Hong Kong

I’ve uploaded some new photos of our time in Hong Kong to Flickr (click on the thumbnails for a bigger view). As you can see we’re having an amazing time. Sure, we’ve had some stressful times, but the good has most definitely outweighed the bad and I’m absolutely sure that this trip was the right thing to do. The girls are having some amazing new experiences and we’re having a really amazing family time. I’m impressed at how well the girls are adapting to a rapid amount of change, and I’ve enjoyed spending lots of time in their company.

We’ve got one more day here – and Chris’s conference has finished so it’ll be spent together. Then we’re off to London very early the next morning.

Day One

It’s amazing how bracing a 120 km/h taxi ride through the streets of Hong Kong can be, especially when there are no fully functioning seat belts in the rear seat. But believe it or not, two of us actually fell asleep.

Not me, of course, I was holding onto the girls like the rapture was upon us. Also, fortunately for us the journey was bookended by the discovery that we’re stayingin THE most amazing hotel, on the 15th floor, harbor views. It is described as a ‘budget’ option in all the guidebooks – makes me wonder what would be called ritzy in this town.

It feels like we’re in heaven, perhaps even more so because of the hellish flight. Withoutgoing in to too many details, I thought at least 52 times, “I’ve had ENOUGH!” and then had to suck it up because it was my turn to walk Tess up and down the aisles. But don’t worry, I’m forgetting it already. Especially because I can hear the snuffles subsiding in the next room, two georgeous girls going to sleep on the pull out couch.

It’s 11pm, we’ll all be wrecks tomorrow, but wow, so glad we’re here.

NOTE: I’m writing this on my iPod, apologies for any spelling issues or typos.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the strong, proud, inspiring mamas I know!

We did a bit of crafting this afternoon to celebrate mother’s day. The girls made up some “crown kits” that Granny Jo had sent.

(Yes, I know. Not the best picture. Sometimes trying to get a good shot of two moving preschoolers is hard!)

Also, this week Tess got glasses and Rose got earplugs (making bathtime a lot easier). We’ve found a similar set of trials with getting Tess to wear glasses as there have been with the patching regimen; some good days, some “oh my god it’s only 9.30am” days. But steady, incremental acceptance over a period. She will now happily wear them for about 30 minutes, which is up from 5 minutes earlier in the week. Onward and upward!

But still, she’s super cute (and she knows it!)