Friday, February 4, 2011
Hilarious
These two videos barely demonstrate the fun we had the other evening. Bella can mimic really well. Sophia got her to start doing this: it is a low mumble voice, followed by giggles galore, then back down to the low tone. They had us laughing and laughing. At the end of the video, Bella wants to see it so she says: 'see.' Sophia also was doing this and mimicked Bella right back, even by saying 'see, see!' in a baby voice. These girls! Maybe we should take this show on the road. I will post Sophia's 'funny voice' one day.
New Year's Day
Earlier in the week I made whole wheat bagels. They were yum yum, probably my best batch yet (I am learning). We ate those for a 'special' breakfast for New Year's day.
The girls then decided to make their own 'egg pancake' just like the ladies do at our favorite noodle place. I will post comparison pictures and video soon when they reopen. Sophia mimics them precisely. Our new helper knows how to make these. Not good. Oh so fattening, oh so yummy.
Note: Sophia even puts the scarf on her head for when they go in the oil. :)
David worked, and we had a 'normal' day, though I felt like I was on jet lag, and had to fight the temptation to be impatient and 'snappy'. God is gracious and kind, even in exhaustion our day was wonderful. We did preschool, started the letter 'P' which stands for all sorts of things like 'poppy and pilot and Popsicle', all things Sophia loves. she really already knows this letter since it is in her name.
Ah Ha! The culprit, our first floor neighbors aftermath of Fireworks.
All of these filled with gunpowder=LOUD.
I wonder if Harry Potter (this family's dog) was scared? I am sure their house was shaking.
Snow white eats a BBQ beef cup (recipe to follow)
first time making these, delicious. This is on the anti-vegan diet. Nothing healthy about it, but it was a great New Year's day meal.
We finished off our fireworks, put the girls to bed and nibbled on the Key Lime Pie that I had made and then froze for my birthday. It might last one more day, who knows.
We had already finished watching Emma (the BBC version), David enjoyed it right there with me and even mentioned we could possibly do a Jane Austen read aloud together (yes, I was shocked too), this because I convinced him that though these movies are well done, the books are better. Austen was a clever and hilarious writer.
I went to bed reading Sailhamer's intro, which is really blowing my socks off, I love it. But I am going to skip to the last three chapters of the book, as advised by David. This so I don't get bogged down, and so that I keep getting the 'wow, aha, awesome' results as he pulls the text together in amazing ways. I also read a chapter in 'war of words' which blew my socks off in a different way (read: utter utter conviction). Went to bed repentant, woke up and failed with words again. But grace prevails, and forbearance is a great quality in a man, David was given that in abundance as he bears with my weakness.
The girls then decided to make their own 'egg pancake' just like the ladies do at our favorite noodle place. I will post comparison pictures and video soon when they reopen. Sophia mimics them precisely. Our new helper knows how to make these. Not good. Oh so fattening, oh so yummy.
Note: Sophia even puts the scarf on her head for when they go in the oil. :)
David worked, and we had a 'normal' day, though I felt like I was on jet lag, and had to fight the temptation to be impatient and 'snappy'. God is gracious and kind, even in exhaustion our day was wonderful. We did preschool, started the letter 'P' which stands for all sorts of things like 'poppy and pilot and Popsicle', all things Sophia loves. she really already knows this letter since it is in her name.
Ah Ha! The culprit, our first floor neighbors aftermath of Fireworks.
All of these filled with gunpowder=LOUD.
I wonder if Harry Potter (this family's dog) was scared? I am sure their house was shaking.
Snow white eats a BBQ beef cup (recipe to follow)
first time making these, delicious. This is on the anti-vegan diet. Nothing healthy about it, but it was a great New Year's day meal.
We finished off our fireworks, put the girls to bed and nibbled on the Key Lime Pie that I had made and then froze for my birthday. It might last one more day, who knows.
We had already finished watching Emma (the BBC version), David enjoyed it right there with me and even mentioned we could possibly do a Jane Austen read aloud together (yes, I was shocked too), this because I convinced him that though these movies are well done, the books are better. Austen was a clever and hilarious writer.
I went to bed reading Sailhamer's intro, which is really blowing my socks off, I love it. But I am going to skip to the last three chapters of the book, as advised by David. This so I don't get bogged down, and so that I keep getting the 'wow, aha, awesome' results as he pulls the text together in amazing ways. I also read a chapter in 'war of words' which blew my socks off in a different way (read: utter utter conviction). Went to bed repentant, woke up and failed with words again. But grace prevails, and forbearance is a great quality in a man, David was given that in abundance as he bears with my weakness.
