Day 6 Miami Bayfront Park

We spent only about 2 hrs in a small Outlet at the Florida city. Then, we drove to Miami and had a tour at the Bayfront Park.

Street performance

Day 5 Hemingway and sandy beach

Hemingway had stayed in the Key west and wrote world famous "The Old Man and the Sea" here. After touring his house, we had a short stop at the President Truman's "Little White House" and then drove to Bahia Honda State Park which was the only sandy beach in the entire Florida Keys.

My very first mini skirt

Do we look similar?
Learning to walk in long distance outside the President Truman Little White House

My first time on the beach. I am not afraid of waves.

Day 4 Key Deer Refuge and Key West

Key deers are the endangered wildlife in the Florida Keys. Therefore, we spent some hours looking for one. They are pretty shy and smaller than the normal deers. Key West is a famous spot for tourists because it locates in the Southernmost of the US and has winter temperature closes to upper 80s!

Day 3 Glass-bottom boating tour in Key Largo

We had an all day event at this John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo.

Day 2 Everglades National Park

Of course, wildlife viewing and walking on the trails were our main target today. We saw lots of alligators, two crocodiles, lots of wild birds and lots of mangroves. Because it was the dry season, we did not bother too much by mosquito.


A warm Merry Christmas wish from Ella at the Arctic Circle!

Day 1 Our accommondation at the Florida City

We had a pretty early flight from Chicago to Miami. After we received our rental car, we drove to the Florida city where we would stay 4 nights in a local hotel. It was pretty warm in this Southern part of the Florida. We have no problem to wear just shorts the whole day. Can't imagine that we just traveled from the icy Chicago.

Jolene on the move

 

Our Xmas Decor

Christmas special edition

We first had pictures together at home, then we went to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Today is a snowy day and it is all white outside!

What a wonderful decoration it is in the Northbrook Mall!

After dinner

Woodfield Mall Shopping

Lots of fun!

Jungle Rollercoaster Table by Anatex.


Visiting a nice kid's store.


Woodfield mall is the largest mall in Illinois.

The bells are rining...

You guess what? We got our first real 7' Christmas tree! Of course, it took some efforts to arrive home safely. How do you like it?

Evening work out at home

It is too cold to be outside during the winter in Chicago. Fortunately, I have plenty of space to work out at home.

12 steps forward

What a big surprise!

Marching in the Mall

It's time for the Christmas shopping.

Day 4 Around Sedona and Thunderbird campus

This morning, we visited Tlaquepaque arts & crafts in Sedona, then drove through the Oak Creek Canyon. We drove from dry desert area in Sedona to the dense forestry to the Oak Creek Vista. The changing in the ecosystem is fantastic due to the dramatic elevation change. At the end of our trip, we toured the Thunderbird campus where my uncle is studying.

Day 3 Sedona

Today, we drove 2.5 hrs to Sedona. We visited the Red Rock State Park and enjoyed nice sunset view at the Airport overlook. In the evening, we had dinner at the Shugrue' hillside and stayed overnight at the Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa.

Day 2 Desert Botanic Garden

Arizona is famous for the saguaro cactus because of the dry desert climate. Today, we saw various plants adaptable in desert area which include various cactus, creosote bush, jojoba, aloe vera in addition to saguaro in the Desert Botanic Garden in Phoenix. Weather was very nice here in contrast to the snowing days back Chicago. Arizona is like a Wonderland for me. In the late afternoon, we went for the big Friday shopping at the Scottsdale Fashion Square. Later, we had nice a southwestern cuisine at the Roaring Fork near the Square.

Day 1 Scottsdale

Happy Thanksgiving!!! This morning, we flew to Arizona to visit my uncle and will have a 4 days trip in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Sedona. Of course, I miss my uncle very much. He is my personal photographer and he caught my every smile.
We stayed 2 nights at the Phoenician and enjoyed a very nice Thanksgiving dinner here.

Day eight visiting Dad's godparents

My Dad's godmother made a very delicious swiss meal for us. Later on, she showed us lots of my Dad's pictures when he was young. It's impressive!

Day seven in Gruyeres

First, we visited the Cheese factory (ref: visitor's brochure)


Later on, we visited the Chateau de Gruyeres (ref: visitor's brochure)




On the way back Zurich, we stayed in the kid's cabin and I became a train operator! During the ride, I wore my first watch which was a gift from auntie.

Day six in Appenzeller

Appenzeller is famous for art and craft and unique Appenzeller cheese.

Day five checking local toy store

Because I was sick after we went back from Mt. Titlis, I had a rest at home this morning. In the late afternoon, we went to visit a big toy store - Franz Carl Weber. I had found so many interesting toys there, but we could only pick one or two back Chicago.

Day four back Zurich

Because I caught cold on the mountain, I stayed at home most of the time and had a stroll to check Grand-dad's past dormitory and some local kid's stores before heading to a nice orange riverfront casino restaurant.

Day three on Mt. Titlis and celebrating Yo-yo's birthday

First time walking on the snow. It's a lot of fun!


Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to Yo-yo, Happy birthday to you...

Day two in Engelberg

We stayed two nights here in a vacation home where Mt. Titlis is nearby.

Day one in Zurich

We had a nice trip to visit Uncle, Aunti and Yo-yo in Zurich, Switzerland. In addition to Zurich, we enjoyed touring Mt. Titlis, Appenzeller, and Gruyeres during this 8 days vacation. Even though weather was colder there and I caught cold and had minor fever after climbing Mt. Titlis, I still enjoyed the rest of the trip.


