tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68946883111845955032024-03-21T17:10:10.726-07:00life sliceolgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-19296708627785063892012-12-21T05:59:00.002-07:002012-12-21T05:59:56.079-07:00yeah...it has been a while...I know, it is almost exactly two years later since my last post. I kept wanting to catch up and fill in the gaps and time just kept marching along and so the task got bigger and even more unlikely to ever happen. Then a friend last summer (SW) said to forget about catching up, and just start doing it again in the present. It was good advice. I heard another piece of good advice today: Try to do as little as possible as well as possible...it just might be my New Year's Resolution.<br />
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Eli's Christmas List:<br />
gear bike has to be good qualityd gear bike<br />
soccer cleat's The blue one's<br />
weight's heavy ones<br />
speedometer<br />
waterproof wach<br />
runing shos<br />
chocolate tobalrone all kinds<br />
skittles sweet ones<br />
books chapter books<br />
pensels<br />
toy cars<br />
tons of papr<br />
<br />
<br />
Dana's Christmas List:<br />
1.Gum<br />
2.Notebook<br />
3.Hairbands<br />
4.Chocolate<br />
5.Waterproof watch<br />
6.<br />
7.Weights<br />
8.Skittles<br />
<br />
Below is a picture of all four kids now, yes FOUR! Matteo Albert joined us last April 3. He is nothing but a joy to all's who know's 'im, all cuddly and easy to please. It is wonderfully unbelieveable to have two sons and two daughters or maybe unbelievably wonderful is a better way of putting it.<br />
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olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-23616204980431903212010-12-15T06:07:00.005-07:002011-02-13T07:06:07.503-07:00bathtimeI love the soft, buttery, clean feeling of my freshly-bathed Hannah:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCnvWzQuyi0wmJn9E5eRmxay3KKh67IHSfMNfzU3d6vC2G2VShRckPFo7JiXSs2DB3TN3ylMkO9Acz-51Nf2HAp5qRvHgzaGOI8hCGMANsqamiEkWBXTOFB7sOraPF3vdLUMl7ecZsrq1/s1600/hannahbath.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573173491153614066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCnvWzQuyi0wmJn9E5eRmxay3KKh67IHSfMNfzU3d6vC2G2VShRckPFo7JiXSs2DB3TN3ylMkO9Acz-51Nf2HAp5qRvHgzaGOI8hCGMANsqamiEkWBXTOFB7sOraPF3vdLUMl7ecZsrq1/s400/hannahbath.jpg" /></a><br />And I love making shampoo hairstyles on the kids (especially putting horns on Eli when his hair is long enough). These kids are so excellent.<br /><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnb3QYkR1aoOxL1mnKnnKr_gf884aPWNI6H_R7Ndyp19enD4bHtjzlFIba5ExxpUoQKav5MHWhP2f1PfBlC_kPnjTAo-tctAQvkVdQa_ubcTF0FIAHLTEOD-MxSZ8rG0MTHVJXU-ydhAg7/s1600/elidanabath.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573172875108827170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnb3QYkR1aoOxL1mnKnnKr_gf884aPWNI6H_R7Ndyp19enD4bHtjzlFIba5ExxpUoQKav5MHWhP2f1PfBlC_kPnjTAo-tctAQvkVdQa_ubcTF0FIAHLTEOD-MxSZ8rG0MTHVJXU-ydhAg7/s400/elidanabath.jpg" /></a><br />Our new house doesn't really have a bathtub, but we have small baby tubs that we use for the kids...probably saves us on water in the long run. It doesn't matter, bathtime is always fun no matter what.<br /><div></div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-67728672113273318182010-12-10T07:50:00.000-07:002011-02-13T08:02:16.066-07:00Christmas playFor Christmas this year, Eli and Dana starred in a Christmas play. Eli got the role of Joseph and Dana got the role of a Shepherd. I think that Dana enjoyed making the ornaments after the play more:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIikyEjf3oAW8OS7PIZa4iy83Z-t_GVFer5mEC9019Dw_LM_0OVwTQKzx5PrfhnbzRIWS8MuosdBF-hk616DyG1yzUo3EQfpjBeMCKTQYr9rxKYm3QGhv3EavXjE3F7QO4VIEDJUpCAKj/s1600/danaornament2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573187320150450466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIikyEjf3oAW8OS7PIZa4iy83Z-t_GVFer5mEC9019Dw_LM_0OVwTQKzx5PrfhnbzRIWS8MuosdBF-hk616DyG1yzUo3EQfpjBeMCKTQYr9rxKYm3QGhv3EavXjE3F7QO4VIEDJUpCAKj/s400/danaornament2.jpg" /></a> Eli also made one:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWSsbbBXbVOhtehoOl7adItBZhsoekzeuCuvTif9bkv8N_XkGTseIb5iwT3Z3P3K0o3lJiYaqzHXLqA2NihTtcwmKJ1X415J8CEVhqNUCnBtuQ06BSfT7b-XQ9TqScD38D9mjTwJ6FDnN/s1600/danaornament.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573187314900135762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWSsbbBXbVOhtehoOl7adItBZhsoekzeuCuvTif9bkv8N_XkGTseIb5iwT3Z3P3K0o3lJiYaqzHXLqA2NihTtcwmKJ1X415J8CEVhqNUCnBtuQ06BSfT7b-XQ9TqScD38D9mjTwJ6FDnN/s400/danaornament.jpg" /></a> I had to stifle my laughter at the rehearsals when Eli and Brieanna-Joie (Joseph and Mary respectively) bickered and fought like an old married couple. I'll bet the real Mary and Joseph had their tense moments especially under the stressful circumstances of Jesus' birth.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfWNCcNHMqjlFPFbG1YYWLaOjC2Uf13-3WlXrHTBrxoIjqfZsq0YtDf8gESvTGWIfiFxdR-Aqk-nwugTma1KMm4RAewnlFxZqBcI3zHCc14Yi-uq0C_IvBqofVWhDpbW6aDseQOGj9-2P/s1600/elijoseph.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573187309513617314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfWNCcNHMqjlFPFbG1YYWLaOjC2Uf13-3WlXrHTBrxoIjqfZsq0YtDf8gESvTGWIfiFxdR-Aqk-nwugTma1KMm4RAewnlFxZqBcI3zHCc14Yi-uq0C_IvBqofVWhDpbW6aDseQOGj9-2P/s400/elijoseph.jpg" /></a><br />I love this shot, when all the kids got together and sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" among others. They may not have known the words <em>then</em>, but they know them now!</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AaQRJjIJz3jztzzdZswbM6krLcmuc0TMbDMSfw2N3WEllI3bxcaKQo7MFy3-5Zfytn6AOvbreu_0_6it2vyWiOlldJp2X9X9fHb2IWB27xzJ5JRKk6LFnxz5B5jkoT1FlncIiCsMzv9o/s1600/eanddplay.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573187267501483442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AaQRJjIJz3jztzzdZswbM6krLcmuc0TMbDMSfw2N3WEllI3bxcaKQo7MFy3-5Zfytn6AOvbreu_0_6it2vyWiOlldJp2X9X9fHb2IWB27xzJ5JRKk6LFnxz5B5jkoT1FlncIiCsMzv9o/s400/eanddplay.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-86093340369339592132010-12-07T06:09:00.006-07:002011-02-13T07:32:54.224-07:00Dana date<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZTS5GouXnOyp-Tg_QwB7Sim-FkVgJt3rdMfziIRE1Wy4xu3t7dJJ7koXKKQj1rjY6baVsRMf3Qu1lUOQylNb0B9UuwUprpztMuXtqQ1Pn_4dgTcTXlMwwaBHWibED38PZt5dWKRNJ4zR/s1600/danahouse.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573180794545716242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZTS5GouXnOyp-Tg_QwB7Sim-FkVgJt3rdMfziIRE1Wy4xu3t7dJJ7koXKKQj1rjY6baVsRMf3Qu1lUOQylNb0B9UuwUprpztMuXtqQ1Pn_4dgTcTXlMwwaBHWibED38PZt5dWKRNJ4zR/s400/danahouse.jpg" /></a><br /><div>One of our favourite things to do is go to the library, which is really the International School. Our homeschool group has an agreement with them which allows me to go and use their library. So one day I went with Dana, and we hit the playground afterwards. First we played "buyer and seller." Dana sold me things like lipstick, hotdogs and cake all from the same store, and reasonably priced too ("Ten kuai")...</div><div></div><div>Then we went on the swings. It seems to me that the swings are her favourite...come to think of it, they were my favourite when I was her age too.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicini5A4cZErcZu37O7lBlt3mHsDAr5jQjAE1uu792UvXMuYEtyblDg7zHD99Fg6erg5rbcVYUn5To9zcBP-ACmTwvSDuOip1Tx1YzZ9RL-UtVYxLu5VGs3jWBOpN365Z8wN4ODNteIjiK/s1600/danaswing1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573176471023852690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicini5A4cZErcZu37O7lBlt3mHsDAr5jQjAE1uu792UvXMuYEtyblDg7zHD99Fg6erg5rbcVYUn5To9zcBP-ACmTwvSDuOip1Tx1YzZ9RL-UtVYxLu5VGs3jWBOpN365Z8wN4ODNteIjiK/s400/danaswing1.jpg" /></a> This day was Eli-less because he was at school. He goes to preschool 5 days/week (half days) and Dana goes 10 times a month (also half days). Hannah was sleeping in the stroller.<br /><div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-77519377049630366842010-11-27T06:07:00.004-07:002011-02-13T06:49:59.403-07:00good friends<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SPGPIQuZfcxWu748qgiUFbEp-xbF2GMDOSNGrrZQDF70mO8j9MAICPat1WucEdxJ0wQBG1JpaitRFcQ0qyDCh7ju83j430vAd2emXlhWOe3j7cd3lGq9qDzhKiOyi0ZAGT7DiV-zyPHi/s1600/elidressup.jpg"></a><br /><div>My good friend Phyllis and her family moved back to the U.S. at the end of November. Phyllis and I had come to China at about the same time and studied together at the same language school. We were both excited and relieved to find each other when we first arrived because we had kids the same age too. It was so fun to make her laugh in class!</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iND1olviq1UYsCLqwvOzxRVAyN9sqQV_r1zy8_sN2p0o28Hk0nMFdEEXQ46Z21SpF35XTKJo69xAKI7Qb7G_EWaTrrdNvwvj82WJ6koN9jJNS5W7prz2BCXJ7HlwWuujgtqDUqwY9Hj2/s1600/phyllisinclass.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573167750141676530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iND1olviq1UYsCLqwvOzxRVAyN9sqQV_r1zy8_sN2p0o28Hk0nMFdEEXQ46Z21SpF35XTKJo69xAKI7Qb7G_EWaTrrdNvwvj82WJ6koN9jJNS5W7prz2BCXJ7HlwWuujgtqDUqwY9Hj2/s400/phyllisinclass.jpg" /></a><br />Her daughter Emma and Dana were good buddies too. It was Emma who introduced Dana to the "let's pretend you are my dog" game. Emma is dog-crazy and very imaginitive.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsnzn5RkRh0mhrQA-DR4jSEvwB2d2uPUwV1thXho2GGf9NAvUmlW7iGGjDj7DcgnqWkh6Oc2qwk3CMCAi20_e1B37AvtQdV269nGljmJV9c8Qyj-eiOW-CJz9G36rFPeJ4AdMxO7-6Go2/s1600/eliinatree.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p0EmnUelRZymh-A9UZ_NATjqraopzQGvabVSv2H5qwaW5Gj99KgRiH7pz-i37StxK0HXrVjM6LgAG69Ro8focOVPN810eNCiTvR-lYCz-4dqC-Hpju9kncNi6SpPlJwyPLBe3FyH9McZ/s1600/danaandaemma.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573167742915939458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p0EmnUelRZymh-A9UZ_NATjqraopzQGvabVSv2H5qwaW5Gj99KgRiH7pz-i37StxK0HXrVjM6LgAG69Ro8focOVPN810eNCiTvR-lYCz-4dqC-Hpju9kncNi6SpPlJwyPLBe3FyH9McZ/s400/danaandaemma.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Eli's best friend is Caleb. It was neat to see how Caleb and Eli related to each other these past three years as they are really quite different in their personalities. Eli is more prone to bypass sadness and go straight to anger, whereas Caleb is more of a sensitive soul. Eli needs to run and jump and wrestle, whereas Caleb can be still and draw or build things.