This post is a bit of a test for a work project I’m currently in the middle of.  But I figured those of you who regularly visit wouldn’t mind too much seeing the boys I spend so much time with.  The pictures below are of 15 of my favorite 5th and 6th grade boys on the planet … each one is an absolute rock star … and they aren’t too bad at soccer either.  They really are good boys down to the last one.

She has been asking for them.  So today, we gave it a shot.  She just b.a.r.e.l.y. has enough hair for two tiny little ponytails.  She is so excited for her hair to grow long like Kate’s, yet, interestingly, she does have her complaints.  “My hair hot,” she says.  I guess since she has had super short hair all her little life, perhaps her newfound longer, thicker hair does create a bit more heat around the cranial area.  Yesterday she was confident after running around in the basement for 1/2 hour with her siblings that the entire reason she was sweaty rested in her ever-growing hair.  Hopefully the ponytails make the long hair worth it.  I suppose this is her first lesson in understanding what every girl knows:  sometimes beauty requires sacrifice.

School let out Friday, June 4 for the summer.  So Friday, Monday, and Tuesday meant trips to our nearby waterpark, Cherry Hill.  We anticipate spending most of our summer days here, weather permitting.  Claire gets more brave each time we go.  We are glad she loves it, because even if she didn’t, everyone else loves it so much she would just have to come along anyway!

Here’s a quick video of Claire and Kate on the slide.  Claire will do this slide again and again and each time her smile is the same.  She never tires of it. (I wish I could say I am this talented photographer that takes cool vintage shots, but I really have no idea why the lighting makes the video look like it was taken in 1950s.  Oh, well)

We just can’t help ourselves . . . we love Cherry Hill!

Claire doesn’t like to be left out of any thing the kids do.  So, of course, she had to try riding a scooter.  She loves it, along with all the extra attention and praise she gets from her sibling “teachers” whenever she tries new things.  We think she is just as “brave” as the other Weeks kids, particularly since she scootered for the first time without shoes on and without a helmet (if you are the safety police, please cut us some slack!)  Claire seems to be truly enjoying discovering her new world, and we couldn’t be more happy that she shares it with us!

One month.  30 days.  720 hours.  43,200 minutes.

Though she’s been in our hearts for many years, this is how long we have enjoyed the blessing of having Claire in our arms.  Our lives have been forever changed.  And WE LOVE OUR LIFE!

So yesterday I was reading “If You Give a Pig a Pancake” to Claire and I stepped away for a minute.  When I came back, this is what I found. . . It took her a few seconds before she realized I was there, but once she did, she thankfully had no problems continuing her “reading.”  Sometimes she will ham it up in front of the camera and sometimes she won’t show her face.  Luckily yesterday she was willing to share her new talent.  Oh, and the story really does have stairs, a treehouse, a mess, a pig, and a duck in it, just in case you were wondering

Sorry about the delay on this … but we wanted to announce that we’ll be sending the promised bookmark on to Aunt Sharon this week.  Thanks to everybody for the comments and kind words as we traveled through China!

Yesterday was Claire’s first time to our home ward (church meeting).  We did attend a meeting in Hong Kong … but it’s different being back home and with our friends and neighbors.

It was also Mother’s Day and we had a great time at Tim and Hilary’s place with my Mom and Dad, Tim & Hilary’s family and Greg & Aimee’s family.  Andy & Jennica were at home with her mom and Jeff & Trina, of course, continue their awesome adventures back East.

As a quick public shout out … I love you Sandy.  You are an amazing mom to our fantastic children and the best wife a husband could hope to have.  I love you.  We all love you.  Thank you for the effort you put into being the best you can be for all of us.

This week Claire spent time at three soccer games!  She loves watching the kids play their games, as well as get her own chance to kick the ball around.  She informed us after Grant and Zane’s game:  ”When ChunYi [Claire] gets very tall I will play soccer.”

My turn!

And have no doubts, her soccer skills are coming right along.  Just check out her moves in this little video . . .

We also made a few trips to the doctor.  The waiting area is decorated fantastically and they have so many fun toys.  Claire had a great time . . .