Scott and Eli went with another father and son (Eli's best buddy Caleb) to try skiing for the first time. It was a huge success and Eli wanted to go again the next day (and the day after that...). He really got the hang of it, so now we are hoping that his success with that will rub off on his learning how to rollerblade.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Chinese New Year almost here!
I am off school as of yesterday for the Chinese New Year holiday and tomorrow we fly to Thailand. A neighbour said it was good timing as there is talk of a blizzard coming on Saturday. In any case, we will really appreciate the warm weather, clean air and the ocean, not to mention Thai food...
They have been busy decorating our xiao qu (neighbourhood) and even supplied us with posters to put on the outside of our doors with the character fu (福) which means blessing. Red and gold posters, red paper cut-outs are everywhere, ushering in the year of the Ox.
We recently went for a walk to a park nearby which had some ice. You might be thinking, 'oh they went skating, how nice...' but no, we tried something we'd never seen or heard of before.
It's a cross between skating, sledding and cross-country skiing. The little sleds have two blades that enable them to glide along the ice, and usually they are self-propelled via two small ski poles. The ski poles looked a little dodgy to me, and frankly dangerous with the inch long spikes on the end of them, so we went without.
At least three of us could fit on at a time and I would push, or Scott would use the short ski poles. Eli preferred to push Dana and Dana liked being pushed in the sled so it really worked out well. Where we live is pretty flat, so this is as close as we got to going sledding this winter.
I was glad that I actually had a use for those winter boots I bought the kids this year. I bought them in faith that we would 1. get some snow and 2. be able to do some winter activities...plus they weren't all that expensive. Although it seems mild here most of the time compared to where we're from in Canada, the wind can get pretty chilly here, cutting to the bone as you walk or bike where you need to go.
As we walked back from the park where we went ski-sledding, we must have passed at least three of these roadside stands selling firecrackers. Chinese people prefer to start their New Year with a bang and it is LOUD...like, don't bother trying to sleep kind of loud! I didn't ask how much the different kinds were, but I couldn't resist getting a picture. The whole country will soon be erupting in firecrackers and fireworks on Chinese New Year, I hope you do your part in celebrating too, even if it's just ordering Chinese Food or shooting a cap gun.
They have been busy decorating our xiao qu (neighbourhood) and even supplied us with posters to put on the outside of our doors with the character fu (福) which means blessing. Red and gold posters, red paper cut-outs are everywhere, ushering in the year of the Ox.We recently went for a walk to a park nearby which had some ice. You might be thinking, 'oh they went skating, how nice...' but no, we tried something we'd never seen or heard of before.
It's a cross between skating, sledding and cross-country skiing. The little sleds have two blades that enable them to glide along the ice, and usually they are self-propelled via two small ski poles. The ski poles looked a little dodgy to me, and frankly dangerous with the inch long spikes on the end of them, so we went without.
At least three of us could fit on at a time and I would push, or Scott would use the short ski poles. Eli preferred to push Dana and Dana liked being pushed in the sled so it really worked out well. Where we live is pretty flat, so this is as close as we got to going sledding this winter.
I was glad that I actually had a use for those winter boots I bought the kids this year. I bought them in faith that we would 1. get some snow and 2. be able to do some winter activities...plus they weren't all that expensive. Although it seems mild here most of the time compared to where we're from in Canada, the wind can get pretty chilly here, cutting to the bone as you walk or bike where you need to go.
As we walked back from the park where we went ski-sledding, we must have passed at least three of these roadside stands selling firecrackers. Chinese people prefer to start their New Year with a bang and it is LOUD...like, don't bother trying to sleep kind of loud! I didn't ask how much the different kinds were, but I couldn't resist getting a picture. The whole country will soon be erupting in firecrackers and fireworks on Chinese New Year, I hope you do your part in celebrating too, even if it's just ordering Chinese Food or shooting a cap gun.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Scott is 30 now too!
For Scott's birthday, I tried my hand at making Scott's favourite cakes: angel food cake and pineapple-upside down cake. These were his Grandma B's specialties. Let's just say I have a long ways to go to get to her level! Maybe by Scott's 60th I'll have them down.
Scott let Eli blow out the candles. He still hasn't quite figured out how to do that, he would blow and then try to keep blowing even after he had run out of air. His face would redden from the effort, but the candles would stay lit.
I took Scott to an Aircraft Carrier Theme Park on his birthday. We took a taxi, a light-rail, then a bus to get there (about 2 hours) and toured the circa 1970 Soviet Aircraft Carrier. It was in use for some time, retired and sold to China in 1999.
This was on the top level, the bridge of the aircraft carrier, the "cockpit" so to speak.
Scott posing in front of one of the fighters.
