Friday, March 29, 2013

Happy Easter!

 Tuesday at moms group we had a super fun Easter lesson and Egg hunt in the park. The weather was predicting horrible weather, but it ended up being okay in the morning.





 We had a picnic lunch afterwards.

 Easter Baskets ready for the boys... We did our own egg hunt Friday morning here because tonight we are leaving for our Spring Break trip to China.
 Looking for eggs!


 Grandma and Grandpa T sent fun Easter cards for everyone...
Heres the link to a video (as I post this the video is still converting... check back later if it doesn't work now) with the three kids enjoying the Easter bunny... I couldn't get the video of our egg hunt to upload.

Happy Easter. HE is RISEN!!!

Monday, March 25, 2013

We Live in a Zoo!

If you know my boys, you are probably thinking that I live in a zoo, with a couple of wild animals! However, we actually live with wild animals and on our morning runs often see monkey on the path. I usually dont have my camera to capture this experience, but last week when my parents were here, we saw monkeys, AND had the camera!






Saturday, March 23, 2013

Disney {Hong Kong Style}

When Grandma and Grandpa were here last week, we got to go to Hong Kong Disney Land. The best part was we were able to take our friends Josiah and Annette with us and their mom watched little Qun Qun...










Saturday, March 16, 2013

DANGER!

our dangerous life...
I had never heard that word used so much before I had kids in Hong Kong. It seems to the local Hong Kong people that everything children want to do is dangerous.... Even if someone doesn't speak English, chances are they know the word DANGER and will not be afraid to tell me that what my kids are doing fits into that category. 
I think in general we Western moms are more likely to let our kids "run wild" "explore" and "test the waters" of play more that the average Chinese parent. There is quite a lot of coddling in this culture and it seems that everyone (with or without kids) will tell you what is safe for your kids.
I will admit... I have two boys... that can be CRAZY... probably more than average...and definitely more than the kids here, but I still don't get the big deal!
Examples:
1. While at the horse stables last week, we were standing outside the barn. Behind us was a grassy slope (not more than 6 ft) that had a drain. This drain was COMPLETELY covered by metal, and when you walked on it, a banging noise came out... fun huh? NOPE.... DANGER, DANGER said the man giving our tour.... I could understand... too loud, but in no way was it dangerous. WORST CASE: kids falls down onto the grass next to the flat metal he/she was walking on....
2. I often let Jack run ahead of me while we are out... he likes to run and I can always see him so unless its really crowded, jack runs most places we go! This week we were walking around outside (a large open area of sidewalk!) the train station to meet friends mid-morning. The busy time was past, so Jack was about 20 feet ahead of me. As I was walking I saw a women stop him and was talking to him. When I got there she turned and told me how dangerous it was to run there. I asked why... she said this is not a park, no running very dangerous... again I asked how running in a large open space was actually dangerous and she just repeated herself... I could feel us going in circles so we just kind of walked away... I was again thinking WORST CASE... a skinned knee? really? danger?
3. We've been playing a lot right outside our apartment building. The kids like the dirt, leaves and sticks.... ALL forbidden for most children... because DIRTY is another favorite word. :o) Jack likes to try and climb the hill near the bike path where we play. It is steep (and maybe a tiny bit dangerous) but I cannot believe how many people stop and tell us this. I THE MOM am standing right there watching....!!! What do they think is going to happen? I accept any responsibility for what may or may not happen! One women actually tried to scare him from climbing by telling him there were snakes that would bite on the hill!?!?
Worst case? a tumble down the hill, some minor scraps... a good lesson in being careful? :o)
The crazy thing is... I think people are genuinely trying to HELP me... I must look like someone who cannot control her own children and need help...
My outlook is very different.... I believe that letting kids take risks allows them to grow and challenge themselves. They need to explore to discover limits and then push those limits as they get older. I also believe that GOD is in control and worrying about how dangerous and dirty things are will not lead to a happier more fulfilling life. I also realize that with two boys running and germs are part of life. Ultimately, I can be concerned, worried and uber-careful and still have some freak accident happen to me/us. I will not be controlled by fear. Jesus freed us from fear and I will not get caught in the cycle of fear and worry. A friend (Chinese) here heard a story of a attempted mugging in her apartment complex (which has THOUSANDS) of people living in it... picture a small city ;o) She went on to say how she and her 9 year old daughter were now afraid to use the elevator.... I was thinking how safe it is here that that's been in only incident in years in a place where thousands live together...perspective....I will not expose my kids to unnecessary fears, when there childhood should be full of innocence!
So....where does this rant leave me? In the arms of my savior who will always be there.... I will do my best not to expose us to unnecessary danger and HE will do the rest. I am sure I will hear DANGER a thousand more times while were are here.... but we are SO blessed to actually live in such a safe place and continue to pray for those who live lives full of actual dangers and tribulations.
Love and safety to you all!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Horsing Around...

Yep, that title pretty much describes the boys every day... :o) This week though we actually saw some real horses. Our moms group went on a field trip to one of the Jockey Club training centers here in Hong Kong. We had a HUGE group and it was a fun morning.

Uncle Kyle, I'm sad to report the boys were much more interested in this statue of a horse than the real one they brought out for them to pet :o)

 Ok, I touched it.... can I be done.... :o)
the morning was beautiful though and we enjoyed being outside!
Another positive note... our little girl is feeling much better. Sleeping well, back to regular eating and smiles...

A little flash back of the boys with the same bunny... Thanks grandma T!
Max 7 mths
Jack 8 mths

 A little Easter fun in our house this morning...



Thursday, March 7, 2013

A week with three...

three kids that is! So... life is suddenly very busy :o) We are loving having little QunQun around (pronounced Chen Chen) but its keeping us busy! She also learned how to roll over this week... fun... because when she gets over she REALLY doesn't like being face down! :o) on another note...please pray... tomorrow morning she will have surgery on her elbows and have braces put on all four limbs... We got a video of her rolling today, it may be a long time before she will be able to do it again!
 Jack re-creating a salt-water experiment he learned at school..
And for those of you who just got dumped on by snow in the USA.... our March is shaping up to be a warm one. We had a fun morning at the beach with the Paines!

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