Hiking to Mui Wo

I was pleased when Suds' answer was, "Let's go eat lunch in Mui Wo today" when I asked what we should do. Not so pleased when we told me the catch, we would be walking there! Up and over a mountain, no less.

Starting off point with DB in the background


Ella brought her scooter for the flat parts







Hmmmm. This is flat, why am I lugging the scooter?











At the peak of the hike. Now all we have to do is walk down the mountain to Mui Wo







Unfortunately there were A LOT of stairs!






At this point it got very cold with a strong wind. Cue Ella's constant whine, "I'm COLD"







Somewhere down there is lunch.....and our rewards of hot chocolate and mulled wine :)
After 2 hours of hiking we deserve it!!

CNY 2012

Do you recognize Julia's outfit? This is it's 3rd CNY appearance :)





Fireworks as seen from the playroom of A and G











The kidlets after a full afternoon of play, dinner, bath time and dressed in pajamas. Fireworks have now been requested to end all such playdates!

Love this one with the taxis zooming by





Our new camera takes great pictures, especially at night. I am very happy with the purchase! The problem is our computer is full full full and I can't download the rest of our pictures. We have been operating on the cusp of overload for a year now. I keep having to delete things to make room. But very soon we will have to take the plunge and buy a new Mac.

CNY at Ella's school

Today is the end of Ella's first term of preschool. The focus of the term was International Celebrations and this last week was all about Chinese New Year. Here is Ella practicing her chopsticks skills

The last day they were encouraged to wear traditional CNY outfits




Ella is the youngest kid in her class. She is definitely smaller but holds her own on all other fronts!

recycling old greeting cards

Here is a fabulous way to recycle your old cards. More info can be found here

Recycled Card Program History

Over thirty years ago, wishing to show our donors appreciation for making St. Jude’s Ranch for Children possible, the idea was conceived for turning the previous year’s Christmas cards into “new” cards for the coming season. The recipients were so delighted with their unique “thank you,” they requested the children sell them the special cards. And so, the St. Jude’s Ranch Recycled Card Program was born.

Since then, the program expanded to include all occasion greeting cards…just about anything that starts with a used greeting card. People from all over the world have sent us their used cards!

Operated by Kids’ Corp., a program for the children at St. Jude’s Ranch to learn entrepreneurship skills, the children participate in making the new cards by removing the front and attaching a new back. The result is a beautiful new card made by the children and volunteers. The benefits are two-fold: customers receive “green” holiday cards for use and the children receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of “going green”.

The ongoing support for the Recycled Card Program has been overwhelming! The Program grew and soon we were receiving over one million cards. We have since redesigned the process to more efficiently manage the increased production from the increased volume and we welcome your submissions!

NOTE: We currently have an increased need for both Birthday and Thank You card submissions.

To Donate Cards:

We welcome your donation and ask that you please review the below tips before sending your donation. Currently, we have found the least expensive way to mail large quantities of card donations is through the USPS in a Flat Rate Box which holds up to 70 pounds (available at the Post Office).

Card Donating Tips:

• All types of greeting cards, including Christmas are used.
• Only the card front can be used (please check to be sure the back side is clear of any writing, etc.)
• We can not accept Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards.
• 5″ x 7″ size or smaller is preferred.
• Mail donations to :
  St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
  Recycled Card Program
  100 St. Jude’s Street
  Boulder City, NV 89005

Spring Cleaning

It feels like winter has only just hit Hong Kong, but I have started Spring Cleaning.
Or maybe Winter Organizing is a better term? My pet project is the photo and scrapbooking chaos that lives under our bed.

Have you given me a card in the last 6 years? Or Suds, Ella or Julia? I am fairly confident I have it in this stack. What am I to do with all these cards? I can't fold them ALL into little boxes, can I?

Slowly the number of "aminal friends" that Ella NEEDS to sleep in her bed with her has increased. Tonight her grand total is
owl pillow
cupcake pillow
Star
2 pandas
white teddy
white pillow
3 princess dolls
brown puppy
brown teddy
Nemo
Smoky
pink teddy
blue teddy
parrot
3 giraffes
pink fingalow
Quincy
polar bear
Sandwich
Clifford

My Gruffalo painting.

Daddy drew it and Mommy and I painted it

Julia was so happy to celebrate her birthday with Mickey and friends

Ella with her too cute playdate friends. A classmate and his little brother

This ones for Nick

HK Xmas

Christmas Eve started well with a warm sunny day, mulled wine (that's not a coffee!) and Santa Clause


Time to cook dinner. Julia did not like the surprise pasta waterfall. Neither did we, really





Roast check. Hmmmm. The ginger has turned blue. Google tells me it is still edible, so I carry on.

Onto the white wine!






Ella's Santa face painting.





Presents from Auntie Leah








After the kids were to bed we had a marathon gift wrapping session.







Wrapping gifts is hard work! Suds fell asleep waiting for Santa to arrive



Xmas morning was pure excitement













Christmas is a perfect bike riding day






A typical big sister grab





Julia in her Christmas outfit courtesy of Aunty Tiff (via an Ella stopover)












Walking along the beach Ella spies a monster bug




Playing around in the plaza before dinner












Dinner made all the better because I didn't have the stress of cooking it myself!







Ella's favourite part was dessert

A couple of goofballs....

RIP praying mantis

She is catching crickets in the sky

Our Christmas tree

Hmmmm...
maybe the girls need a little advisement on how to best decorate the tree
















Ah yes. That is looking better!


















I know I am biased, but seriously. Ella is going to be a knockout when she grows up, isn't she?







































Ella reaches for the stars





































Daddy needs to help put the star on top
















Beautiful!!


















Yay!!