Another month has passed since my last post, where have the days gone? Our first round of visitors for the year ended last month so we've started adjusting to life as a family of four. Ryan continues to attend kinder five days a week from 9am to 12noon. Mia has settled into a daily routine very similar to that of her Kor-Kor's at the same age. Her first feed of the day is usually around 7.30am after which she immediately goes back down for her morning nap waking up three and a half to four hours later for her next feed. This is about the only "quiet time" I have to myself each day. Once Ryan walks through the door, it's full steam ahead until Shad comes home from work. On Mondays we have swimming, Wednesdays the occasional playdate, Thursdays Science Club at school and Fridays taekwondo. Then there are also the other times when we try to meet up with our Belcher's group of little friends. However, since we had Mia, our outdoor playtimes are now a little more restricted so we've been spending more time at home exploring our creative side.
Ryan loves to read and now he has a captive audience, one who lies very still and listens (for the moment anyway). BTW, when I say he reads, I mean he memorises the words when we read to him and what he can't remember, he just makes up!
Potato stamping. I never would have thought that 30 years later I would be the one cutting out the shapes on the potatoes for my child just like Dad did for us.
Picasso at work! One long strip of paper, 1 paint brush, 1 bowl of paint, 2 hours of quiet time, priceless! :)
Noodle making factory!
We had a quiet birthday celebration this year. Steamboat dinner at home with my parents, aunt and uncle who were visiting from Melbourne (Thank you Aunty Kwistine for the lovely cake!).
As soon as the weekend comes around, all three of us (plus the little munchkin) eagerly head outdoors to enjoy the beautiful Spring weather. A few weekends ago we went on our first hike (to be honest, more like an easy walk) here in HK. Hard to believe but HK is not just the concrete jungle that most of us think it to be. It has some amazing beaches, and beautiful countryside. For a change, instead of stopping at a beach, we went to Mo Tat Wan on Lamma Island on our friend's boat for a simple but delicious seafood lunch before going for a short hike.
Would you have pictured this when you think of Hong Kong?
Approaching Mo Tat Wan. That little hut with the florescent yellow roof serves some of the freshest and tastiest seafood.
Special of the day - Fresh sweet dumpling
Steamed prawns, fish and tofu soup to start with... deep fried squid, steamed fish, lobster in garlic butter still to come...
Mia snug asleep against Daddy's chest. This was the little munchie's first time in the baby pouch. It must have been very comfortable because she slept through the entire walk. (This island is known for their dried seaweed - see the ones hung up to dry)
Racing up to the top of the hill
Monkeying around
I tired...
Down and out. Ryan was so tired that he just stopped suddenly, lay down on the ground and refused to move.
Nature call???
Hike leader Ryan showing us the way back to the boat
We joined Shad's colleagues for a barbeque one Sunday. HK style barbeque = hundreds of people under a huge tent huddled around tiny charcoal burners cooking all kinds of fishballs, meatballs, chicken wings, beef steaks, sausages, pregnant fish, squid etc. And they still managed to squeeze in plenty of mahjong tables in there too! It was a fun day out. We met Shad's workmates, Ryan got to "cook" on an open stove and while Mia didn't get to eat anything, she came home smelling of charcoal and grilled meats!
Somehow food just tastes better cooked on an open fire
On any sunny day, even during Winter, we rarely miss a chance to go down to the beach even if it's just for a quick play in the sand. Ryan loves doing this. This time Ryan's school buddy Samuel and his family joined us for brunch at the cafe at Big Wave Bay. The boys had a great time running around on the beach while the Daddies got a tan standing nearby chatting away (they were supposed to be looking after the kids!). But I think Tiziana and I had the best deal - sitting at the cafe enjoying endless cups of hot chocolate and a steady flow of snacks interruptedly only by the occassional cries for food from our two baby girls!
Run like the wind...
Australia vs Italy
Testing out their mud slide
Time to cool down
While their brothers created havoc on the beach, the girls slept the beautiful afternoon away...
