Random Pics

Normally you can't see the stars where we live.

Is it pollution, the bright lights of the city, or ???

Probably a combination, but anyhow....

The last few weeks faint little beacons of light could be seen blinking at us from the heavens....

Not many, mind you, but any are appreciated.

I love the night sky. It energizes my soul, and I miss it!

The other night the Moon was so bright it was amazing!

This time of year, with the combination of the cloud stricken skies the sunsets have been beautiful as well...  Love it. 

The skies in general are amazing.  Even when they are gray, as they tend to be.

It is kind of like watching an amazing movie in Black and White!

What else energizes my soul? 

A good, yummy sugary treat!

Well, I have been in donut withdrawal.  Hong Kong does NOT know what a donut is... I swear!

Recently, though, these little puppies made their appearance.

They are really a croissant made into a donut.

Can I tell ya, these little babies put donuts to SHAME.

They are filled with delish cream, topped with yumminess and covered in crystalized sugar.

Holy yumminess......  I am thankful they are about an hour from where I live.

In other news, Ember is cute! 

Even though she did this:

(Yes, I really posted a pic of that.  Keeping it real.  Seriously, that takes talent.)

Sometimes Todd and I do things solely because it entertains us...

Such as, buying a rug that looked like a skinned Lily pup.

They actually had a real fur and a not fur version.  I prefer the real fur I own on my living creatures, so we opted for the faux fur.

Lily totally blends in with the rug.  

I am not sure why that is funny, but it is!

Bonus: Both Dogs LOVE the rug so much.  They are always laying on it.

I want this little one.

She is not available here. 

Kayla and I saw some awesome live street performance action downtown.

This mainlander was tossing metal bowls from his foot to his head.

How do we know he is a mainlander?

Well, because we through some change in his cup, and he said thank you in Mandarin. 

While the train rides to downtown do take a while,

you can't beat the view.  Well, and they have ac, which I am very thankful for. 

Yes. Another sugar post...

I did say Night sky and sugar elate my soul, right?

Well, I miss Sprinkles cupcakes so much.

Although, I do have to admit the sugar content did knock me on my butt...

Well, we happened to find this very little shop next to an International grocery store.

A cupcake shop.  Most of the bakeries out here have like NO sugar in them, so I was skeptical...

This was the end of the day so there weren't many cupcakes left.

Let me tell you they have SUGAR in them!

They are so good!

About half the size, and 3/4 or less of the sugar, which is probably how they should be made. 

So good.

Ok.  This does NOT look appetizing to me.

Ooowww Yum, antioxidants and Fibre.  That just makes me salivate!

 

We do have to pay more attention when walking by the rug though, so we don't squish her. 

Anyhow, just some random babble about the exciting things happening lately. 

Chinese Summer

Kayla & Krystin decided taking spoken Chinese would be fun over the summer,

since it is very helpful here.  They actually took Cantonese, as that is the spoken dialect of Chinese in Hong Kong.  It is an accelerated course each Level is 2 hours a day for 10 days! It is pretty intensive.  I took Level one a few months back.  It was really fun, but haven't been able to schedule the subsequent levels.  

Kayla took Level 1 with KC, but with her other class it was a bit much, so Krystin took Level 2 by herself!  One nice thing about Hong Kong it is so easy to get around.

They did inspire me to focus more on my Cantonese skills!

Which although is very limited, is very helpful here!

Lamma and Junk

Last Weekend Todd and I were invited to celebrate one of Todd's coworker's birthday on a Junk.

I was honestly a bit apprehensive as the weather has been nightmarishly hot and humid.

When you go out on a junk you are out on the water for about 8 hours, which I would normally relish.

In the heat and humidity that sounded awful.  Even the ocean this time of year doesn't give you relief from the heat as it is warm.  I sent out a million prayers to the universe BEGGING for a break in the heat....

The universe heard my prayers it was wonderful and cool.  

A beautiful day. 

Even the ocean was nice...

Other than the floating turd that we saw.

Yah, don't ask...

While we were off on a boat swimming in the South China Sea, Miss Kayla had coordinated with some other international students to spend the day  on Lamma Island hiking, eating and having fun!  They hadn't met each other before, but had a great time!  They met through some facebook international student activity page.  The modern era is pretty cool.

Kayla with her new friends.  One is from Germany, the other two from Mainland China.

