After over a year's absence our 10 day trip in Chicago felt like nothing more than a whirlwind stop. I covered good ground but still didn't manage to see everyone on my wish list. There are enough impressions and pictures for a post or two, but it will all have to wait until we settle back into some semblance of a regular routine. Jetlag aside, Monchi has been spoiled rotten by both grandmothers in the past 3 weeks to the point where she no longer fancies sleeping by herself in her lone room upstairs. So far her insistent YELPING has bested us night after night: yesterday was Jochen's turn with her and this morning I found father and daughter sound asleep, back to back, oblivious to the morning sun.
Monchichi's bark is literally worse than her bite, given she has at the ripe old age of 9 months still no sign of teeth. Is this something to worry about? She gums everything and attacks bread and pastas heartily. I'm too sleep deprived to research properly - any old wives tales I should know about out there on this subject???!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Crafty!
Jochen's mom mentioned a few times in the past months that for Jochen's dad's birthday in July it would nice if Pig could make some felt napkin rings as a birthday present for him. She really really said that. At least 3 times. The first time I was like "wha??" The second time again "wha????!" And finally even I couldn't ignore it when it came up again the last time. I mean, we're not exactly a cloth napkin kind of family, so I wasn't quite sure how I would explain the concept of a napkin ring to the little piggy. Second, I've known H&H for almost 1o years now and to be honest, they've never offered me a cloth napkin in all the times I ate at their place. And yet somehow my mother-in-law is convinced this would be the perfect first kiddie craft for Pig to tackle.
The whole thing reminds me of when I went to school in Taiwan. I got as far as 2 months into the 3rd grade before I left for the US, but that short period of time remains indelible in my mind. Class size of 50 kids (imagine!), bringing a bento box to school for lunch (and having it warmed in the giant communal bento steamer), getting smacked in the palm HARD one time as punishment for losing my homework. Even today my sister cracks up when she hears me multiplying under my breath in Chinese - that's how I learned it! In any case, every few months we'd be given a craft assignment, and points would be given not for effort, or creativity, but for EXECUTION. Meaning, it had to be neat and complicated and pretty much completed by your mom. One time we had to make a Santa Claus, and I remember being so pissed that my mom was hogging everything - blowing out the egg, gluing the cotton beard onto the hollow shell, pasting the googly eyes on to the face. I took the damn thing to school and found most everyone else's parents also put their projects together. I got great points for mine (thanks mom) but it was pretty clear this was not an exercise for MY benefit.
So what did I choose to do in this case? Yep, now that I'm the mom I pretty much took over the project, too. Actually it turned out to be a group effort: Jochen was in charge of cutting the felt into strips, I sewed the buttons on, and Pig tied two knots for each napkin ring - a skill he just mastered in recent months. Ta da!!
Is this how etsy shops get started?
Saturday we go to drop off this and other presents as well as pick up Monchichi. On Sunday Pig, Monchi and Yours Truly will be on our way to Chi-Town for 10 days. We're looking forward this time to hanging out with A-Kong, A-Ma, Boh and the other A-Kong, Hsin, Beckermans, Leanne and Niki and their families, Hope and Rebecca. If you're free and in town give us a call or drop me an email. We'd love to meet up! Blog break until we return....
In our absence Jochen gets to scratch his belly, drink beer, go on another bike trip, and get some odd jobs done around the house. And I know he'll miss us terribly......(not!)
The whole thing reminds me of when I went to school in Taiwan. I got as far as 2 months into the 3rd grade before I left for the US, but that short period of time remains indelible in my mind. Class size of 50 kids (imagine!), bringing a bento box to school for lunch (and having it warmed in the giant communal bento steamer), getting smacked in the palm HARD one time as punishment for losing my homework. Even today my sister cracks up when she hears me multiplying under my breath in Chinese - that's how I learned it! In any case, every few months we'd be given a craft assignment, and points would be given not for effort, or creativity, but for EXECUTION. Meaning, it had to be neat and complicated and pretty much completed by your mom. One time we had to make a Santa Claus, and I remember being so pissed that my mom was hogging everything - blowing out the egg, gluing the cotton beard onto the hollow shell, pasting the googly eyes on to the face. I took the damn thing to school and found most everyone else's parents also put their projects together. I got great points for mine (thanks mom) but it was pretty clear this was not an exercise for MY benefit.
