here. We've been seeing who can catch the most coins balanced on their elbow. So far my friend has 49. My record is 37.

Alia--Daddy and Pink Bunny Movie

I wanted to go to the dance with Daddy and Emma and Reb. I wanted to dress up in a pretty dress, too. Dad promised to take me on a special date and Reb painted my toenails.

We did a movie about my pink bunny and Seth's fast cars. Dad and Mom rode us around the neighborhood on bikes to take pictures. My bunny is almost as big as me.

--Alia

Maddie--Places around the neighborhood

By request, I have taken a few pictures of our daily sights. I will post more as I take the pictures. =]

 Here is the view from Big Jet as either me or Mom wait for Reb and Seth's bus. We do need to change one thing, though. It isn't always blessedly cloudy. We are usually sitting in the sun not really being able to see. =]

 Finally, their bus has arrived!! The bus is pretty cool, dontcha think? There isn't really much to say about this picture.

 Here is the front view of our house! We are number 61. We were about to pull into the garage on Big Jet when I took this.

 Ok, so this picture is a secret. Mom probably wouldn't be too happy having this picture of a messy kitchen floating around. I will truthfully say that it isn't always this messy. Yes, everyone says that, but this time it's true. =]

 Here is the front living room, and those of you that saw our dining room in AZ can probably recognize the tapestries on the wall. You should also count your blessings that I didn't have the sense to post a picture of our living room when we had our other couches. You probably would've gone blind.

 Of course, we can't forget about the stairs. On our wall is the vinyl we got before we left. It says: "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, preyer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." Boy, was that a lot to type! As a side note, the first little flight of stairs on the bottom left has 14 steps, and the little flight on the top right has 8 steps.

This is looking up the staircase. You can't see the rest of the stairs since the sun decided to come out for the few moments that I was taking a picture. Oh well. You know, it seems like in China, the invention of an elevator hasn't yet come around in the places where it is most needed, but where it isn't, then the elevator is everywhere!

Maddie--Birthday, YCIS, shopping, cool pic

Before I start, I want to apologize for being a little long-winded. =]

I was having such a great time at the YCIS Summer Concert! I can't remember what Mom told me but I was right in the middle of asking "what" when she took the picture! I'd say bad timing, but it seems like the pic turned out pretty well, so great job Mom! Oh yeah, and thanks to Larsen for letting me wear his hat!!

Ok, I'll admit, this pic is a bit late being uploaded, but a late picture is better than no picture, so deal with the fact that it is about two weeks old... =] Ok, on a different note, this pic is from graduation, which is why me and Emma are in nice dresses. That was so fun, and now I am an official ninth grader, or in that weird in between stage, depending on your perspective. If I have to actually be attending school as a ninth grader to qualify, then I am in-between. But since I have a certificate saying that I am no longer an eighth grader, I have promoted myself to ninth grade!

 This picture was taken at that YCIS thing I mentioned earlier. I wasn't wearing any shoes when we were playing Frisbee, and since it is turf, it turned my feet black. The picture doesn't actually show how black my feet were, and plus it was taken after I had put sweaty shoes back on and some of the black had worn away. Still, those feet look pretty gross, don't you think?

 I have to pat myself on the back over this picture. I will admit that it was completely on accident, but that doesn't mean anything to me, since some of my greatest work was accidental. I can vouch for anybody out there who can't get a good shot of a three year old--so this doesn't apply to the Platts--when I say that it is really hard to get a good shot of toddlers. Most of my pictures were with Alia covering her face.

 Ok, so this picture is just kinda out there and weird. That is why I like it so much! (Obviously enough to put it online for anybody to see...) I figured that anybody who lives in the States would definitely not be looking around at Metro and find these pajamas hanging on the rack for 10 bucks. Actually, as a side note, no one in the States would be at Metro since it is a German or Swedish (some country around there) store. Anyway, I figured that if I wanted to go on trek, I could buy these and be pretty well off as far as pajamas go, so long as it isn't cold.