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThBhuEy0LoBYHzc5NUCNmvThpOLYe9M3IF8-oQ7zfkwDjXhtykXFMLOVMbTaMHnwxNLbqfyUJIramwZxlhLxhPZCjRZUV-ddtIHDmm3P1VPopo0_AupGhVRQ6cF7v864GrjKXx6yQvPV5/s1600/calebinatree.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573167732554350338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThBhuEy0LoBYHzc5NUCNmvThpOLYe9M3IF8-oQ7zfkwDjXhtykXFMLOVMbTaMHnwxNLbqfyUJIramwZxlhLxhPZCjRZUV-ddtIHDmm3P1VPopo0_AupGhVRQ6cF7v864GrjKXx6yQvPV5/s400/calebinatree.jpg" /></a> Hannah is a bit too young to have gotten a chance to play with Phyllis' youngest child Samuel, but we are going to miss his toddler antics too! </div><div> </div><div>I am so glad we had a chance to get to know Phyllis and her family. We sure are going to miss them! Who knows, maybe our paths will cross again... I sure do hope so.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-88359983656004934922010-11-06T06:08:00.003-07:002011-01-07T06:55:25.602-07:00Hannah likes solids!Our little Hannah, at 6 months, started eating solids. I know you technically <em>can </em>start at 4 months, but why would you when breastfeeding is so easy, convenient and clean (not to mention that breastmilk is the most important food for babies up until one year of age)! Here she is with her first meal of rice cereal:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkJNIyjyfPpgVoF707bbfquj20GJRjXC11074P82cWinwSp2hpnrgtV5geU-QPjDMM18hu82R_uBvoctPwJQKGCz4HDOpVjjzh0zVqpgUuCMdfa4_FK2cv5-zpujW1JjSHPgIiD5iWmKH/s1600/hannahspoon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559440684682112162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkJNIyjyfPpgVoF707bbfquj20GJRjXC11074P82cWinwSp2hpnrgtV5geU-QPjDMM18hu82R_uBvoctPwJQKGCz4HDOpVjjzh0zVqpgUuCMdfa4_FK2cv5-zpujW1JjSHPgIiD5iWmKH/s400/hannahspoon.jpg" /></a> And the verdict:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMcw4L4jOk2z30qyV1RmA0TUqJi6RqeFKQyLzZtsla8PefIga0OUQpDQtuVn6_V1VxH7ZkE1ixsMLzkev1499J00J4EQAKpNgX5sNcCZgrZ0f8HsHL4fQrV6jQ3W2J1YEaXaadieJvglP/s1600/hannahsmile.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559440680149217058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMcw4L4jOk2z30qyV1RmA0TUqJi6RqeFKQyLzZtsla8PefIga0OUQpDQtuVn6_V1VxH7ZkE1ixsMLzkev1499J00J4EQAKpNgX5sNcCZgrZ0f8HsHL4fQrV6jQ3W2J1YEaXaadieJvglP/s400/hannahsmile.jpg" /></a> That's a "thumbs up" for rice cereal smile for sure.<br /><br /><div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-86627239655864729712010-07-25T07:18:00.004-07:002010-08-10T07:54:24.637-07:00the visit: everyday 'round hereOf course we had down-time too. We wanted to show our folks our regular life so that included hanging out at home and showing them some of the local sights. The sights also included the latest greatest grandchild!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3a9nu-UuZ1putpJlSbu64im1Iv3zDMFZc5Fsq9jyoOS2YVpMNkSWY18bgPStDJk1eljOXADnCgyOvHQILYw-g_9XBhWLApv-e3qMSDbNlc6zDal8Ygi3jV6ZqHOteAkTE1Et6nrIZXKg/s1600/Two+Cuties.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503416440504102562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3a9nu-UuZ1putpJlSbu64im1Iv3zDMFZc5Fsq9jyoOS2YVpMNkSWY18bgPStDJk1eljOXADnCgyOvHQILYw-g_9XBhWLApv-e3qMSDbNlc6zDal8Ygi3jV6ZqHOteAkTE1Et6nrIZXKg/s400/Two+Cuties.JPG" /></a> I love this picture that Boppa (Alan) took, aptly naming it "the two Cuties" How true. Hannah is not hurting for food, she almost eclipses Dana!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyk_rTkCBcamidaYqEOLt8KbkSBi4WTr9oMUJ-1ftkITed3Tn5LuwO3tC48qxv7C0HIs9pIKJJyhuGkIW04I1cm47pBbJ8ZyWMVxnD1pOP9u4DGhDnSln3IWzpx2BNKsvGh6slaFn-g_G/s1600/mombhann.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503415839938163074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyk_rTkCBcamidaYqEOLt8KbkSBi4WTr9oMUJ-1ftkITed3Tn5LuwO3tC48qxv7C0HIs9pIKJJyhuGkIW04I1cm47pBbJ8ZyWMVxnD1pOP9u4DGhDnSln3IWzpx2BNKsvGh6slaFn-g_G/s400/mombhann.jpg" /></a>I love the grandparent shots with the newest grandchild, so I included one of each. Nana was excited and soon remembered her baby-burping skills without any coaching.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRL7A0vdtNM_v3G0ZNIKqv-0YBLdstqJCwJDRZ0mHL87KEAF3yC7c_UtLuxjBmxdb11Nf6djI_zN7I-naYv5cX1wOe7FUJZpQik9YhHG5al2jZ-79rcVdlVqMK5t2RcyIqCGUx_hFCFLs/s1600/dadbhann.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503415831948285074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRL7A0vdtNM_v3G0ZNIKqv-0YBLdstqJCwJDRZ0mHL87KEAF3yC7c_UtLuxjBmxdb11Nf6djI_zN7I-naYv5cX1wOe7FUJZpQik9YhHG5al2jZ-79rcVdlVqMK5t2RcyIqCGUx_hFCFLs/s400/dadbhann.jpg" /></a> Hannah's favourite spit-up target was Boppa. It hardly ever failed, I would hand Hannah over to him to hold and 4 seconds later she would have a productive burp all over him. But her smiles made it all worthwhile right Alan?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86nHwHHlyZsnb-p2Lvh37IEF7Ox7_tn6K4wYc8zUPlzSt9DdxtFqFfJ7S3x2unbbUEqte7cGIbhwuYXvtvNbsmdi2w6KSIDjdbVx54WfQ2vZ3GhUlpYlCzJE4__JE2OW4lZZ2Z-UgSWRr/s1600/momhann.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503415824286468242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86nHwHHlyZsnb-p2Lvh37IEF7Ox7_tn6K4wYc8zUPlzSt9DdxtFqFfJ7S3x2unbbUEqte7cGIbhwuYXvtvNbsmdi2w6KSIDjdbVx54WfQ2vZ3GhUlpYlCzJE4__JE2OW4lZZ2Z-UgSWRr/s400/momhann.jpg" /></a> And Babi too, took a shining to little Hannah. I love both of their expressions here, equally enamoured with one another.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfX8hsO3wumGeYLwZYOkn6LpVczInzEtWikIqQ-SCihHmsRaNS2U-T5fx5x-Yl7w3WKZY1h6uRFbC6PyyEdJB2ceVfd00JfWN0kinDMmQnu-VLZjP4vBFKBwdVLFNFceubRnsu2Z2C9uwC/s1600/rabbit.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503415437782448370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfX8hsO3wumGeYLwZYOkn6LpVczInzEtWikIqQ-SCihHmsRaNS2U-T5fx5x-Yl7w3WKZY1h6uRFbC6PyyEdJB2ceVfd00JfWN0kinDMmQnu-VLZjP4vBFKBwdVLFNFceubRnsu2Z2C9uwC/s400/rabbit.jpg" /></a> This is the closest thing we have to a farm: one rabbit which Dana loves to feed our fruit and vegetable scraps too,<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIM4-SxjMYNbBbQDQFyj6v02V8nKkthyphenhyphenBCDpwMFx5nxNT-bQCfzgVvt0-U4br-Lq0IL-rO94G3-7juoBv6e5XuIfZdTk_6cBOc0W6WGIOo2OraaxnkDBMx21KQ4bONcrKO-Z4sJEsjoWd9/s1600/duck.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503415417334733986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIM4-SxjMYNbBbQDQFyj6v02V8nKkthyphenhyphenBCDpwMFx5nxNT-bQCfzgVvt0-U4br-Lq0IL-rO94G3-7juoBv6e5XuIfZdTk_6cBOc0W6WGIOo2OraaxnkDBMx21KQ4bONcrKO-Z4sJEsjoWd9/s400/duck.jpg" /></a> and two ducks that have miserable living quarters as far as I can tell.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYbzGwD3HEr6ok6Yq_ufR1PRONb7mzKWlz7ucVnNtROCJWJrSbxv0QeZR-Y5fOwN-AyUr3g30reGDvQaJUOv7DRviD5-OzDGF6chBzDuSHWwB-j-bTH1lon3f9G-gaDqO9bjLY3zI2TkL/s1600/eliwall.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503415413354981874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYbzGwD3HEr6ok6Yq_ufR1PRONb7mzKWlz7ucVnNtROCJWJrSbxv0QeZR-Y5fOwN-AyUr3g30reGDvQaJUOv7DRviD5-OzDGF6chBzDuSHWwB-j-bTH1lon3f9G-gaDqO9bjLY3zI2TkL/s400/eliwall.jpg" /></a> When you don't have a backyard, this is what you learn to do in your house. We are looking into gymnastics for this little monkey, but may do a stint of diving in the meantime as it incorporates trampolines and swimming for a reasonable rate. If you remember how China did in the diving at the last summer Olympics, you'll know the coaching is decent.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOgJf3DyrBkBdct8bXIdcqEnwoLuFajKWwwxDCk1jGFJ_e1erQFXGOlpj9bbfM2RmtC2t2YesStZcS2f7uTOh2Jh3okFIHD1CKcXgUSEnMUWp6zEkKNiK0a40g72TMWsiyOHlxvGwtsUW/s1600/elifloor.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503415386541518514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOgJf3DyrBkBdct8bXIdcqEnwoLuFajKWwwxDCk1jGFJ_e1erQFXGOlpj9bbfM2RmtC2t2YesStZcS2f7uTOh2Jh3okFIHD1CKcXgUSEnMUWp6zEkKNiK0a40g72TMWsiyOHlxvGwtsUW/s400/elifloor.jpg" /></a> Eli and Dana's bedroom. Eli was delighted to receive some Lego from Boppa, Nana and Babi.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiGOoJbHGLlaFCy_T6qaMogalOJ9DmvC2o0Piwe53O0ESC2wURkJRW3WKQIPkkbaycFaRp4rYmQY7HmxBfAS0KKS1bmQbBZ3D-w95_iwij9rlUU1EAaKhL6OJXt24wN_fKPdsWBKOckDG/s1600/nightbs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503415373762582658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiGOoJbHGLlaFCy_T6qaMogalOJ9DmvC2o0Piwe53O0ESC2wURkJRW3WKQIPkkbaycFaRp4rYmQY7HmxBfAS0KKS1bmQbBZ3D-w95_iwij9rlUU1EAaKhL6OJXt24wN_fKPdsWBKOckDG/s400/nightbs.jpg" /></a> On our date night, Scott and I got to go for an evening riverside walk with our folks, while Eli, Dana and Hannah were babysat.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf568OimgtNqGegzOccdORAfGpalkYvlFlmV3KYKJnjVDZJj556lXTjdkq9RUSiltUdLYYKfokKfWlG-B4Rn6pPtoncr2Ose272nYJcPii2OXbJcEFKSn6_oPNHvQxX4iZmpdYksmFgFBL/s1600/horse.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503414857565663090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf568OimgtNqGegzOccdORAfGpalkYvlFlmV3KYKJnjVDZJj556lXTjdkq9RUSiltUdLYYKfokKfWlG-B4Rn6pPtoncr2Ose272nYJcPii2OXbJcEFKSn6_oPNHvQxX4iZmpdYksmFgFBL/s400/horse.jpg" /></a> One day we went for a horse-drawn carriage ride along five historical streets that featured (mainly) European architecture. We also saw the former residence of Eric Liddell. If you don't know who that is, watch Chariots of Fire or, better, read a biography about him. He was a remarkable man.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJbPE6nwHOklCcsfu6Ia4Way9irab5aY3yMB2VwovZQogdZj7LhYmzk8T_Z8SEAhjkVLpNllJQNrEUUi1ofNi1aXUMPVEwwuFqQExg-drRlqrLgJLvckYyq0vFcMez15Kqk2Z9HCHbxI_/s1600/elisleep.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503414852919418626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJbPE6nwHOklCcsfu6Ia4Way9irab5aY3yMB2VwovZQogdZj7LhYmzk8T_Z8SEAhjkVLpNllJQNrEUUi1ofNi1aXUMPVEwwuFqQExg-drRlqrLgJLvckYyq0vFcMez15Kqk2Z9HCHbxI_/s400/elisleep.jpg" /></a> The sleeping slug. Hard to believe this little man could ever get into trouble isn't it? Hah!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXGBsHFBVMQgZU2ePE5tCxXv6Uu682WNReQMFwyDvlniwDridH33Cm6iAUha2Rrn2kV64_rlHCs6fSIIl6LPskmqlaNvauRh9mxvM98ufBI0VZ4Sf3kG17dc5xFxTEEVz2zR3d8Zs3iKl/s1600/couch.