Allison Abroad: All the Pictures of December!

Things happen so quickly that I don't have time to put stuff down! Here are some pictures generally from this last month.

Lola discovered a space to bike and scooter and exercise on the first level of our parking garage. This was when she laid down, in a bid to show me that actually, she really could sleep and live there.

We did some indoor picnicking and camping as well.

I have been able to go to the race course with the boys in the afternoon a few times. It's been a generally warm and sunny December, though there were a few days of colder weather, and the wind tends to pick up in the early evenings.

It is getting harder and harder to get good pictures with the boys. Gone are the days when they will sit docilely...but it doesn't quite prevent me from trying. They are still so kissable, grunting and complaining aside.

I was inspired after Thanksgiving to make cranberry popsicles with Lola. Doesn't she look like such an adult?!

We are a constant fixture at Maggie and Rose, although it never gets any easier to get group pictures of or with the kids.

The boys like to "read" though...

Al loves laundry. He's known as the laundry man around these parts - this kid has never seen a laundry basket he doesn't want to sit in, or a blanket or sheet he doesn't want wrapped around himself, or any folded item of clothing that he doesn't want to unfurl, in his enthusiastic desire to "help."

Lola loves being a doctor. This girl has never seen a patient (parent, doll, brother, auntie or toy) that does not need a shot or have a cavity. She is ready to administer at all times. Usually her methods are pretty drastic (surgery! shots!) but she has a calm, albeit slightly brusque, bedside and aftercare method. I would say her approach is to act first and empathize later!

Lola also loves getting her hair cut. She got her hair cut again recently, just a short trim, which we realized is just a chance for her to watch Peppa Pig and Cocomelon uninterrupted. She came close to being brave enough to get her hair washed and rinsed in an actual salon chair - but not quite.

Teo loves climbing and sliding and being active. When the kids go out, you can usually tell which one is Al and which one is Teo based on which one is on the move. When they went to the American Club, Teo was so excited from his adventures that he couldn't sleep that night! His legs kept twitching, twitching, nonstop.

The kids at the American Club, having an absolute blast.

Lola continued to go to pop up sports camps this month, which meant her brothers usually accompanied and played on the side.

We went to Stanley one afternoon to see the beautiful decorations and lights. For some reason Lola decided this was "Paris" so yes, we jetted there for the afternoon! On the day we were there we also caught sight of a fisherman with a huge haul and were able to observe him cleaning and gutting fish directly from his little skiff, which was fascinating.

Sometimes the kids just interact together at home - more often than not it appears as if the boys are attacking their sister, because they are less refined in their motor skills and also because they are just clunky little beasts who are full of unmitigated affection and drool for their older sister. Lola tolerates the pulling on her hair and kicking... somewhat well, all things considered. It is so sweet.

We continue to work on getting the boys interested in food/having them try new tastes and textures. They have improved in their willingness to touch food and put it directly into their mouths, though they often avoid anything slimy or wet. Al dislikes chewing, alas. Our next challenge is getting them to accept brushing their teeth, and slowly weaning them off the bottle and onto sippy cups for milk (I've set a two-three month goal for this).

The boys have continued with their private playgroups at home during this time. They have been enjoying these quite a bit and it has been a nice way for them to draw, paint, engage in messy play, and have some more focused Mandarin attention from their teacher. Lola loves getting involved also.

This girl loves the ferry to Hung Hom. Because of the fourth wave and the closure of kindergartens until...? Lola has lately taken to taking her lunch out on a picnic after her morning classes with her teacher Miss Zoom (she came up with that one).