more cousins

Going through the iPhoto library, i also came across a few more photos of a visit from Debbie, Kevin, and Ronan. A picture from the first morning when the novelty of having a younger cousin around appealed to Binbin, whose desire to demonstrate and share was in evidence.



Debbie squeezed between baby car-seats as we waited for our lobstah rolls at Fat Boys.



We had some belated birthday celebrations that evening.



And one of us (read: Binbin) was treated to gifts though his birthday was still to come. The John Deere gardening tools have proved remarkably adaptable for use at the beach!



Pie all around!

more overlooked

During our visit to Rockland, we were also lucky enough to find a children's drumset sitting amidst other household items on a lawn (a good Maine weekend tradition). It quickly became Binbin's passion.



Returning home also meant that we had to take care of cleaning stuff, including our tent.



Binbin also decided that the grill needed additional cleaning. And you can guess what needed cleaning after that.

overlooked

I haven't had a chance to get to the home iPhoto library in awhile, and I found all sorts of photos. This first set come from the first time Binbin and I stayed overnight at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship. Binbin wasn't too sure about this place, but the pile of wood refuse proved to be an excellent little play area.



The forecast had called for thunderstorms, and we knew it. Looking west at about 7 or 8 pm, we saw this impressive thunderhead.



The lightening and thundershow coincided with bedtime, about 8:30 or 9. Binbin lay between us in our Himalayan Hotel tent with his eyes as wide as saucers for about half an hour. I think he was too startled to utter a sound. He did manage to fall asleep...and stay asleep during the next 90 minutes' worth of storm and for the entire night. The next morning, he looked at us and asked, "are the fireworks over?"

We then drove over to Rockland for a short hike, which led us to this memorial structure.



We tried to take in a view of Rockland's quaint town and the sea, but the fog started rolling in and quickly we could hardly see each other. Binbin wasn't too keen on the hike on the way up...



But on our way down, we found a patch of wild blueberries and that brought a blue-hued smile to his face!

home & away from home

Binbin percussing on the countertop at home...




Hoping for more food options for our picnic dinner at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockland.



We camped there last night. And, fortunately, this time, no crazy thunderstorm. Just cool and crisp (somewhere about 45 degrees), and so we all three cuddled underneath a flannet duvet.

in communicado

In the recent past, Binbin has been exercising his linguistic skills, especially during the time when family visited from LA. He used more and more words to express his urgent messages. Ronan, especially, was on the receiving end of Binbin's alerts:

An invitation to Ronan to come into his room: Ronan, 過來，過來！ (...come here! come here!)

Again, to Ronan: Hey! Hey, Ronan, 不行。那是爸爸的tape! (...not permitted, that's baba's tape!)

Again, to Ronan: Hey! Ronan, 弟弟，好衛陷，不許上去! (...little brother, very dangerous, not allowed to go upstairs!)

To Auntie Debbie, who tried to caution Binbin not to slam the front doorscreen on Ronan's figures: Hey! 不要囉說！(...do not talk back!)


Binbin is also working on his command of the English language.

In the bathtub: ...washing windows! My soap!

While eating a new food for dinner: ...Binbin likes hot dogs!

Names for newly introduced foods: ginger ale, gummi bears

Imitating Mama's frustration with the fallen baseboard: oh-my-god!

always in motion...

never at rest. Kevin and Debbie got matching John Deere shirts for the boys, and of course we tried all day to snap a picture of the two of them. Sounds easy, right? Here are the photographic results that prove, not so!

We tried in the morning in the toy room...




We tried in the afternoon at the playground...







At least we can claim partial victory in this endeavor...

double trouble

Cousins Binbin and Ronan are meeting each other for the first time! The au courant L.A. cousin, Ronan, arrived late Thursday night. Bleary-eyed parents coped with last-minute hassles from Delta (flight change, lost bag), while Ronan smiled amiably and fell asleep in the car ride from the Portland jetport to Lisbon Falls.

Friday was spent primarily recovering from the traveling, but we did venture to the Brunswick farmers' market for blueberries and corn, broccoli and three-berry pie. Yum-yum!

We had a big adventure Saturday. Mid-morning, we breakfasted at our favorite diner, Kopper Kettle. Here are some snapshots. Binbin always orders the fruit with yogurt, and he's becoming quite skilled in digging out the fruit he likes best: peach.



Cousin Ronan looks around wondering when his dish will come in.



In the afternoon, we went to Popham Beach at low tide, which was lots of fun for everyone. Pictures are on a different camera, so stay tuned (or check our "sister site" at kanddsessions.blogspot.com)

Some more pictures from today (Sunday) include Binbin and Baba after wading in Casco Bay, where we hiked in Wolfe's Neck State Park.



Here, Ronan dons Kevin's shades in the parking lot.



In the evening, we read picture books, but tonight Binbin decided that he would "read" Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to Baba.



One final note: for those of you who are hoping to see a picture of the two cousins together, you have a better chance of catching a fly with chopsticks. But, we'll call upon Debbie's expertise with photoshop sometime after they return to L.A. and recover from this trip!