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503414843473539906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXGBsHFBVMQgZU2ePE5tCxXv6Uu682WNReQMFwyDvlniwDridH33Cm6iAUha2Rrn2kV64_rlHCs6fSIIl6LPskmqlaNvauRh9mxvM98ufBI0VZ4Sf3kG17dc5xFxTEEVz2zR3d8Zs3iKl/s400/couch.jpg" /></a> Reading stories, and/or watching world cup soccer on the couch. We also played our share of games in the evenings with Scott's parents. My mom preferred to turn in early and get up early the next day to, buy fruit at the market, or play ping pong/go for runs with the locals.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSF4vMvi4vX2yz4iuAnHUPsDwUtGIHt7a5nb7RR3Rgb0WDPAWurZ4jLM8ccTwnHxaniPSOhWuYP24HzyceS7ARvlBMMIf83LMxiBSbPc8xkyWUQYaKTFids6xMt-iaf89hqBrpHF_oxMAJ/s1600/tjeye.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503414833181652082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSF4vMvi4vX2yz4iuAnHUPsDwUtGIHt7a5nb7RR3Rgb0WDPAWurZ4jLM8ccTwnHxaniPSOhWuYP24HzyceS7ARvlBMMIf83LMxiBSbPc8xkyWUQYaKTFids6xMt-iaf89hqBrpHF_oxMAJ/s400/tjeye.jpg" /></a>We rode in the Tianjin Eye on a somewhat clear day. The whole rotation took about 20 minutes and there was lots to see from the 12 o' clock position especially. Eli opted to be at his friends house. </div><div> </div><div>So, all said and done, it was a tremendous visit. I must admit I was a little worried about how it would go because I wanted to figure out things to do and see that would be interesting for our parents and fun for our kids too. Also, it was the first visit for my mom and so I viewed it as a "make or breaker" for any subsequent visits. I daresay that based on how it went, my mom might very well be back again, I know Scott's parents will. I felt very blessed to have them and the fact that they made the effort and incurred the cost to come means a lot to us. Thank you!<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-37196740141717015212010-07-23T07:49:00.003-07:002010-08-10T07:13:55.576-07:00the visit: Great WallThere's a good shot of Hannah, completely unaware that we were on our way to the Great Wall. She was also blissfully unaware of Eli getting carsick on the way there too. Lucky her...but lucky me too (I had an extra shirt).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6heH8s1aEISbYouhXUkvN6fndtB9YFT_a1kLxBAsYpSEbBnbzXLWUe-OYx08s64j7bgQ2N-pxMRui7GEytmJYdOb3iz3Y5sCKRMA-ovqdfaqfMhTzruCtHPgCkBSVnTMge5IKsSTvOZRp/s1600/gwhann.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503423198441793778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6heH8s1aEISbYouhXUkvN6fndtB9YFT_a1kLxBAsYpSEbBnbzXLWUe-OYx08s64j7bgQ2N-pxMRui7GEytmJYdOb3iz3Y5sCKRMA-ovqdfaqfMhTzruCtHPgCkBSVnTMge5IKsSTvOZRp/s400/gwhann.jpg" /></a><br />Here we are setting out. Little do we know how tired we will be by the time this day is done...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBggKtcUqxpeDgFcij-kVcF3nMtz5SJcA9IgE-CtOmtaO811LKhtS8J0_FXkgYSxmUh2w1cmD4fPd2VR-AgIPCbPCY-e_G76SbupX3qSzDhjpDCGPUjIpdhsSXPT_8Fh0QcIvqMz3hMUAU/s1600/gw.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503423188655902738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBggKtcUqxpeDgFcij-kVcF3nMtz5SJcA9IgE-CtOmtaO811LKhtS8J0_FXkgYSxmUh2w1cmD4fPd2VR-AgIPCbPCY-e_G76SbupX3qSzDhjpDCGPUjIpdhsSXPT_8Fh0QcIvqMz3hMUAU/s400/gw.jpg" /></a><br />We were ambitious and did decide to "try to the whole route" but at least we did not leave "evening into the scenic".<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXZzhM0rDcG4kQz0-h150W8GgAuwzXKti7OYh4Fq6fAFE8f3toBe_qaCNuSY0XaLVKG7Je7fJ1QGE97DvFvhjorFnzu6n1CjqY8-qSScRWMjmNSdV412a-TbSnYcRGc-TLxUKCSKiI907/s1600/gwsign.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503422744673869858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXZzhM0rDcG4kQz0-h150W8GgAuwzXKti7OYh4Fq6fAFE8f3toBe_qaCNuSY0XaLVKG7Je7fJ1QGE97DvFvhjorFnzu6n1CjqY8-qSScRWMjmNSdV412a-TbSnYcRGc-TLxUKCSKiI907/s400/gwsign.jpg" /></a><br />Gorgeous weather and even a breeze!</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLj7QA-7FrJIXqnJafyQXhildzyWktXcEl08nJPA9S5QRWjK3cMpd8pBNSmt_ABRcRuA2EU0R-4rxTyb1WxllHUHdt5T5zY7meJfn-yJsH13zYIt1D4c7nLOBwGqJyYPoyoawbe2qU_QY/s1600/gwus.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503422728159264482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLj7QA-7FrJIXqnJafyQXhildzyWktXcEl08nJPA9S5QRWjK3cMpd8pBNSmt_ABRcRuA2EU0R-4rxTyb1WxllHUHdt5T5zY7meJfn-yJsH13zYIt1D4c7nLOBwGqJyYPoyoawbe2qU_QY/s400/gwus.jpg" /></a><br />Dana and Eli walked a lot of the way on their own, I'm sure I sprouted more than a few gray hairs as they navigated the stairs (especially going down!).</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrf8Er1O_XxZoWGXcQWPtS6A9x5YJwk3R2lsLD1K8Z_Rjpl4H79B48ZxYJhWhyxLuT2662VmwXSKaxXCgcZDmoFNYCgg3X98HNqa59DRS7HW9HrhvRPI9Ztip6KU7bMQWKMLWYOK0Blvc/s1600/gwdana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503422719998635762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrf8Er1O_XxZoWGXcQWPtS6A9x5YJwk3R2lsLD1K8Z_Rjpl4H79B48ZxYJhWhyxLuT2662VmwXSKaxXCgcZDmoFNYCgg3X98HNqa59DRS7HW9HrhvRPI9Ztip6KU7bMQWKMLWYOK0Blvc/s400/gwdana.jpg" /></a> And here's Speedy Brimacombe. He reminds me of Dash from the movie "The Incredibles".<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7BdLhnlEPE-smCdNa-TzNhMEnS0U5Vz8vskbGBq1mbbBsPfc53so-ZyqpnpMlo3TMWDH5lH8On1SygUZoTU20WElTbq3fTN4XgwyYNKzJpU5zA1g7d83dhQe_g6s3zgZbea9DWM2Yzhn/s1600/gweli.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503422713573256162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7BdLhnlEPE-smCdNa-TzNhMEnS0U5Vz8vskbGBq1mbbBsPfc53so-ZyqpnpMlo3TMWDH5lH8On1SygUZoTU20WElTbq3fTN4XgwyYNKzJpU5zA1g7d83dhQe_g6s3zgZbea9DWM2Yzhn/s400/gweli.jpg" /></a><br />This is the view at the end of the climb, just cross the bridge and go through a maze to get to the parking lot where we were picked up. My mom and I (with Hannah) decided to walk the rest of the wall that you could see beyond the bridge. There were three more towers to get to and where it ended there was still a trail which we did not reach the end of.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNQcutI5uap6x7cAotbyHiesus71HVPeEe3vPWAbnmY2fdkloxGI8Q78b4ObKk2POBBTEJtv5NSXFXt-8z4S2hYxzfBzpgpvhbumDDmeFmL0ElmdSlfb-8h5Rv2z24fMmZymaoRLvo11-/s1600/gwview.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503422696621550226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNQcutI5uap6x7cAotbyHiesus71HVPeEe3vPWAbnmY2fdkloxGI8Q78b4ObKk2POBBTEJtv5NSXFXt-8z4S2hYxzfBzpgpvhbumDDmeFmL0ElmdSlfb-8h5Rv2z24fMmZymaoRLvo11-/s400/gwview.jpg" /></a> I was sore for at least 5 days afterwards, hobbling around like a lame sheep and wincing if the kids so much as touched my legs. My mom was just fine though, a regular mountain goat! I hope I can be like her when I grow up! She's 68 for goodness sake!<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-61912847117400161382010-07-21T07:29:00.004-07:002010-08-10T07:00:04.726-07:00the visit: QingdaoAfter one day of rest at home, we took off again, this time to Qingdao, a coastal "town" (only a few million people) about 6 hours southeast.<br /><br />Besides going to the beach we saw an old Lutheran church (circa 1907) and a naval museum.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-N7V3PZ1Q4TU7z9dTssm3OBgRzwz5YNFjK221fQbhpqSIBjJ-MigyuKGJN_hLjWlQ6FEfb1GQMEmEMmauGZQeAHQocXtKjYNhxCkVDjvSl0yR1g4RG7SXUZitN8mSRV2UhVSDcpFXw-dT/s1600/qdmilitdana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503421999524665250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-N7V3PZ1Q4TU7z9dTssm3OBgRzwz5YNFjK221fQbhpqSIBjJ-MigyuKGJN_hLjWlQ6FEfb1GQMEmEMmauGZQeAHQocXtKjYNhxCkVDjvSl0yR1g4RG7SXUZitN8mSRV2UhVSDcpFXw-dT/s400/qdmilitdana.jpg" /></a> Dana just knew how to look cute as she climbed the dark green contraptions.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzl7Eh2RKJs1EkrMPHWUinitcqOg4Nl4Yj36Zo1bZHDdmxf3geZu4kNdVU7bFqoNgjMAUotoYe8D7GVyvmSpc4ptIDSC14T8qhMFgZ1GkEi0Mqloi6vDgUbmFnZROFM8u9PKpTq0tPyku/s1600/qdmiliteli.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503421985860362114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzl7Eh2RKJs1EkrMPHWUinitcqOg4Nl4Yj36Zo1bZHDdmxf3geZu4kNdVU7bFqoNgjMAUotoYe8D7GVyvmSpc4ptIDSC14T8qhMFgZ1GkEi0Mqloi6vDgUbmFnZROFM8u9PKpTq0tPyku/s400/qdmiliteli.jpg" /></a> Eli, however, meant business and wanted to use what the tanks had to offer. He was disappointed that they didn't really shoot.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh728Jc-iLP7A0EFJNHnJdOy3mg_PR9AbwaVGfbeQDbuvMshVJyfhLY7cSy2GglzYW2d9vZFQMSjrhN7jPIYFJOOufjLVSbb5OzgwSuqHCFgAj7iJy3XL00zQzN363bvskdDTLoXp9HIlTX/s1600/qdmilitmd.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503421978509441394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh728Jc-iLP7A0EFJNHnJdOy3mg_PR9AbwaVGfbeQDbuvMshVJyfhLY7cSy2GglzYW2d9vZFQMSjrhN7jPIYFJOOufjLVSbb5OzgwSuqHCFgAj7iJy3XL00zQzN363bvskdDTLoXp9HIlTX/s400/qdmilitmd.jpg" /></a>Babi (my mom) and Dana in front of a plane that my brother Albert probably knows how to fix by now. Isn't that right Albert?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBe2JP8NYCrvQ7QJ3hTu3GkqPmLh-8khdx0d7NNB1K66XA5qKmeU_xL391MMHpjw94VPCP7Kp2PENBeN3iBruKIjDd4CFKpbNCXwm5NtcuBCKTGQC1vlb59p4iBosdKQdhDYhExVW1ZOv_/s1600/qdmilitbye.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503421970091359698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBe2JP8NYCrvQ7QJ3hTu3GkqPmLh-8khdx0d7NNB1K66XA5qKmeU_xL391MMHpjw94VPCP7Kp2PENBeN3iBruKIjDd4CFKpbNCXwm5NtcuBCKTGQC1vlb59p4iBosdKQdhDYhExVW1ZOv_/s400/qdmilitbye.jpg" /></a> And heading out to go get some lunch. The kids and I had a rest in the afternoon while Scott walked around and scouted out some famous authors' former residences.<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9YT_GY_B7vbrpcsiOxa99bAP9HEwmJNPcbLl3lahXeM1NXY8fZByOgO6nh5Fv5saCBBAgZ5Eq6fX533Q2Zlzay1UvT9vbK0kapRYdhKs-MhFnALQG6_QsJZb803Ef_onjDsdi1B0fl4P/s1600/qdview.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503421443851435650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9YT_GY_B7vbrpcsiOxa99bAP9HEwmJNPcbLl3lahXeM1NXY8fZByOgO6nh5Fv5saCBBAgZ5Eq6fX533Q2Zlzay1UvT9vbK0kapRYdhKs-MhFnALQG6_QsJZb803Ef_onjDsdi1B0fl4P/s400/qdview.jpg" /></a>That evening, we walked down the pier and bought some shells and other souvenirs and gifts. Then we had kebabs for dinner. Alas, a lot of seafood is lost on me, I much preferred the lamb kebabs over the shrimp or squid, a true land-lubber am I.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejQarAx8dn709kzLZXgTRATz9FimPNIpxDW0Z6cx-0vTI7cLOCmUWA2nDPgxU7wL2Q_qpOH__8go21bKzTgMp3kRyb0v0dmqR0m8RkL3KAguWS0wpFFcMX5d0IZCYiw_Txjh5lX1vgvic/s1600/qdbeacheli.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503421436289444962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejQarAx8dn709kzLZXgTRATz9FimPNIpxDW0Z6cx-0vTI7cLOCmUWA2nDPgxU7wL2Q_qpOH__8go21bKzTgMp3kRyb0v0dmqR0m8RkL3KAguWS0wpFFcMX5d0IZCYiw_Txjh5lX1vgvic/s400/qdbeacheli.jpg" /></a> This "beach" was just across the street from our hotel. We didn't swim here, but just leaped on the rocks and played in the sand. This was shortly before Boppa (Alan) accidentally threw Eli right into the water. He meant to throw him clear to the shore as it was already too far for Eli to jump it with the tide coming in, but Eli landed on his bottom right in the water. We all had a good laugh about that as the locals wondered what on earth we were trying to do.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35-2UPbFksY-y7Ayjt0RioN7tfwIVT7b29uKF3Qz39nBkZz6uHi_-MXwwVMVEAMQq-g_z-6APGpj6h7LM0baYQDvmAy6KjRC1Dux7bSP6ARH2ExFlavu_wzOOGEwqveTtPhqPlLAxjPuF/s1600/qdbeachme.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503421427748832338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35-2UPbFksY-y7Ayjt0RioN7tfwIVT7b29uKF3Qz39nBkZz6uHi_-MXwwVMVEAMQq-g_z-6APGpj6h7LM0baYQDvmAy6KjRC1Dux7bSP6ARH2ExFlavu_wzOOGEwqveTtPhqPlLAxjPuF/s400/qdbeachme.jpg" /></a> Aha, a rare Hannah sighting! She was often in the back of the stroller, hidden under my nursing cover being fed, or in this carrier with a hat on.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUumgK6rsh2c3aHgQXob7lPJKLgUsMSCl7fPbqIG_63xLEpxGQSkXYkauXaIQSvPg40wTZF3ftB9OP760noJksSEnHAuL46zyxoMGEb_3sSWLTGEWq0Axym2itdrnsEp_6vFqIj-TbfJs/s1600/qdbeachdana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503421420218295362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUumgK6rsh2c3aHgQXob7lPJKLgUsMSCl7fPbqIG_63xLEpxGQSkXYkauXaIQSvPg40wTZF3ftB9OP760noJksSEnHAuL46zyxoMGEb_3sSWLTGEWq0Axym2itdrnsEp_6vFqIj-TbfJs/s400/qdbeachdana.jpg" /></a> Dana liked picking up the green "rocks". Sad to say that they were actually pieces of broken glass whose sharp edges had been worn down by the sand and waves. She picked up a neat collection of them at any rate.</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-41381607182244842872010-07-19T07:14:00.004-07:002010-08-10T06:32:56.832-07:00the visit: Tiananmen and Forbidden CityScott's parents agreed to watch Eli and Dana and take them swimming while my mom, Hannah, Scott and I did a rush job of seeing Tiananmen Square. So many people, and I couldn't believe how long the queue to see Chairman Mao's body there was.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtOQOquB4h54QFKqhr6xx1pcVjNvdAwMRW-JFef56-pveIZppA7FHvRClDOuZRKecwjodBKc-o2N_amASWmq7sHpaPs4QbI3dMOPq-OBa5eBbj3U4igwN9mPKznpthMSdTJFmfnQq1mZC/s1600/tianmen.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503413755712038418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtOQOquB4h54QFKqhr6xx1pcVjNvdAwMRW-JFef56-pveIZppA7FHvRClDOuZRKecwjodBKc-o2N_amASWmq7sHpaPs4QbI3dMOPq-OBa5eBbj3U4igwN9mPKznpthMSdTJFmfnQq1mZC/s400/tianmen.jpg" /></a><br />Here was another neat dragon on a mural as we entered the Forbidden City which is quite near to Tiananmen Square.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElz87ps-XGOcY9j3sqD3NEevEJalwQWmsRmQ8erhRgIjXSTbKWPy_aq6klDbboreGgoX9XdDTBOWfJdLxa4Fn7__pgwjOsfjUOWiOY9v7l9b5LlfScqz5ahvK-f70EHRCTQ-nZCngho-A/s1600/forbidden.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503413742979132066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElz87ps-XGOcY9j3sqD3NEevEJalwQWmsRmQ8erhRgIjXSTbKWPy_aq6klDbboreGgoX9XdDTBOWfJdLxa4Fn7__pgwjOsfjUOWiOY9v7l9b5LlfScqz5ahvK-f70EHRCTQ-nZCngho-A/s400/forbidden.jpg" /></a><br />And a picture of Scott and I as we were leaving. We had to hurry so that we could check out of the hotel on time, and me stopping to feed Hannah meant that we really couldn't do justice to even the few parts we saw in the Forbidden City.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1GQkIJkK35lrIY33e9XUHcb21fKRFK1DKPhOcYGetbWdwJ3-nxVqGDn06UAFFZRTl6f0KrgvKi3ypoEPMwobo3DN556dTMsqVQjdX1rEJtft-cfNRV7CHxE7yKkZATs_PWtcKq3II7qJ/s1600/forbidden2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503413730155323810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1GQkIJkK35lrIY33e9XUHcb21fKRFK1DKPhOcYGetbWdwJ3-nxVqGDn06UAFFZRTl6f0KrgvKi3ypoEPMwobo3DN556dTMsqVQjdX1rEJtft-cfNRV7CHxE7yKkZATs_PWtcKq3II7qJ/s400/forbidden2.jpg" /></a> I guess it just means we will have to go again sometime, that's all, right mom?.<br /><div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-23569743091749875762010-07-17T07:11:00.003-07:002010-08-10T06:33:55.402-07:00the visit: Summer Palace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3BAKkqvntsdop1-xHbOfWOQMb4Blu3cNzTd4-fh0i7WXZpYEgL-KbQlSvz3q8SdjqRuyDXVCGVm_OCpDVlTRyGDTWwmnSPKzHStZBYkElIj8F0BnNLBzaXGIJKtnvF98mJjc_PkHXhLF/s1600/spitaly.jpg"></a>Another necessary sight to see in Beijing is the Summer Palace. We found that if we climbed (and carried a stroller up) a few hundred stairs, there were less people, and more nature to enjoy.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiT4qIUFO2wDN_NTPLg6Te5holvri_JTeWM2jwGTNg_3LCG5oXY5fPi4pAK0iCe4i6k41wdd_ien6eLmwAi1shufTOoocPIIhSxqd6bMUXY09tYbEekBsOm2Kzt-NAA8BZ_SLXS62sVyDj/s1600/sparch.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503412905537475490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiT4qIUFO2wDN_NTPLg6Te5holvri_JTeWM2jwGTNg_3LCG5oXY5fPi4pAK0iCe4i6k41wdd_ien6eLmwAi1shufTOoocPIIhSxqd6bMUXY09tYbEekBsOm2Kzt-NAA8BZ_SLXS62sVyDj/s400/sparch.jpg" /></a> Colourful, ornate, and detailed architecture in the buildings. Gold and red are favourite colours it seemed to me.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafoPt9ONOlV-nDwLacdxxYxYS3ZYKMvdzJuKSVU60uc2zWyHFKllMGev6bZJl9Yl1QP0pkI_9aUL3tW-TYJz5SuhUajFxoSEmELxBXjRXKV_0tTm7KE5C2YV661zC8Ufy6gT9Fxgw2MST/s1600/sppath.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503412904942647874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafoPt9ONOlV-nDwLacdxxYxYS3ZYKMvdzJuKSVU60uc2zWyHFKllMGev6bZJl9Yl1QP0pkI_9aUL3tW-TYJz5SuhUajFxoSEmELxBXjRXKV_0tTm7KE5C2YV661zC8Ufy6gT9Fxgw2MST/s400/sppath.jpg" /></a> Here we walked along a path that went around a man-made lake. There were a few people fishing as well. </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDd8ft5EQQyDyu9miMmLay68nFPU0pzaibMr6xaOZLmUWl-ILVg3ZGaZvH6WNFjsmAFGgjbR7kSRm00e-9_gjytrlB5tZ2Yjz-DTU-Bx3JDkgRorCqbtPUMMjl5xgo3PORRQ4pgP64erAK/s1600/spview.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503412889936796754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDd8ft5EQQyDyu9miMmLay68nFPU0pzaibMr6xaOZLmUWl-ILVg3ZGaZvH6WNFjsmAFGgjbR7kSRm00e-9_gjytrlB5tZ2Yjz-DTU-Bx3JDkgRorCqbtPUMMjl5xgo3PORRQ4pgP64erAK/s400/spview.jpg" /></a> This is one of the views on our way up the stairs. We were thankful for a relatively clear day and for the fact that the rain that fell earlier cooled us down somewhat.<br /><div><div></div></div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-30972605977084721042010-07-15T07:07:00.006-07:002010-08-10T06:34:31.882-07:00the visit: Temple of HeavenWhat an exciting time to be alive! We were so happy to host my mom and Scott's parents for two weeks in July. It was a hot time to come, but they were all real troopers and up for anything we had planned. So on day 3 of their visit, we packed up and went to Beijing for two days in order to catch some of the tourist sights there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcldYTg9qstunIncsUBIphH83nPuvdUvI8vwCYauYWyoEbPjNwvnPqDvNnT0yN46TNPIrkG5eKqJcOtV4JrCkWkvRArHdnkIMd2NMD-TEmwX2BiV4xUYLZaFlF5Iif4aXE0Us9D2zxRq_g/s1600/tofhgroup.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503411987769158178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcldYTg9qstunIncsUBIphH83nPuvdUvI8vwCYauYWyoEbPjNwvnPqDvNnT0yN46TNPIrkG5eKqJcOtV4JrCkWkvRArHdnkIMd2NMD-TEmwX2BiV4xUYLZaFlF5Iif4aXE0Us9D2zxRq_g/s400/tofhgroup.jpg" /></a> A group shot. Eli still hasn't warmed up to cameras, because living here and being blonde means he gets more than his fair share of complete strangers wanting a picture <em>of</em> him, or <em>with</em> him. I don't blame him for his annoyance.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIzspKtABE5BbDlnY7fxMIIOUvrCNv0AuBolgF9KC9UHDFnSzRkmJHxofgOCqXsQrEF_G1U50wFFy0btrirZoc50uCwSWwfdlK3s2lr7fmo0M459JahlowPdDttS4NaSGEIxZFOqtKvTW/s1600/tofhdrag.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503411979458342290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIzspKtABE5BbDlnY7fxMIIOUvrCNv0AuBolgF9KC9UHDFnSzRkmJHxofgOCqXsQrEF_G1U50wFFy0btrirZoc50uCwSWwfdlK3s2lr7fmo0M459JahlowPdDttS4NaSGEIxZFOqtKvTW/s400/tofhdrag.jpg" /></a>I gathered that this dragon is a bit of a rogue and prone to flying off, so putting a chain net over him was deemed necessary...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mTkBGeJ-s5XP3FcwzURH0x-_uRkR-9wLEgAxDutJSFPunnu8GqSDBhyQjLjHxOF79NLXdAINPEoLNIqMF_9OyYQdrwhlcMojy5CDCO_pcKl_vZ2Bln3bdP-_IXwhaBO8sHzBlN_JjNrk/s1600/tofhfeed.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503411961604297842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mTkBGeJ-s5XP3FcwzURH0x-_uRkR-9wLEgAxDutJSFPunnu8GqSDBhyQjLjHxOF79NLXdAINPEoLNIqMF_9OyYQdrwhlcMojy5CDCO_pcKl_vZ2Bln3bdP-_IXwhaBO8sHzBlN_JjNrk/s400/tofhfeed.jpg" /></a> Our pace was regulated by little Hannah's clockwork feedings. How pleasant to travel with such patient people, large and small. Oh and it also helped to have snacks and water on hand.<br /></div><div>After seeing the Temple of Heaven, we had lunch and then took the kids to the pool.<br /><div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-75646348577634426922010-06-20T06:03:00.002-07:002010-08-10T08:38:00.528-07:00Eli's 5th birthdayFor Eli's birthday, we decided to stick with tradition and make it a 10am to 2pm affair, with games, food, gifts and cake. Eli was the quality control for the chocolate cake I made for him (I like this recipe --no eggs, so he could lick the mixers without me worrying!):<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGUcF8FPk4gk4e9LweUXxo2R24bcJktTsdQdBHkPDTiy-u-e97acQlxejlUrWM7BqEkjSw7vxq8gQBlzf4mThyphenhyphenNmpQ67AjBgsaHahRR9nJRdiV9ftaL_SS7lbVb1J1kJgDjN_VY7GYZLg/s1600/elicake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503397787654801138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGUcF8FPk4gk4e9LweUXxo2R24bcJktTsdQdBHkPDTiy-u-e97acQlxejlUrWM7BqEkjSw7vxq8gQBlzf4mThyphenhyphenNmpQ67AjBgsaHahRR9nJRdiV9ftaL_SS7lbVb1J1kJgDjN_VY7GYZLg/s400/elicake.