Life in Asia with 3 kids!

HA! Today, I took the kids to the zoo and the aquarium. It was time to renew my annual pass. During the hot months of the summer and during the cold months of the winter, we usually go once every couple of weeks or so. So, it is well worth it. The kids learn the names of a new animal in Chinese every time we go. . .so it's a double bounce. Today, I had all 3 outside (BEAUTIFUL weather) for a good chunk of time. We made our way to the Children's Zoo which has a great playground they love to play on. As we were slowly making our way to the Children's Zoo, stopping at every exhibit to enjoy the animals I noticed there was a mom, grandma, grandpa, aunt, and one child following us rather closely trying to get a peak at Levi. So, I obliged and let them look at him. They asked me how old he is and I told them just about 2 months old. They started talking in Chinese to each other (in whispers) about how he is too little to be outside, he must be cold and all of this ridiculous stuff. I just smiled and nodded and said, "Maybe, I'm keeping him warm though. He seems to like the sunshine and the doctor said it would be good for him." Then, Abby came over to me and asked if we could go to see the ostrich's. This family asked me if she was my daughter. I (again) smiled and said "yes, she is my daughter." Then they pointed to Hudson and asked me if he was my son. . ."Yes, he is my son too.". Then, in Chinese, they said "3 kids! You have 3 kids?!" "Who helps you take care of them? You don't do it by yourself do you? You have a nanny right?" To which I told her yes all 3 are mine and no I do not have a nanny. In the U.S., a lot of families have more than 1 child (1 child is the law here) and a lot of families have 2 or 3. They said again to me. . . "3 kids?! All of them are yours? What I wanted to say. . . and the next time this happens I will say is. . . " yes. and I am pregnant with #4 right now." Seriously, I am NOT pregnant with #4 but wouldn't it be funny to see the response?! Infant 2 months old and she is pregnant with #4?!

The Bird's Nest At Night

A where is Waldo moment! Can you find the whitey in the crowd?!

Happy Chinese New Year at DiTan Miao Hui

sort of like a State Fair on steroids

lanterns. . . lanterns . . . and more lanterns

BEAUTIFUL!


You can't see this city, without seeing the Panda's

A reflective moment for my daughter at the Forbidden City

Zai Jian!

Wool Socks and Long Underwear

As long as I live here, I will never get used to having to wear wool socks and long underwear at the end of March. Here, the buildings are made out of concrete. . . all concrete. So, they are difficult to heat and have them stay warm. The "cold" factor is magnified by the fact that we are given 4 months of heat each year. The government regulates when the heat is turned on (usually Nov 15th) and when it is turned off (March 15th). Every once in a while, in the case of a winter snow storm (which hardly ever happens here) they will have pity on the "common folk" and turn it on early or turn it off late. So, even though it might be 52 degrees (f) outside today, I was able to see my breath in my kitchen when I woke up this morning and the house doesn't "feel" like it has warmed up at all. I'm pretty sure that it is actually warmer outside than it is inside my house. All in all, it's not really that big of a deal, but it's "different" to not be able to control how warm my house is or isn't. So, we will put our wool socks and long underwear on this morning and we'll take them off BEFORE we go outside today. All in the name of a "cold" spring day!