BMX

The school had their annual "Week Without Walls" in Nov and this year Alex took part in a week of BMX training. I put together the following video from the teacher's footage - looks like they and the students had a great time...

...so, I accompanied Alex on a return trip - on a Sat afternoon - a couple groups were there for lessons and fun, and a couple pros also practicing... but plenty of room to grab solo track time.

Will probably go again during break - on a Friday night when there's informal races and pros to get tips from, and can use the starting gate!

Ah, summer - outdoor time, walking, biking, watching the sunset - blue sky deepening in color until the stars come out, swimming and jacuzzis, BBQ, strawberries, avocados, tomatoes, stone-fruit, hanging out with friends and relatives... Only a couple more weeks, then back to HK!

From Summer in the water 2012

 

 

 

From Summer 2012

From Summer 2012

From Summer 2012

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Montana and family are gearing up for a new adventure and leaving HK. He and Alex both started P1 at ICS and have been in the same class/homeroom since 3rd grade. Over the years they have become best buddies and have enjoyed hanging out at each others homes, sleepovers, doing school projects  together and buddying up on school field trips, going to school camps, joining us for tent camping, kayaking, hiking, swimming, and celebrating birthdays... We'll miss you!

5th grade field trip 2011

5th grade graduation

From 5A skit

From Alex's 10th birthday

From baking with friends 2010

4th grade camp

From Ng Tung Chai waterfalls 2010

From Camp weekend 2009

From 3A end of the year bowling and beach

From 3A Pancake/Christmas party/CNY/Kadoorie Farm

From Alex's climbing party 09

From Alex's climbing party 09

From Three days of fun at MS camp

From Three days of fun at MS camp

Whew - hanging out at home - finished 6th grade...

Maggie chose to go camping for her 16th birthday - we actually went early, at the beginning of Spring break, and we also went out to eat on her actual birthday at the end of break.

We went to Chong Hing Watersports Centre again - arrived in the afternoon with plenty of time to check out our tents and sleeping bags, set up, and play on the field before firing up the BBQ for dinner. We went kayaking the following morning after breakfast and returning all the gear. After riding the shuttle bus back to Sai Kung we bought two twenty-four inch pizzas from Paisano's for a quick lunch before heading back to Shatin.

Celebrating with friends at Dan Ryan's

Sweet sixteen, we love you Maggie!

In March the school celebrated their 20th year with two Renaissance themed evenings of food and entertainment. All of us took part in some way - Alex and Maggie both performed, I was at the registration table, and both Paul and I were dinner guests one evening. It was a showcase of our student talent and along with testimony and speeches, was a wonderful tribute to our school. Edit 2021 - Flash does not work, click on link to see photos. Renaissance photos

This week, Alex went on his own to get his hair cut - although not alone since his friend Hugh also went to get his hair cut. They rode the MTR a couple stops where there's a salon in the station (ok, not really a salon, but a quick cut place). The stylist spoke limited English but they managed to communicate and were happy with their "long in front, shorter in back" styles. At least they were happy... I commented that it wasn't "that short" and "didn't you ask for short in the back?" Hugh's mom also thought the same and trimmed a little more at home! My theory is because the boys both had let their hair grow quite long the stylist figured they wanted longer hair styles and didn't cut the back that short. It's short enough for school though. The handbook says it has to be above the collar and I guess for fifty bucks, I shouldn't complain!

A few more hours before we welcome the Chinese New Year of the Dragon! Hard to believe that Alex will be 12 this year - the whole Chinese zodiac cycle of 12 animals gone by...

At home, our family had our usual hotpot dinner - thinly sliced beef and lamb, fried fish and cuttlefish balls, tofu, fish-skin dumplings, cabbage and Paul's favorite winter vegetable - similar to dandelion leaves - called tong hao. At the end we cooked noodles for longevity in the delicious soup made from cooking all the food.

At school, I made up a unit to teach about CNY. The students learned about traditional customs and the 12-animal zodiac cycle and filled out a worksheet about their zodiac animal as well as completing other activities written activities. We watched a video and read a book about the holiday, and made lots of decorations including dragons, fireworks and spring blossoms on a tree for the hallway bulletin board; bowls of oranges, calligraphy and lanterns for the classroom. For cooking, we made tang yuan (chewy glutinous rice dumplings) in a sweet gingery soup, but we made a Western tweak to the recipe stuffing them with chocolate instead of sesame or red bean paste. They were quickly devoured!

My maternal grandmother passed away on December 19 - about a month shy of her 98th birthday (99 if you count the Chinese way). Alex hoped that she would live to 100 but she was blessed and lived a full life - she had four children, nine grand-children, and seven great-grandchildren, the oldest of whom is in college and the youngest born just this year! We visited during the summer and had a family reunion that included her, my mom and sister, some of my aunts and uncles, cousins, and their kids - four generations. I have many memories of her - here's some: gardening, raising a goat, dealing with rattlesnakes, playing solitaire and mah jong, reading the Wall Street Journal and following the market, cooking and making dumplings, crochet, tai chi, watching game shows, and her paraffin hand treatment in an old crockpot... Here are some photos of ours from visits through the years and her obituary.





Today is the 2nd anniversary of my Dad's death. As I was going through old photos and old emails to make this album of my grandma, I found a letter I sent and started reminiscing...

Hi Dad,

I'm thankful the last few years have given you opportunities to travel (to HKG, NY, etc) and see old friends and relatives. I'm glad the kids have gotten to know you during our visits and that you've followed their lives via my photos and blog when you could. They are old enough to have some memories of times spent together, unlike myself and your dad - I only have vague memories of spending time in the laundry...

I know that since our family wasn't outwardly affectionate growing up and your, what I call "tough love" practices were some times hard to take, the words "I love you" don't roll easily off the tongue. In our hearts, though, we feel it, and appreciate all your sacrifices to raise us. It's hard to raise children!

I love you Dad and will miss you. I remember swimming next to the rowboat in Maine while you rowed, I remember you teaching me to drive the car that was as old as I was. I remember us all stuck with no power for 3 days - snowed in in Redding! I remember us playing on Wii sports together. I have lots of documentation of experiences together by movies/videos and photographs that are in albums - yours and my own.

See you soon!

Love, 

Becky