Becky's mid-week birthday

I had an uneventful birthday this year since it was mid-week and Paul's busy until CNY. Dinner was with the kids at a new pizzeria in Sai Kung called Paisano's owned by local pro-golfer Al Morales (pictured with Alex). We each enjoyed pepperoni slices - the crust was airy with a great chewy texture, and took home an order of lasagna for breakfast. Yes, you read that right, breakfast, and boy was it yummy - the flavors melded together into garlicky goodness! Didn't order the 24" pizza that fits into that box in the photo that's as big as Alex when open - maybe next time - there will definitely be a next time since there's other stuff on the menu I want to try!

Yong Pyong has two peaks - one accessible by lift, the other only by gondola.


We warmed each day on this slope before heading up higher on the mountain. It was flat enough here for me to snowplow backward to catch everyone on film.


From the top of one peak down a ridge run called Gold Fantastic - this is the last steep part before the end. Maggie's starting to ski more parallel, stem christie turns, but needs to work on getting those skis together. Alex has a good solid wedge. We enjoyed intermediate and even some advanced runs in the 4 days we skied.


From the top of the gondola at Dragon Peak skiing down the first pitch of the 5.8km run. A little steep and bumpy, sorry! Notice the guy in yellow pants who swishes by so nicely on the right then wipes out.


A flat part halfway down the long run from the top. We paid extra for the gondola so that day went down that 5.8km run almost all day until we headed back to the base by traversing over to another lift to take the run from the top of the other peak.

Fall-Winter 2009

Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated the blog - it's a cliche and I always say it - "time flies!" Maggie has finished Semester 1 and Alex is halfway through a trimester. There's the usual schedule of school and after school activities and we're still biking to and from school unless it's really raining. Both took climbing classes at the YMCA until term end in December and Maggie continues with tap dance this year. Alex is in Shotokan Karate and just finished with his term 1 after school jogging club. He also joins his friends for a pick-up soccer game every now and then. The week before Thanksgiving, I got away for a weekend to Taipei with Wai Yee and Siew Foon. We had been talking about a mom's getaway for years - our original group of 7 in HK has dwindled... We were out late each day - the National Palace Museum, lots of walking and shopping around, over-eating at the night markets and various little eateries. Delicious, as expected. We even came across a beef noodle soup competition but the lines were so long we didn't try anything. Instead of our old tradition of Thanksgiving at Dan Ryan's, we had Thanksgiving dinner at a friend's house. There were 8 families represented as well as additional school friends - maybe 30 in all! It was great to see old friends and enjoy all the yummy food. The week before Christmas Mary was in town so we all gathered for dinner at my place. Our family then took off for our Christmas vacation to rural South Korea for 4 days of skiing at Yong Pyong plus a couple more days to see another area. Christmas eve day we moved to a little inn called Micrat Pension and ate at the nearby ski resort we were thinking of skiing at the next day. Christmas morning we went to the church that the inn's owners had built and joined their small congregation for a potluck lunch. There was so much traffic up to the resort that we decided to relax back at the inn and get ready for Christmas dinner - our own DIY BBQ. It was snowing, but we were in a covered hut, huddled around the BBQ. The owners brought out the coals, already perfectly covered with ash and ready to go, placing it next to our table laden with kimchee, soup, rice, veggies and a platter of various cuts of pork. It was all delicious! The kids slowed down for the following "action shots" but actually, they did great and we hit nearly every trail that was open - including the advanced runs! There was a bit of fresh snow, but mostly packed, groomed powder. The longest run was 5.8km from the top of the gondola. After Korea, I took a quick trip on my own to see my parents. My dad, who, as you many of you already know, passed away on New Year's Eve day, after nearly five years battling lung cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He was doing well after a blood transfusion, still taking care of himself, eating a little, walking, talking, and watching his TV recordings until the last day. Melodie and I were both there and we video called Paul and the kids. The internet has truly been a wonderful way to keep in touch. When I got back to HK, school was about to begin again, and we quickly jumped back into the old routine. Last weekend Alex and a couple jogging club members and coach joined a 3k fun run as an end to the after school jogging club. I also entered since I had to bring Alex there - a little exercise never hurts and it was a beautiful day! Click here for more photos of our ski trip

This year we had a couple of Alex's friends join us at camp... Click link for photos since Adobe Flash slideshow no longer supported. Camp 2009   We also camped last year. Fall is the best weather here!

Fall with friends... wonderful fall weather, so outside we go! At the park, riding bikes, watergun fights, all around fun!

All is well here, the weather is finally cooling off, great for bike riding, so Paul and I have gone riding in the mornings after riding with them to school. Beautiful weather for walking/hiking, so we're making an attempt to go out each weekend. A couple of weeks ago was our annual school fundraiser - Walkathon and Fall Festival, about 3km - will still take late sponsors :) and all funds go to the school's endowment fund. Let me know if you would like to help our school! Last weekend we went for a forest hike at Tai Po Kau. Link to photos since Adobe Flash slideshow no longer supported. Tai Po Kau forest walk

Alex pronounced this year's birthday "The best ever!"

From Alex's climbing party 09

The staff had climbing games lined up - I don't remember these games when Maggie had climbing parties years ago, but the staff have much more experience with these events now, so I'm not surprised they know how to get people to participate.

You'll see these two games in the photo slideshow: Relay game, two teams: two climbers start on the sides of the wall and attempt to traverse to the opposite side. When they meet, to determine who goes on they play rock, paper, scissors. The loser jumps down and the winner tries to get across the wall before the other team sends up their next climber to block and play rock, scissors again until one team gets to the opponent's side to win. Teamwork game: two climbers are linked together with a length of rope and must climb together to the top. The catch is one person is wearing a blindfold and the other must verbally guide him to climb. Some funny commands given - we really take our sight for granted!



I think everyone enjoyed themselves!


Here's a couple photos from Maggie's first climbing wall party (indoors) 2002:




In late 2004 she got to go on a school trip to the outdoor wall (Alex, too)...




...so she decided to have another climbing party, this time at the outdoor wall in 2005.

Selected Summer 2009 photos from Paul

Selected Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park photos from Paul