Family on Father's Day

Our father's day weekend was pretty low key. Our first weekend back in China, we didn't want to do anything crazy! But hey, it made for family memories that are what we'd want to remember anyway, right?

Like Saturday morning sister snuggles...

And the cutest faces when they study each other...

And the huge smiles when Daddy joins in playing! Because he's an awesome daddy like that, of course!

Baths are always made easier when Ryan is home to help! As I posted on Facebook for Father's Day:

This guy is pretty much the best Daddy in the world. I get to see him in the ins and outs and highs and lows, and he loves his girls with all he is. No one can make them laugh more, and his silliness to get a giggle knows no bounds. And yet he instructs and teaches and is firm when needed, training them in such good ways. He's also the best with stories, both in making up ones about Dassah's stuffed animals and in reading books - there are certain ones Hadassah won't let me read because "Daddy reads them best." ;) He makes Bible stories come alive, putting them in toddler terms to make sure she understands. He's here every evening, his family his priority, helping with baths and bed times and blessing me in so many ways as he blesses them. I love you, Ryan! Thank you for being such an amazing man of God! Happy Father's Day. <3

And these are what pictures are starting to look like for Ellie. If she's not constrained, she wants to move!!

I took Hadassah out to campus to give Ryan some rest (he'd gone straight back to work the day after we got home from America!) and then when Ellie woke, we tried going to the park for a picnic. Bad idea. While the mornings and evenings here are sometimes breezy and not to hot, mid-day is not the time you want to be riding a bike with a girl on the back and a baby in the Ergo. HOT! But, it was fun to be a family.

But both girls somehow knew it was a special picture on Father's Day morning, and they gave me their best smiles! Oh how they love their Daddy!

Ellie threw up four times on Saturday afternoon, so I didn't want to risk taking her to church. But Ryan took Hadassah, though I offered to keep her home too, knowing it would be easier. But he values her learning about God and getting used to the discipline of church each week, that he took her alone. And oh how happy she was when she came home after a whole morning with his attention!

Had to make Ryan's favorite breakfast!

And after naps, he introduced Ellie to guitar playing. Just like Hadassah did at her age, she loved feeling the vibrations!

And of course Hadassah had to join in on the fun too!

To top it all off, Ellie started actually crawling on Father's Day! Ryan got pictures of her moving from one side of the room to the other!

Since Ellie seemed to be doing better, we braved the subway to go half and hour away to Blue Frog for Father's Day dinner. That place is the closest nice Western restaurant and oh so good!

I am not that into fish, so I am always happy when Ryan gets some special fish while we're out - good for him, and I didn't have to figure out how to make it!

Monday night I did his favorite chicken. Originally I'd planned it for Sunday, but had forgotten to get Ranch dressing, which is his favorite dip for it. So we went out and postponed this to Monday. This man is definitely worth celebrating for a few days!

And Hadassah was absolutely thrilled with corn on the cob! She ate all of hers and tried to sneak bites of mine!

Monday evening there was the best sunset we've seen here... Absolutely gorgeous. All of the rain means it clears out the pollution and the sky is so pretty when there's not so much smog. Makes me realize how much more beautiful this city would be if the pollution were not around.

And the clear skies meant there was an amazing moon over suburb lights... All in all, a beautiful Father's Day weekend.