Maya's language skills blossoming!

First of all, we officially announce that there will be no party for Maya/Brianna family/friends (the one that was previously just postponed due to chicken pox). We have decided that there is just too much going on. Sorry for the confusion, but Brianna already had three parties and Maya had a small one and she's good with that.

Now that that news is announced, let me tell you Maya is talking much more now. Still not near peers, but making progress. In the above video she uses her improved pronunciation to play a game in which she makes you close your eyes, then she goes and brings her wipes box and says, "Open Eyes!" You then must act very surprised. Great fun the first dozen times in a row...

Brianna is now a full Green belt in Tae Kwon Do. Her friend Grace has started taking classes as well and Brianna is so excited to have one of her friends in class again. Her friend Isa used to be in her class but "graduated" to a more advanced class a while back.

Brianna is also doing excellent in Kindergarten. She is reading at between levels 3 and 4 and writing sentences phonetically in a journal.

Below are some recent pictures of the kids:

Below is a picture of my Great-Aunt Edna taken by my mother recently with one of her great grandchildren. I love the spry energy she is giving in this picture. Definitely one of my new favorite photos.

Tiny Family B-day for Maya - Uncle Ryan now has the Chicken Pox!

We had a nice little party with Grandpa Jack and Grandma Dayle at our house for Maya's actual birthday last night. The main family/friends B-day is still on hold pending complete freedom from the Chicken Pox virus at our house.

Despite the unlikeliness of anybody getting Chicken Pox nowadays with the immunizations that kids have been getting since 1996, it seems that Victoria's brother, Ryan, who has been living with us, has developed a mild case of Chicken Pox as well, thus confirming that Maya did indeed have it. Researching the incubation period, it seems to be around two weeks. This interestingly puts the start of Maya's symptoms about two weeks after our return from Walt Disney World. Isn't airplane travel fun? A new surprise every time!

Ryan did have the pox as a young 'un, and thus his current case is mild with just some minor itching. We are waiting for his case to "crust over" or turn dark enough red and with no indication of new marks or itchiness before rescheduling the family/friends party for Brianna and Maya. What an extended birthday season this is turning out to be!

Plenty of photos posted up at http://flickr.com/photos/gorskipics