Typical Monday

Monday is probably the hardest day of the week. First day of practising piano, homework, and also it is the 'single mom' day since daddy doesn't get home until late at night after badminton. This particular Monday I had more energy and decided instead of just doing simple dinner, we would make sushi-spam style! Ryan loved it cause he got to play with the bamboo roller and he welcomed the annual spam feast.

Afterward, I made our usual fruit smoothie. Unfortunately, eating individual fruit is just not our style. I make this almost every other day just using whatever fruits I have. Typical ones are apples, bananas, kiwi....sometimes add in pineapples and frozen berries. I always top it off with yogurt, flaxseed, some juice and water. It does wonders to all of our digestive systems! The best thing is Ryan would drink it even though he would not eat most of the fruits individually.

After we are done with dinner, the kids would go to bed around 9 pm. I will have my quiet time until 10:30 pm when daddy finally comes home after his workout; then he would want to scour for food and here I go serving another meal all over again.

Moment of Lifelessness

Last time I felt like life just turned its light off in seconds was when I went under NO2 during the IVF cycle procedure. Tonight, I had a similar experience only that it was more frightening than before - because this time was completely unexpected. We were just about done with dinner at a restaurant. As I was getting up to gather the belongings and to pay the bills, I suddenly felt a sharp stomach pain and then my head felt dizzy while the legs started to give out. At that moment, a waitress already came up and asked if I needed help because I already appeared to be fainting. I regained my consciousness quickly but my ears were still ringing. I told them I needed to go to the bathroom cause I knew I wouldn't make it home with the stomach issue. I was a bit afraid to go in there by myself. What if I really fainted in there? I had a severe bout of diarrhea and I knew I had to get the junk out of my system in order to feel better. The bad stomach issue was probably attributed to the soiled lunch I finished for Ryan just couple days before. The tofu in the warmer probably started to ferment as it was lukewarmed. Yeah, it was not very bright of me. I guess I thought I was strong enough to stomach that. The fact that I am currently on my heaviest menstrual cycle certainly did not help with my condition. Sigh, I just felt old all of a sudden.

For a while now, I am also bothered by this skin issue on my neck. I have delayed in seeing a doctor and it is not getting better. I believe it is a ezcema. It is itchy, stingy, and it started to discolored and spread further.

Yup, all of the above health experiences recently only affirm the notion that life is short. I must live it to the fullest each day.

HK - A Very Full Sunday

On the first Sunday we were in HK, we all hopped on the 234x bus with Mandy's family to attend service at YMCA in TST. We met some old friends like Jeremiah and Janet along with their 2 kids. After a quick lunch at Sogo, we split off different paths. We had to pick up boat tickets for Macau in HK island and Mandy's family went home as usual. On our way home after taking care of the ticket business, the day was still early. We happened to walk past all the Central docks that led to different small islands in HK. So, I thought since we were already there, why not?! We did! We just
picked an island that we had never gone to and off to Lamma Island we went.

The boat ride was about 30 mins. The only thing I know about Lamma Island is the power plant there. So, I was pleasantly surprised by the many things that it offered. We landed at the dock on the north side and my ambition was to walk to other dock for the return boat trip. Well, that was miscalculated big time since after about 40 mins, we were still just 1/3 way on that red line toward south. Thank goodness we realized it early.

Lamma Island is known for its seafood just like the other islands in HK. Due to its no-car laws, many foreigners love to reside here and commute to work instead. This little shop sells all imported organic food and it will not survive without a significant westerners here.




Along the way, we stopped by a temple which is the goddess who protects the sea. The streets were narrow and one would find small shops and eateries along the alleys. Once we passed through the area closest to the docks, we found some mouth-watering satay hawkers and soon after, an open-rice recommended tofu fa dessert. So, needless to say, we had to try both. Toward the end of our hike, we rested at the beach that was one of the main attractions on the island. When one looked out from the beach, one could see the serene view of the water juxtaposed the solemn power plant.





























On our boat ride back, I happened to see this picture and a thought just darned on me how far HK has come since the day of this old sailboat - for better for worse.

We ended the day with an all you can order Japanese-Thai food place in Jordan. Yes, the daddy was hungry after all the walking and carrying the baby in the meantime. After gorging ourselves with food and drink, we hopped on our favorite bus ride home for a much needed rest.

At Eli's birthday party

The perk of a sibling is one gets to tag along to her brother's friend's birthday party. Katelyn went with Ryan to Eli's last Saturday. She actually couldn't play all that much since the Pump it Up place is really for older kids. But after a short time of resisting, she still enjoyed hanging around the place. On occasion, she got inside the air filled bouncy thing and seemed to enjoy it!
















As for Ryan, he was probably the oldest in the party. He just went all out as one would expect a boy would do in that kind of a place - going up and down the gigantic (to me it was) slides, jumping all around the place. He sure had a good time.

Katelyn's typical weekday activity

Katelyn's typical week is very mellow. We usually take it easy at home after we drop off the brother at school. Only on Wed/Thurs when I have bible study that she gets to have play group fun for a couple hours. She doesn't even get to go to library story time due to conflicts. Even the park is a rare place to visit. Poor kid, feels like she is a bit deprived. But she seems happy nevertheless :).
















After Ryan gets off school, she is usually the busy body while the brother tries to do his homework. Then of course, Ryan uses her as excuse of why he is slow in completing it. When piano lesson starts again, I will have to drag her with us to church for practice before going home to homework. Now that Ryan has baseball, she will have to come with us for practice in the afternoon as well.

So, yes, she doesn't have a schedule built around her but rather she just has to fit in everyone else's.

A busy Sunday

Despite the great weather here, we don't get to enjoy it as much as we should or want to. A typical weekend is normally filled with scheduled activities which leaves hardly any time for a day trip. Here was his schedule last Sunday...

8:00 am get to choir practice for a special morning service performance (ouch!)
11:00 am make it to church in time to teach Children worship
1:00 pm Chinese school
after chinese school, he usually has a playdate with another kid until choir.
6:00 pm normal choir performance

If the kids are not tired by the end of the day, the adults are. If we stay here, I hope to modify weekend schedule so that it will allow some family time just to go explore the area, again.

HK - A day at Mei Foo

It was great being able to hook up with Stanley and let the kids hang out. We all met up at Mei Foo on our way to see Queenie's baby.

I was surprised how well these two got along. I think having Jane there helped them unite as a team. I am told they would pick on her together.

In a spur of a moment, I thought of taking this picture. Though we couldn't get them all smiling but it is still great!


As you can tell, uncle Joshua actually joined in for the family affairs. Here is the new baby Nathan.