Happy {very much belated} Halloween!!!!
I'm trying to write blog posts but the *bleep* Internet jumps all over the place like a jittery, eleven espresso shots and counting caffeine addict. This past week has been immensely frustrating in getting any posts written- let alone published! I've heard that the 18th National Congress of China that's happening in Beijing this week is taking its toll on our internet service. I don't know if it's true as our internet is usually slow but this past week I could have gotten these posts published faster if I'd taped them on the back of a turtle. It's hard not to get frustrated with the little things in life but I certainly do feel like banging my head against the (concrete) wall. Maybe if I banged it hard enough I wouldn't care any more! Now there's an idea!!!
Okay, enough with the talk already! I'm sure you get the picture that I'm frustrated with our measly internet service. There. I said it.
Sooooo….here are a few photos from Halloween. :-) At least that's a happy topic! On Friday, October 26 the 2-5 graders got to attend an after-school Halloween party. Boo that the first graders weren't invited!!!! Actually, we heard half-way through the event that younger siblings were, in fact, welcome at the party. Why couldn't the school have sent out a message to parents of younger siblings informing them of this??????? Boo!!! Hiss!!!! Annika had LOADS of fun….that is until she threw something in my face when I came to say hello to her. Maybe she was being playful or silly- I don't know – but as she didn't apologize she got to go home early from the party. I'm a stinky, mean mom, didn't ya know?
On Saturday, October 27 – our neighborhood (called Original County in English….who knows what it is in Chinese?!?) had a trick-or-treating event. I tried to dress-up (thank you Debbie!) and participate but I freaked out when I saw how many minions kids and families were involved. There was a list of houses and all the kids and parents were going down the list, one house at a time….and I ran home to prepare for the onslaught of trick-or-treaters. I wish I was an extrovert!!!! I wish I could relax and have a good time like most normal people seem to do! Boy, I DID LOOOOOOVE seeing all the costumes everyone had! I wish I could have spent a lot more time checking out everyone's get-ups.
Mega, Huge, Ultra Thank You to Oma for the Halloween costumes!!!!
and inside our front door:
On Sunday we went to TEDA to try trick-or-treating at a (mostly) expat apartment complex with friends. Sadly we didn't really connect up with our friends and as we didn't know the area we only visited two out of the many apartment buildings – we gave up and went to dinner across the street at Ashanti (great food!). Plus we had a 45-minute drive back home…and it being a school night meant that we really couldn't stay out late.
Here are a few of the jack-o-lanterns that Annika and Mark carved…