March 27, 2015 - Greetings from Venice!

I am blogging at a hotel outside of Venice.

It has been rainy and cold.

We toured Venice in it - we were like drowned rats with oversized umbrellas.  It was wacky and fun in that communal "I can't believe we are touring in this" way.

More later on this.  We are here for Matt's work as there is a brilliant paint factory for San Marco here.

But - I am here to report on the kids from last week (and Char is unfortunately sick a bit today back in Macau).

Last week we visited the Venetian Carnevale.  Sadly we just missed the real Carnevale here in Venice.

I love the sheer joy of this photo:

There was facepainting involved.  The painters were real talents:

Sophia was more reluctant - she would only participate while sitting on Matt's lap:

Char is very serious throughout - like she is a model waiting for her call time:

Char was so funny - we asked for big eyes:

Sarah's daughter Margo and husband Frederick got to participate in this fun sketch.  The entertainment is nonstop at Carnevale!

Grandma helps Sophia paint her mask.  We want to buy them masks here - but even I think they are scary (as Sophia says "they have NO eyes!"):

I am finally caught up with these Capoeira videos as of this week.  Here are two - Sophia is so little!  But she does not mind - she participates well and even does not stick too close to her older sister:

March 19 - Uncle Wade comes to town!

Wade came to town last weekend with his 2 friends Charles and Chris.  Wade works for Cold Front - so it was cool to see him on this side of the world.  Wade is soft spoken but unbelievably organized with the most amazing itinerary ever.  He flew out today and probably got more out of eight days than most people get living in Hong Kong forever.  We took the boys to Petisquiera, to the Venetian (and the Carnevale), and to dim sum in their 40 hours in Macau.

This past Sunday was crazy busy - after our dim sum we took the girls ice skating and then saw Nanta.  Charlotte LOVED Nanta - she wanted to see it again right after we finished it.  All that drumming on kitchen surfaces... luckily she has not wanted to do too much of it since.

I wanted to mention a funny story - Matt bought me a new car - a fifteen year old minivan (new is a relative term).  When we went to the Philippines I inadvertently ran the battery down.  Matt charged the battery and then he asked me to run the car when he installed it the next day (he took it out and charged it).  When I turned the car on the alarm blared on - and I freaked out and pushed the button and it locked the car and then I slammed the door and there we were - with the hood up, the car running, and the keys locked inside of it.  After some serious sign language we got a car locksmith to come to the very dark parking ramp and unlock my car (for $100USD).  I was not having a good run with my new car (before this happened I had driven the car once.  Once!).  

This photo is from early January - and I love it!  Such a happy photo of Char:

And this crazy fun picture of Sophia from January:

We love us some Justin!  

Some painting fun at his house:

Mester Eddy brought in these cool Brazilian Jazz band that were playing at Venetian a couple of weeks back - they all got bonus hugs from the kiddos:

Wade and Charles and Chris!

I love this photo - because Matt is sneezing!

Where is Sophia?

The nwe went ice skating - the girls kept coming back from Orange Fanta sips:

Rearview window worthy baby hockey skates!

Pre Show Nanta Photo:

With Aya and Emi:

And some videos:

The girls opening Christmas presents.  Sophia's enthusiasm is infectious!

Sophia does Capoeira in the park.  In her Frocs (as she calls them) and her Princess Dress:

Here are a couple of Chinese New Year parade videos with Capoeira:

I am impressed with how well the girls walked in their skates.  Here is Sophia:

March 13, 2015 - Catch up and a dentist

Sorry sorry - I have been so busy working for my better half and trying to exercise and you know, balancing work and mommyhood (so bloody boring this debate-  but I am in it for now).  I am off in 15 minutes to have a work meeting so I will keep this brief.

I wanted to show some videos from when Sophia started Capoeira.  She is so cute (and the girls' hair is so short!).  I meant to post these earlier (like when it happened 2 months ago) but time got away from me.  But it is cute to see how much the girls have grown.

We went to the dentist yesterday - Charlotte was an angel child and Sophia (of the no-napping) was well, less so.  It was not in the cards for her to see the dentist yesterday.  I thought this as I saw her chipped tooth bobbing up and down through her endless flood of tears.  My my.  This girl may have an interesting dental future ahead of her.

We had Caia over for brunch last week (and I thought to myself, why do I not have brunch more often?) and then went to have lunch at North with Rob W and briefly attended the Food and Wine Festival (Rob is our often uncle for these festivals - which we love).

Kathy is here and Wade The Tiger is here in a few hours.  Busy and fun times in Casa Drake Macau!

Sophia at the dentist - asleep at the start of a less than stellar visit:

And Char the Rock Star.  She could not have been any better.  Really:

Char with Lulu.  Caia liked Lulu but Dawan... not so much:

A photo op at the Food and Wine Festival - this is a marketing shot for One Grantai!

Charlie Chaplin:

Char being uber cooperative:

Various cute Capoeira videos from January: