Merry Christmas 2018! Kinder Surprise Eggs! NOT Kinder Joy, Maxi eggs, Miraculous medium eggs, and regular eggs, in two packs, three packs, and holiday packs. Oh and Kinder devastation shortly after.
Merry Christmas. Montreal 2018
Elia December 2018
Even though Elia’s birthday is in December, because we write hers from the 15th to the 15th, the events of her birthday will fall in the next blog post. Strangely, we will write about Thanksgiving now and her birthday and Christmas then. We could have made Elia’s posts on the month but that would have meant writing two at the same time, which would be quite onerous. In any case, Thanksgiving.
Our Thanksgiving, Christmas schedule is largely decided upon by Albert’s family and since they met up in October for Columbus day, we found ourselves not having any Thanksgiving plans. We did need to take the kids out to another country this year, but since our house had not yet rented and we were paying both rent and mortgage, we felt hesitant to do anything more than to drive to Canada again. Continue reading “Elia December 2018”
2018 Holiday Card
Elia Turns 5
Elia had quite the day for her birthday. She was of an age to truly enjoy it. Happy Birthday Sweetie! From the top left to right, 1) she got a Blackfire girl, sister to Starfire (which Curie got, since you need to get a present even if your sister is having the birthday), 2) telling her class that our family tradition is her birthday and going to NICU to thank them each year 3) her teachers 4) eating her cupcake 5) twirling in her birthday dress 6) choosing an expensive restaurant because she is the birthday girl 7) the restaurant turned off all the lights to sing for her 8) joy 9) wearing the dress from one set of grand parents and getting the horse from the other 10) sweetness for one of three cakes 11) blowing out the candles 12) turning 5
Curie November 2018
We made a decision before Chicago not to get the flu shot because we were worried that we would feel sick on the trip. That was a bad decision because Curie got sick after and ended up with pneumonia. This was October. We planned on getting flu shots after but one by one each of us were sick, even though we knew we needed to get the flu shot. Then Curie came down with a fever again, and was out from school for another week. Getting the flu without the flu shot is a 5 day affair, with the flu shot is only 3. After she was over the flu we immediately went to go get it, but the pediatrician didn’t have any availability. We went to CVS, but they were closing so we went to Giant where it was a terrible ordeal. Elia was not allowed to get a shot at Giant because she was not 5 yet, so she got hers later at an urgent care.
Elia November 2018
When times are challenging, even when they are not anxiety producing or dire, there is a sense that life is a constant uphill battle. This is an attitude that is easy to fall into as much as it a choice of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Much of life is about choices, and the stress comes when you are not choosing and not in control. Choose to be content, and happiness will follow – note, I did not say choose to be happy, as more often than not, when there are challenges, and happiness is not achieved, you won’t be content. You have but to look at a four-year old’s life to see truth in how to live life. Continue reading “Elia November 2018”
Holiday Decorations 2018
Living in the Chen family…
Elia’s Pictures
Curie Gets Her Green Belt
Curie passed her green belt test today. Look at her extension, keeps getting better. the top left was her trial class and each subsequent picture is her testing. See the picture in the comments for more pictures.
Look at the sparring, Curie chased that girl all around the mat. She took a hard shot from a higher belt later and didn’t flinch.