WHAT? ALMOST ONE YEAR IN PHILLY SUBURBS?

Happy 2015 Dears! Ok, I've vowed to at least write one post every other week when I started blogging in 2008. Now....after 7 years, I've gone from at least one biweekly to 1 every.... 7 months!! Yikes! This year has gone half way through! What has happened? Time warp or Alien abduction?

Caleb Shovels!

Abbie's New Invention; SNOW CHAIR!

Daddy Jumps In and Becomes Snow Angel!

Life here in Bucks County has been so exciting! It was kind of traumatic in December when our water heater leaked and died. 

Visited New York Auntie and Uncle!! Caleb has funny pose

Kids Made Yummy Sushi for Grandpa Caleb

3 Generation of Gamblers....

My dad in law Pastor Caleb came from CA at that time and I think he decided not to come this year....after going to YMCA to shower with us for a whole week when we had only freezing cold water.... Then  our air conditioning system died completely so I had to eat junk food, drink hot milk tea, and hold Frosty all day long to stay warm.

I'm Not Leaving Here until I eat 2 snowballs!

 The best part about life here is the SNOOOOOOOW! It came and came and didn't leave until waaaaaay into April! We had so much fun and Frosty stayed outdoors, taking short naps on the snow and wouldn't come in except to eat and drink water.

Don't You Dare throw that Snowball at Me!!

I Repeat! DON'T THROW IT!

Applying for Christmas Elf position

Autumn Does Not Like Photo Bomber

Cool Christmas Sled Dogs Mama Soph Found Online

The 2 Creepy Kids Photobombed my ONLY PIC with the PRESIDENT!

 We went to Washington D.C. for Christmas vacation, which was super cool! Subways are so nice and convenient, and after almost 1  year here...I am STILL trying to get used to the one lane winding back roads and 3 feet pot holes here!

I'm Snoozing On the Snow tonight,  Mom!

Hubby traveled weekly (or bi) for the most part, and the kids and I are actually enjoying our new adventure here! We are blessed with wonderful neighbors, school friends/parents, and church buds!

My Mother's Day Gift 

Abbie and our Foster Lovebird

Reading Olympics Team Belac (Caleb reversed!)

Relay for Life Event with Buds

French Club Fashion Show 2nd Place Winner!
Fruit Bowl Kids!

Caleb blossomed and made tons of friends here, all of whom are so embracing and love him dearly! He joined jazz band, basketball league and track and field, and kids invite him to play basketball or have play dates (I mean, "hang out").  Abbie suddently entered the tweenlight zone....(mom's version of twilight zone, if you know what I mean)....and has the EQ of a porcupine. 

1st Selfie of Her LIFE!

Caleb holds Madagascar COCKROACH for the 1st TIME!

Hubby and I stay away when we see her glaring, sulking or getting sassy.... IT is really scary how little tweens can be really happy and high one minute then pouting and screaming with fists in the air....the very next second. My  mom said I was like that since I was 5, so this is all normal and will pass. I call it karma...and now it's biting me in the tush.  

SMACK!  Big Brother Bad Bad!!  

The most rewarding experience this past  year has got to be the arrival of my baby #3 Frosty Poo! He has been a terrible toddler since December, but suddenly he's settling into a sweet 1 year old older-toddler! He loves kissing and lick-therapying everyone he meets, and passed his all star puppy and good canine citizen (GCC) classes! All he needs is to pass his 12 step test and he can start his new career as Therapy Dog, M.D.! We will definately have him tested after our exciting trip.... to CA and Alaska this summer! Woohoo!

Frosty Therapying 3 yr old and All the Bible Study Ladies

Shedding Snow Dogs Snow Indoors while it SNOWS outside!

We cannot wait to be reunited with our dear family members and church buds in CA! It has been a long year but actually the year went by really fast too! I am cherishing every day here because we really don't know what God's plan is for each of us, or where we would live (or go to college/work) in the future! There's nothing to worry about but to enjoy the nature and wonderful people in our lives right now!

Happy Spring everyone! Here in PA, the Winter was long so all the flowers suddenly exploded in April and all the locals are popping clairitins like tic tacs! Then late May we went into high 80s and summerlike weather, skipping Spring! I do enjoy all the deers and geese and the the occasional vultures congregating along the country roads....it is definately a jungle out here!

Peace Valley Lake ~ Frosty Screams, "COME PLAY WITH ME!"

Wow, Happy November! Where did Autumn Go? (*_^)

The beautiful leaves are breath-taking...... Now who will help us a-Raking?