So what did I choose to do in this case? Yep, now that I'm the mom I pretty much took over the project, too. Actually it turned out to be a group effort: Jochen was in charge of cutting the felt into strips, I sewed the buttons on, and Pig tied two knots for each napkin ring - a skill he just mastered in recent months. Ta da!!
Is this how etsy shops get started?
Saturday we go to drop off this and other presents as well as pick up Monchichi. On Sunday Pig, Monchi and Yours Truly will be on our way to Chi-Town for 10 days. We're looking forward this time to hanging out with A-Kong, A-Ma, Boh and the other A-Kong, Hsin, Beckermans, Leanne and Niki and their families, Hope and Rebecca. If you're free and in town give us a call or drop me an email. We'd love to meet up! Blog break until we return....
In our absence Jochen gets to scratch his belly, drink beer, go on another bike trip, and get some odd jobs done around the house. And I know he'll miss us terribly......(not!)
Sunday, July 05, 2009
My Little Cossacks
My mom's friend Tina said from the start that Pig looked Turkish. I never saw the resemblance but it turns out she wasn't completely off. This spring when we were in Turkey one of the Kazakh waitresses asked to hold Monchi, and the picture of them together was a revelation - I think my kids need to learn how to ride a horse, pronto!
Since then my Kazakh radar has been switched ON. I spot Kazakh taxi drivers all over the place, I narrow in on Kazakh women walking down the street. When I get a chance to speak to them I am always confirmed right. What do you know, I still can't tell Asians apart but now I can spot Borat's countrymen at a drop of the hat.
What does this mean, not too much, except it allows me to ramble on about this only-to-me fascinating discovery, and to ask, is it worth it to invest emotionally in the Tour de France this year?? Astana Team was a @!#$%! mess before this year's tour even began, and while it's logical that Bruyneel signed Armstrong, can this come to anything positive?!? It's like watching a car crash in slo-mo...in the end I think I can't help but rubberneck.
Since then my Kazakh radar has been switched ON. I spot Kazakh taxi drivers all over the place, I narrow in on Kazakh women walking down the street. When I get a chance to speak to them I am always confirmed right. What do you know, I still can't tell Asians apart but now I can spot Borat's countrymen at a drop of the hat.What does this mean, not too much, except it allows me to ramble on about this only-to-me fascinating discovery, and to ask, is it worth it to invest emotionally in the Tour de France this year?? Astana Team was a @!#$%! mess before this year's tour even began, and while it's logical that Bruyneel signed Armstrong, can this come to anything positive?!? It's like watching a car crash in slo-mo...in the end I think I can't help but rubberneck.
At Oma Opa's
Today we drove Monchi down to spend a week at Oma and Opa's. The strike aside, the 3 week summer break has started at their kindergarten, so keeping with tradition one week is always spent at Oma's - this year Pig goes to the daycare at my work for the week and the priviledge goes to Monchi.
I can't say enough about how lucky I am to have gotten such great in-laws. Jochen's dad, whom I secretly call "The Amish Dude", is gentle and laid back and keeps me entertained with stories from the 30s and 40s. Jochen's mom is super sharp, generous, and, SPEAKS PERFECT ENGLISH, which contributed majorly to our bonding from the start. This is also her THIRD week this year getting Monchi -well above and beyond grandma duty.
I know Jochen's mom would love nothing more than to have Pig stay the week with them, as in years before, but she also understands particularly this year it's very important for him to feel older and have the chance to have time alone with the parents again. Still, he's the prince when he comes for a visit.
And summers in Oma Opa's garden are the best!
I can't say enough about how lucky I am to have gotten such great in-laws. Jochen's dad, whom I secretly call "The Amish Dude", is gentle and laid back and keeps me entertained with stories from the 30s and 40s. Jochen's mom is super sharp, generous, and, SPEAKS PERFECT ENGLISH, which contributed majorly to our bonding from the start. This is also her THIRD week this year getting Monchi -well above and beyond grandma duty. I know Jochen's mom would love nothing more than to have Pig stay the week with them, as in years before, but she also understands particularly this year it's very important for him to feel older and have the chance to have time alone with the parents again. Still, he's the prince when he comes for a visit.
And summers in Oma Opa's garden are the best!
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