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I'm glad we have a big kitchen table to accomodate all the friends that were able to make it! I was especially appreciative of the parents that also stayed to do crowd control and help out.<br />This is one side of the table:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMWx7I9g30cZSRjxuSdmzkQy-WCgycNGsHgAkG8J397Ezvmr_aodUXwiz2kQmIsz6HzZvAUgpWw31D-HGYBlsTBJEUMzg0g4C3EnWRGi7VPcikBogX-G4_Frrwh3ai1z6FA3BER_g01Bw/s1600/eliparty.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503397783069448514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMWx7I9g30cZSRjxuSdmzkQy-WCgycNGsHgAkG8J397Ezvmr_aodUXwiz2kQmIsz6HzZvAUgpWw31D-HGYBlsTBJEUMzg0g4C3EnWRGi7VPcikBogX-G4_Frrwh3ai1z6FA3BER_g01Bw/s400/eliparty.jpg" /></a><br />And here's the other: Notice all the cut-up vegetables! What was I thinking!? There was <em>way</em> too much healthy food for this group, but you can't say I didn't try.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsKyv2FD-_NzbKILuVbsE6lvXww9nsu-rEGZ24JlfBEa-DNbphP7TK-6CXTgI5PHdbSkK9lxvX8ksZodiXKoMTwOCcAnxMO-8TAUIQfNCSOjzHwTMyt_Od4a-3nVDgiScO9CnFFVPr8Af/s1600/eliparty2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503397776374634562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsKyv2FD-_NzbKILuVbsE6lvXww9nsu-rEGZ24JlfBEa-DNbphP7TK-6CXTgI5PHdbSkK9lxvX8ksZodiXKoMTwOCcAnxMO-8TAUIQfNCSOjzHwTMyt_Od4a-3nVDgiScO9CnFFVPr8Af/s400/eliparty2.jpg" /></a><br />Here Eli is starting to fade and he's probably thinking, "I like the presents, it's the sharing I don't want to do!"<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTdN55w3DnK0ortkDVT5eQ0hHGIasgGFo7IhrkGyoNiTYcLde7uWidvo6Z9-xF3XdHpQl7ZOJN1BJ02ZY29NsSCTo5p9odw7H-5b67bxWqJrESPJrtXqkUK4U2bOc_gssaqfqe1qkU1cZ/s1600/eliparty3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503397771276360914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTdN55w3DnK0ortkDVT5eQ0hHGIasgGFo7IhrkGyoNiTYcLde7uWidvo6Z9-xF3XdHpQl7ZOJN1BJ02ZY29NsSCTo5p9odw7H-5b67bxWqJrESPJrtXqkUK4U2bOc_gssaqfqe1qkU1cZ/s400/eliparty3.jpg" /></a><br />Dana and her friend Emma weren't too interested in Eli's new toys. They decided to sit in the toy box and catch up on old times, just like their moms like to do from time to time.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNY_-y3eALrC0cPc3MhCwnSRtiDR7idJKiCU9fNoGoVh_myupWgwcROqbMW1vjGokXVaoHb0Rj6svDNuiryLfmOnJ9-4cZgVV6DGDz-fz9cjEThhenADBCEVXbbQ7H_Ph-2DU6N4N-KkE/s1600/danaemma.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503397763027856802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNY_-y3eALrC0cPc3MhCwnSRtiDR7idJKiCU9fNoGoVh_myupWgwcROqbMW1vjGokXVaoHb0Rj6svDNuiryLfmOnJ9-4cZgVV6DGDz-fz9cjEThhenADBCEVXbbQ7H_Ph-2DU6N4N-KkE/s400/danaemma.jpg" /></a></div></div></div><br /><p>It was a wonderful, tiring day and I could hardly believe that I've been at this mom thing for five years now. How does that happen!?</p><p></p>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-3778555763905799582010-05-23T08:04:00.002-07:002010-05-23T08:09:05.475-07:00a family of 5Our first family picture as a family of five. I don't think it has really sunk in for me yet. What an exciting time to be alive! Scott looks great, the kids are cute...too bad about my shiny forehead.<br />Oh well.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f9c1TkuNYgv7YZr7tPEIVdiImJbK-4bUQSMru0PQ-ldoudHvfmEL-LqYWeiNjyYjUmNINgVgG4NCmUbRdAZqt39-XmNIHjcyC-GjjDz74H0KMta0la6H5-CAZllr8-wDUMmATeoyB5Hp/s1600/familypic.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474481713191996962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f9c1TkuNYgv7YZr7tPEIVdiImJbK-4bUQSMru0PQ-ldoudHvfmEL-LqYWeiNjyYjUmNINgVgG4NCmUbRdAZqt39-XmNIHjcyC-GjjDz74H0KMta0la6H5-CAZllr8-wDUMmATeoyB5Hp/s400/familypic.jpg" /></a>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-16776058166390742512010-05-20T07:58:00.001-07:002010-05-23T08:04:13.021-07:00a closer look at HannahWe had to take about a million pictures of Hannah in order to get just the right shot for her Canadian passport photo, so I thought I would post my favourite one of her here for your viewing pleasure. Plus, newborns, they change so fast!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yz4oNdZblt0U8LVxVGZWD11XX8BW5bVhF36Niq38j79ppM3ZYZYKxV3KTJlkUuTassFsmiA5pfHEaikXJzYeNXRRTJwgcyvFwixQgD2ZHbsDjOGW5rTK8vjeVIgjgHh6wYq6aEMvprAV/s1600/hannahcuddly.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474480342993727410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yz4oNdZblt0U8LVxVGZWD11XX8BW5bVhF36Niq38j79ppM3ZYZYKxV3KTJlkUuTassFsmiA5pfHEaikXJzYeNXRRTJwgcyvFwixQgD2ZHbsDjOGW5rTK8vjeVIgjgHh6wYq6aEMvprAV/s400/hannahcuddly.jpg" /></a> Sooooo cuddly! And 2 out of 3 nights, I think I'm actually getting some decent sleep!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5kTLhXxIuBVj7rX2e9iH2tqxAcEQSPrptiYOwoRpJEH68EAmnHQHHOwIkQnwBEG_-1tQ1nQ7Rxmx_oO6Q94JKXSFjlR9fpUTDhfuQi0HpiO3hAJ4gfP5fV2dBWMO25ETMcaJB9xev1P5/s1600/familypic.jpg"></a> </div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-17952277817778686802010-05-16T07:41:00.000-07:002010-05-23T07:58:40.914-07:00Dana is 3!Now that I have two daughters with birthdays in May... I wonder if I can have double parties for them in the future...<br /><br />I had to make it simple this year, obviously, since Hannah's arrival makes life busier than usual. Featured below are the refreshments served, and we ordered pizza for lunch. I made the cake and cut up the fruit and a friend brought the fruit jello which was really yummy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0i6Z_Eqkzbg9xbZ7Yu1bgdhqaR1HnpkWTVTkaqa52DiG2HqezB8HH16XM6bDrfid_8e0Qzb4d2OIUWMiqbH-yQWzSmbgjQE-5-7g3T6zRv8WK5FXmb-EBa1riK0Clw6zZC2i37ZiuEtn/s1600/cake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474476086257369794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0i6Z_Eqkzbg9xbZ7Yu1bgdhqaR1HnpkWTVTkaqa52DiG2HqezB8HH16XM6bDrfid_8e0Qzb4d2OIUWMiqbH-yQWzSmbgjQE-5-7g3T6zRv8WK5FXmb-EBa1riK0Clw6zZC2i37ZiuEtn/s400/cake.jpg" /></a> Here's Dana in her favourite present: a new summer dress just in time for the weather heating up. It's almost time to start turning on the air conditioning, that's how hot it is here (30+ Celsius these days).<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJzAFtgGsvqhsgEZ9Y8cJMcgoO8Xz62UPuHip-5vLbNfdREYlCMplZ3dJNc2KSEdget3hp2aMoOImEYj91Xj0OI4Iyv4tqgv2eVk7KxSoI525OIWuhBp_heOdnV_FE9GgI2ovmBe1h9ty/s1600/Dana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 178px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474476080682288082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJzAFtgGsvqhsgEZ9Y8cJMcgoO8Xz62UPuHip-5vLbNfdREYlCMplZ3dJNc2KSEdget3hp2aMoOImEYj91Xj0OI4Iyv4tqgv2eVk7KxSoI525OIWuhBp_heOdnV_FE9GgI2ovmBe1h9ty/s400/Dana.jpg" /></a> Here are all the party guests pictured after a rousing game of "Duck, duck, GOOSE!" We also played a simplified version of pictionary with our chalk board and whoever guessed what was being drawn (by an adult) got a candy. Oh, and they could shout out the answers in Chinese or English.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g9r1hez03yKc2ZNS7WIqXKpXoXatEB84EFuPOEJAEv1hIuONjBZi4XtBRV4cMcEfs3iiQuQ9LnJYxAIp4nwgZ2edCAp2q2nRNajGa6TdHqxH2VSylpmORRU5G6EBQrssmSSUg4TaX-YA/s1600/birthday+kids.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474476070140837378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g9r1hez03yKc2ZNS7WIqXKpXoXatEB84EFuPOEJAEv1hIuONjBZi4XtBRV4cMcEfs3iiQuQ9LnJYxAIp4nwgZ2edCAp2q2nRNajGa6TdHqxH2VSylpmORRU5G6EBQrssmSSUg4TaX-YA/s400/birthday+kids.jpg" /></a><br />And the happy birthday girl herself. She's excited to be a big girl and to be going to preschool in the fall. She is a very good helper to me these days too, helping me rinse Hannah's bum in the sink, bringing me water when I'm nursing, throwing diapers in the garbage for me and giving Hannah a MINIMUM of twenty kisses and hugs daily.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0Kj7uXWZGk8V59dhlsxJuT9nfULtrGsdXz2dUqQEPZiyhtnLJAudqGGxzEhO6mCCSkPfJYCrKJYerqnJRo8HakrCab2wc1AcAveetxeyv9ccVw-mgGv76XBY3CcfSAp4kAF6lOtYXg7j/s1600/smileydana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474476069068649026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0Kj7uXWZGk8V59dhlsxJuT9nfULtrGsdXz2dUqQEPZiyhtnLJAudqGGxzEhO6mCCSkPfJYCrKJYerqnJRo8HakrCab2wc1AcAveetxeyv9ccVw-mgGv76XBY3CcfSAp4kAF6lOtYXg7j/s400/smileydana.jpg" /></a></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-85003820658235190402010-05-09T06:33:00.004-07:002010-05-09T06:51:48.273-07:00Hannah's here!Yay! She's finally here! Hannah Joyce was born on May 6th (my due date!) at 0715, weighing in at 7 lbs 4 oz. and measuring 50 cm. Scott and I are so pleased and thankful. I was especially thankful that Scott was able to make it to the delivery...even though the doctor initially thought I was in false labour. Hah! Sure showed her!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAz5uLBShDXU0Tom_SWUpbB4UsYuoWl6qbzCMzdW51w6EbbMtcaMJcpHlVWvDT0H7N0WVWJmVP3KoKZw60atDNcFZIbxapNcdD8Xo7kfWK5LLRdzJDIXZWYJaZD7lN15VmggmlnyTWevsh/s1600/Olga+and+Hannah.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469263285069720354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAz5uLBShDXU0Tom_SWUpbB4UsYuoWl6qbzCMzdW51w6EbbMtcaMJcpHlVWvDT0H7N0WVWJmVP3KoKZw60atDNcFZIbxapNcdD8Xo7kfWK5LLRdzJDIXZWYJaZD7lN15VmggmlnyTWevsh/s400/Olga+and+Hannah.jpg" /></a> I love this proud daddy face on Scott. I must say he was a <strong>huge</strong> help to me during my labour, quoting verses to me, singing to me, encouraging me and getting me water...even handing me pieces of chocolate at some points.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN4A4p4Ao0g2XaltN1B4pQcEVMTz0HoAh2dmIPnJveDdmRCNTW9RqO7eRcS3CWGpA1yMvK8i_tHBYYPidmdbik8sthfxTuQAtekLwxqrLpmYXFTV-AOAQ69IInYPyUWeWlIKOj6KJswVE/s1600/Scott.