This is a picture from my birthday. This is another of those OIA (Only In Asia) experiences. Earlier, around Tate and Mom's birthday time, I had suggested that Tate have a choco-pie cake. He laughed and said no, and went with something normal. =] That is just fine. He enjoyed his normal cake/cupcakes/whatever he had. I can't remember. Anyway, I had told Mom that I wanted a choco-pie cake for my birthday. She thought I was joking, but I was completely serious when I said that. So, in between buying ridiculous pajamas at Metro, we bought a box of choco-pies. I warmed them up in the microwave so that they puffed up a bit and stuck together. It was awesome!! They didn't blow up like Mom and I wanted to, though. I almost forgot!! Most of you guys don't know what a choco-pie is. Go on Google images and type in Lotte choco-pie. Yum.

Emma--Daddy Daughter Dance, Birthday Fun

For school Reb and I went to a Daddy Daughter Dance. It was really extremely fun when we ate dinner, danced-obviously, and playing with friends- and there were only three 4th graders.

For my birthday which was several weeks ago on the 12 of June a little late:| I went to Kerry Parkside at the adventure zone and we played and had a bunch of fun!!! Then for the family we ate cupcakes from the cupcake place and made ice-cream sandwiches to eat-yummy!!!!

--Emma:}

Seth--Tricks, Cars, Boats, and Popsicles

I can do cartwheels. Alia is learning to do somersaults. I can do somersaults right now.

Oh yeah! My cars raced so fast. We made a movie about my cars racing a big pink bunny.

I made this boat with Shikang my friend and it floated in the river when we went on a field trip to see if our boats would sink or float. 

I like popsicles really really really much!

Cole--Awesome Picture

I didn't think any of Mom's pictures looked cool, so I took one of my own on my favorite Photo Booth.
--Cole

Rebekah--Century Park Silliness and Daddy Daughter Dance

This is when we were at Century Park Campus having a party and Maddie was being silly.

--Reb

We were about to go to our Daddy Daughter Dance and we were taking a picture before we went. We also got kind of like a magic wand with a light-up star on the end and I also got Lotte Pies or Orion Pies. 

Larsen--Birthday

The Larsen's came over and sang to me for my birthday. I was really surprised!

Seth--Dancing on the Cow

Mom was trying to take a picture and I couldn't stop dancing.

Tate--Oops

We were just getting ready to take a picture on our walk today when Emma dropped her roll. Oops!
We looked and then Mom took the picture.

--Tate       ;)

Tate--Cooking

Dad was making rolls today and he gave me a piece of dough to play with but instead I made mini-rolls.

--Tate       ;)

Seth--Yardwork

I got to help Dad mow and rake the back yard.

Emma--Hannah

My friend Hannah and I were in this assembly and we took this picture together:

--Emma

Madison--Goofy Picture

Once again, since Mom can't resist the urge to take group pictures, she gathered us on the rock by the pond and after no one would smile for the picture, she told us to do goofy faces in a desperate attempt to get a positive picture. :) As you can see, it turned out pretty cool. I hope Aunt Kiki gets this one printed to cover an entire wall in her house in the States.

After...

Madison--Funny Faces

Here I was, trying to walk along, eating my popsicle in peace, when Mom tells us to turn around and smile for the camera. Well, I wasn't about to do that since I had just been interrupted in my peaceful popsicle eating, so I made a face. :D A funny one. Obviously Tate wasn't too happy, either, and Emma got in on the action too.

Larsen--Piano Recital

Last week we had a piano recital at our house with a few other families. I played Allegro. I liked that because it was at our house we could cheer for each other and didn't have to be all quiet. We all had cookies afterwards and sat on the trampoline together.

Larsen--Cool Hat

Last week I got a hat and I've been wearing it ever since. I got it from my dance class. I volunteered to learn a dance from the Dominican Republic and performed it for Global Child Day at my school.

Alia--Tate and Me

Tato loves me.

Cole--Ice Cream

One night this week we went for ice cream after getting on our pajamas. I got mango vanilla swirl. Everyone rode in Big Jet except for me. I rode super fast on my bike.

Rebekah--Pretty in Pink

When we were at the pond we took a picture of me on the rocks. Aren't I so cute?