The Zhao Family

This past weekend we celebrated my dad's 60th birthday by taking him to any place he wanted to go. He always comment that he's been in the US for over 25 years and never get to go anywhere. As a treat to him, I took my whole family and him to go see the Chesapeake Tunnel and since we're there, we stopped by the beach as well. The tunnel/bridge was really nice and Abbey really liked the beach down there. After 4 hours of driving there for 2 hours of fun and another 3.5 hours of driving back, we stopped by Annandale for Korean BBQ that Abbey and I went at the beginning of our marriage. It is still pretty yummy.



In the middle of the 20 mile stretch of the Chesapeake tunnel, they have a pier for people to eat, rest, enjoy the view of the Chesapeake and people fishing!









Our attempt to get some family unit photos. It is quite hard to have all three to look at the camera. (Situations like these I really miss my dslr)


Eating at Il mee KBBQ. It was really yummy. We ended the day eating buffet at 8pm.


Bad idea: Never give kids chocolate ice cream 9:30pm especially when they've never eaten that much ice cream and after a long days drive.



*Note: There are some awesome photos taken inside our car on the 8 hours drive to and from Virginia Beach area that I was explicitly told not to post. But you, the reader, can try to request those photos from Abbey :D

With the school starting for both boys we kind of neglected to post Cayleigh's progression. Now that mom has more time with spend with her, I might as well give you some updated photos too.





Cayleigh's graduate from the Bumbo to sitting all by herself.





But mom also got her this jungle jumperoo that she loves too.


And to teach her piano as well b/c she loves music.






At Clayton's first day of school, I decided to stickered up. I don't think she minded that much.


Hungry for some toejam?


Just kidding. But you notice something new with Cayleigh?


Look closer here.

To end the summer we went camping with the Changs. This the first time for the kids to sleep outdoors and enjoy what nature has to offer. So we decided to go as far away from home as we can, 5 miles (the closest camping ground), to go camping because according Abbey "in case there's an emergency". We had a really good time.



See how helpful the kids are with setting up the tents? They're learning quite a bit.



The moms are feeding the kids as the tents are getting setup and logs are collected for the bonfire.


Some glow in the darks and some fun by Mr. Clayton.


How romantic: dinner outdoors with nature and what it has to offer.


Roasting marshmallows...so cool and sweet.






Looks like mom's asleep and Cayleigh needs some company.


Poor Clayton, he looks abandoned or scared.


Thanks to the Tsai's, we borrowed a two room tent. It's huge! can fit two king size beds in there.


Future Geologists at work.


Studying and collecting different types of rocks very carefully.


Mama plays with Cayleigh and both enjoying each other's company immensely.


A late more nap. Just so calm and peaceful in the woods.


Look closely at the right foot of Charlotte's foot, there's a beautiful white caterpillar that the kids are observing.


The story behind this photo was that Brennan and Clayton surrounded the area where the caterpillar was and Charlotte wanted a look. So she went around them to get a close look, so close that she just stepped right on the insect. The white is the caterpillar and the greenish/blackish next to it is, you know the rest of the caterpillar. We love nature.

Gee, another one out the door. So what is Abbey going to do at home? Cayleigh will finally get some undivided attention, yeah! Clayton's excited to go to school where his brother went. The teachers already know him and seems to be to OK for us to leave him with his classmates and teachers.

Clayton is usually reserved and quiet but today he is as happy as can be!! As you can see all the photos and compare them to previous posts, he's quite jolly and smiling the whole time. He deserve this because he's been preparing himself to go to school when Brennan started. He was actually potty trained in just one day, with the phrase "If you want to go to school, you have to know to to peepee in the toilet" from Abbey and within 3 hours I think He learned to use the toilet. So congratulations Clayton for having a small milestone today!