We went to Disneyland last Thursday - and decided to go early to try to get China visas - so getting on the 7:45 ferry was a big accomplishment.
Matt got his 10 year visa (yay!). We will try again next year for the rest of the family's.
Disneyland was fun - we went with Aya, Emi and Kei. There was mostly show watching and riding a couple of rides (explicitly no Winnie the Pooh for Sophia). We saw Anna and Elsa but no Christmas night parade due to inclement weather :(. I guess we will have to go again next Christmas!
Sophia passed out on the taxi ride to the hotel. Charlotte and I had a nightcap of fried rice from Jaspas. We loved the Auberge - a more affordable (than Disney) but still very nice hotel in Discovery Bay.
Saturday I took the girls to China for the Shenzhen Fringe Festival where there was a Capoeira exhibition. I finally get a sense of what it would be like to be a local band - unexpectedly long bus rides (3.5 hours one way!) with no toilets (a much needed amenity for Charlotte) and lots of idle waiting time. But the performance was so fun! The drumming transforms - like a great marching band (Southwest Dekalb!) during a high school football game halftime to rouse the crowd. Plus the weather was amazing- which was a miracle as the day before was cold, rainy, and miserable. A great way to mark the end of the year with the lovely Capoeira community.
Oh on Sunday we took the girls (with the Webers) to the Smurfs Show at Venetian. I would be lying if I said there was not a nap involved (for me). Busy week!
Disneyland - matching haircuts:
Town Square Christmas Tree:
Group photo:
Olaf and Sven speak Cantonese:
Sophia studies the map:
A four hour wait for Anna and Elsa (and no Fastpasses left) - so we just saw her from afar:
Waiting at It's A Small World:
The girls rode the Teacups for the first (second and third) time! They loved it (thanks to Emi for introducing it to them):
Breakfast at Auberge:
Kiddie playroom:
View:
Leading the charge back to Macau:
Capoeira Road Trip to Shenzhen:
Sophia slept the first leg of the trip:
Waiting:
Diane and Justin:
Negotiating fries:
Char and Titan:
Pre-Show:
Group hug huddle:
I love this photo!
Char en route to a cartwheel:
Drummers!
Hangin' tough Justin!
Jackeline leading the drums:
Sophia got in on the fun too! She was so excited to be part of it (and ready to start next year!):
Finale!
In the midst of a Frozen singalong medley on the way back to Macau:
Here is a brief video from the day - so fun!
We took Dawan to the park on the next day (Sunday) prior to the Smurfs:
Char was melancholy or maybe just overtired:
But Dawan was happy:
