What a Day!

We had a day filled with "end of season" activities today and what a day it was. The kids' swim team, the Hong Kong Island Stingrays, had the year end celebration today. Both Trey and Kyra received accolades...Trey earned a certificate for 25 Best Times and Kyra earned a certificate for 10 Best Times and a ribbon for the fact that she is the team's current record holder for the 9-year-old girls 200 Meter Breaststroke. We are ending the swimming season on a high note and they both plan to continue swim training over the summer while we are back in Minnesota.

Trey's South Side Hawks basketball program also came to a close. There was a 3-on-3 jamboree, where they divided up and mixed up the regular season teams. Trey was fortunate to have one of the biggest kids of the Under 13 group on his team. So, Trey's team ended up winning the jamboree for the Under 13's. Then, he and his two of his closest friends (who also all play on the same team during the regular season) won awards for their season of play.

It was a great day for them both!

Tyson's Field Trips

As the school year is coming to a close, Tyson's last few weeks have been filled with various field trips. Although I haven't gotten to go with to all of them - not for lack of trying, of course - I do have a few pictures to share from the ones I was along for. His field trips included a science museum, a history museum, a maritime museum and an old Hakka village, that has been restored, called Sam Tung Uk Village. Unfortunately, I don't have photos of the village because that wasn't one I "made the list" for, but I did go along to the science and maritime museums. Tyson enjoyed every one of them.

Trey's "Hong Kong Walkabout"

This past week, the fifth graders at HKIS went on their "walkabout" around Hong Kong, which involved something to focus on and write about. It could be anything...statues, doorways, windows, markets, etc. Trey and the boy he was paired up with decided to explore the street markets of Hong Kong. We started off at one of the wet markets and when the boys had had their fill of raw meat and other various parts of animals (cow tongue, as seen in picture), we moved into the regular markets containing trinkets, souvenirs, toys, electronics, clothing, etc. Although I have been in the markets many, many times, it was a true eye opener for my dear steak-loving boy. It shed a new light on where all of our meat comes from as we saw every possible part of all of the animals we eat meat from, being utilized. We saw live chickens being put in a barrel of boiling water before being plucked and chopped up. We saw two dead pigs, gutted out and watched as the man threw the intestines onto the floor of the shop they were selling the raw meat from. Ok, I even got to see more than I had seen thus far. Needless to say, we don't buy our meat from the wet markets. We buy it from the grocery store, and pay a premium price for meat shipped in to Hong Kong from elsewhere. For example, I saw the price of $120HKD (approximately $15.50 USD) for two chicken breasts the other day that were imported from Australia...compared to $20HKD ($2.60 USD) for the 2-pack of Chinese chicken breasts.

Anyway, thought I'd share a few "interesting" photos from our day out and about.

Keely Photos

I just have to share a few photos of our little girl who is growing up WAY TOO FAST! They are just a couple of my favorites...nothing specific to note about any of them. Three is such a fun age (or at least it seems to be this time around!) She is a very polite, happy, talkative little girl. She is constantly singing and dancing around the apartment. She is loving her preschool and is getting ready for her first official dance performance on a real stage in a city theater here in Hong Kong. Hopefully, I will have photos to post from that soon. Her performances are June 1st and 2nd.

Trey's Birthday Party

Well, we had Trey's birthday party (finally...yes, it is May and his birthday is in February) :) I told Tyson we should probably start planning his now - it is in October. Trey chose to have a bowling party and a friend of mine "sponsored" us so that we could utilize the bowling alley in a place called the Aberdeen Marina Club, of which they are members. We had a 4-lane alley to ourselves and then had food and cake also. I think they all had fun...wow! a lot of energy in 11 & 12 year-old-boys! :)

Ladies Visit to Hong Kong

It has been such a great year for us as far as having visitors here in Hong Kong. Our most recent visitors were our friends, Sarah and Amy. Unfortunately, our original plan was to meet in Bangkok, Thailand first, then back to Hong Kong, but turmoil and protesting was continuing to escalate in Bangkok and plans had to change for safety reasons. So, the ladies came straight to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, I did not blog or keep notes during their visit, but we had a great time and I experienced things in Hong Kong that I hadn't yet experienced so it was a true bonus for me as well...I'm posting just a couple pictures of their time here.

I'm pretty certain that we stepped foot in every Starbucks that we came near or was within sight of (for my dear friend Sarah); we made it to the Big Buddha, which I hadn't yet been to due to my horrible fear of heights; stayed with the gals in an area of Hong Kong that I am hardly ever in; ... and so much more!

Trey's Civil War March

Here are a few photos of Trey's fifth grade Civil War March Reenactment. The fifth graders studied in great detail the life of the soldiers and their families and the "ins and outs" of the Civil War. As a culmination to their studies, the kids dressed in uniform and illustrated a possible march from during the time of war.

Stingrays Invitational

Trey and Kyra ended their swim "season" with a great swim meet hosted by their swim team, hosting 12 international teams. Both kids improved their times on nearly every one of their races. Trey's two relay teams came away with a gold and a silver medal also. Such great fun to watch.

Kyra's VERY LATE Birthday Party

So, I have no really good excuses except pure procrastination...but we finally had a birthday party for Kyra in April (her birthday is in December...OOPS). She (we) decided to have an Amazing Race birthday party since it is one of the two American shows that we get here in Hong Kong and watch as a family. Honestly, this is the most effort I have ever put into a birthday party and was looking forward to it myself. I had created a logo for her party, made t-shirts for all the party-goers, elaborate clues for them to "visit" five different countries, etc. Needless to say, party day came and it was pouring rain with a thunderstorm. There was a moment where we thought it was letting up and made a rash decision to go and complete The Race. I had it designed to do the whole thing down on the vast Repulse Bay Beach near our apartment.

Well, the kids had a blast, despite their clues melting away in the rain as they were trying to read them. Many tasks, detours, road blocks couldn't be completed due to the pouring rain, but Craig kept reminding me that the kids were having a great time. So, I guess that what makes a successful birthday party, right? Not the satisfaction of the mother who planned it? Hmmmm....Happy Birthday Kyra!

Now on to Trey's February birthday being celebrated in May!! :)