Happy Anniversary Baby

Seven years, two kids and still counting - the years that is..... And while we're here, Happy Birthday for tomorrow. Love you xo

"I have a fiancé!"

Ha, no no. I have a lovely husband. But recently I travelled to Japan to visit my darling friend and her family. And she took us to her church. And it was wonderful and uplifting. A bi-lingual church, vibrant, energetic, full of the holy spirit. It was a wonderful two hours, an awesome worship service singing familiar songs in Japanese and English. Honestly one of the best worship services I have been to. Such a small space packed full of people.

I wanted to link to Pastor Fumi's message "I have a fiancé!"  which I thought was wonderful and was something I had never heard of before. Even though it made perfect sense. It goes a while if you're interested. And it's in Japanese and English. But the translator was great. And Japanese is my next language... love it.

http://crossroad-web.com/en/contents/39

Thank you Heather for sharing Crossroad with us. Thank you for sharing your house, your family and your time. An eventful visit!! Which after I get photos I'm sure I'll post all about.

Little ladies....

Hot chocolate with mummy's little teacups that she bought on a whim once, when childless....

My sweet little lady playing tea parties.

Evie, somewhat less of a little lady..... I particularly love the gawdy Disney tray we set it out on.

Tilly teaching her sister how exactly to hold a teacup like a lady.

Not Bad!! However at one point she had both cups to her face. Mummy put the cups quickly away once we'd finished....

A Chiang Christmas!!

Don't pity my photography skills. I actually like these blurry shots! The girls can be found here night (and day) in sweet anticipation of the big day. Well, at least Tilly is. Evie is just attracted to the pretty lights and the dangly baubles. We read the Christmas story bit by bit each night. We add another ornament to the advent tree. We soak in the loveliness that is Christmas. Christmas used to be hard for me here. But now we've made it our own. And I wait just as eagerly as the kids. Waiting for that special day. Tilly asks me every day, 'Is it Christmas day yet mum?' And I say no, not yet. And she loves it even more!! Loves the wait for the big day of celebration! (Although our 'celebrations' are fairly mild) No presents under the tree. They won't come out until the night before and after they've gone to bed. A surprise to wake up to. What I love the most is hearing Tilly ask to hear the Christmas story again and again. Never tiring of it. As it should be. Tis the season to remember!

Reading homework with daddy

the girls lately

School Birthday and Sports Day

Tilly's first big performance. She does not like the spotlight. She doesn't like performing in front of people. Her teacher told me that even when they were learning the dance she never followed the steps. Just stood there. And on the day the three kindi classes from Xing Long Elementary stood out in front of the whole school and all the distinguished guests and did their dance. Tilly did not. She just stood there. Out of the nearly one hundred kids participating, she was the only one not. And yet when it came time to partner up in the dance she just kicked in and followed in time with the steps. Even coaching her partner along. Holding his hand up and guiding him in the steps. Didn't skip a beat. It was a wonder to behold. She did not let her partner down. I love that about Tilly. She's got your back. And when they didn't have to partner anymore? Just stood there till the dance finished!

One blow of the whistle in all the hulla baloo and the kids raised up their arms and followed out to the sports field.

Tilly's sweet teacher. She adores her. She is the perfect teacher for her.

Waiting for the special performances to finish. Revoltingly hot and humid day. By lunch it was pouring down with rain, hence the humidity.

Tilly's best friend. Till's fell on the muddy floor and muddied up her pink tights on the knees. I pondered running home to grab her another pair. But before I could her friend fell over twice and had a black bottom to match Tilly's black knees. They thought it was quite hilarious. (Evie is already over it and wanting sleep and air conditioning so couldn't see the funny side.) A quick survey and about 90% of the kids had scuffed their whites. Thanks goodness! Speaking of whites. They were asked to wear white tights and a white short sleeved top. All the girls ditched their shirts due to the heat. Tills was having none of that. She endured the heat in the name of modesty.......

Getting ready to perform.

The kids getting into it. Can you see through the legs Tilly's scuffy shoes planted firmly together not moving?

And off she goes! Note she's also the one with her hand where the teacher has hers.

Eyes on her teacher.

Going through the motions.

Didn't pay attention to shoes on the day and she walked out of the house in her oldest and dirtiest pair! It was a nice morning and ended with a daddy daughter race. So sorry I didn't have the camera at that stage. Yellow class lost miserably. But what fun they had and their teachers were wild with excitement, despite the pitiful loss! I've noticed that Tilly's class (yellow) is a bit shaggy around the edges and that might have something to do with their class being the only one with middle class kids, meaning 4 year olds. You can be 6 and still in kindi here. Also, her class has three teachers, I guess to accommodate for the younger middle class, half day students? But despite their shaggy edges (and having the sloppiest dance routine on the day!), I also get the sense that the teachers and the students all really enjoy what they are doing and most of it is steeped in fun. And to say that about Taiwanese education is something let me tell you.