Day 1 (Taipei)

Sorry about bad formatting and duplicate pics. Hard to do complicated posts on an iPad. Hannah woke us up at 5am and was ready for the day. Kevin was ready to get up as well. I didn't get as much sleep as they did on the flights, rolled over, and refused to move from my bed. Kevin and Hannah explored our neighborhood a bit and came back with breakfast goodies from a 7-11. Steamed BBQ pork buns (really spicy and not so spicy), milk tea, and strawberry milk tea. Mmmmmm! I agreed to wake up at 7am on the condition that I could have one of their steamed buns. We loaded up funds on some MRT cards first thing. Good to know that one can return expired cards and have the remaining funds put on a new card. Hannah was soooo excited about riding the "underground train." It was so fun to watch her experience a subway ride for the first time. "Wheee!". We showed Hannah where to put her MRT Easy Card and she goes through the gate on her own. She prefers to hold onto bars rather than sit on a seat. Our first stop was to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial as our favorite photos of Hannah in Taiwan were taken there. I remember sitting her down on the bricks and having Daddy serve as a jester behind my camera to get her to laugh and smile at us. A few people had gathered around us grinning and watching new parents try to get their baby to laugh for the camera. This time it was super sunny, hot and sweaty as we took a few phone pics, squinting from all of the reflected light. Hannah pony pranced ahead of us and looked around. We went to little bridge on the pond and bought some food to feed the koi. This is the flower clip that she wore on her itty bitty pink hat here for photos three and a half years ago! We peeked at 228 peace park then tried to find the Taiwan Handicraft Market but were unable to without help from a map. We got there just fine before, and I'm sure we will again with a map. We walked from 228 peace peak back to the Taipei Main Station. It was only 10:30am and the Taiwan Mobile cell provider store didn't open until 11am. We went into the station for lunch at the Breeze Food Court. We had really good Japanese pork and chicken lunches with rice and gravy like stuff on top with cooked carrots. It was served with miso soup, French fries (I don't get it???), and a drink. Hannah slurped down both of our miso soups. The cashier from the food both grinned watching her eat her lunch. We get a lot of stares. Thankfully, I can tell most of them are just "cute kid" stares because people smile at us. Two ladies once tried to tickle her, and that did not go down well with my shy girl as she tried to get away from them. After lunch we got our Taiwan Mobile sim cards and prepaid plans. I'll have to have Kevin post about how that works. Unlimited data plan super cheap! Then back to our pad for naps. Hannah asked to go up Taipei 101 next. We'd been talking about that a lot at home and watched a video on the building, so she was excited about it. Kevin took the photo above from right next to Taipei City hall MRT station, my favorite of the trip so far! Her little legs are tired and we're having to take turns carrying her. Need to buy an umbrella stroller tomorrow! The above photo does not do justice to the magnificent views of Taipei. Unfortunately, look who started falling asleep while waiting in line to get in the fastest elevator in the world. Sigh. She did wake up when we went out to the outside observation area, and Kevin took her photo with the damper. Hannah's going to be an engineer, know, so seeing something extraordinary like the damper of Taipei 101 is important! :) For dinner we went to Tin Tai Fung in the basement of 101. Here come the food pics!!!! First are our favorite dumplings with the soup inside. (Miss you, Howard, Katie, and Henry!!!!) I heart Chinese cabbage! Hot and sour soup. I didn't snap a pic of mushroom dumplings. They weren't so good. Ate up the Taiwanese beef and noodle soup before pic as well. Oops! It was super yummy with huge chunks of tender beef. Yummy red bean bun below. Sticky rice dessert was an adventure, pictured below. Liked it. Very different. Red bean paste inside. Hannah was so tired that she fell asleep during dinner. She said, "I wanna go back to the hotel" and didn't even want to go to the toy store. We grabbed some snacks at Jason's grocery in the basement of 101 then taxied back for the night, home and in bed at 7:30pm. Above l to r: strawberry and apple milk, Pineapple cakes, dragon fruit, pineapple flavor Taiwan beer, ramen noodle like cups for kids, shrimp chips, and watermelon slices. Above l to r: strawberry milk tea, chocolate milk tea, lemon soda, and seaweed flavor potato chips.

weary traveler's rest

Our driver had a little trouble finding our apartment. More like extended stay hotel. Anyway, we're finally here in Taipei. The little apartment is very nice and in the location we really wanted. Front desk's English leaves a lot to be desired, but is much better than our fistfuls of Mandarin. Kevin's impressed by the security. The bad WiFi is frustrating, but we hope to get Taiwan Mobile sim cards for our iPhones tomorrow and will be able to use that access instead. Has been kind of fun to try and figure out appliances with directions only in Chinese. Thankful we figured out the shower after five minutes of scratching our heads. Hannah said she was hungry at half past midnight and didn't want my cereal bars and crackers. Kevin walked her to a 24 hour McDonalds across the street for a Happy Meal. The cashier thought she was cute and gave her two toys! Not sure what tomorrow will bring. We have a big bucket list!

in flight

The flight was... long. Thankfully the candy supply and iPad battery lasted until we reached Taipei. We're so proud of how Hannah behaved on the flight and have told her this many times. There was only crying once, and I feel so badly about it. On the third flight Kevin and I had fallen asleep and there was some turbulence in the dark. We worke up to her crying that she wanted to go home! She was scared from the bumps and couldn't look to us for reassurance. I picked her up and she fell asleep on me while crying in only about three minutes. Diagnosis: overtired four year old.

