And to think...I used to think Los Angeles had a smog problem...
We are now owners of those silly looking medical masks.
Even Sal.
I sure hope that we get back down into better air quality soon.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Parrrrrrty's heeyah
I've been sitting on the computer this evening, editing pictures from yesterday, and I can not believe our son just turned one.
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| I am ONE. |
We had a couple other birthday celebrants join us for a small lunchtime party on Saturday. NZ had a birthday last Wednesday, our friend Pere had a birthday on Thursday, and Anna shares Sal's January 13th birthdate, so we had them over to join us for spaghetti arribata, sushi, cookies and cake in celebration of all their years of life.
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| Cookies from sweet creations by Stephanie |
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| Sal & Neil (newest baby on the block) |
Sal ate cake, opened gifts and played with his new toys before a nice long nap.
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| yes, that's most definitely a boog hanging from the nose. (He's had a cold all week and finally gifted it to me today) |
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| Dad had to help with the blowing out of the candle. Sal was obviously mesmerized by the mamarazi. |
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| This one's for you, kid. |
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Smash it, baby!
So, I gave in..
Our kid got to smash a cake on his first birthday.
Anyone who follows me on Pinterest could have probably guessed that, since I have been pinning photo op ideas for the sweet moment when my baby attacks his cake and gets his first taste of sugar. And makes a mess. Which I have to clean up. (Explain to me why this is such a good idea, again? Oh yes--the pictures.)
Baking cakes used to be one of my favorite things to do-you know, when I had an oven and all.
Nowadays, notsomuch.
In fact, I have more baking failures in our little countertop toaster oven than I have successes. Can we say charred edges and runny batter banana breads?
Add to that the difficulty of finding good cake mix (yes, I'm a from-the-box kinda girl) without spending over $7 USD , and you've got incentive to make your cake a success on the first go round. Otherwise, cake baking will put you in the poor house.
Thankfully, one of my former gymnastics teammates (we're talking 20 years) contacted me recently and asked if I lived near Suzhou. I was super excited that she was heading out to a city just one hour from here, and couldn't wait to reconnect with her. I requested she bring a of of. Funfetti cakemix from the US. Nothing else. Just funfetti.
We love funfetti.
She and I never connected due to visa issues, but one day, a box arrived via China Post.
Inside, not one, but TWO boxes of funfetti.
(Thank you Rosie!)
So, this whole cake making thing has now turned into an International effort. She's not the only one who sent me items necessary for a successful smash cake....My sister (surprise surprise), sent me nonpareils and a "1" candle to make Sal's first birthday cakea memorable one look good in pictures.
So, without much further explanation....
Here it is...
Sal's first cake experience.
Our kid got to smash a cake on his first birthday.
Anyone who follows me on Pinterest could have probably guessed that, since I have been pinning photo op ideas for the sweet moment when my baby attacks his cake and gets his first taste of sugar. And makes a mess. Which I have to clean up. (Explain to me why this is such a good idea, again? Oh yes--the pictures.)
Baking cakes used to be one of my favorite things to do-you know, when I had an oven and all.
Nowadays, notsomuch.
In fact, I have more baking failures in our little countertop toaster oven than I have successes. Can we say charred edges and runny batter banana breads?
Add to that the difficulty of finding good cake mix (yes, I'm a from-the-box kinda girl) without spending over $7 USD , and you've got incentive to make your cake a success on the first go round. Otherwise, cake baking will put you in the poor house.
Thankfully, one of my former gymnastics teammates (we're talking 20 years) contacted me recently and asked if I lived near Suzhou. I was super excited that she was heading out to a city just one hour from here, and couldn't wait to reconnect with her. I requested she bring a of of. Funfetti cakemix from the US. Nothing else. Just funfetti.
We love funfetti.
She and I never connected due to visa issues, but one day, a box arrived via China Post.
Inside, not one, but TWO boxes of funfetti.
(Thank you Rosie!)
So, this whole cake making thing has now turned into an International effort. She's not the only one who sent me items necessary for a successful smash cake....My sister (surprise surprise), sent me nonpareils and a "1" candle to make Sal's first birthday cake
So, without much further explanation....
Here it is...
Sal's first cake experience.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Beautiful
My ol man and I have been groveling over the cold miserable weather here. He summed it up best with, "back where I come from, we have one season--We call it beautiful."
Love it!
Love it!
Friday, January 4, 2013
Working weekends
As I sit here on a gloomy Saturday afternoon, I look at my clock , and it reads 13:31. My son is napping in his crib, I'm watching "Departures" on tv and my cat is snuggled up next to me. This would constitute a wonderfully perfect lazy Saturday for our family.....if only NZ was here.
