Art...

When I got Kay from her "nap" the other day, this is what I discovered. I asked Kay what she used to color all over the wall and she pointed to the heater plug. Several things ran through my mind...first, I was so thankful she was safe, then, I was NOT happy. We had discussions about how you can't color on the wall and how dangerous playing with the plug was. It is challenging here with no heat. I guess we will have to be more creative next winter... I think my brother summed it up best..."at least it wasn't poo finger paint"...very true...very true...

Kay Days..

A favorite in our house these days is playing bowling. Here is Craig teaching Kay how to hold the ball. There were A LOT of giggles! Yes, Craig is wearing a necklace. Kay said everyone had to get dressed up for bowling first.

Kay is really into having "picnics" with her "friends" these days. Sometimes we have to get a pillow for each friend to sit on their own chair and sometimes all friends sit on the same pillow. Here is Kay eating lunch with her "friends". It is a process to get everyone in just the right seat before eating!

Our Neighborhood...

Here are some pictures Craig and Kay took while on an "adventure" in our neighborhood.

The Wan Chai wet market...

The main street that leads to central area...

Our apartment complex. View from the hiking trail beside our building.

Memories...

Today I played a song Kay used to love to sing along to on our screened in porch. When it started she said "we sing on porch". I told her she was right and she said "in North Carolina". It amazes me the little things she remembers!

20 Teeth!

Last night Kay's final two top molars came through. She now has all her primary teeth! It made for a long night, but nothing some ibuprofen and mommy snuggles couldn't fix. Our little girl is getting so big!!

Want to learn about Hong Kong?

Do you want to learn about our new city and lots of the restaurants I have posted about? Watch the Anthony Bourdain, The Layover: Hong Kong show. He talks about our BBQ pork restaurant in Wan Chai, favorite Dim Sum restaurant, and noodle place in Central. Yummy! We were excited that a lot of our favorites that we have discovered were listed as his favorites too!

What is a name anyway??...

I always learn something new here. Today in my Mandarin lesson I learned how the Chinese put family name first and then given name. My tutor said in high school one day her teacher said she was only going to call students by their "English" names. None of the students at the time had English names so they all went home to pick one. At home, she turned to the back of the English dictionary that listed example English names. She found one she liked and would be easy to remember...Sally. Unlike China, she said most Hong Kong children are given English names at birth by their parents as well as traditional Chinese names.

She is good at change...

Well, Kay still struggles with sleep but I can say she is getting really good at changes. She started her new class on Monday. I have started Mandarin lessons so I was unable to take her. My friend said she was all smiles going in. She loves school and new teachers did not seem to phase her at all!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Well, the rain has begun here. All week we have had Amber Rain Warnings and thunderstorm warnings. When you are two and have new yellow rain boots...the rain is great!

"Flat Charlie"

My nephew Charlie had a school project where they asked family members that lived afar to take pictures of a drawing Charlie made around town and little trinkets about the city. Kay posed with the picture and decided to send a toy dragon and book about Hong Kong. Her favorite part was the huge thank you note his class wrote.

Our first visitors!!

We were so fortunate to have our first visitors! My aunt and uncle came to visit for several days. I was so happy to have familiar faces here! They toured China for a few days and we were able to show them our new city. I think they really enjoyed themselves. There is even talk of them coming back to see more!! Kay LOVED having company. She was especially attached to Kate by the end. The day after they left Kay kept asking "where Gary and Kate?".

We took them to the big Buddha, introduced them to milk/bubble tea, and the restaurant where you pick your seafood out for them to cook. Craig even got them to eat chicken feet at Dim Sum.