New Year's Eve
To experience the sounds of Chinese New Year you may return to last years' post here. This year they seemed a little more tame, probably because all of our neighbors are gone, and it is the custom at midnight to light off the fireworks in your doorway (for good luck, ward off evil for the new year, etc.). This year I think one person in our building did it. But still, the sounds of 'bombs' going off shook us steady for about thirty minutes, then tapered on and off until a lull in the action, it resumed at about 6 a.m. I would have slept pretty well from 1 a.m. until 6 a.m. except Sophia woke up at 2:15 with an unceasing cough. Otherwise, the girls slept through all of the war sounds. Amazing.
Prior to all of this we took the girls downstairs right as it was getting dark, which also is their usual bed time, 7:30 p.m. Lots of others were down there doing their own fireworks and we joined in with ours. Sophia loved doing the sparklers, Bella did not like the bottle rockets so much. And the whole sky was lit up by others with pretty displays of celebration, including 'balloon lanterns' of some sort that held their light way way up in the sky. The first one of these I saw I thought was an airplane.
our stash, we have not done the 'dyanmite' yet. David says we will save it for my birthday.
When David was about to light the last bottle rocket, Sophia went to protect Bella.
Lanterns lit and incense sticks waiting. This is Sophia's friend, yangyang's house, this is also where 'Harry Potter' the dog lives.
Prior to all of this we took the girls downstairs right as it was getting dark, which also is their usual bed time, 7:30 p.m. Lots of others were down there doing their own fireworks and we joined in with ours. Sophia loved doing the sparklers, Bella did not like the bottle rockets so much. And the whole sky was lit up by others with pretty displays of celebration, including 'balloon lanterns' of some sort that held their light way way up in the sky. The first one of these I saw I thought was an airplane.
our stash, we have not done the 'dyanmite' yet. David says we will save it for my birthday.
When David was about to light the last bottle rocket, Sophia went to protect Bella.
Lanterns lit and incense sticks waiting. This is Sophia's friend, yangyang's house, this is also where 'Harry Potter' the dog lives.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
New Year's Eve Day
We ventured to the supermarket early, just a short walk pushing Bella in the stroller, with Sophia walking (and helping push). Our supermarket has little shopping carts for kids, which is great when I am pushing a stroller and have a helper like Sophia along. Everything goes in her cart, and she loves it. She also helps me put the stuff on the check out counter, she loves this too.
I rarely take them both to the store, but it was a work day for David and a holiday for our Ayi, so off we went. When we returned we played down stairs for a little while, watching a few neighbors put the finishing touches on their banners and New Year's lanterns that they hang in their doorway.
Our campus is like a ghost town, all of our neighbors have gone home to parents' houses for the Holiday. This is great for play time, not as crazy with cars and motos.
For lunch our fave noodle place was closed so we went to the duck restaurant. Lots of other people were there too. Eating duck on Chinese NewYear...seemed fitting.
chowing on a drumstick
chowing on a 'potato pancake'
this dog was with his owner in the restaurant, this is not uncommon. He was so cute, and was very spoiled.
And oh yes, he is a ManU fan (that is Manchester United, English Premier league football/soccer, for those in the US)
The girls went down for naps and all the fireworks really started. Every few minutes another round. These are not like fourth of July fireworks, these are just LOUD, not pretty, Tonight they will get both loud and pretty. Sophia finally went to sleep and slept through some REALLY loud bangs.
Before dinner we played and lit a few sparklers. David indeed needed no prodding on buying some fireworks. He spent about five U.S. dollars on what in the States would have cost probably 40 or 50 dollars. Most of these are pretty tame, but he did buy one that is about half a stick of dynamite.
We ate PB and J with green smoothies for dinner. Now we wait for sundown to light our fireworks. We plan on traveling to our helper's village on Saturday, which also happens to be the day I turn Four and Thirty (I am in the middle of watching Emma, and that is how they talk, kinda like it).
More adventures of our Chinese New Year tomorrow!
I rarely take them both to the store, but it was a work day for David and a holiday for our Ayi, so off we went. When we returned we played down stairs for a little while, watching a few neighbors put the finishing touches on their banners and New Year's lanterns that they hang in their doorway.
Our campus is like a ghost town, all of our neighbors have gone home to parents' houses for the Holiday. This is great for play time, not as crazy with cars and motos.
