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
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
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