Christmas Eve Dip Anyone?

Christmas Eve was a very eventful day.

It began with Cole's health check (see other post for details).  After returning home I wanted it to feel more like Christmas since we don't have much in the way of decoration so that meant activities with the kids and music.

We made a fresh batch of sugar cookies to give away and some fresh fruit Santas.

 

We also got a delivery from Ikea of a new couch which meant big cardboard boxes and all the fun that brings. First the boys ripped the plastic and made their own "snow". I have to say I was impressed that the came up with this on their own at 1.5 and 3 years old.  (If you watch the video - notice my 21 month old with serious hops!)

Next their first fort together...

For our evening fun we started a new tradition of going out to or eating in a fancy dinner on Christmas eve. It's not to say we haven't done that before, but this year we made it official.  The boys had a busy day with cookies and running around so they got all freshened up to go.

 

Our dinner was at the brand new Hilton a couple of miles from our home.  For those of you only familiar with the Hilton chain in the USA - the Asia version is MUCH nicer.  The rooms start at about $160/night to give you an idea.   They were having a grand Christmas buffet.  

We knew they would have nice Christmas decorations that would make for a great family photo so we were sure to leave early to get there.  Our reservation was for 7 - later than we would have liked with the boys, but they had over 300 reservations that night so we had to get in where we fit in.

 On the car ride over...

When we got there it did not disappoint. The hotel was grand and beautifully decorated. 

We got a member of the hotel staff to take a family picture and even got to see Santa...

It was now time to gather our things and head downstairs to the buffet.  I was leaning over grabbing items off the floor when I heard Stan yell for me.  I turned around in time to see a hotel staffer pointing down into the infinity pool in the lobby. He quickly bent over and pulled a fully submerged Cole from the infinity pool!

The pool had a piano in the middle of it that appeared to be "floating".  The lighting in the area was fairly dim and the water was quite glassy looking.  Cole had made a bee-line for the piano when we were gathering our things and didn't comprehend that it was indeed a pool. He stepped in the trench before the pool and fell in.

 

Poor Cole was drenched, crying and coughing water.  The hotel staffers quickly grabbed paper napkins to try to dab him off as I began comforting him and taking off the soaked clothing.  We only had spare undies and a t-shirt with us for him so a staffer grabbed an adult robe from the hotel. Stan took him to the bathroom to get him out of the rest of his wet clothes and made him a sumo diaper like outfit from the robe.  He was fairly traumatized by it all.

Staff wiping the water covered marble floor

Kenney observing the drama

We ended up sending Stan back home to get dry clothes, while the rest of us waited.  Cole fell asleep almost immediately and Kenney played on his Ipad I had brought for emergency dinner entertainment backup. Due to holiday traffic it took about 30 minutes for Stan to return.

 Patiently waiting...

Stan got back and we finally made it to dinner about 8:15.  The boys were tired but did pretty well.  The buffet was very nice - seafood, prime rib, lamb, sushi, noodles, salads, chocolate fountains, gelato etc.

Needless to say the night was memorable.  Kenney in sheer exhaustion and a full tummy laid it out while Stan paid at the end of the night. He had PTSMS - Post Traumatic Stuffed Myself Syndrome

It's Beginning to Feel (A Little) Like Christmas...

It's Christmastime, but with the craze of the move it's been not my typical holiday season:

 The Christmas tree I wish we had

 The Christmas Tree we do have...

All Christmas shopping for the boys sadly took place over
a two hour period Dec 23rd 

- sponsored by our mini Toys R Us
(talk about a commercial looking Christmas)

 

But things began to happen to bring the Christmas to life:

The building put up some decorations

and

I played some favorite Christmas music about the Savior

We decorated cookies

And the boys repeatedly watched the LDS Christmas Devotional

Even being reverent for every prayer

And so I was reminded that Christmas isn't what's given to you, but what you give and provide.  

It's time with loved ones and inviting the message of the Savior into your home. 

School Physical - Check!

After careful consideration we have decided to send Cole to the International Montessori school across the street.  Everyday he asks me if he has school tomorrow so it will be a welcome start for him. After comparing the Montessori to the local American International school, it seems to offer more and is much closer to home.  I'm especially excited for him to get mandarin instruction and take private piano lessons twice a week as part of the program.


The application process involves submitting a physical check-up report from a local doctor for Cole.  Cole had a physical for school done prior to leaving the USA, but they wanted a local doctor to do the checkup. 

One of the requirements of this physical was for Cole to have a fasting blood draw.  I was surprised to hear that they would have a 3 year old do a 12 hour fast (no food or water) for a physical, but I didn't make the rules.  My goal was to try to go as early as possible so that his hunger pains wouldn't be prolonged, but had to wait to go to the hospital until 9am when Ahwa showed up to watch Kenney.  There were too many unknowns in this venture to bring Kenney.  Poor Cole woke at 7:30 and immediately wanted juice, breakfast, and a sandwich.  I told him he could have a little water or eat some ice cubes.  He took me up on the ice cubes, but not shockingly was not satisfied.  The next two hours involved crying, pleading, sneaking into the kitchen - it was so sad.

The office van picked us up and took us to the hospital they specified, which was about 40 minutes away.  The driver had never been there and was looking at me as much as I was looking at him for where to go. We drove to a building that said in English "Pediatric Ward".  I decided this was a good place to start.  I forgot to mention that we were told by the school that there were no appointments so we just had to show up. 

We went in the building and to nursing station.  I had the school application with the required documentation in Chinese and showed that to the nurses (who couldn't speak English).  The nurses talked among themselves then sent for another nurse who motioned for us to follow her.  She walked us outside to another building about 3 buildings down.  She dropped us off at another desk.  Then she went and got a nurse who could speak some English.  The lobby was buzzing with people - babies, kids, adults, all in lines and pushing about.  I was grateful to have an escort.  We went to three different sections before we got to the first doctor.  It was a small exam room, like you'd find in the US, but there was a line of people filing in and out as the doctor checked chests, torsos and mouths.  Cole was great.  Took it all in stride.  Next another room where he had a hearing test.  This doctor was pretty decent with her English.  She passed Cole pretty quickly.  Finally was the blood test.  I had packed Cole a pb&j sandwich that I knew would help console him after.  He had shots before, but never a blood draw.  His lack of understanding was great cuz he rolled with it until the needle went in. Yelp!  He tried to grab the needle out.  Luckily the nurse doing the draw was skilled and got it done quick. 

After our nurse escort asked to take pictures with Cole because he was so cute.  Overall it went smoother than I thought.  We have to go back in two days to pick up his report, but the biggest hurdle for getting him in school is now done.