A Woman named Man.

So here in Hong Kong most people have a chinese name and then they pick an English name as well. Sometimes its funny to see what they pick as their English name. I've met an Apple, a little boy named Grace and some other funny ones that just don't match up with my association with "english names". Today while at a store called Mannings. I met a woman named Man. A woman with a mullet style haircut pulled back into a small ponytail. Now, I suppose she could have been the manager...but I'm pretty sure it was just her nametag that said Man. It made me smile and a little chuckle escaped as I walked out the door. Its the little things I tell you.

On a more serious note...I've been thinking about comfort zones lately. I realize that it's good to have experiences to get us out of these comfortable places in our lives, to make us stretch and grow. I just feel like these experiences are on overload for me right now. Maybe that is what is making me feel so homesick lately. I want some COMFORT people! We have been here a little over a month and the "I'm on a cool vacation" feeling is rubbing off. :) I'm starting to wonder if any of this will feel like home or I will have this strange "out of my comfort zone" feeling forever :) All in all I feel like I've already learned so much about myself. It has really gotten OJ and I thinking about what we really want out of this life for our little family.

I learned something from my cute Graham today. I took him to the park and let him run around. He was so happy. He doesn't care where he is as long as his basic needs are met. I need to be more like that. Satisfied with the present.

Randomness...

I had a few pics that I wanted to post...mostly of Graham. Sorry, he's cute. :)

Here are some more of my modified creations. Mexican Caviar, Salad, and Pizza. A friend suggested I use Bisquick for the pizza crust. It worked out great!

OJ and Graham playing with the tunnel that OJ made. I love how he is peeking under.

I thought the kid loved baby einstein before but now it has reached a new level. His new favorite is the "World Animals"

These are some pictures I took while we were doing our bedtime routine. He was being so silly that I had to take a few pictures. He is reading his Book of Mormon in the last one. He looks so focused. Really he just like to flip the pages over and over and over again.

This is Graham's new friend Kai. Last week we went to the zoo. It was the day after we had a typhoon #8 warning. As you can see there were some residual effects. :) It was fine for awhile, actually nice, not so hot. Then it just started POURING...like rivers in the streets pouring... Well we were struggling to get a taxi so this is what happened. We sought shelter in a parking garage.

This is when we were "waiting" out the rain under an overhang at the zoo. It wasn't really letting up.

Just another day...a good day

On Saturday we decided to head out to Lantau Island to Discovery Bay. Discovery Bay is where all of the foreigners live...well not ALL, we don't live there. :) My friend described it as Hong Kong's "southern california". OJ served in this area so we decided to go and check it out. The trip started out great when on our bus ride I turned my head and saw this lovely landscape. 

However this is what Graham thought about our bus ride, then train ride, then bus ride...

Actually he did really well on the way there. Happy little boy playing with his trucks.

THEN we got to DISCOVERY BAY!!!

Isn't it beautiful? I was so excited to walk around and hear English conversations.

This is the boardwalk at the top of the beach.

After we decided to go over to the plaza and walk around and look at the stores. Alot of people had dogs and Graham would get so excited and point and say "oooff". His eyes would remain on those dogs until they disappeared. Later we decided to get him out of his stroller to walk around. He found this "little doggy in the window" and thought it was real. He stood there laughing at it and saying "oooff" over and over. It was pretty cute. Every once and awhile we will ask him where Daisy is (my parents dog) and his eyes get big and alert and he just keeps looking around for her. All of this melts OJ's heart and he is determined to get Graham one...soon. Hmmm we will see about that.

Of course we had to stop at the grocery store. It is almost a game now. I love wandering the aisles to see what treasures I can find. On this trip we found cocoa powder, salad dressing (Briana's poppy seed nonetheless), tortilla's, powdered sugar, lemon juice, syrup, cream of tartar, and pumpkin. It was a successful treasure hunt I'd say. OJ was also impressed by the assortment of box desserts they had so he took a picture. We were limited on what we could buy...remember we had to be able to carry it in our hands (for quite a trip mind you). This makes the game even more fun, "hmmmm what do I really, really want?"

The best part of the day came when we went to a mexican restaurant! Woo hoo! It was soooooooo good and I savored every single bite

Yes I ate the WHOLE thing and the rest of Graham's. :)

After lunch/dinner I went to find a bathroom and OJ let Graham loose in the plaza.

We took a nice bus ride, then a train ride, then a bus ride, then a walk home.

We ended the evening putting Graham down for bed and eating Neapolitan ice cream and watching some episodes of Arrested Development.

Really it was just another day...a good day.

Butterfly Beach

On Saturday we went to Butterfly Beach in Tuen Mun. It was about 50 minutes away on a mini bus. These mini buses are crazy. They can fit about 16 people and are dirty and they just cruise. Its kind of like a taxi...in that it will stop whenever. OJ actually served in this area and on our way walking to the beach we ran into a lady he knew from his mission. It was crazy! If you could see how many people there are here you would understand how incredible it was that we saw her.

