Siyuan and Sihuai

Siyuan was totally excited about celebrating his ninth birthday. We have limited him to unwrapping one gift a day. Coming close to Xmas, there are also Xmas gifts from family members and of course Santa Claus. All part of Lux's plans to give the kids a good week to celebrate. They also get to empty their piggy bank and go shopping with their savings.

Our last winter in Hong Kong. Plans for a nice quiet season were swept aside by two renovations on our floor. Cue dust and respiratory infection that won't go away. On a nice Saturday, I took the kids downstairs for a game of Talisman. Bright sunlight and fresh air!

Kids had a whale of a time, joining friends at Quarry Bay Park, playing with light sticks. They made hula hoops, bracelets, and balls. Then they used the hoops to play hop scotch. ;)

Siyuan's favourite pizza for now - peking duck without the chilli.

Moma, my duck ran away!!

History of the World according to Sihuai and her friend. Because dinosaurs were alive thousands of years before man, they must have existed before the Bible. And also the Bible said God created man on the sixth day. So it must have been the  Land Before Time first. Then the Croods came along. After that its the Ice Age. Then the Bible, then the present. We will have the Robinsons in the future.

We watched the SG50 parade through the internet. Sihuai danced to the music, and kids were amused when they heard songs learnt from school. Siyuan was most amused to see a giant ice ka-chang. They both rushed through their baths just so they won't miss any fireworks. Usually we can't get them out of the bathroom!

CNY! Time for the kids to see their extended family and meet cousins. Before we left for Singapore, I asked the kids how often they will visit us when they had grown up. Once a year! Siyuan said because that's how often we see their grandparents. Told that we can take care of their children and teach chinese, Syuan changed this mind and said he would visit every day. Haha.

Spring brings with it fog and wet floors. This has been a mild winter, though it came early. For the past three weeks we have been beset with foggy weather. It may finally be clearing. We moved again, making this our fifth apt in 7 years. Change seems constant. Its a goos opportunity to redo the layout. Gone are the old bulky furniture so we can put in two study tables for the kids. Signs of growing up. People are constantly amazed though we have packed a family of four into 490 square feet. But this is Hong Kong and it calls for a disclipine to discard and stay lean in all things.

At a playground, sihuai called me over. She remembers when she used to sit beside her brother who would be responsible for rocking the bike. Now shes too big in the passenger seat. While she enjoys been in charge, she remembers sitting there and just leaning back in the seat. I laughed and said: you've grown!

Kids had a very good holiday. Happy, excited, plenty of presents, lots of baking from lux and of course home work as siuyuan prepares for exams post holidays.