Saturday, July 16, 2011

Birthday Girl

She was up 10:30 p.m., 11:01 (is it tomorrow yet?), 1:25, and by 3:30 a.m., she was dressed and ready to take on the day...jet lagged out of her little mind, but today is her day...the day she turns seven!

By 8 a.m., she was opening presents, changing outfits, and the most excited I've ever seen her...today she can get her ears pierced, something she's been asking for since she was 3 years old.  Skyler has been fashion focused since she could talk. Picking out her outfits very particularly since she was 2, doing her own hair by age 3, and always spending the time to have just the right look for the day. To her, earrings are the accessory that have been missing from her ensemble for years now! Sydney, 2 years older than Skye, never asked to get her ears pierced, but surprised us when she said she would like to do it, too. As for me, I haven't worn earrings since my wedding day 13 years ago. I decided it was time for a new look and I, too, had my ears pierced today.

Skyler, now crashed on the couch - her internal time clock is way off - said today was the best birthday ever!  Our day began with a delicious brunch, Skye's favorite type of meal, and ended the day with a swim and some frozen yogurt. It's the simple things that make us the happiest. Spending your birthday doing things you love, challenging yourself to try something new, and reuniting with your family after 5 weeks away...it's pretty great to be 7!
A little Michelle with freshly pierced ears...I loved that dress!





So many choices...

The girls were studying me as I was the first to go. They watched for any reaction that would indicate pain. They were both quite nervous to have it done.



Next up!



Anticipation is usually worse than the action...


All done..beautiful peridot earrings

Nervous...anxious...dramatic

Todd stepped in to lend a helping hand.


Finished...she said it hurt and she felt a little like she was going to faint.

Todd trying to lighten the mood...I have a feeling he is going to embarrass the girls quite a bit as  they get older.

Skye went with rainbow daisy earrings.


Yep

Showing off our new looks


Time for create your own frozen yogurt. I wouldn't touch the combinations the girls came up with.




All the toppings you want...


A 7 year olds perfect creation.



Skye's cousin, Ally, came up with quite a creation of her own.





Yes, it is pretty great to be seven!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Home

32 hours flying time, 7 suitcases, 5 carry-ons, trains, escalators, taxis, trams, busses, crystal clear bottom cable cars, elevators, boats, ferries, paddle boats, dim sum, city life, mountains, apartment, blogs, Buddha, the beach, painting, typhoons, pink dolphins, pandas, friends, South China Sea, Cantonese cartoons, crowds, night markets, hiking, walking, kung fu, shopping, laser light shows, islands, conversations lost in translation, movies, birds, Bubbles, parks, roller coasters, Disney, 4,032 pictures, swimming, 2 less teeth...but only one home! What a summer this has been so far...we're slowly acclimating back to our reality...jet lag is proving to be tough. We have groceries to buy, laundry to do, friends and family to see, toys that need playing with...and a 7th birthday to celebrate tomorrow.

I took a few photos during our journey home yesterday...not as exciting or beautiful as the sights of Hong Kong, but is still a documentation of the end of our five weeks...



A few pics of the apartment.


Ready to go!



One last time playing the elevator game.

Waiting for the limo...


This is just half of our luggage.

Efficiency!


We passed the time watching the cargo and the planes.
The reason we sat on the runway for an hour and a half.

The kids thought the eyes on the airplane were awesome. They made the plane look cartoonish.


Welcome to O'hare





Almost home...

One very long day...about 20 hours of travel time...Home sweet home.


Our flowers are in full bloom and a bit overgrown at the moment.




 Tomorrow's adventure includes piercing some ears...wish us luck!