Anyway, we weren't sure what kind of beach it would be so we didn't bring our swimming suits. We were totally wishing we had. It was really nice! So instead we just waded and walked around. Then we went back to the mall so we could eat lunch in an air conditioned building :) 

They had a Park n' Shop (grocery store) so of course I had to stop to see what they had. They had spices! Woo Hoo. I have been looking all over for a place that has more than just salt, pepper, and garlic salt. I have looked at about 5-6 different stores and haven't found anything! So you can imagine how excited I was to find so many. I didn't have a basket so I just loaded them in my arms. I just stood in front of them going over and over each row just to make sure I didn't miss any I wanted. I was tempted to get some I had never used before just because they were there.  I was so happy. I told OJ this could have been the most awful day EVER and just finding these spices would have made everything okay. Its amazing how much joy a jar of paprika, parsley, cinnamon, lemon pepper, thyme, cloves, nutmeg, minced onion, and season all can bring you.

Graham was exhausted and actually stayed asleep when I got him out of the stroller to get on the mini bus to go home. That NEVER happens.

culinary attempts...

I have to admit, our meal selections have improved quite a bit. I'm still brainstorming and experimenting but we had dinner last night and I felt full and satisfied...what a great feeling.

My first recipe...banana bread...we didn't have any dishes so I made it in tupperware with a plastic fork. It was pretty good. Tasted a little off but hey I'm not complaining.

my cute little toaster oven.

The final product. It was gone in less than 24 hours. I think OJ had 3 pieces. :)

Black Pepper Beef on Rice.

We sort of made this one up but it was delicious!

I also made Chicken Broccoli Casserole but I didn't get a picture of that one.

So in case you were still worried about me...we aren't starving! Speaking of which it's time for our every other day trip to the grocery store.

celebrations.

Here is a recap of Graham's birthday. We kept it small and simple...(mostly because we didn't know where we could have a party for him)

Our friend Calvin brought Graham some blocks. He loves them and learned how to climb on top! He was so determined.

This is the toy that Graham picked out for his birthday...it speaks Japanese...Miki could you translate? :)

We also went swimming...

My new friend Ken.

I met Ken the first week we were here. I was swimming with Graham and Ken was exercising in the "Gymnasium" as they call it. It looks out on the pool. Well he started waving to Graham. G thought this was fun so he would keep looking at him and K would keep waving. After we were done swimming we ran into him in the hall. K is chinese but is from New Zealand and speaks English. However, it is still a little difficult to understand him sometimes. Well, we spoke for a moment, he was cute with G and we were off. The next morning I went to work out and there he was. After a hearty hello he proceeded to tell me about his family, teaching English, and a cool beach to visit. Awesome, I always like new information. Well, he was there the next day as well. And every day since then. I don't mind talking to him...but I found out real quick that Ken is a TALKER! He doesn't really catch on to social ques either which makes it a little difficult. For example, I will say "Well, it was good to talk to you..." and he will just keep talking and talking. He will come and stand by the treadmill (fairly close mind you) and wait until I take off my headphones to talk to me. -sigh- "oh Ken". I don't know about you but I like to get in and get out. And he will sit and talk to me for like a half hour.

hmmmmm what to do...

Who's your Ken? I know you have one!

one.

Dear Graham,

Today you turn one!  (9/08/07) You are turning into such a big boy. Sometimes that makes me sad, but mostly just happy to see you grow each day. I don't remember what it was like to not love you.  I think that is what surprised me the most about seeing you the first time...how instantly I felt love, pure unconditional love. Because of you I understand a little bit more how much Heavenly Father loves us. You have taught me so much in such a short year. In fact just the other day, you taught me patience on the subway. You see, the train was packed...I mean PACKED. A nice man was smiling at you but you had other plans, you saw his cell phone. The man, being ignorant, handed you his cell phone. You thought this was a gift for keeps, he thought he was being nice for a second. He found out quickly of his mistake when he took his phone back. Your feelings were hurt and you SCREAMED and screamed and screamed. I took you out of your stroller (very awkwardly, remember the train was packed) but you were inconsolable. I'm sorry he hurt your feelings, but remember we can't have everything.

Daddy and I are so happy you are part of our family. You make everyday better.

Happy Birthday!

Love, Mama

This was right before I went to the hospital to have you. No, there were no other sibling in there with you :)

The day you were born...look at that dark hair!

2 months.You were a mini M&M for Halloween. (Aunt Morgan's idea)

 3 months. Oh the swaddle...the ONLY way to get you to sleep.

 4 months. You in your blessing outfit...what a handsome babe!

 5 months. Once you found the feet...you never went back.

 10 months. It was such an exciting day when you figured out you could get underneath...hmmmm now if only you could figure out how to get out...

 9 months. You loved the laundry baskets

 8 months. baby cleavage. what? 

7 months. I love that chubby face!

 6 months. You would play in this thing all day...I got alot accomplished those 2 months :)

 11 months. water baby! you loved it from the beginning.

arriving in HK. let the adventures begin.

12 month pics

WE LOVE YOU.

This one is for the Grandma's...

and whoever else wants to see cute pics of Graham!