It was funny Kayla told us it was pouring rain on them, and it was completely dry where we were (aside from the ocean of course).  Then 20 minutes later we were dancing in the rain too! Hong Kong is funny like that, the weather here is so moody.  Keeps you on your toes.

Summer time fun!

Ocean Park with Logan

Logan was invited to go to Ocean Park with a group of friend from school.

Ocean Park is an Sea World type of Amusement park with rides.

You would think we would have been all over that, with our love for amusement parks, but we haven't gone yet!  Well, because it takes a couple hours from where we live to get there.   So we were excited to have Logan check it out for us!   The girls were invited to join, but sadly had other obligations.  

He said it was a blast!  

I can't wait to go check it out myself, when it cools down.

Much like the rest of Hong Kong the view does not disapoint!

Sexy Smelling Eyes?

Oh, there is nothing worse than itchy, red burning eyes!

Well, we haven't found any Visine out here...

We have tried to embrace what is available, 

but usually stick to the imported brands we have heard of before, 

even though they are not as good as Visine in my opinion.  

Todd decided he would be brave and buy a local brand....

It was in a box, we couldn't see the bottle.  

While the English was limited it was very clearly for the relief of itchy, red eyes.

It even said to instill drops in the eyes.  

Todd was shocked when he opened the box and found this:

They added an artificial yellow color to it.

Why would anyone want to make their eyes look jaundice?  WEIRD!

Todd was a bit leery of using them, but his eyes were hurting. 

He opened the drops and noticed it had a SCENT!

Sure enough, it smells a bit perfumey....

Ok, not only is it yellow, but they scented eye drops?  WTH?!

Todd's eyes must have been very hurty, because he still put them in his eyes!

He said it burned for a bit, then felt better.

He is braver than I am.

Seriously! Usually, perfume makes my eyes itchy.

When my eyes are burning and begging for relief the last thing I want anywhere near them is something that resembles this:

Oh Hong Kong, you are so silly sometimes!

Logan's Japan Grad Trip.

Logan's High School Grad Trip AKA Adult parenting challenge!

I don't talk much about 'parenting' on my blog, but seeing as though my kids are getting older I figured I would share a few of our philosophies on parenting.  

Logan was invited by a group of friends from school to spend a week in Japan in celebration of graduating from high school.   Normally when I picture a group of 18 year old boys going off to a foreign land ALONE, I imagine crazy parties...   Honestly, it is true. I have a really good imagination too....   Especially, when you consider the legal age to drink is 18 in Asia, and other things are legal here too.  

  Todd and I do not believe in parenting by making choices for our children.  Our parenting style is more of mutual respect.  Yes, we are the parents, so it is our job to establish house rules, but we are reasonable and enjoy the kids input.  We actually welcome them to question us, really. Life is about learning to make the right choices for you and for the right reason, not because someone tells you it is the right reason.  They love and respect us and even listen to us, because we respect them as well and they know that.   I don't believe we have ever said, "you must do xyz, because I said so"...  However, trust me I have wanted to when it comes to their bedrooms...  I believe as parents we need to teach our children to make healthy, wise choices for themselves, but ultimately THEY have to be accountable to themselves, not to us.   I know, I know lots of opinions on that.  To each their own...  Todd and I are both very strong minded, and our children are even more strong minded, so for us establishing mutual respect is the only thing that makes sense.

So, now that we have that established.  Logan gives me cause to be a little more protective.  He was born with a liver condition.  It is truly a miracle he is strong and healthy. His last specialist that was new to him wanted to do all these tests, because she said after looking at his extensive medical record that he defies logic.  He shouldn't be this healthy.  I don't really want to get into that too much.  I just want to establish the fact that for Logan choosing to party or drink would be akin to being suicidal.  Sounds dramatic, but it is very true...  But, ultimately, he needs to be accountable to himself, and I need to trust him and love him....

Thankfully, God blessed Logan with a great mind and a great respect for his health. We have always tried to impress upon him the importance of a healthy mind and body, but I am sure many parents do.  I am so grateful that he has embraced this knowledge.  He detests anything that is harmful to mind or body, and I trust him implicitly to make good, wise choices...   So, when he asked us about going to Japan with a group of 5 guys for a week, there wasn't any hesitation at all. Even though I don't know the guys. They are local kids from Hong Kong.  I did of course ask about them, and the plans to make sure he was safe.   This is Logan though, I needn't worry too much.  He hangs with a good crowd. He attracts good people, and leaves if he feels bad choices are being made. Not because I have instructed him to, but because he doesn't like to be around it....  He has even apologized to me for leaving a get together with friends early, because people were smoking and he didn't want to be around it.  I thought it was funny.  He apologized for not wanting to be around unsavory health choices...  I told him I was proud of him for his integrity and respected him for it. 