Today I couldn't believe that November creeped up on us! The crisp, breezy autumn days with sunshine peeking in periodically have suddenly took on a chilly, rainy, gusty and even frosty demeanor, making me bundle up in my Christmas sweater (and hat, gloves, scarf, boots, and snow jacket) two months before I thought my wimpy California self would dress!

Frost on the leaves and lawn at 8am! 31 degrees!

 

Autumn Girl enjoys being the Poster Girl for Thanksgiving Decor at the Tsai residence

It is not easy to adjust to 40's day high and 30's night lows in such a brief period of time, but I focused on enjoying the beauty of the Northeast as the Maple trees sprinkled their beautiful orange-red leaves upon our lawns, until our lawn was decorated with more foliage than I can handle! This morning the wind was blowing so hard that trees were dancing sideways and Frosty couldn't stand still to pee so he had to give up and run inside! We've never experienced 40 mph wind gusts like this in California!

Frosty loves his new Thanksgiving Collar scrunchie he bought at the Laborador Rescue fundraising

Life with 4 seasons has its beauty and its beast. For one thing, I am taking 30 minutes a day looking for "Frosty-gold" because all the leaves are the same color as his gold nuggets! No wonder having a dog keeps our minds active....it is harder to search, recover,  and dispose daily poopies without straining one's eyes (and arms, holding the heavy metal poop rake/scooper) and now I have a deep respect for all the dog lovers/owners/slaves out there!

Kobee High-Fives visitors who woo and ahh over him

 

Jubee likes the Scenery Here

 

 

 

Beautiful Autumn Leaves Beginning to Fall

I had fun exploring the neighborhood stores, such as the super shopping experiences at Wegman's (Trader Joes + Mother's Market Size/Coziness times 2!) and Pet Supplies Plus. Frosty went to a Costume Contest at PSP last Saturday and it was super fun to see him freaked out by 2 little rescue piggies in the store (up for adoption), and Chuck-e (the big pizza mouse enterprenuring next door) who brought 3 delicious pizzas for the contestants' parents.

Chuck-E tries to knee-clasp Frosty, who doesn't really want a picture with a Mouse

The kids adjusted incredibly well to their new schools and made lots of friends! We are so blessed by all of you who prayed for them before and after our cross-country move!





Our Super Dog thinks there's too many bad news (e.g. ISIS & eBola)..... so he eats it up!

Super Dog at Costume Contest

It's cool that the kids have Chinese classmates who also go to the same church as them!  The kids here are very sweet and embracing to their new friends from the west coast! God does provide for each of our needs, we just need to trust Him one day at a time.

Frosty advertises for Power Paws, a doggie sock company on Dog Fancy!!

Hubby hasn't been traveling as much lately, so I'm savoring his yummy cooking, funny discussions and complaints about Clash of Clans with the kids around the dinner table. We will continue to enjoy this beautiful Autumn until.... snow flurries abound and we are homebound with Frosty, 3 freezing birdies, and the kids!

3 birdies huddle around the space heater during cold nights!

We are so happy to be here, even if some days we are freezing our buns off!! Before we know it, Thanksgiving will be here!  Come visit us soon! 

35 inch homegrown Opo veggie from a neighbor sends Frosty into a frenzy! No Veggies, Mommy!

      Every morning, our family circus consists of puppy teeth acupuncture & screaming Abbie

                                  Hubby teaches Frosty a new trick!!

Have A Happy Harvest!

Wow, Happy Autumn Everyone!

When school started on 9/2, I became a free mama bird again! The kids would get onto the bus at 6:50am (Caleb) and 8:08am (Abbie), then I would come home and play with my 4 month old baby Frosty. Then when he napped, I would hand feed Kobee, Jubee and Autumn their daily special mesh and supplement! I never imagined not needing to take my kids to and from school..... it's so wonderful!



A month passed and suddenly we are in Autumn season! The leaves are turning red/yellow and are falling and decorating the lawns and pastures with beautiful foliage! The view of Fall is so beautiful here in the Northeast, and every day I can see the different shades glossing the beautiful trees. We are enjoying the periodic rainfall and the gentle breeze, as well as the cool temperatures and crisp (freezing) morning autumn air. Even Frosty hopped onto the wall to enjoy the wind blowing on his muzzle! Speaking of falling leaves.....Frosty is losing his fur like there's no tomorrow! I think he's like Tinkerbell in a way.....I'm afraid to touch him because his fairy dust will start to flow and float, and just fall everywhere. My house is littered with fur bunnies so if you guys come over, just blow it to the corners! I literally spend 50 minutes a day grooming him (make that 70 minutes including wee wee/butt wiping and feet cleaning) and every 2days I can literally make a new dog from the furry clump I gathered.