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469263275111184914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN4A4p4Ao0g2XaltN1B4pQcEVMTz0HoAh2dmIPnJveDdmRCNTW9RqO7eRcS3CWGpA1yMvK8i_tHBYYPidmdbik8sthfxTuQAtekLwxqrLpmYXFTV-AOAQ69IInYPyUWeWlIKOj6KJswVE/s400/Scott.jpg" /></a> Here's Hannah at less than one hour old. I was surprised at how alert she was. I think she looks a bit like Eli did when he was born...but of course it's too soon to really know who she'll look most like.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5pXMTg8adSIF6CQTvGf6kH5_9PWB_mibC8ovq-eXJ2mw60zXdhq7vvTO993ZZOBZAPdPqX1meS5704XaJjdfXbGKVOZ2ZQrQpuiqFatkNOw6zW0q84GUzWL9UpNn12njeHaTb6HZ7E0v/s1600/Hannah.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469263271658648306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5pXMTg8adSIF6CQTvGf6kH5_9PWB_mibC8ovq-eXJ2mw60zXdhq7vvTO993ZZOBZAPdPqX1meS5704XaJjdfXbGKVOZ2ZQrQpuiqFatkNOw6zW0q84GUzWL9UpNn12njeHaTb6HZ7E0v/s400/Hannah.jpg" /></a><br />And can't forget the mandatory picture of the newborn feet, still blueish and wrinkly...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxW-Jy-Fqw7puxwJ3zfyrrPnwYfSyJSu4Ts3-OdpKXdCaZRqEuEzVGsXAj-SHBiBAo_1l4WG3yJlyqWPFGtYXoMrAeiu9gdNz2pICIiGxJ2dnd2sxeblRBj_Gw4D8W2VJfrL6xHIinDu8/s1600/Hannah+feet.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469263265597764370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxW-Jy-Fqw7puxwJ3zfyrrPnwYfSyJSu4Ts3-OdpKXdCaZRqEuEzVGsXAj-SHBiBAo_1l4WG3yJlyqWPFGtYXoMrAeiu9gdNz2pICIiGxJ2dnd2sxeblRBj_Gw4D8W2VJfrL6xHIinDu8/s400/Hannah+feet.jpg" /></a> We stayed two nights in the hospital and now we are back at home. I'm wondering how life will change with 3 kids now, I'm just taking it a day at a time and trying to get as much rest as I possibly can.</div><div> </div><div>Eli and Dana were really excited to meet their new sister, Dana especially just dotes on her. It's so good to be home all together again. </div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-1661640781725494592010-05-05T09:20:00.000-07:002010-05-05T09:20:00.766-07:00waiting in Beijing...I'm almost at my due date now and <strong>really</strong> looking forward to finding out who will be joining our family soon. I am in Beijing staying with some friends until the baby is born. It has been two weeks already, because I thought I might be early like I was with Eli and Dana. This baby, it seems, is in no rush.<br /><br />Why in Beijing you may ask? There is a very good international hospital here that I feel quite comfortable with. Originally I was planning to give birth at a local Chinese hospital, but I found myself not seeing eye to eye with the doctor there (the language barrier didn't help either). I felt I would be a horrible patient at a local hospital because of my nursing background and because I have had two very positive birth experiences already. The rate of cesarean sections in Chinese local hospitals is also very high which scared me. I wanted to be somewhere where I could have a say in what was happening rather than being told as is the norm.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfut-LMj_bAPD8Yj2_7tX8_YI77eOjzDc3ZFckbAdq9YvAUJ65ppDXQeiqP3Xda0hcj63js2hzL4p2W74f33r2YpJACm65-Bar_g7PPysB_ETPSVEI1cQ2AegVPEy4sfoDERpo5UZOG1ZK/s1600/PICT2964.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467581928146013362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfut-LMj_bAPD8Yj2_7tX8_YI77eOjzDc3ZFckbAdq9YvAUJ65ppDXQeiqP3Xda0hcj63js2hzL4p2W74f33r2YpJACm65-Bar_g7PPysB_ETPSVEI1cQ2AegVPEy4sfoDERpo5UZOG1ZK/s400/PICT2964.JPG" /></a> I'm reminiscing the baby days with Eli and Dana, pictured above is Dana, sweetly surrendered to sleep. I wonder what it will be like with 3... soon I will find out, but it is hard to be patient and not be anxious about when. With every twinge or slight discomfort I'm asking myself, "is that a contraction? am I in labour now?" It's tiring to keep that level of alertness up, only to be disappointed over and over again.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOq0F9kiVF_mJBfiMNGbi5mumuOk6USlw78aq3laNlmDgfXy9_6Uirg7yLOo9H4jns5pCXB6ijJWP_xhUmjuJcxFoPklIienzvrV5W8EyaNYFj7diMsJnkyHjl5suS8p85xCfe5xwjomV/s1600/2005+Pictures+856.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467576894534727458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOq0F9kiVF_mJBfiMNGbi5mumuOk6USlw78aq3laNlmDgfXy9_6Uirg7yLOo9H4jns5pCXB6ijJWP_xhUmjuJcxFoPklIienzvrV5W8EyaNYFj7diMsJnkyHjl5suS8p85xCfe5xwjomV/s400/2005+Pictures+856.jpg" /></a><br />Here's a picture of baby Eli. I just love how he has his little hands clasped together, and I love his little toque too (hiding his cone-head no doubt).<br /></div><div>Thankfully, last weekend Scott came to visit me with the kids. It was so good to see them and we got to spend 3 days together. We were hoping that I would go into labour at some point during the visit, but it didn't happen. </div><div> </div><div>We had a little scare with Eli, he fell off/jumped off some monkey bars and bashed and gashed RIGHT on the outside of his left eye. He <em>just</em> missed it. I was also thankful that he did not whack his temple, which can be really dangerous if not deadly I understand. We did not take him to get stitches, I just cleaned and bandaged him up. Aside from some swelling, it looked a lot better three days later. Phew!</div><div> </div><div>Well, I will try to post again as soon as SOMETHING happens! People say that no woman has stayed pregnant forever, but I'm beginning to feel as though I may be the first...<br /></div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-11433674426420624142010-03-05T05:40:00.001-07:002010-04-05T07:37:23.996-07:00malaysia: bees<span style="font-size:130%;">I suppose I couldn't call myself my dad's daughter if I didn't include this post highlighting a Chinese/Malaysian-owned bee farm that was open to visitors. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvGxIt1Mu20vuxpPkIXSsLc9ZHI-uppfH_Rslvskn9c_8I533WcKEt2cYDo1wRhFiHQNRjHZc3nFDOfOmv-61bs_0OzJNMYsViKcT6GhTtirkmnxCiSPix1oTBu-MkfDl6sa7PENcwXVB/s1600/flower.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456633242748150866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvGxIt1Mu20vuxpPkIXSsLc9ZHI-uppfH_Rslvskn9c_8I533WcKEt2cYDo1wRhFiHQNRjHZc3nFDOfOmv-61bs_0OzJNMYsViKcT6GhTtirkmnxCiSPix1oTBu-MkfDl6sa7PENcwXVB/s400/flower.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Lots of colourful flowers for the bees to get to.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyfHdrPi6puVvANO7C5yIl4FMaef4a7NSOI6Zj02uE616KyZNZGHnTZmWgrXId3s6583xEmrynsfeyviwHSnWoU4i9p8BnUtEuLIp-0fkrAP1Sf0-xZ7Jlp7BACILyzCjEKjaMkMRFlSI/s1600/beefarm.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456633233977642034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyfHdrPi6puVvANO7C5yIl4FMaef4a7NSOI6Zj02uE616KyZNZGHnTZmWgrXId3s6583xEmrynsfeyviwHSnWoU4i9p8BnUtEuLIp-0fkrAP1Sf0-xZ7Jlp7BACILyzCjEKjaMkMRFlSI/s400/beefarm.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Here's what the area looked like. I deliberately did not take pictures of the large kitchy cartoon bee statues set up in different areas. Just ugly!<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxG_JxjTGlzSbMMKgND8eGmajk3qTpMNuxz0vxgj4rpTBhUuGVu-hrwXhqLQK1-6yOu1iDC2flZqftgK3T5mR-tit3Yz8b2QxhxKNMrYT5E3yJJ5Z8b2jYdjv4CmlrbVbPpCWEcHlsWKBI/s1600/beehouses.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456633232903393010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxG_JxjTGlzSbMMKgND8eGmajk3qTpMNuxz0vxgj4rpTBhUuGVu-hrwXhqLQK1-6yOu1iDC2flZqftgK3T5mR-tit3Yz8b2QxhxKNMrYT5E3yJJ5Z8b2jYdjv4CmlrbVbPpCWEcHlsWKBI/s400/beehouses.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Many, many of these set up everywhere.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixl4TR2ZA4W_sJjX90ccnCkzaqWDMjHJEwsO-NNH37pBeqqzU5ngo3236BlsfXDeMxcTOt9Z640qZ-A_DE25XPxm6pmyycR4qJGj8TV2jD14ZeiO9A5tJ_FSk73MSvMPgPn5uS11_5EjFF/s1600/beedance.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456633228463182178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixl4TR2ZA4W_sJjX90ccnCkzaqWDMjHJEwsO-NNH37pBeqqzU5ngo3236BlsfXDeMxcTOt9Z640qZ-A_DE25XPxm6pmyycR4qJGj8TV2jD14ZeiO9A5tJ_FSk73MSvMPgPn5uS11_5EjFF/s400/beedance.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Dancing bees...but in the Cameron Highlands, they wouldn't have to go far to find flowers and plenty of them!<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDi_PfhzhKwaKHVbi2BviAiASqu9Sy-pr0QGnsRf_yd6oXmBkgAJdjaouwc0FCPjvlhfjSEaoaSgYBCwGsaB753J6GR3l2u-w2jU57gVlF78mBlRHyBEt-tvoA9gWMsd9ltYIfsfC40tN/s1600/beeflower.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456633223088278754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDi_PfhzhKwaKHVbi2BviAiASqu9Sy-pr0QGnsRf_yd6oXmBkgAJdjaouwc0FCPjvlhfjSEaoaSgYBCwGsaB753J6GR3l2u-w2jU57gVlF78mBlRHyBEt-tvoA9gWMsd9ltYIfsfC40tN/s400/beeflower.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Like this bee did. I confess that I did not sample the honey there. To be honest, it looked too watery, as if it was watered-down or just processed in some way (something that goes against my Slavik sensibilities). I still have my dad's and my brother Rob's good homeade Slavik honey at home anyway, no need to sully my tastebuds with any other kind. (Yes, I am a <em>honey snob</em>, or as I prefer to think of myself as a <em>honey afficionado</em>).<br /></span><div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-84513462228210094952010-03-04T05:45:00.001-07:002010-04-05T07:20:38.378-07:00malaysia: bugs<span style="font-size:130%;">When you have kids who are one metre or less in height, it helps you notice what is on the ground more and take the time to check things out. It also became obvious that the kids would enjoy going to see other insects so we went to this butterfly farm that included other insects, reptiles and rodents too.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43jawrfB6GfDwJQiiT0kbVsz0KKlKJedLGJy_UHhyjOVtqAzQFtKImdUvxhu1uQGypnwXETwXpJaL8yeh1CXp0UYi_3N2eg6nhcNzzOi3S_f3BeIQC4IaPE_mwZZNuHZTOQl7KQG1UHA8/s1600/caterpillar.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456634043537319826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43jawrfB6GfDwJQiiT0kbVsz0KKlKJedLGJy_UHhyjOVtqAzQFtKImdUvxhu1uQGypnwXETwXpJaL8yeh1CXp0UYi_3N2eg6nhcNzzOi3S_f3BeIQC4IaPE_mwZZNuHZTOQl7KQG1UHA8/s400/caterpillar.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> I wouldn't put it past Eli if he were trying to count up the legs on this caterpillar.