Life with Kanyin

Kanyin has really been blossoming these last few months into a little talkative toddler. It amazes me how smart she is and how quickly she picks up on things. I was thinking the other day, that it would be cool if I could pick up on news things like her.
 She has decided that she has a mind of her own and she will fight to get her way. That always makes for fun times. Especially the other day when we were leaving the store and she didn't want to get out of the shopping cart (which is weird since she always fights me to get IN the shopping cart) she just proceeded to hit me and then kick and scream and scream some more. I got some great looks. Oh gosh...yah.
She has started to become a picky eater, which is sad since she used to be such a good eater. She would eat spaghetti everyday if I let her. She loves apples, fruit snacks, juice, cheese, cucumber and of course candy. She is doing pretty good with the potty. She won't tell me when she has to go, but if I sit her on her potty and keep her entertained for awhile, she'll eventually go. She's gone poo poo in the potty a few times, and I got so excited and was practically jumping up and down. My excitement didn't pay off though because now when she poo poo's in her diaper she starts clapping and says, "Yay!!!! poo poo."
Some of her new words:
"amooon" for moon
"I duunoo" I don't know
"huur" hurt
"see you" see you later
"nigh" good night
"uv oo" love you
She is still a momma's girl, which is fun cause she loves to snuggle, but hard when I need to get things done. We are exploring new activities and we go to the park a lot, which she LOVES! I am so sad it is getting colder, which means the park isn't as fun, which means I have to be more creative with things to keep her busy with. I love being this little girl's mom. Even though everyday is not peachy, we have our great moments which make up for the bad. We can't imagine life without her.

emptying kitchen cupboards. What a glorious adventure

Kanyin is an aspiring artist. She loves to paint

concentrate!

She loves to walk around with her little kitchen fork and bowls and feed everything. Who knew this would be a favorite toy. 

Kanyin loves it when friends come over! She is learning to share. 

Sadly this girl loves her shows. It can be helpful at times, but not when it's not time to watch a show. 

hanging out with mom

Corn on the cob is a favorite!  Better eat yours fast before Kanyin finds it. 

"uuumm don't even think about cutting my hair!"

She loves her barn! 

Favorite Toy

I am good at collecting cheap toys via yard sales, thrift stores etc. This happens to be her favorite toy this week. Guess I will be dumpster diving from now on instead of buying toys.

2 Week Break

Shawn got a two week break in between his first and second year of PA school. My family was here for a few of those days and then the rest of the two weeks was crammed full of adventures. We wanted to do as much as we could. We went camping with the Pages, which was soo awesome! We haven't been camping in forever. It felt nice to be away from the world and get dirty. We went to French Creek State Park which was very pretty and also next door to the Hope Well Furnace site. Here they made iron back in the 1600's. It was a beautiful place. They show you how it was done and even did a demonstration for us. They had animals there and an apple orchard too.

That same week Shawn and I went to an amusement park by ourselves! No Kanyin (thanks to Sarah). It was called Dorney Park. It was cheaper then six flags and we were worried it was going to be a small park, but it was actually really big.  I was sooo nervous, because I am NOT a roller coaster person, but Shawn is and I was determined to become one. Usually I start with the swings making my way up to the biggest, scariest, your gonna die roller coaster. This time I decided to jump in with both fee and start with the biggest, scariest, your gonna die roller coaster. Let me tell you I was TERRIFIED. My heart was beating the fastest it has ever beat, and I was shaking so bad. I literally thought I was going to have a heart attack. Shawn kept trying to reassure me that it was going to be okay. I held onto him so tight and screamed like I have never screamed before. Each roller coaster after that got a little easier, but still very scared. On another scary one, as  we were inclining a billion feet slowly till we dropped, I was holding onto Shawn with dear life saying over and over "oh my gosh, oh my gosh." Right then one of the little 8 year old boys in front of us, turned around and said to Shawn, "Is this her first time?" Shawn just chuckled and said "yes yes it is." After that I thought, I have to be braver then this. I need to be like these 8 year old boys. So the next coaster I didn't hold onto Shawn and I actually opened my eyes and turns out I had a blast! Next roller coaster...nothing, had it in the bag. I can officially say I am over my fear of roller coasters. :) It was so fun being there and with just Shawn. We felt like we were dating again. We realized how important it is to get "us time." We ended the day at their HUGE water park. I was in heaven. I love water parks. I hope we get to go back.

To end our 2 week adventure, we went to Boston for two days. I loved Boston. Such a neat city full of history. We got a Go Boston pass which included a lot of things to do. So much you can't do it all. The sail ship was probably my favorite. It was a pretty big ship and I had never been sailing before. It was a cold day, but still awesome. The Boston Harbor is really pretty. They also have the freedom trail, which is a 2 mile long red brick trail you follow through the city which takes you past lots of historical places. We ended at Plymouth MA where the Pilgrims came to. They have a village set up just like the 1600's and they have a remake of the Mayflower.

our attempt to hike 

Demonstration of the making of a door to an iron furnance

Boston LDS Temple 

Boston Aquarium

sailing. The crew felt bad for Kanyin and gave her a coat and one of their blankets. Needless to say, she stayed warm

Mayflower remake

Love my family

My sister Raveen and her new husband Dave and my brother Rydge and his wife Lenore all came out here to Philadelphia to visit us, and of course, all the cool places we live by. It was so fun to have them here. It makes me miss my family even more. We had a blast while they were here. Shawn had finals week so he was left out a lot. We did everything from New York, Philly, baseball game, beach, art sculpture park and of course late night talks. I love my family.

Love the Beach

So we were able to go to the beach a few times this summer. We went on a couple Saturdays when it was pretty busy and traffic was terrible getting there!!  It was worth it. I just remember how I have never lived this close to the beach before. It's been so fun for us being beach bums when we can. My boogie boarding skills have kind of improved ha ha. It's amazing what kind of little sea creatures we have seen just on the beach. Makes you wonder what is really touching you when you feel those pokes on your legs in the water. Whenever we go to the beach I am so amazed at how much water there is. It helps me see that it is true that the oceans make up 71% of the earths surface.

Kanyin is not so fond of the beach unfortunately. She is so funny. As soon as she sees the beach she starts to fuss and cry. It takes her a good couple hours to get warmed up to it. Until then, she sits on a chair or a towel and I am assuming dreams of sitting on her safe couch watching Dora. Hopefully next summer it will be a different story with Kanyin and the beach.

Pictures from our adventures to New Jersey beaches this summer:

Mandy doing her thing

"Are we really going to the beach?!?  nnoo"

these things were swimming all over like crazy. Not sure what they are. 

1st Year Down!

Shawn finished his first year of PA school! He was nervous about making it, but he passed :) No more classroom for him, and hopefully no more all nighters of studying. Now he does rotations for a year. He has around 10 rotations that are a little over a month long. He started his first rotation last week, which is at a family practice office in New Jersey. It has been long hours especially with the commute, but he sure is learning.
We are just a 10 minute walk to his school, so Kanyin and I are going to miss walking up to the school to visit him. That would be the highlight of our day. I guess now we'll just have to go visit the ducks at the school's pond  :)
There is progress and Shawn is that much closer to getting a real job. I wonder what that will be like? No more school, no more taking about student loans, and getting a real income! Exciting times. Until then we will enjoy this time.
Here are images to document what a visit to daddy's school was like.