Wrapping up August

As we wrap up yet another month (where has the time gone!!!) here are some fun pictures of the kids during August.  A lot of these pictures are from Sun Yat Sen Park (probably still the overall favorite in our household), although we also hit up Cyberport, Mt. Austin Playground, Victoria Park, Bowen Park, Quarry Bay Park and Hong Kong Park...

Temperatures in Hong Kong have been so unforgiving - highs of 31 or 32 but feel like 36 or 38 with the humidity.  The kids run hot and do not do so well with the heat.  Lola's whole head gets wet like she has just taken a shower (especially if she's wearing her helmet) and the boys get pretty red and cranky.  Our electricity bill is through the roof (ouch).  

Things are starting to relax a little bit again on the pandemic front, although every single parent that I know is in despair about the Education Bureau's passivity and lack of formal protocol, and people are still restricted to gatherings of 2 people in public places.  We've been without use of the gym or the pool at the American Club for nearly 2 months now.  Public beaches have also been closed since July 15. 

 

 

Last week we took Al and Teo to Fairchild to drop Lola off, and they got to play outside in the common area.  They were a little bit of a hit - they're already well known by Lola's teachers and everyone there was quite drawn to this dynamic duo.  When we marched in there, Lola's teachers exclaimed, "Wow Lola you brought your whole family!"  Apparently she talks a lot about her brothers.  It's very sweet.

We also peered at Lola in her classroom through the school's large aquarium.

Lola has gone to Hong Kong park a couple of times to see the turtles and the fish.

She continues to love taking along her little dolls on adventures.

 

Other times we are just being silly at home, which can be great fun also.

 

Here the boys are enjoying their time at Maggie & Rose.  The sprinklers have been such a relief during the hot muggy afternoons.

 

  

The boys have upped their bathing game since my post at the beginning of the month.  The rubber bath seats are so much less fun and exciting compared to these swim floats!  The boys love water so much as it is that this only adds to the appeal.  May I just add that this picture also captures their personalities so well - of course Teo loves the swimtrainer float because he can do froggy kicks, and Al loves the car float because he can just lean back. What does it mean that Lola loves the blue car float also?  So much so that she has taken two baths in one day a couple of times, just to play!

Lola has been a lot more receptive to her brothers as of late.  She often asks me what they are doing, or why they are crying, or whether they are sleeping (to check if she can pound on her drums or play the piano).  She is a great older sister.  Here are a few of them enjoying their time together.

 

Teo, naturally super curious of his sister's every move, made more so here by the fact that she is eating something...

Teo and Lola side by side.

Al and Lola side by side.

All three together - Teo couldn't stay away!

In other exciting news, our kitchen continues to be a leaky mess! 

I bought some flowers from the wet market recently on a whim. I forget how happy it makes me!

 

Here is a beautiful double rainbow that my parents sent me from their yard in New York, to show Lola, Al and Teo.  We really really miss everyone, everywhere!