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4xbHGe5Ck_6mbWs0tsMkcn55M6cX8fijzDD2exJLKC7AATMJKR3eLPwA7GDZACXVV3lzkGwy0KTRyjPOvTiJfo5Eo7W1Anu7LpNVzEVZPH9kXZGxqBlWa02Ff-khMeF9nr4pPig93F4n/s1600/elibeetle.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456634040081867730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4xbHGe5Ck_6mbWs0tsMkcn55M6cX8fijzDD2exJLKC7AATMJKR3eLPwA7GDZACXVV3lzkGwy0KTRyjPOvTiJfo5Eo7W1Anu7LpNVzEVZPH9kXZGxqBlWa02Ff-khMeF9nr4pPig93F4n/s400/elibeetle.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Eli wanted to hold different insects. Here he is holding a large horned beetle on a stick.<br /></span><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnbNCkEQ-qFC_7Pg1-CwnxPyt5Jfdmg14lpVWU6LHJas1iCSCasnWVeBj7v7AsAqPMKDMtr4p-TueuZHCzznU0JlGUvBUeh_TvFhr07OpaTA6m5MDziXY34HVzGBu-a-GGMdeEJ4Jk7Fa/s1600/beatle.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456634028370292818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnbNCkEQ-qFC_7Pg1-CwnxPyt5Jfdmg14lpVWU6LHJas1iCSCasnWVeBj7v7AsAqPMKDMtr4p-TueuZHCzznU0JlGUvBUeh_TvFhr07OpaTA6m5MDziXY34HVzGBu-a-GGMdeEJ4Jk7Fa/s400/beatle.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">He's braver than I am, that's for sure, here's what it looked like up close! I didn't get too involved in this excursion, the smell of the rodents was getting to me.<br /></span><div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-58653170313582747152010-03-03T05:48:00.001-07:002010-04-05T07:12:33.820-07:00malaysia: cooler highlands<span style="font-size:130%;">After our time with Jill, we met up with Scott's parents for two weeks. It didn't take us long to get weary of the heat so we decided to rent a van and head up to the Cameron Highlands. It's a beautiful area famous for tea, ("self-plucking")strawberries and other agricultural products. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uG0juDyJoHb4mfez5AYTU36FibKxyuWYB74GQxwg1l7MYCe3eCAYypWedHiL8MnS_-AQaPBGGlrzVXm54j_8Apu7MAYaEI25NY6JHMgOYAyn1Uo-3N25aqG8hQYEx1MhWdHJ9FLZWGTP/s1600/donnaonpath.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456635029120737554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uG0juDyJoHb4mfez5AYTU36FibKxyuWYB74GQxwg1l7MYCe3eCAYypWedHiL8MnS_-AQaPBGGlrzVXm54j_8Apu7MAYaEI25NY6JHMgOYAyn1Uo-3N25aqG8hQYEx1MhWdHJ9FLZWGTP/s400/donnaonpath.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Here we are at a tea plantation--just a maze of tea bushes for acres and acres!<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShmh2sGfWKj_-OPWpVIU590DmBfycpgK4Pi3fPD1I_43a5oCS2YOt-gplMFKg4GkyHZ0w5tcykP9gmUR05orLhTEVIa2DzNP2tJ7gPmU7lEi2aN-XOQgoZvfesHXPSaXh9npYVTyrevzE/s1600/elionboppa.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456634834818179858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShmh2sGfWKj_-OPWpVIU590DmBfycpgK4Pi3fPD1I_43a5oCS2YOt-gplMFKg4GkyHZ0w5tcykP9gmUR05orLhTEVIa2DzNP2tJ7gPmU7lEi2aN-XOQgoZvfesHXPSaXh9npYVTyrevzE/s400/elionboppa.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Some spots were pretty steep and we didn't want to lose the kids so Scott's dad found a good way to transport Eli.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZuHbSpd9_6KRpmfFv3udBQKquxBoDrb3dsUbC0ee5LOJacBRsui2DRxaWiB7HshbIqlPbNv969DeChvdMm-xAEPxEb1q-SOfyXcoN2_7MkUVOFrZQTNT5s-7QSUBdReXWQ9u25veqfMv/s1600/danaondad.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456634823173991778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZuHbSpd9_6KRpmfFv3udBQKquxBoDrb3dsUbC0ee5LOJacBRsui2DRxaWiB7HshbIqlPbNv969DeChvdMm-xAEPxEb1q-SOfyXcoN2_7MkUVOFrZQTNT5s-7QSUBdReXWQ9u25veqfMv/s400/danaondad.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> And Dana (copying her brother) found a good seat on Scott.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L181uSu_6rGA0vyLW9sFd7N965rBure19IcNtpXDS66C2JTTY8hNjYgktzYfgjZn2xpBEB1joBaMWmJ0W37iv44OyDu11qkUhOvMsZORvTqGKlTzjqhNj7U2K8T7zCzhnr6TUkh1kE3b/s1600/gazebo.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456634817572700466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L181uSu_6rGA0vyLW9sFd7N965rBure19IcNtpXDS66C2JTTY8hNjYgktzYfgjZn2xpBEB1joBaMWmJ0W37iv44OyDu11qkUhOvMsZORvTqGKlTzjqhNj7U2K8T7zCzhnr6TUkh1kE3b/s400/gazebo.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> While Eli stayed with Boppa and Nana, Dana, Scott and I hiked down and explored the tea plantation. We stopped for a rest and some water at this little gazebo.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Another time, Scott's parents watched the kids for a morning so Scott and I could go on a hike. It was steep but so nice to get out <em>sans kids</em> for some exercise and conversation.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div></div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zAhGTYapzzbW9OtcT4yjn6TbcX7q3SeZPI7cORBt1RnL24NMHh0G0xOZ2EGamzdBXtvHMF9V99FxOt8PkwevkfELUwXdojC5C_4T2tjZOLnhIHl00EO9YHb_Dnzj7sLiUMJtmx3dPmDf/s1600/mehike.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456634808946910034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zAhGTYapzzbW9OtcT4yjn6TbcX7q3SeZPI7cORBt1RnL24NMHh0G0xOZ2EGamzdBXtvHMF9V99FxOt8PkwevkfELUwXdojC5C_4T2tjZOLnhIHl00EO9YHb_Dnzj7sLiUMJtmx3dPmDf/s400/mehike.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Here I am dragging my belly up the winding trail...<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45vvIRaXvkarjEMe72jECg_LaZz7sWtq-j7aQXiyyhbJYSEekvq4nZTRrEBt3NFs-w5LftgscAwhpkW2RVOHdGTuIBapwqpOzvTif7aksOwI1sNiNaJo2vAVa31hB2v8K21BmhuIDaje9/s1600/ushike.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456634804047853154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45vvIRaXvkarjEMe72jECg_LaZz7sWtq-j7aQXiyyhbJYSEekvq4nZTRrEBt3NFs-w5LftgscAwhpkW2RVOHdGTuIBapwqpOzvTif7aksOwI1sNiNaJo2vAVa31hB2v8K21BmhuIDaje9/s400/ushike.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> We made it to this lookout tower after about 3 hours of hiking. It was much faster going down, but one had to be careful not to go too fast (i.e. fall)!<br /></span><div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-72242989229805248972010-03-02T05:51:00.004-07:002010-04-05T06:53:51.972-07:00malaysia: animals<span style="font-size:130%;">When travelling with kids, you almost have no choice but to go to all those places you wouldn't think of going as a single, or as a couple. But we had fun at these animal parks, and admission was cheap. Through your kids you somehow, in some ways, get to be a kid again.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4G-HJeBShdsRVXYqfSOJupWZspV95yX0GIlwDngPgw6l1Ie7aYdum-g1yd-TYXnnqYDyzhxPFrrGcetBJNigLGlxthw5BTPWz2xvg8SKfTK8QZGdjJB-oZkBr1yvDBnBGUClyQiZVlssS/s1600/sign.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456635955319426066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4G-HJeBShdsRVXYqfSOJupWZspV95yX0GIlwDngPgw6l1Ie7aYdum-g1yd-TYXnnqYDyzhxPFrrGcetBJNigLGlxthw5BTPWz2xvg8SKfTK8QZGdjJB-oZkBr1yvDBnBGUClyQiZVlssS/s400/sign.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Finally a sign that says what they really mean!<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUxrZtbjl6a4ek8iEhtbxmlIRJpqIH75_sytiTNAIbvSGXP9I6Ol1O7JyzeIFZhLuKTP-DW6cJHtz-wIcqET_CqRiTITJwfEku_j1bTqVZbyb4Sb6aLHxrDyFO7oo_uQas5m__EzuAw8s/s1600/parrot.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456635950757339890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUxrZtbjl6a4ek8iEhtbxmlIRJpqIH75_sytiTNAIbvSGXP9I6Ol1O7JyzeIFZhLuKTP-DW6cJHtz-wIcqET_CqRiTITJwfEku_j1bTqVZbyb4Sb6aLHxrDyFO7oo_uQas5m__EzuAw8s/s400/parrot.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A bird in Dana's favourite colour.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-GnPshXNYo_09XBweClxBD_wIWhNoKaAZoqeHNRh2DYLhFgyt4T0vOpFZotmsIwoq2NSTdkbUz8E_CdoTN-gLW623h0jLEo1DIS_s3-pe3F1cVqvFLztHNnyFkW79MxBnhxAoWtkTUgd/s1600/bearsloth.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456635943676413202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-GnPshXNYo_09XBweClxBD_wIWhNoKaAZoqeHNRh2DYLhFgyt4T0vOpFZotmsIwoq2NSTdkbUz8E_CdoTN-gLW623h0jLEo1DIS_s3-pe3F1cVqvFLztHNnyFkW79MxBnhxAoWtkTUgd/s400/bearsloth.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Forgotten already what this is, strange creature...Looks like a cross between a bear and a sloth.</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn_YrD7V0ETd2XVimzEsLrWg3VYOgFriaUVXDrff8oQMEksxgkiocS-P-t-zKEYmh1VHZgQpHE67bCOoEY3Lfbf0sLkLVvOSN9UQQswLZ0ZVfpHAYCj9N4C9_Xf-X5UvvPv0zPTuW54D3/s1600/ostrich.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456635931175424322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn_YrD7V0ETd2XVimzEsLrWg3VYOgFriaUVXDrff8oQMEksxgkiocS-P-t-zKEYmh1VHZgQpHE67bCOoEY3Lfbf0sLkLVvOSN9UQQswLZ0ZVfpHAYCj9N4C9_Xf-X5UvvPv0zPTuW54D3/s400/ostrich.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Eli asked me how one would kill an ostrich. Any ideas? Besides shooting, I mean. Could we be strong and quick enough to wring its neck I wonder?... Nothing like having a son that makes you ponder these sorts of things.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktfT9NUPAWd4EoHXvKxR6o7hSM4zOioiiMkfgitN7Jtgn-KjG7a4TYebO_x4uB2fa-wtrr_5w8tIPMMU6iDMqqoV2bDpO8qBkSV4Byhk4I5Bj6bj50pdiJw4OaiaBHdmrBRvWF2ikiTcA/s1600/croc.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456635930757350946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktfT9NUPAWd4EoHXvKxR6o7hSM4zOioiiMkfgitN7Jtgn-KjG7a4TYebO_x4uB2fa-wtrr_5w8tIPMMU6iDMqqoV2bDpO8qBkSV4Byhk4I5Bj6bj50pdiJw4OaiaBHdmrBRvWF2ikiTcA/s400/croc.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> And can't forget the crocodiles. Nobody is sure why they rest with their mouths open like that. One theory is that the sun helps kill bacteria in their mouths and therefore promotes better oral hygiene...</span> </div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-81425373170473302312010-03-01T05:55:00.001-07:002010-04-05T06:40:43.646-07:00malaysia: langkawi with Jill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjef39gth5ewZZOcMjvTGhD44rB0xdw4M_6BMgw0x0tkro9UaDVt2XVKhecIa_WxbqhBzW4mUuZJEWt1afUUQnf1BMXGgef-VuVM0eGjfxuKYEbCCGKNPX8xOl1CNURqYK1hvF29i8Cjb/s1600/pool.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfi-dzEfP_uATUvjzNqQAzQhSEmkBUldY_w99Y5mRFZVxE5MYZ6haBZu_l1bjInAQSNA00oNOpI30uyOnwu2nK6sI-5RUQ04FeP5kyt2I-cc0P0uViMW7U9bqQGKjk-zI4mYHDqlbOrVc/s1600/jillanddana.