Well we have had a rather busy few weeks, as usual! J leaves here in the mornings at about 8:45, teaches till 12, them sometimes has private english tutoring for an hour and a half, then off to Chou Jhou (another school about 30 mins by scooter), then he teaches there till sometimes 4:30, other days till 6:30, then to another school (accross the road from us), where he stays until 8pm. Then ususally on a Wednesday night he tutors english again till about 10:30pm and on Thursdays he has his gig in the evenings in Pingtung (another 30 min scooter ride)! So he is really busy!!!
My boys started Chinese school this week! Talis-Rain and Keanu-Storm go every morning from 9am to 12pm (so they go with dad to his school), and then Willow-River goes every afternoon from 3:30 to 5:30 to the school accross the road! They each have their school bags and lunch bags with their own bowls, spoon, fork and chopsticks!!! Although I make them sarmies to take with them because sometimes the lunch may not be anything they are used to (fish balls, tofu, etc), so I pack them a lunch so that I know they have something! Although some days they have had plain rice or noodles for lunch! On Wednesday T-R and K-S slept at the school in the afternoon because they had to practice for a Christmas play they are doing at the school tonight! WR is with them today at the school, because all the kids have to have a sleep in the afternoon at the school and then do the play (they will also eat dinner there, so of course I packed EXTRA sarmies today! LOL). So I am looking so forward to the play tonight - I can't wait - I will be taking lots of pictures!!!
Last Sunday a friend of ours took us all to Sandimen, which is just outside of Pingtung, it is an aborigine cultural village. It was really great (in the mountains, so it was also very cold), but it was really lovely. They did a performance about the 12 different aborigine tribes which was really great to watch. The music was absolutely lovely. We want to go back there again sometime and spend more time there walking around - but when it warms up a bit - it is not too pleasant taking in the scenery when it is sooo cold!!!
Well, it is finally Christmas time again! I thought we were in "toy heaven", it turns out that maybe all toy are made in China actually!!! I have been trying to find something for the boys for Christmas, but the toys around here are really the cheap "rubbish" (for want of a better word!). So I took a bus into the main city the other day to try and find something - anyway I bought them a combined present from father Christmas, it is the Knights Lego - they should have fun with that! Also I got them a remote control glider and some art stuff for them. Then I have bought them each a few "cheap" stocking fillers that I know they will like. For WR, he is now into electrical stuff, so I got him some globes and a little tool set with motors and batteries and stuff, TR loves soldiers, so I got him a big packet of toy soldiers, and KS is into his playdough again, so I got him some new playdough with shape cutters and stuff, and a few other odds and ends!!! I still don't know what to get Jason - I wanted to get him aftershave, but it doesn't seem like they use that here much. I will look tomorrow when we go into the city again and do some last minute shopping! We will probably go for a Christmas turkey dinner on Christmas eve at the Beaver Dam, where Jason plays on a Thursday night - they have invited us, so we will probably go there, and maybe just spend the day at home on Monday, or take a bus ride somewhere!
My parents sent the boys some money to buy something for Christmas, so we took them shopping and they have really wanted a remote control car. So TR and WR each bought a remote contrl car and KS, who really loves trains, bought a train set. Well it turns out that WR control car did not work (after charging it for hours, much to their annoyment), so we had to take it back. Now I just have to let you know that for Christmas last year in South Africa, Father Christmas bought each of them a remote control car, and WR's one did not work and had to be taken back. Alas!! the same thing this time (could be a message in there somewhere LOL). So he was so disappointed and said that he would then get rollerblades (something else he has wanted for a while, which I try putting him off, you know "moms", don't want my boy getting something he could break his legs on!!!) LOL, anyway, we took him to the shop and he spotted the rollerblades, so I told him that we would think about it and maybe go into the city on the weekend and he could have a look and maybe find something else he likes. Well, he managed to compose himself till we got out of the store and then he just burst into tears!!! I felt so bad for him. I mean last Christmas he had to wait days to get his new car and now this Christmas he has to wait days to get something else, so J and I finally said ok, he could have the rollerblades!! So he was very excited. And I must say he has mastered it (ok, well maybe not mastered it), but he is doing ok on them! He must be a natural!!! Now the other boys want a pair too!!!!!
I also have to mention that we are now "Legal Aliens"!!! I collected our passports the other day, and we now have a resident visa, and will pick up my ARC card next week, stating we are Legal Aliens!!! Wow, finally. The paperwork was a nightmare!!!
Before I close off, I would just like to let all of you know that Jason and I have been considering this for a while, and we would just like to let all our family and friends know that we are pursuing the adoption of a little girl from Taiwan. It is something that has been on my heart personally for many years, and we are praying that if it is part of God's plan, that he will open the doors for us! We ask for your prayers and support in our decision, as we as a family are really excited about this!!!
And finally, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful and prosperous New Year!!!!
Love and miss you all.....
~* Peace and Love *~
