The Week in Review Vol. 6

The quotable Keira:

(Making a sad face with one finger in her nostril): "Nose...stuck."

That kind of sums up our week.  Lots of runny noses and coughing.  

Lots of snuggling.  And (sometimes) sleeping.

A few other quotes from Keira:

(Calling me from the other room): "Maaamaaa.....Maamaa!  Mama!  Mom!  ....KAYT!!!"

Anytime I'm doing...anything: "Ree-rah help you?  Ree-rah help you?"

We also did lots of reading and coloring.  Here's a book that Grams (Kalan's mom) made for the kids about her favorite donut shop.  It's a new favorite.

We did manage to get out of the house for a few walks...

...and a bike ride...

I also got to meet up with my friend Michelle.  She was my first Taiwanese friend.  Now she lives in France, so it's always good to catch up with her when she returns to visit!

This week Kalan had a break from Chinese classes.  He still had to work every day, but it was still a nice change of pace.  The new semester starts Tuesday, and we will BOTH be taking classes.  Let the craziness fun begin!

Have a good weekend.

--Kayt

A Breath of Fresh Air

Taipei population density: 24,760 per square mile

Green Bay, WI population density: 2,286 per square mile (my hometown)

Rye, CO population: 155 (Kalan's hometown) 

Sometimes, we just need to get out of the city.

The Week in Review Vol. 5

This week's hodgepodge...

Neighborhood visiting  :)

A trip to the zoo with friends

Favorite animal this time = iguana

A new stovetop! 

We are blessed with a really good landlord.

Second-hand toys from our landlord

(Did I mention he is really great?)

Taipei at 6 AM

Keira: "Jude--bib!!!  Keira, bib? Pleeease?"

Kalan finished another term of Chinese classes.  

We went to the breakfast stand around the corner to celebrate.

And...the color of the week was blue.

Enjoy your weekend!

--Kayt

The Week in Review Vol. 4

This week: 6 things I'm thankful for and the quotable Keira

This week I'm thankful for...

1. A good friend who took me out for dinner "just because." 

2. The Taiwan receipt lottery.  We won $125!

3. Water!

4. These two.  They make me smile, make me tired, and help me grow.

5.  The way Keira says "kerkle" (circle)

6. Housework helpers

The quotable Keira:

(Overheard as she's talking to her baby doll)

"Pray, baby!  Thank you...thank you...thank you....Amen!"

One night this week I made bread.  I told Keira she had to wait until dinner to eat some.  Five minutes later, I came back to find this:

Me (trying to look stern): "Keira, who ate the bread?"

Keira, eyes wide and mouth full: "Umm.........Jude!"

Have a great week.

--Kayt

The Week in Review Vol. 3

This week: storytelling workshop, Jude turns 4 months, and the quotable Keira

The highlight of the week for me was a Bible storytelling workshop here in Taipei.  It was run by the author of this book, which I highly recommend checking out!  I've been practicing stories on Keira all week.  Fortunately, she's not too tough of a critic.

This smiley guy had his four-month check-up this week.  He's taking after his Dad...97th percentile for height!  

His torticollis is improving, but we still need to go to the hospital for weekly physical therapy.  Also, I noticed that one of his eyes often turns inward, so this week we're seeing an eye specialist.  The pediatrician we saw said it's probably strabismus.  

I am continually grateful for Taiwan's quality and affordable health care system!

I'll leave you with a few quotes from Keira...

Me: What's your name?

Keira: REE-rah!

(pointing up at the moon)  "Mama, up!  EGG!"

Me (after an early evening trip to the grocery store): Do you know what it's time for?

Keira: WINE!

Me: Um, no, it's time for your bath.

Have a great week.

--Kayt

The Week in Review Vol. 2

This week: Ghost month, road construction, GF crackers, and free kids activities in Taipei

This was the first week of Ghost Month in Taiwan, so on our walks we passed by lots of people burning paper money as well as making food sacrifices to appease the ghosts.  Even places like McDonald's perform these rituals.

A gas line outside our apartment building is being replaced.  On one hand, it provides easy entertainment options for a fascinated almost-2-year-old.  On the other hand, it regularly sabotages nap time.  I'll be glad when it's over.

Our latest kitchen experiment is gluten-free crackers.  They're super easy--Keira helped my mix and roll them out.  Yum.

Another way we've been beating the summer heat is checking out Taipei City's free indoor play spaces.   They are awesome!  I might never become a city girl but things like this make me appreciate urban living...

...speaking of free kids' activities in Taipei, we also discovered the sprinklers outside the National Concert Hall at Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall.  (I heard from a friend that they turn on at 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM for 15 minutes, and at 7:00 PM for 30 minutes.)  Such fun!

Have a great weekend.

--Kayt