Beijing - Part Two

Thursday afternoon we went back out to visit the Temple of Heaven. It was a beautiful temple, and the grounds surrounding it were also gorgeous. I just loved it - it was the high point of my day.

PLEASE don't judge me for wearing these sneakers.  It was a lapse in judgment.  I know, I look super dorky.

My handsome men.



And we were famous....

Friends told us that the Chinese would be a little awestruck by our Western kids, but we had no idea we would be celebrities in Beijing.  Seriously, it was like Finley and Nolan were the most famous people ever.  People pointed, stared, smiled and even followed us around.  Our first day, 50+ peple took pictures of the kids.  People held out their arms in hopes of me letting them hold Nolan (duh, of course I said no), and people gathered to watch as Finley would run around and play.  It was insane...just like being stalked by the paparazzi.  Here's some pics of it, though they really don't do it justice.

Finley kept being asked to pose with people - sometimes she was more gracious about it than other times.

A crowd gathered once they saw Finley running in the grass.  Then a Chinese Mom spent about 15 minutes trying to get her daughter in a pic with Finley as people stopped to watch.

Yeah, the dude in the background tried for a while to get a good shot of Fin.  (And yes, she's waving around the Chinese flag.)



Beijing - Part One

Here are some pics from the trip we took to Beijing last week.  It was Nolan's first flight, and Fin's first time on a plane since we arrived in HK.  We were relieved that the kids did GREAT (thank goodness for portable DVD players).

When we got to our suite, Finley immediately went to the king-size bed and said, "Hey Mom, I like my bed.  Where do you and Daddy sleep?"

And Nolan just alternated smiling and napping.



We arrived in town Wednesday evening, and so Thursday morning we got an early start and headed to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.  I'll spare you a boring history lesson and instead just say that the architecture in The Forbidden City, the fact that it took 14 years to build and being in an entirely new culture made for an amazing (and exhausting) morning.

Just the Two of Us

And for my 47th post of the day, here's some pics of my most favorite little people in the world.

Finley and Nolan (a.k.a. The Double Chin Twins)

He's such a good sport...for now.

Giving Nolan "strawberries" on his tummy

Face-off

Watching Fin play (side note: she is quite the genius when it comes to puzzles). (Second side note: Thanks to Nana and Papa for sending some puzzles.  We have a feeling Daddy never thanked you on Finley's behalf like he was supposed to.)

And More of Nolan...

Sucking on his fingers.....or flashing gang signs??

He's so chill, he doesn't even mind tummy time.

I-L-L-I-N-I!!!!



The Bumbo is a must for a second child.  And Nolan loves the new perspective it gives him.  Here he is debuting his Blue Steel look (Zoolander, anyone?).

First time swimming!!!  Nolan loved the pool (even though he looks like he's sleeping here, I swear he's awake) and could have spent the entire morning in the water.  And no, that's not a male model holding him - it's just Daddy.

A post-swim snooze....

More Recent Pics of Finley

Here are some more recent pics of Finley.  Some days she looks SO old.  Right now she's obsessed with everything having to do with princesses.  She has a set of princess "action figures" that can keep her entertained for hours on end, and whenever she plays with them she has them "fall into a deep sleep" and dream of "a handsome stranger" and "falling in love" (her words, not mine).

The American Club has free Movenpick soft serve.  It makes Dave and I just as happy as it makes Finley.

Here's Fin and her new bff Zoe at Socatots.  They're the two kids who are too bad ass to sit down with the rest of the class.

My little bookworm.

In addition to soccer, Finley is also taking ballet.  She LOVES it.  Here she is, off to class in the rain (hence the rain boots).

Scooting around the playground level of our building.  This is THE toy to have in HK, at least in our part of town.

Nolan WAS three months old!

Although he'll be 4 months old this weekend, here's a shot from when he turned three months old. I swear, he usually doesn't look like this big of a dork.  Putting him in that outfit was like squeezing a sausage into it's casing.  Immediately following this photo shoot he was upgraded to 3-6 month and 6 month size clothing. =)



And for comparison's sake, here is Finley at 3 months old.

Finley's First Day - Sept 2

Yes, Finley has a school unfiform.  For preschool.  How ugly is it???  A boxy gingham blouse and skorts???  Hong Kong may be a very fashionable city, but unfortunately that fashion sense doesn't extend into the classroom.  On a brighter note, Finley continues to LOVE school.  She has no shyness and enjoys everything about it.  I was a bit skeptical about doing things "the HK way" and sending my two-year old to school, but it's been great!



I'm back, I'm back, I'm back!!!!!

Yay yay yay!  I FINALLY have my laptop back....and just uploaded about 500 pictures to my computer.  No time to be chatty...here are some pics of the kids.  These were taken about a month ago, just before Nolan turned 3 months old.

Here's my happy boy, hanging out in his bouncy seat just loving life. =)

Finley swimming with Dave at the American Club. 

Nolan continues to be a great sleeper/lazy baby.

My Dad will love this picture as much as Nolan's dad will hate it.  Here's Nolan all decked out in White Sox gear.

Say it Aint So

New day laptop will be ready - Wed

Day we'll actually be able to pick it up - Sat?  Mon?

I may have shed tears over this devastating turn of events. 

The good news?  Dave has promised to bring back a brand new laptop from NYC if mine isn't in working condition by the time he leaves for his trip on Sunday.

Pity Party

I'm totally having a pity party tonight and missing my HK friends who moved away.  Damn you Gia and Alicia for being such awesome friends and then leaving town!  Gia sent me this pic of Finley and her daughter Lucy taken a few months ago, and since G proclaimed it "blogworthy" I had to post it.  Better late than never, right?!

Monday!!!!

I'm finally getting my laptop back on Monday night.  Assuming it works, expect a million pictures of the cutest white kids in Hong Kong on Tuesday. 

Hmmm....what else?

Fin officially has more friends in Hong Kong than Dave and I combined.  Between ballet, school, soccer and the playgroup she and Carmelita go to with a few other kids and their helpers, she also has the most active social life out of us all.  She also feels the need to inform our doorman of her plans each time we leave the building.  Example- "I'm going to soccer with my friend Zoe.  I went pee pee on the potty before I left so I won't have to go while I'm there."  Fortunately, I don't think they understand her accent/toddler voice.

Nolan is sleeping through the night 100% of the time.  But no more on that for fear of jinxing myself.  He is also the happiest, giggliest, smiliest baby EVER.  I don't think I've heard him cry in a week.

We're going to Beijing Wed-Sat!  Yay!

Dave leaves for NYC the day after we get back.  Boo.

Jana comes to town the Tuesday after we get back!  Yay!

Well...

Still no laptop, but I'm REALLY hopeful that it will be working and back in my hot little hands in just a few days. 

What have we been up to?  I know, who really cares when there's no photgraphic evidence to back-up the stories?

However, Finley started "real" preschool last Thursday and LOVED it.  We were told that it could take her up to three weeks to adjust, and that each visit they'd gradually increase the amount of time she spent at school.  Turns out she only needed one day.  I knew when she didn't even look back to say bye to me she'd be fine. 

Oh, and she started soccer lessons last Wednesday.  What has she learned so far?  Not much.  What have I learned so far?  That she's no natural.

Nolan turned three months old on Friday.  He's so fat and happy, and is sleeping through the night about 50% of the time.