今天真是不寻常的一天！早晨一起床，就觉得天很阴，没有一点阳光，不同于往日。报纸也说今天可能会下雨。但是出人意料的是，早上9点多开始就飘起了雪花，更令人咋舌的是，雪越下越大！没一会，外面就成了银装素裹的世界。
本来我是非常喜欢雪景的，已经拿了相机拍了不少。但是今天有三场足球赛，分别是Lori and Dave的孩子Joseph、Jacob、Sarah的比赛。因为雪太大，很多人都不能玩了。而我们也白跑了一趟，因为比赛被取消了。但是也有一些比较开心的事。那就是我跟Lori学了不少美国儿童歌，更有趣的是我学的慢，所有的孩子都跟着我一起慢慢的唱，非常可爱！而且今天我和每个孩子都有时间好好相处。
对了，之前还没有介绍Lori and Dave的家。他们家住的海拔比较高，在几座山之间，他们家附近有一些农场，所以很容易看见奶牛、马，当然也容易闻到一些动物的气味，尤其是我刚来的时候。他们一共有5个孩子。算是比较大的家庭了，但是Lori总觉得房子小，要换更大的房子。总的来说，这个家庭非常开心、非常友好也非常有趣。妈妈Lori非常大方和蔼，她非常爱笑，非常会理解你，她不用工作，基本每天都在家，但是她非常会照顾孩子，也非常会装饰屋子。她喜欢油漆自己的房子，画一些好看的花在墙上。爸爸Dave非常爱运动，以至于他的孩子都像他，很喜欢各种各样的运动。他是足球教练，有时候会晚回家，回来后有时间看球赛一定会看，当然他也会陪孩子一起玩，哪怕是很幼稚的游戏。他们的孩子有很多优点。我最喜欢的是他们非常友好，不粘人，而且口齿非常清楚。他们的眼睛非常好看，因为没有丝毫对陌生人的敌意与陌生。
Joseph 今年11岁了，很有大哥哥的风范。非常喜欢足球，喜欢新鲜的事物，也喜欢出怪相。记得我第一次到他家，他就给我看他画的游戏说明，说有空我可以和他们玩。那时就让我感觉他非常友善，不像看起来的那样不容易亲近。
Sarah 9岁，是一个非常美丽又可爱的女孩！我很难想象一个漂亮的女孩会喜欢踢足球，把自己弄得脏脏的也不在乎，可是Sarah就是这样一个小女孩。她基本上很好说话，但是当妹妹做了些不合时宜的事情，她会明确告诉她不能那么做。她喜欢静静地看着你，听你的一言一语。我刚来的时候，她非常开心的给我看她的小车，写出她的中文名字。我并不认为她喜欢中文，她只是写出来让我开心，算是欢迎我的到来。还有一点非常重要，那就是她有一副好嗓子！她可以唱很多儿童歌，非常好听、sweet。
Jacob 5岁了，他长的像个小猴子，很瘦但很精神。他喜欢别人陪他玩，但是没有人陪他，他一个人也能玩好一阵子。他喜欢你抱着他，随便做什么他就会很开心。虽然才5岁，但是他已经可以踢足球了，非常了不起！
Becka 一个四岁的小女孩。平时挺懂事的，但是有时候喜欢抢小妹妹的玩具。在她看电影的时候，很喜欢被别人抱着，如果你不抱她，她就硬往你身上蹭，反正一定要坐上去。
Emilie 这是最小的孩子，快两岁了。能跑，也能说一些简单的单词。一开始，她不容易接受陌生人，她非常粘她的妈妈，找不到妈妈就哭。如果碰到哪了，也会哭。这点不像baby Josh那样勇敢。她不喜欢你跟她出怪相，她喜欢你表扬她，陪她一起开心。当她一直哭的时候，你不用抱她，你只要站在她旁边，把她的头轻轻靠在你的腿上，她就会好很多，当然很多时候这一招也不管用，最好还是别让她哭。。。。
总之，这一家人都非常容易相处，都很可爱。希望可爱的人都幸福！
Translation:
Crazy Snow!