...and what a wild ride it will be...
Where could he be on a Saturday afternoon?
One word.
Work.
Yep, my husband along with most of China are working through the weekend to make up for the government approved holiday we just celebrated. Two days off to celebrate New Years, equals working the following Saturday and Sunday.
The american in me wants to yell "What sort of holiday is that?!" And mutter profanities that would put a sailor to shame.
This has definitely been a learning experience for us, and I'm pretty sure those who are not accustomed to this sort of arrangement think it sucks a$$ and would just assume work during the holidays to have their weekends freed up.
Instead, my friends and myself are husbandless for the next nine days straight.
I realize that I've got it easy, it's my ol man that should be complaining, but, then again....should we really complain?
Afterall, we signed up for this, and if this is how China does it, then this is our new "normal".
So be it.
As a foreigner, I find myself doing a lot of comparison between my homeland and here. This isn't necessarily good, and I have to step back and see this whole experience for what it is. We live HERE now. This is our current HOME. How can I fully accept China as home if I am constantly comparing it to America.
Because clearly, this ain't America.
The sooner I accept this and adapt to the Chinese way, the more positive our experience as a family will be here. Perhaps I should have made a resolution this year...it would go something like, "just let go and enjoy the (wild) ride".
...and what a wild ride it will be...
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
What we did on Christmas Vacation
Well, not exactly Christmas vacation, but PRC observes the New Year as a holiday, and includes a few extra days surrounding January 1st as off days. This means that NZ actually had a few days to relax and hang out with us. Nevermind the fact that when China has a few days off, they then work through the following weekend to make up for days off---so yes, NZ will be working 9 days straight this next week.
But, it's been great to have him home for a stretch of time. We've really enjoyed some lazy mornings playing video games, and cooking while Sal naps--then heading out for a walk or errands afterwards.
Here are some pictures of what we did on our Christmas vacation.
A nice way to send 2012 out, and welcome in a New Year.
But, it's been great to have him home for a stretch of time. We've really enjoyed some lazy mornings playing video games, and cooking while Sal naps--then heading out for a walk or errands afterwards.
Here are some pictures of what we did on our Christmas vacation.
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| Sal got another haircut |
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| Our sous chef hard at work |
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| We walked by a city garden |
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| NZ made meatuh-balls |
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| We |
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| We saw a scooter driving down the escalator |
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| And got lots of hugs from dad |
2012 in a nutshell
1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Brought home a living child. Moved to a new country, sight unseen.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't have any resolutions last year--I usually don't make any.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes. Tons of babies in 2012. Mostly boys.
4. Did anyone close to you die? We were with my grandfather as he passed away after 91 damn good years.
5. What countries did you visit? Does it count as visiting if you moved there?
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? My fitness level back. To feel better in my clothes.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? January 13th (birth of our son), June 4th ( we boarded a plane to China with a one way ticket) and October 8th (grandfather passed away).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Adjusting to a new culture, city, language with a 5 month old.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not learning Chinese
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Been pretty darn healthy.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Sheesh, we minimized to move over here, so we really haven't purchased anything substantial..which is a really really good feeling.
12. Where did most of your money go? Apparently you have to pay the hospital and Doctor's to have a child. Then the child needs to eat (formula) and be kept safe ( carseat). Considering those are our biggest expenses in the last year, we're doing alright.
13. What did you get really excited about? Our trip back home to the USA (October).
14. What song will always remind you of 2012? So that she isn't embarassed, I have to agree with Amy that "Call me Maybe"sticks out, as does Sal's favorite jam, " Whistle" by FloRida. My favorite song of 2012, however, was Lee Brice's " Woman Like You".
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:? – happier or sadder? Happier! – thinner or fatter? Thinner ( but still working to get fit and lose the last 10) – richer or poorer? Saving.
16. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercise.
17. What do you wish you’d done less of? Wish I would have consumed less sugar on a daily basis. My sweet tooth resurfaced after Sal was born.
18. How did you spend Christmas? With my boys and our expat friends( & newborn son) from Catalonia, Spain. We had lunch, opened gifts, and ended the night with a movie and pizza.
19. What was your favorite TV program? "Mad Men", " Big Bang Theory", "Jersey Shore", "Raising Hope"...clearly we don't get enough TV watching done.