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456637051369263490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfi-dzEfP_uATUvjzNqQAzQhSEmkBUldY_w99Y5mRFZVxE5MYZ6haBZu_l1bjInAQSNA00oNOpI30uyOnwu2nK6sI-5RUQ04FeP5kyt2I-cc0P0uViMW7U9bqQGKjk-zI4mYHDqlbOrVc/s400/jillanddana.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">We had the chance to go to Malaysia for Chinese New Year. Scott's sister Jill met us there and we spent a wonderful week together on Langkawi Island. I was SO thankful for the extra hands and eyes she provided (w.r.t. the kids!) as well as her navigational help when Scott was driving at night on the left side of the road trying to find different places of interest. Plus, it was just plain good to see her again,catch up, and make memories.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J_0yVtBkSyEGeHjV9o-aG7nTS5oR_iwcUooH6UWBQvXVbMfalFsqo970iyASE8MBd8KUxN3wETkASWBLTQH9y2SH0qwVR5mxiZ-5k_S8I8MmZWD3Ev7CcwszqbiHVB8LU0WZzBCHWsA2/s1600/gondola.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456637042308300370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J_0yVtBkSyEGeHjV9o-aG7nTS5oR_iwcUooH6UWBQvXVbMfalFsqo970iyASE8MBd8KUxN3wETkASWBLTQH9y2SH0qwVR5mxiZ-5k_S8I8MmZWD3Ev7CcwszqbiHVB8LU0WZzBCHWsA2/s400/gondola.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> Here we took a gondola up a high mountain so we could look out over the island. Eli does not look pleased but at least he isn't covering his face as he is prone to do when the camera is pulled out.<br /><br /></span><div><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Another day we found out about this trail to a waterfall with a pool at the bottom of it, so we went. It was so refreshing to find a cool place to be in the middle of the day. We had to chase off a few monkeys (who are attracted to the sound and sight of plastic bags), but other than that it was very relaxing. It was also one of the few times Dana didn't announce every 5 minutes, " IT'S TOO HOT!" when we were outside.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0xbGoQVR7wVXkSN-LQIJdiNWTZ7nFvGN200XNbA7jy9QTD9Q3XOsOIAAmySUHR-mNZQQWOgY0DVFQ_GraKogqsmCDSVBEPlKczsb3qNZf1Aby_N__6MV4z2FDSIkJCVB3EZ8RnEpGnfg/s1600/danapool.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456636689483596802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0xbGoQVR7wVXkSN-LQIJdiNWTZ7nFvGN200XNbA7jy9QTD9Q3XOsOIAAmySUHR-mNZQQWOgY0DVFQ_GraKogqsmCDSVBEPlKczsb3qNZf1Aby_N__6MV4z2FDSIkJCVB3EZ8RnEpGnfg/s400/danapool.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> Also nearby was a natural waterslide area where we spent another whole afternoon sliding down the slippery rocks. Actually it was Scott, Jill and Eli that did most of the sliding, Dana and I just soaked in the cool water.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYWNpr9Q-hbCCLrZa5uIpcN7P9cDzFkYLlnGEmYQUOGS2jbAZkr6260jExloaWSPv3WQddgriX-cj-BX0LyDwUCtPvRIcT0RPXGfmrzS1g5eEmbNtCP57ks8Cy900jhLUCG1vSzWsr6YV/s1600/slidescott.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456636678349683730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYWNpr9Q-hbCCLrZa5uIpcN7P9cDzFkYLlnGEmYQUOGS2jbAZkr6260jExloaWSPv3WQddgriX-cj-BX0LyDwUCtPvRIcT0RPXGfmrzS1g5eEmbNtCP57ks8Cy900jhLUCG1vSzWsr6YV/s400/slidescott.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br />It might look painful, but those rocks were slippery! Like father, like son...<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88SIeqwl6M86ziFpcSMrwvflr5_Y8vhYZQhGZYm5ffG4ps5AwDv5ejd4WCpDH0i3s-NLSESg6cpcf8aUU8nCTfjy2eysQuA8B8A7qQ_pj-kTWR1nS14v3LsxaGPS1JFhYvUteCphsRaXE/s1600/slideeli.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456636669457545970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88SIeqwl6M86ziFpcSMrwvflr5_Y8vhYZQhGZYm5ffG4ps5AwDv5ejd4WCpDH0i3s-NLSESg6cpcf8aUU8nCTfjy2eysQuA8B8A7qQ_pj-kTWR1nS14v3LsxaGPS1JFhYvUteCphsRaXE/s400/slideeli.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br />Often in the afternoons, I would be tuckered out, so I would opt for a nap leaving the kid responsibilities to Jill and Scott. The kids loved storytime/bonding time with their auntie (Eli even had a sleepover with Jill one night that he still talks about). Having some indoor downtime during the heat of the day was one way to keep the kids (and their pregnant mom, for one) from getting too cranky and/or sunburned.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaCPuNjRz99e_uMHOUDdI9BitNm9XQSmNVS9q8xsChh-Mh-avmBcJbAFk73wBkL8bF2WhYdacQBObV54zq_oUs6mNK84n0wpTKeyLg-2BdamEUheXHj6s1MLcCfeYPYAiSvLV8Uqg7QUo/s1600/jillstory.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456636664957919346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaCPuNjRz99e_uMHOUDdI9BitNm9XQSmNVS9q8xsChh-Mh-avmBcJbAFk73wBkL8bF2WhYdacQBObV54zq_oUs6mNK84n0wpTKeyLg-2BdamEUheXHj6s1MLcCfeYPYAiSvLV8Uqg7QUo/s400/jillstory.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Our time together was over all too fast. We were able to also take in a morning at the beach, an aquarium, lots of delicious food (especially mango ices), night markets, snorkelling, games...we're looking forward to the next time!</span><br /></span><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-12148218448255900792010-01-14T06:21:00.001-07:002010-01-14T08:44:55.860-07:00Christmas MusicalEli and Dana got to be in a Christmas Musical this year! It was put on by the local home-schooling group of which I am a new member. We get together every Friday afternoon for some outdoor play, then we come in and have a snack, and then we read a story and do some kind of related craft. Each parent takes a turn leading it and providing the snacks. Eli really enjoys it and calls it "story and craft time." Dana wishes she could go, but it's for kids ages 4+.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNDga1nT5uymaNfkDiY9Nfcx5DdT8YHzjYn5mihHaUp6a_LtAy8V8k1ylEhG4czW389j0_g4eq3bYsyH6L2HuEtU8PE1xeIrNM6eKn0Xr5XVVGxuaVheUTfJd0FSkgsAfc7eyM5DMqilx/s1600-h/clip_image001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426604746691576642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNDga1nT5uymaNfkDiY9Nfcx5DdT8YHzjYn5mihHaUp6a_LtAy8V8k1ylEhG4czW389j0_g4eq3bYsyH6L2HuEtU8PE1xeIrNM6eKn0Xr5XVVGxuaVheUTfJd0FSkgsAfc7eyM5DMqilx/s400/clip_image001.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkhBWSpwZebqkGBxLwyUi4r5AaswH7vt2VAT_072nj6MtbVSfK2FrZXHuKvG_mMmYDs55PGnIURpD5RG6ILFMkhZZpW1hm8717Bv4Dx49UufIM63apSpk3Uz2jkg5OmM1AwHdxqrPpb7i/s1600-h/clip_image002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426604566407996322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkhBWSpwZebqkGBxLwyUi4r5AaswH7vt2VAT_072nj6MtbVSfK2FrZXHuKvG_mMmYDs55PGnIURpD5RG6ILFMkhZZpW1hm8717Bv4Dx49UufIM63apSpk3Uz2jkg5OmM1AwHdxqrPpb7i/s400/clip_image002.jpg" /></a>Eli had three roles: Moses, a tax-collector and a pig (some people think the latter two are the same thing). Dana was a cute little pig too for the manger scene (they had extra animal costumes, so Dana could take part too). At one point in one of the performances, Eli was pretending to eat voraciously out of the manger! It was pretty funny! Thankfully in that particular scene, Jesus had not been born yet. </div><div></div><div>I really wanted to post a movie but it would not download! Eli and Dana really enjoyed the songs throughout the play, especially "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" (Eli's favourite) and "The First Noel" (Dana's favourite, she sometimes calls it The Next Noel").</div><div></div><div>It's January now and they are both still asking to sing these Christmas carols at bedtime...well, why not? </div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894688311184595503.post-54517345342193827982009-12-30T08:08:00.004-07:002010-01-14T08:23:10.160-07:00Christmas and snow!We had a wonderful Christmas! We especially enjoyed Skyping our families and chatting with them. The kids were pleased to receive Play Doh (especially for Dana)toys and Lego (especially for Eli). The best toy of all was the box the Play Doh Creativity Center came in: the kids are sitting in the box and it reminded me that <em>they</em> are two of the best gifts I've ever received!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX_6nj90H8hukxvrWIDj4FgsBNj0Hi9M58b2Ef2iDsuRa_SP2lVADe-yf1VlA-vrvqiJ50UMPwx7U01C39YoWcViMrvWzUJbh__ZEebioJkpU1qwQ5FY-R_vsEc9jLA8xuG_IzQjxy1ng/s1600-h/clip_image002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426613231911694370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX_6nj90H8hukxvrWIDj4FgsBNj0Hi9M58b2Ef2iDsuRa_SP2lVADe-yf1VlA-vrvqiJ50UMPwx7U01C39YoWcViMrvWzUJbh__ZEebioJkpU1qwQ5FY-R_vsEc9jLA8xuG_IzQjxy1ng/s400/clip_image002.jpg" /></a> We also had a big snowfall (after Christmas), the biggest in 20 years. I went around taking pictures of "typical Chinese snowmen." Here are a two examples.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8VrxZ-prhHEmb9KMOM0QHiJUb8Cn0bJnTOf-FDAG0CTaB_aZaLmqep-EMPBUpfQfEgoSh6HNxgNM8BsI8iZ94223l3pMdewvug9ksCRpP3ZYT51Y2BaBqNrAIkiTZiI6II-ILXnw2Oli/s1600-h/clip_image003.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426613054902424242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8VrxZ-prhHEmb9KMOM0QHiJUb8Cn0bJnTOf-FDAG0CTaB_aZaLmqep-EMPBUpfQfEgoSh6HNxgNM8BsI8iZ94223l3pMdewvug9ksCRpP3ZYT51Y2BaBqNrAIkiTZiI6II-ILXnw2Oli/s400/clip_image003.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7ln1VpV2e19gd8goTxAB9-DandJP7g5GuJ0cYUziBGxIoOOmc6PL4caIkadVyqf7_YAQRuWVHZwrcGwmlU0yabfSaGvTqQlUoSO4Qk32Oqnw3b3j4AAXkrCEaQPRHZhkjj4diNH3vub2/s1600-h/clip_image001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426613046706412770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7ln1VpV2e19gd8goTxAB9-DandJP7g5GuJ0cYUziBGxIoOOmc6PL4caIkadVyqf7_YAQRuWVHZwrcGwmlU0yabfSaGvTqQlUoSO4Qk32Oqnw3b3j4AAXkrCEaQPRHZhkjj4diNH3vub2/s400/clip_image001.jpg" /></a> Yep, just piles of snow, with heads on top, but points given for creative decorating of the heads nonetheless. It was entertaining to me (since I do not own a car) how upside-down the city was rendered by this snowfall. It really slowed things down for a few days there, and it seemed to clean things up a bit (rather refreshing to see clean white snow on the ground for a few days rather than the usual dirt and frozen loogies!)<br /><div></div></div></div>olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06826990704308751483noreply@blogger.com0