Today was crazy! As I awoke this morning I noticed that the sky was dark, even though the sun was coming up with the morning, there was no sunshine. The newspapers said today might rain. Imagine my surprise when at about 9:00 O’clock this morning snowflakes began to fall. Incredibly the snow continued to fall harder and harder, until after a very short period of time the whole world around me was blanketed in snow.
Usually I love the snow, it is so beautiful and I have already taken many pictures. But today Joseph, Jacob, and Sarah all had soccer matches scheduled. Because of the snow the matches were all cancelled, but we didn’t know that until we actually drove all the way to the field. Of course every snowcloud has a silver lining, and this was no exception. With our extra time today Lori and her kids spent the day teaching many different childrens’ songs. It was so cute, because this was the first time I had ever heard these songs, and I learned them very slowly, but the kids started singing with me at my pace! Oh it was so cute! I was so happy that we could spend our extra time playing together.
That’s right, I still haven’t introduced Dave and Lori’s family. Their home is situated in the midst of farms and pastures surrounded by mountains. It is normal to see (and smell) all kinds of horses and cows. When I first arrived the scent was especially obvious. They have five kids, a pretty big family. Lori thinks they have outgrown their home and need a bigger one. As a quick summary, this is an extremely happy, friendly, and fun family. The mom, Lori, is so kind and generous, and loves to laugh. She has a way of understanding exactly how you feel. She doesn’t work outside of the home, and spends all her time and energy and does an incredible job taking care of her kids, and decorating the home. For example she enjoys painting beautiful flowers on the walls. Dave is the dad. He loves athletics, and his children have really taken after him. He is a soccer coach, which sometimes makes it so he gets home late. If there is time at night he loves to watch sports, and also loves to play with the kids—even if the kids only want to play really childish games. The kids have so many great qualities, but my favorite thing about them is how friendly they are. They love to play with each other, and also with me, and they enunciate their words very clearly! They have such beautiful eyes, and don’t waste even on second deciding if you are a good or a bad person, they just want to be your friend!
Joseph is 11 years old, and is a great older brother. He loves soccer, anything new, and making extremely expressive funny faces. I remember when I first arrived at his house he showed me the instructions for the game he made, and said I could play with them when I had time. That really made me feel how kind he is, and I truly felt warmly welcomed.
Sarah, 9, is really a beautiful little girl! It is so hard for me to believe that such a beautiful little girl would love to play soccer play or get dirty playing outside, but that is how Sarah is. She has a sweet voice and generally is very kind, but will also be firm and clear if her siblings do something they shouldn’t. She enjoys quietly observing me, and carefully listening to my every word. When I first arrived, she was so excited to show me her little car, and also to show off that she can write her name in Chinese. I don’t think she is really interested in Chinese as a second language, when she wrote her name for me I felt like it was her way of making me feel welcome. It truly made me so happy! I love when she sings too. Her voice is sooooo sooo sweet.
Jacob is 5 years old, and like a little monkey, is both skinny and full of life. He loves it when others play with him, but is perfectly content to play by himself also. He also loves to snuggle. Really he is happy playing anything with you. Although he is only 5 years old, he can already play soccer, amazing!
Becka is a four-year-old girl. She generally is very good, but sometimes likes to steal her little sister’s toys. She loves to snuggle while watching movies. If you don’t hold her, she will wiggle her way into your lap… she loves that!
Emile is the youngest, she is almost two. She can run well, and say a few simple words. When she first meets a stranger she will cling to her mom rather than play with someone new. If she can’t find her mom she will cry. Unlike baby Joshua, if she bumps her head she will easily cry, and she doesn’t like to be chased around like he does. She prefers that you compliment her, and make her happy. If she is really crying, it doesn’t do any good to hold her, the best thing you can do for her is to stand next to her and softly hold her head against your leg… before long she’ll be okay. Of course sometimes this doesn’t work either, so the best method is simply not to make her cry!
Simply put, this is a cute family that oh so easily accepts you into their circle. I really hope they will always continue to be this happy！