It's the first time I met with my dear sister Yo-yo (Ella's nickname). Even we have 2 years difference in between, we can play well together.

Trick or Treat?

I can glow during the night!
Tonight, I went out with neighbor kids and played "trick or treat". Of course, I wore the woodman jumbo suit again :)

Enjoy the DVD

Still waiting for my first step...

I am watching my favorite DVD "baby newton - All About Shapes".

Halloween costume - a woodman

It's windy outside

Just want to tell you that it was pretty windy when I rode my car outside.

In the botanic garden

My lunch box (including: formula milk, water, Gerber 3rd foods, finger foods, and an apple)


Nice to be outdoor.


I am having great time in the botanic garden with grandpa.

Learning to walk

Quick crawling across mom

My dear neighbors

I am riding my Bu-Bu car in our courtyard.

Crystal Lake

Walking in the Chain O'Lake State Park

I am tired of staying in the stroller while in the park. On the other hand, walking on the trail is lots of fun!

Preparing for the Zurich trip

Is that warm enough?

Happy 1st Birthday!

Dear Jolene:

We still remember the very first day we met you. We did not know what to expect, but you just made everyday count. We are so happy to have you in our life. We wish you happy and healthy forever!

Love you soooooooooooooo much,
Mom & Dad

Birthday party

Can't believe that I am turning 1 tomorrow! I feel it's like yesterday that I came to this world. Mom and Dad invited their friends over to celebrate my very first birthday!



There is a Chinese tradition for the 1st birthday ceremony. They call it "First-Year Draw". It's like future career prediction based on what the birthday baby draws/picks. My mom was not fully prepared, for example, there is no stethoscope for me to pick. But who cares? It's just for fun. Here I come!

1st pick

2nd pick

3rd pick

My first pick was the calculator (SUPER Business woman), the second pick was the crayons (GREAT Artist), and the third pick was the hand cream (BEST Housewive?!).

Picture People

Birthday gift

Bugaboo Bee is for me and Toyota Prius is for my mom.
The Sit'N'Stroll is currently my car seat.

Fall in the Chicago Botanic Garden

Greeting and have fun

Hallo, is Jolene at home?

Birthday warm up with Uncle and Aunt

Mom and Dad are practicing celebrating my very first birthday with Uncle and Aunt.
Birthday Count Down: 2 weeks.

We had a nice dinner at Blu Sushi Lounge and a delicious cheese birthday cake from Whole Foods.

Who is this pink lady?

Cheers

I am hungry!

Can I have this pumpkin?

Pumpkin song ~ Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, “Oh, my it's getting late!“
The second one said, "There are witches in the air.“
The third one said, "But we don't care.“
The fourth one said, "Let's run, let's run!“
The fifth one said, "Isn't Halloween fun?“
Then Woooooo went the wind
And OUT went the lights.
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Gymboree class

Live Show

Relaxing and watching the baby Einstein DVD

Have you seen my yellow cell phone? I am waiting for someone's call.

An afternoon exercise

followed by an afternoon walk at the nearby park.

Climbing is a lot of fun

3 weeks trip in Taiwan

We took the Taiwan High Speed Rail 台灣高速鐵路 from Taipei to Kaosheung and stayed one night at the beautiful Caesar Park Kenting. I enjoyed this famous beach resort in the southern part of Taiwan.

2nd time hair cut

Ready for a new look to meet relatives in Taiwan.

New shower tub!

Is it a boat or a tub???

Horse racing trip at Arlington Heights

Check photos of horse racing.

Cute me

Grandma's visit

From 081207 grandma visit x3

First time marathon

Here is a 4-meter march from my room to their office.

Revisiting the Chicago Botanic Garden

The flower is bigger than my head!

Please check those beautiful summer flowers at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Acknowledgment: Many thanks to uncle Ian for his contribution for those beautiful floral pictures.

First time at Red Lobster

Let me finish this grilled lobster!

Music class at Gymboree

First day crawling

Lunch, please

Mom: Chicken noodle, Vegetable chicken or Vegetable beef?

2nd trip to Lake Geneva

Comparing with my first trip to Lake Geneva when I was only 2 months old, I enjoy more with nice weather.

Gymboree class

Today is the first class since enrolled at Gymboree. The teacher, Kim, said that I am super cute and have strong legs.

Attending my first concert at Ravinia Festival

Summer concert festival at Ravinia.

We enjoyed the performance by Sir James Galway (a world famous flutist) and the CSO (Chicago Symphony Orchestra).
(A) This is my territory. (B) They found a good way to keep my mouth close during the performance. (C) Like father like daughter.

I entertained lots of people nearby. One of them took a picture of me.

In the courtyard

Summer time at Ivy Court

My neighbors

attend GYMBOREE class

Today's class at GYMBOREE play & music was a free class that I enjoyed playing new games and met new friends.

Tummy time

Balancing

Exercise and teeth brushing

Evening is my time to do exercise.

Since I have four more teeth, I need more time to brush.

Frog jump

BBQ night with Pika

I had a wonderful *BBQ night with Pika. Pika is 15 months old and he can walk very well. I am glad to meet a new friend nearby.

*BBQ: American love BBQ. There is an article about different grills that may be interesting.