Christmas

Just a few quick pics of our Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

We love you all!!!! And miss you more than you can imagine!!

Up, Up, and Away

This weekend we went up to Keelung to see what we could see and ended up finding a huge temple. It had about 4 different sections to it. The first is the main temple that you see below, it itself was massive. Now look up to the left and behind it... see the pagoda... that was only about halfway up to the next section. Why is that pertinant? Because we walked of course, and I want you to feel sorry for us walking up a freaking mountain with 3 kids in tow. Here is the entrace to the temple, or at least as much as the camera would allow.
Here is one set of stairs that we climbed... we climbed at least 3 sets of these, and then you have to count the actual climb up additional stairs that went up the side of the mountain. If you look really really close at the top you see a little blue speck.... that would be my daughter,
and yes it really was that far and that steep.


This is actually the third level... I don't know what happened to the second... it was quite beautiful - it was like a picnic, relaxation area, with a bunch of small pagoda's everywhere with stone tables and chairs inside. I know this because this is where I actually started second guessing our little gaunt while laying flat on my back on one of the stones. I must have hallucinated about taking a picture of it - you know I heard lack of oxygen can do that to you.
Below in this Pagoda there is an actual musuem where you can go in and learn the history of Keelung. Unfortunately they wouldn't let you climb to the top.

This is what awaited us at the top of the mountain, and I don't use the word "mountain" lightly. This statue was over 5 stories tall. Once again if you squint and look at the bottom middle you can see my children.

You could actually climb to the top of the statue and they had little peep holes to look out (no not the eyes). Below you can see the stairs/ladder that we climbed up to go to the top. Remember that we just climbed up a side of a freakin' mountain and now we're climbing another 5 stories... yes we are retarded.

The Goddess was protected by two extremely large dragon/dog/don't actually know thingies, but impressive none the less.

To the grrreat delight of my children you could ring the actual gong at the temple. And yes it was huge and made an extremely lound noise to go along with it's size.

And of course it was one of those "not as easy as it looks" events.

It took quite a bit of effort.

Then of course they had vendors and such around the grounds. The kids got to ride motorcycles. And by the way they were driving, they could have driven on the streets of Taipei.

Keelung is a port city. In fact this is where we had our stuff shipped when we came. Below is a picture of one of many loading zones that surround the area. It was a foggy day, but if you look out past everything, then you see the ocean. And no, you can't see China.

You guys are just silly sometimes.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

(click, click, click.....damn - still doesn't work)

Gooble, Gooble... Glub, Glub

So in usual John fashion, he went totally out of his way to fix us Thanksgiving dinner. We bought the potatoes, yams, green beans, corn and rolls from just a regular store. The turkey we bought from Costco for $30 (US).... the cranberries we bought in some dark alleyway out of a wharehouse (you think I'm kidding?)... and the stuffing and gravy James and Linda sent to us. It was absolutely fabulous!!

He even plated it out for everyone...jealous?

Here are a couple of John's cousins that enjoyed Thanksgiving with us.

This is one of grandma's friends, she loves the kids... she bought them chocolate.

My son, the fashion model.


"Momma, why do you look like that?"

"Because after drinking this...."

"and this...."

"Momma looked like this!!"

And yes you are all welcome... it only cost me my pride to make you smile.

At least I didn't look like this!!

xoxoxoxo... We miss everyone!!

You Say It's Your Birthday (da da da da da da) It's My Birthday Too! Yeah!

So as most of you know November is a busy birthday month. The kids were way excited even though they didn't get to have a birthday party with their friends. We went out to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa on their birthday and then we got McDonalds and went to see Beverly Hills Chuhuahua that night.

My son has developed expensive taste. He now wants to eat crab, lobster, escargot, and cavier. I told him he better suck up more to his grandparents then. For my birthday we went to the subway station and ate noodles... classy aren't we?! My son was happy none the less.

Here's a couple pics of the b-day's...

Yes I am aware of how spoiled they are!!

(No! that wasn't just Jordan's...It was both their presents put together.... I don't spoil them that bad!!)

Grandma & Grandpa took us all out for lunch... yummm!!

Gotta do the FOB thing...

He just loves to have his picture taken!

1...2...3...blow!! (Wait for it...)

Mom!!! She blew out my candle...

Did not!!!

Yes you did!!!

I only blew out mine!! Just because you didn't blow hard enough!

Mom!!

Liar!!

Am not!! You are!!

etc. etc. etc. etc.

He, he, look what I got.

I think she likes it!!

I think HE likes it!

Finger lickin' good


Wow!! It must be really good!

Oooh, you're in sooo much trouble!!


My last day of class... yes I passed my finals even though my teacher told me that the speaking part of it was jen bu hao (really bad).

Trick or Treat My Pretty

Happy Halloween All...

We didn't get to go trick or treating this year, so we had our own little party at home. We still got dressed up, we colored pictures of pumpkins, witches and ghost and decorated the house, we ate candy, and we watched scary movies. It was a lot of fun. Ashton actually did get to go trick or treating at school. It's kinda cool. The kindergarten he attends went around the neighborhood and let the people know they would be coming so they could give out candy/cookies. I really like his new school. Within a month of going there he went from speaking hardly any Chinese to 1/2 of what he says is now in Chinese. Amazing huh?!! Wish I had that ability... My daughter now just looks at me when I 'try' to speak and shakes her head like she's saying "your sad, just sad, you should stop trying now". And when we get in the cab to go somewhere she always says "Here mom let me say it", like I'm embarrassing her or something.

We also went to a couple weddings this weekend. Janet (John's Sister) and her new husband Danny flew in for their reception. It was very beautiful. She was beautiful, he was handsome, my kids were out of control!! Actually they just acted like kids act at a wedding. They got to blow bubbles and man did they ever blow bubbles. They (not just them - all the kids) blew so many that the floor was slippery. Then they pleaded with Janet and Danny to stay overnight with them in their hotel room. Yeah, can't think of anything more romantic than your nieces and nephew spending the night with you. Janet and Danny were very sweet and let them. Who knows it may have just cost John's side of the family any further grandchildren. Now Janet won't ever want to have any after having mine.

Sometimes, you just have to laugh.

Isn't it so fun to throw flowers?

Wasn't she so beautiful.

No I didn't catch him by surprise, my son actually poised for the picture like this.