For lunch our fave noodle place was closed so we went to the duck restaurant. Lots of other people were there too. Eating duck on Chinese NewYear...seemed fitting.
chowing on a drumstick
chowing on a 'potato pancake'
this dog was with his owner in the restaurant, this is not uncommon. He was so cute, and was very spoiled.
And oh yes, he is a ManU fan (that is Manchester United, English Premier league football/soccer, for those in the US)
The girls went down for naps and all the fireworks really started. Every few minutes another round. These are not like fourth of July fireworks, these are just LOUD, not pretty, Tonight they will get both loud and pretty. Sophia finally went to sleep and slept through some REALLY loud bangs.
Before dinner we played and lit a few sparklers. David indeed needed no prodding on buying some fireworks. He spent about five U.S. dollars on what in the States would have cost probably 40 or 50 dollars. Most of these are pretty tame, but he did buy one that is about half a stick of dynamite.
We ate PB and J with green smoothies for dinner. Now we wait for sundown to light our fireworks. We plan on traveling to our helper's village on Saturday, which also happens to be the day I turn Four and Thirty (I am in the middle of watching Emma, and that is how they talk, kinda like it).
More adventures of our Chinese New Year tomorrow!
In recent days...
hands in pockets, Bella does everything her sis does.
I love Bella's boots, these were target buy moons ago for Sophia, who did not have the chance to wear them much, so I put them on Bella every chance I get. Incidentally Sophia's shoes, silver sparkles with other jewels were also a $3 target buy.
talking on the phone, she is now so grown up in this. At one point she had her arms folded across her chest.
With our helper off for the Spring Holiday, I am putting Sophia to work! After this she wanted to do the 'sink or float' game, so we had a little physics lesson.
We do plan on visiting some friends in nearby villages for the Holiday, it should be interesting and fun!
Last night we were able to watch some fireworks from our window. Tonight will be the big shabang!
New Year's Eve, earthquakes, and iphones
It is the Eve of the Chinese New Year. 2011 is the year of the rabbit, I think. We have been hearing the fireworks for awhile now. Tonight will be the war zone feel. But as I took the girls to the supermarket this morning and saw all the fireworks for sale, I just wanted to be festive. At lunch I will see if I can talk David into buying some (this will not be hard). We plan on going out for lunch somewhere, though lots of places are closed....
And speaking of war zone feel. Yesterday we had an earthquake. No one felt it except us on the fourth floor. At 3:10 p.m. the girls were up from naps (they hardly slept), and I heard the windows shake. I thought it was the wind, but there was no wind yesterday. David flew out of his office and said lets go down stairs quick, we grabbed the girls and went, he said his computer monitor started shaking (the wind can't do that). Now, fyi, you really should NOT be in a stairwell in an earthquake, but we thought we may have time in case big one was coming. I am pretty ignorant about this. What usually happens is the BIG one and then aftershocks. But we went down stairs anyway and waited a bit and then went home.
That night as we went to bed David said, 'do you really think that was an earthquake?' I told him I thought so, and jokingly added: 'doesn't your iphone have an app for that.' Well, sure enough it does: earthquake lite, a free little app, and there in five minutes time we found out that 46 miles from our city was a 4.8 earthquake. David says, when you get an iphone (not sure when/if this will happen, and I don't really care) you are not going to know what to do, it just works so well, it is an amazing little machine...
And speaking of war zone feel. Yesterday we had an earthquake. No one felt it except us on the fourth floor. At 3:10 p.m. the girls were up from naps (they hardly slept), and I heard the windows shake. I thought it was the wind, but there was no wind yesterday. David flew out of his office and said lets go down stairs quick, we grabbed the girls and went, he said his computer monitor started shaking (the wind can't do that). Now, fyi, you really should NOT be in a stairwell in an earthquake, but we thought we may have time in case big one was coming. I am pretty ignorant about this. What usually happens is the BIG one and then aftershocks. But we went down stairs anyway and waited a bit and then went home.
That night as we went to bed David said, 'do you really think that was an earthquake?' I told him I thought so, and jokingly added: 'doesn't your iphone have an app for that.' Well, sure enough it does: earthquake lite, a free little app, and there in five minutes time we found out that 46 miles from our city was a 4.8 earthquake. David says, when you get an iphone (not sure when/if this will happen, and I don't really care) you are not going to know what to do, it just works so well, it is an amazing little machine...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)