 

Abbie turned 9 on 9/19 and enjoyed her first birthday in the Northeast! I gave her a puppy banner surprise and she even baked her own homemade Birthday apple pie! It was SO delicious!

Soph's Digression ~ Last Saturday  I put this on Facebook timeline:

Soph's Peculiar Experience: Yesterday I had a big argument with Abbie at Peddler's Village fall festival. We had to leave in 10 min due to her big tantrum. I haven't had such a big with her since moving here (Philly)! As I was driving I was so angry as I lectured her but I could feel my blood boil! I even contemplated pulling over to the side and give her a piece (more pieces) of my mind.😬 Suddenly, I felt a fuzzy warmness on my right forearm. It was .... a PAW! ... I haven't been this angry in a looong time, both mom n daughter were in a tense car, and was unusually quiet and calm. He has never before put a paw on my right wrist/arm before. When he calmly laid paw on me for a whole 60 seconds, I whispered, "Thank you, Frost..., Thank you. ....". Then after 5 min. He came back next to me and put his paw on me again. I was reading that assistance dogs can sense epilepsy, blood sugar, heart attacks forthcoming, etc. Perhaps Frosty sensed my blood pressure rising😅. I thank the Lord for using any created beings, be it a donkey or a puppy, to remind me that He IS here, He knows our (Parenting) struggles, and that everything will be alright!🙆 Thank you for your love n patience for me!😅

 

 

 

Hubby has been traveling every week for 5 days out of 7, but thankfully the rest of us are settling into a comfortable routine and are relatively healthy!

Abbie opened the November Dog Fancy Magazine and screamed! Frosty's pix is in the magazine!

 

Frosty has began obedience class 3 weeks ago and is beginning to enjoy his weekly meetings with his 9 puppy classmates! Currently he knows his basic commands, but I think it will take another year before he stops running around in circles every morning upon waking and biting us all in the arms, legs, wherever. All of us have holes on our pants, sweaters, socks...... But when he sees any of the neighborhood kids, he's as sweet as a marshmallow and kisses/licks each of their chubby hands.  At first I thought he may get kicked out of puppy kindergarten because he refused to go into the room, barked incessantly while other pups sat obediently and politely, and peed/pooped (once so far) in class. He initially cowered at the corner and pulled me towards the exit every few minutes. I'm so thankful for Susie (our dear trainer) who is so patient and kind, and helped us feel comfortable and allowed Frosty to be the demo dog to keep him busy!



I miss my dear friends and family in California, but I know that God has wonderful plans for us here. We made wonderful church friends and neighborhood friends, and Abbie even had friends sleepover last weekend! Caleb started playing basketball on Saturdays with 4 new friends and is more outgoing than he every was in the past 12 years. We are very thankful that we have the opportunity to meet a wonderful family (who also moved from CA) last Sunday! We went to Chinatown for dim sum for the 1st time!

Let the wonderful Autumn season begin! Frosty is now 20 weeks and is no longer tripping over the newspaper he picks up for us in the morning!! He is now ~20 pounds and 3 times his baby size!

What? 40? Who, Me?

I didn't realize how fast this year has gone. I can't believe that after the selling of our CA home, the buying of the PA home, the Actual Move here, the Unpacking, the Picking up of Puppy.....6 months has passed and I'm staring at my BIG 40 in the face!  Thankfully, when I'm with my loved ones (friends, family, college buddies), I don't feel a day older than when I stepped onto the beautiful campus of UCSD as a sprouting, innocent, excited freshman in 1992! 

Who can resist these pleading eyes? No pup, no cake for you!

My buddy Julie from college and my Cerritos high acquaintance George (both were married in 2010 to each other!) came with their sweet little girl to celebrate my big day early! We had lots of fun hanging out and enjoying the dinner and sleepover. Frosty loved having company over and we chatted and had delicious meals and yummy Strawberry cake from Coldstone Ice Cream place!

Cake was Melting! I forgot to make a wish and just BLEW it all out!

 No matter how old I get, I'll relish and cherish the special friends I've made over the years, and keep thanking the Lord for their love and support of me and my loved ones all these years! Thank you sweeties!

Frosty Eyeing my last big piece of cake!