Photo Shoot

Thank you, Mike SAKAS, for a great photo shoot! You are amazing. And it's always fun spending an afternoon in Stanley (our weekly family hang-out).

Fourth of July :: from afar

Who needs fireworks when you have a room full of friends? This year a bunch of us were in HK for the Fourth. So we rented out the party room and had a good old-fashioned potluck! Macaroni and cheese, pulled pork, baked beans, apple crisp.... the works. Set up the mic and had kid-produced-karaoke and played musical chairs.

For me, the Fourth marks the middle of summer... which, as a teacher, means that we are about halfway through the restful stretch of non-schedules and home-projects. So strange - it seems like it showed up so quickly this year! Does time really just keep feeling faster the older we get?

This article struck a chord with me - as an expat family that can no longer claim 'newbie' status... surrounded by the endless cycle of goers, stayers, and newbies. Curious? Click on it - it's a great read.

Normal

Day to day life is just so full and rich and busy, isn't it? We pack our days with a zillion small moments, sleep, then rise for the next. Our minds chase ideas, questions, and plans in endlessly spiralling circles. Work, rest, repeat. Once in awhile we slow down enough to enjoy the simple things. "Just Normal" life.

This spring was all about the simple things. We just - lived life. Not that different from life anywhere else. And yet - here we are, getting to live it in Honkers.

facepaint - just because she asks

Sick days ...

and School days ...

Hangin' out with friends days ...

 

 (This beautiful young lady used to be my first grader, once upon a moon.)

2nd grade SLEEPOVER

dance class

taxi hailing

listening to friends perform

Another former student:
visiting HK all the way from Yale!

Around town days...

A hole for the DRAGON to fly through!

 

never a day without bugs....

and IT'S finally SUMMER days ....

too hot to play outside - days

 Staycation days!

Hong Kong Gold Coast

Who needs summer school when you have a BIG SISTER?

 Aren't "just normal" days simply wonderful?