20. What were your favorite books of the year? I read one book and it didn't help me at all. " Baby Whisperer" my a$$. Sal's favorite book however seems to be " Little Blue Truck"
21. What was your favorite music this year? Country. Jason Aldean. Lee Brice. Gary Allan. The Band Perry.
22. What were your favorite films of the year? I don't know if they came out this year, but I watched them in 2012. "Lincoln Lawyer" and " Gran Torino".
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 35. Celebrated with friends over Starbucks hot cocoa, and then enjoyed a homemade cake baked by NZ.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I can't think of anything more satisfying than my current situation. Husband that I adore, son that I love. One old cat, and great friends in a new city. Pretty darn satisfied.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012? Bwahahaha. Fashion? What's that?
26. What kept you sane? Friends & Family. Diet Coke.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012. So many things learned this year. Perhaps the biggest life lesson this year has come as a result of NZ and I leaving the comfort of California to live in a country which is so polar opposite of everything we knew ( and loved). Going from being able to articulate our needs to resorting to playing charades to provide a basic explanation of what I need from someone. Going from being able to hop into my car and go to the market for just about anything, to assessing the weather and deciding if it's safe enough to take my son out in it in hopes that the market still has cheese this week. All in all, this move over here has provided some really valuable experience, and has opened my family's eyes as to just how good we had it back home. Life here is good--just different..and a definite adjustment. I'm sure as 2013 rolls on through, we will add many more life lessons learned here.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't have any resolutions last year--I usually don't make any.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes. Tons of babies in 2012. Mostly boys.
4. Did anyone close to you die? We were with my grandfather as he passed away after 91 damn good years.
5. What countries did you visit? Does it count as visiting if you moved there?
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? My fitness level back. To feel better in my clothes.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? January 13th (birth of our son), June 4th ( we boarded a plane to China with a one way ticket) and October 8th (grandfather passed away).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Adjusting to a new culture, city, language with a 5 month old.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not learning Chinese
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Been pretty darn healthy.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Sheesh, we minimized to move over here, so we really haven't purchased anything substantial..which is a really really good feeling.
12. Where did most of your money go? Apparently you have to pay the hospital and Doctor's to have a child. Then the child needs to eat (formula) and be kept safe ( carseat). Considering those are our biggest expenses in the last year, we're doing alright.
13. What did you get really excited about? Our trip back home to the USA (October).
14. What song will always remind you of 2012? So that she isn't embarassed, I have to agree with Amy that "Call me Maybe"sticks out, as does Sal's favorite jam, " Whistle" by FloRida. My favorite song of 2012, however, was Lee Brice's " Woman Like You".
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:? – happier or sadder? Happier! – thinner or fatter? Thinner ( but still working to get fit and lose the last 10) – richer or poorer? Saving.
16. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercise.
17. What do you wish you’d done less of? Wish I would have consumed less sugar on a daily basis. My sweet tooth resurfaced after Sal was born.
18. How did you spend Christmas? With my boys and our expat friends( & newborn son) from Catalonia, Spain. We had lunch, opened gifts, and ended the night with a movie and pizza.
19. What was your favorite TV program? "Mad Men", " Big Bang Theory", "Jersey Shore", "Raising Hope"...clearly we don't get enough TV watching done.
20. What were your favorite books of the year? I read one book and it didn't help me at all. " Baby Whisperer" my a$$. Sal's favorite book however seems to be " Little Blue Truck"
21. What was your favorite music this year? Country. Jason Aldean. Lee Brice. Gary Allan. The Band Perry.
22. What were your favorite films of the year? I don't know if they came out this year, but I watched them in 2012. "Lincoln Lawyer" and " Gran Torino".
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 35. Celebrated with friends over Starbucks hot cocoa, and then enjoyed a homemade cake baked by NZ.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I can't think of anything more satisfying than my current situation. Husband that I adore, son that I love. One old cat, and great friends in a new city. Pretty darn satisfied.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012? Bwahahaha. Fashion? What's that?
26. What kept you sane? Friends & Family. Diet Coke.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012. So many things learned this year. Perhaps the biggest life lesson this year has come as a result of NZ and I leaving the comfort of California to live in a country which is so polar opposite of everything we knew ( and loved). Going from being able to articulate our needs to resorting to playing charades to provide a basic explanation of what I need from someone. Going from being able to hop into my car and go to the market for just about anything, to assessing the weather and deciding if it's safe enough to take my son out in it in hopes that the market still has cheese this week. All in all, this move over here has provided some really valuable experience, and has opened my family's eyes as to just how good we had it back home. Life here is good--just different..and a definite adjustment. I'm sure as 2013 rolls on through, we will add many more life lessons learned here.
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