 The guys that invited him were all top students in his most challenging AP classes.  The one in charge of the trip never even missed one day of high school, ever?! Unheard of I tell you!  I didn't know this ahead of time, I swear!  But, Logan's character and hard work ethic was why they invited him.  Truly an awesome group of guys.  

I have to say that I LOVE smart men. One of the guys on the trip arranged an unlimited data hotspot, so they could all use the data on their phones as they went around, since their sim cards don't work out of the country.  So cool!  Logan had such an amazing time.   I am so grateful that his first trip independently as an adult was with such a great group of young men.   I am also grateful for a son that has such a strong unwavering strength when it comes good choices.   He is a great example.

Anyhow, just sharing a few parenting thoughts as the choices become more 'their' choices rather than 'ours'....  

 A couple pics from Logan's trip

He had to be at the airport by 5:50am, yuck!   I woke up with him and walked him to the cab. We live really close to the airport and he knows his way around there pretty well.

The group of guys!

They are so cute! 

Guy in the center is Jeff, he coordinated everything, and yes is the one that never missed a day!

Logan had such a wonderful time.  

He so kindly blogged everyday to share the experience with us. 

You can read his blog posts here:

Logan's Blog   

I only linked the first day, but you can hit newer to see the subsequent days.

I am so grateful for a wonderful son and that he has awesome friends!

Shanghai Business

Todd's position requires that he travel where he is needed throughout APAC.

(Asia Pacific Area)

Shanghai is only a 2.5 hour plane flight away, and he recently has been working closely with that office.

They had a big day of team building planned, and a special good bye celebration for the guy that was the lead of the office for the past 6 years (he is moving to Germany).

Todd was in charge of doing ice breakers.  He asked me to come along and join him in the day.

Of course, I said yes!

We left Hong Kong late on the 4th of July

 (3rd year in a row that we were not able to celebrate the 4th on the 4th with the kids, btw).  

Shanghai is REALLY huge.  It took about an hour to get from the airport to the hotel, after waiting for an hour for a cab.  

By the time we went to sleep it was almost 3am.

We had to get up at 7am, so needless  to say we were very tired.

These two dropped us off at the airport, and had dinner with us before we left.

Please note Krystin's very patriotic attire.

Shanghai!

The meeting was near to the Bund, which is really pretty.

It is a beautiful city for sure. 

Unfortunately, this was not a touristy type of trip, so this was my view from about 9am-7pm. 

Trying to stay awake.

The building the conference was in had a restaurant (where we ate lunch) that had an outdoor area that overlooked the Bund.

Lovely view.  Lunch was good too.

We took a short lunch break, didn't leave the building though,

and back to conferences, woo.

I should have gotten pics of Dinner, but we left on a bus from the conference and had an amazing Dinner.  It was almost like a Chinese-Mexican Fusion or something, so good.

Then we went to a Karaoke place.

Ok, I am NOT a big karaoke fan to begin with,

but then add Love songs in Mandarin and wow, it was a very unique experience.

Apparently, love songs are super popular out there.

Ha ha, one after another for hours...

and NO Todd and I did not sing, as we don't read Chinese, yet!  LOL!

It was still fun, we stood outside on the balcony in the semi-rain (had an umbrella that we bough off a little old dude selling them from his bike) and chatted with peeps and took in the night, to the tune of the very loud serenade of Mandarin (karaoke) love songs in the background.  

We had to catch a plane home the next day, but before we left we were determined to find Donuts to bring home.  Hong Kong does not have real donuts, but we had heard China does.  We thought it would be a fun way to celebrate the 4th with the kids.  

We found a Dunkin Donuts only a 10 minute walk from our hotel.

The donuts looked amazing!

Duffy was excited too!

Sadly though, they did not taste like American donuts.  

Where is the SUGAR?!!!  

Kay added sugar to hers and said they were good.  

Ha ha.  In China you have to add sugar to the donuts...  Oh my.