I'm posing with a Russian sailor holding some kind of artillery shell. At first I thought we were in the wine cellar!
Some of the best advice I've heard in a long time...could also serve as inspiration for developing New Year's Resolutions.
On one of the lower decks, one of the many control rooms, with a poster of V. I. Lenin. I figured my dad would enjoy this one. I also wished my brother Albert could have come with us, with his knowledge of Russian and military stuff, I'm sure I'd have learned a lot more. When he comes, we will have to go again.
Here's Scott posing in front of the Aircraft Carrier itself. It is not the biggest as far as Aircraft Carriers go, but still formidable.
I think this sign was made by the same people who made the sign by a park near us "Civilization walk the dog" it says, (meant to tell you to keep your dog on a leash).
Civilization Happy New Year!
Scott let Eli blow out the candles. He still hasn't quite figured out how to do that, he would blow and then try to keep blowing even after he had run out of air. His face would redden from the effort, but the candles would stay lit.
I took Scott to an Aircraft Carrier Theme Park on his birthday. We took a taxi, a light-rail, then a bus to get there (about 2 hours) and toured the circa 1970 Soviet Aircraft Carrier. It was in use for some time, retired and sold to China in 1999.
This was on the top level, the bridge of the aircraft carrier, the "cockpit" so to speak.
Scott posing in front of one of the fighters.
I'm posing with a Russian sailor holding some kind of artillery shell. At first I thought we were in the wine cellar!
Some of the best advice I've heard in a long time...could also serve as inspiration for developing New Year's Resolutions.
On one of the lower decks, one of the many control rooms, with a poster of V. I. Lenin. I figured my dad would enjoy this one. I also wished my brother Albert could have come with us, with his knowledge of Russian and military stuff, I'm sure I'd have learned a lot more. When he comes, we will have to go again.
Here's Scott posing in front of the Aircraft Carrier itself. It is not the biggest as far as Aircraft Carriers go, but still formidable.
I think this sign was made by the same people who made the sign by a park near us "Civilization walk the dog" it says, (meant to tell you to keep your dog on a leash).
Civilization Happy New Year!
Christmas!
We had a great Christmas! It even snowed a little bit the week before. It never snows here, and the snowfall we had broke a fifty year record for the amount of snow in one day. It was only about 3 or 4 inches, but we were so glad to see some of that white stuff! And we still have some!
I was actually under the weather on Christmas Eve, but managed to feel quite a bit better for Christmas Day which we spent at our British buddy's place. Our American friends also joined us, so we were three couples with young kids enjoying an international Christmas together. We tried to act out the Nativity with the kids, but it turned out better to just read them the Christmas Story.
Eli got this second-hand Power Wheels jeep for free on his birthday, but we were not able to use it until recently because the rechargeable battery was useless. Scott managed to find a place that makes batteries and so we were finally able to let Eli use his new wheels. Here he is giving one of the neighbour kids a lift with Ye Ye (grandpa) looking on.
Dana thinks that Eli's undies can be hats, so here they are with their "Wise Man" hats on.
This one of Dana could be on a CD cover! Oh yeah, Scott got me some Chinese rap for Christmas, so hopefully that should help my fluency!
This last one is just for fun, This is Dana a year ago in a Santa hat. A little more chubbiness in her cheeks, less familiarity and confidence in front of the camera and no neck are about the only differences I can see.
We continue to marvel at how blessed we are: good health, great kids, a chance to study a different language in the country that speaks it, good friends (old and new), a warm and cozy house, reliable bikes, a fantastic house-helper (ayi)...I am so thankful for these things.
I was actually under the weather on Christmas Eve, but managed to feel quite a bit better for Christmas Day which we spent at our British buddy's place. Our American friends also joined us, so we were three couples with young kids enjoying an international Christmas together. We tried to act out the Nativity with the kids, but it turned out better to just read them the Christmas Story.
Eli got this second-hand Power Wheels jeep for free on his birthday, but we were not able to use it until recently because the rechargeable battery was useless. Scott managed to find a place that makes batteries and so we were finally able to let Eli use his new wheels. Here he is giving one of the neighbour kids a lift with Ye Ye (grandpa) looking on.
Dana thinks that Eli's undies can be hats, so here they are with their "Wise Man" hats on.
This one of Dana could be on a CD cover! Oh yeah, Scott got me some Chinese rap for Christmas, so hopefully that should help my fluency!
This last one is just for fun, This is Dana a year ago in a Santa hat. A little more chubbiness in her cheeks, less familiarity and confidence in front of the camera and no neck are about the only differences I can see.
We continue to marvel at how blessed we are: good health, great kids, a chance to study a different language in the country that speaks it, good friends (old and new), a warm and cozy house, reliable bikes, a fantastic house-helper (ayi)...I am so thankful for these things.
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