Go!

Ready... Set...

My check list is completed. Overdue library books returned. Looked like the dog was getting an eye infection, so I took her to the vet yesterday morning, and my suspicion was confirmed. All of the laundry is done, but not put away. Close enough, right? I woke up a few times in the middle of the night and looked at the alarm clock. Is it time to get up yet? At 7am I couldn't sleep any more, even though I'd planned on getting up at 8am. Let's do this! I can't wait anymore



The whole family was showered, dressed, and had bags packed at the front door before 9am. We hadn't planned on leaving until 11am. Um... what are we going to do for the next two hours?!?! Oh yeah, we're so excited that we forgot to eat. Let's go out for pancakes! I've heard this question a few times this morning. "Mama, are we going to Taiwan yet?!?!?!" Little man, Hudson... we are so overly ready for you. Here we come!

three sleeps!

little miss list maker

Hannah is her mother's daughter. She's walking around the house with pencil and paper asking us over and over, "What else do you want to do in Taiwan?" and making a list. LOL! That's my girl!

Hannah's thoughts from today

Heard from the back seat of the car tonight, "Mama, when we go to Taiwan is it going to be a long way... like going to __________ Lake?" (That's the two hour drive to Grandma and Grandpa's lake house.) Oh boy...
We had a little girl's time together after dinner. I look her to Dairy Queen and we ordered our usual dipped cones. Hannah always manages to get ice cream on the tip of her nose. :)

We had a hard time putting Hannah to bed tonight. Every once in awhile she draws out going to bed in a new way, like by needing new water in her cup, a different blanket, or a different stuffed animal. Tonight she was crying because she wanted to read books in bed. I gave her three books to look at in bed for some quiet time. Five minutes later I returned to her room because she was crying hysterically. "How am I going to read the words!?!?! I can't read the words! I don't know how to read the words!!!" I patted her back and told her "That's why you go to school. You're going to spend lots of time at school learning how to read these words. Books are lot more fun when you know how to read the words. That's why Nana has a job... to help kids learn how to read the words." Hannah requested to be rocked, and fell asleep in her daddy's arms in about 3 minutes.

counting the days

Daddy and Hannah made a paper chain today to count downhow many days until we leave for Taiwan. Just 12 sleeps, baby!

last day of preschool

  Today was your last day of 3-4 year old preschool.Your teachers love you so!You lack in participation in group settingsand don't want to draw attention to yourself.But you work very well one-on-one and are a very good girl. We're very proud of your accomplishments!

sharing Grandmas

One of my grandmas passed away this week.  She was 87, lived a long life, and had been in a nursing home for several years.  She's had hospice care to make her feel more comfortable these last few weeks.  Her burial was Friday.

We explained what was happening the best we could to Hannah in an age appropriate way.  She was present for the calling hours and graveside service.  I'm very proud of how well Hannah listened to what was going on and behaved herself so well.

When getting Hannah ready for bed Friday night she remarked, "You cried today. You are sad because your Grandma died.". I responded, "Yes, I'm going to miss my Grandma.". Hannah thought about it and said, "You can talk to my Florida Grandma. And my other Grandma in Florida Grandma with white hair."  Love to all of the Grandmas that we share in our lives!  Nana, lake house Grandma, Florida Grandma, Grandma with white hair, and Taiwan Grandma are all very special people.

spring training

 It's been a beautiful weekend.
   Daddy and I cleaned out the garage, had a garage sale with what we could sell,gave away and recycled a lot, and threw away the rest.

 Hannah has been very patient with us and Nana and Papahelped us out by having a sleepover Friday night.

 On Sunday Hannah and Daddy went to the toy storeon the way to Chinese school and came home with this Tball set.
  We had a "ball" in the back yard tonight starting our spring training.Tutu and shoes optional.

All we need now is that ball boy. :)

travel dates

We're leaving Sunday, June 3rd, arriving in Taipei on the 4th.  I'm working on where to stay in Taipei that week.  I have several leads on apartments within a 5 minute walk of MRT stations.  We'll head south most likely on Friday.  I have a place picked out to stay on the beach at Kenting.  There's also some places that we want to visit in Ping Tung.  We'll spend the night in Tainan Tuesday and meet Hudson on Wednesday, June 13th.  We'll take the HSR back to Taipei that night.  I'm working on another apartment that has two beds that is close to an MRT stop once again.  AIT appointment Thursday.  Sightseeing in Taipei Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Go home Monday, June 18th.

I was on the phone for a little over an hour with the airline tonight reserving our flights and getting Hudson's one way ticket back.  Complicated stuff!  The representative on the phone apologized over and over that she had to put me on hold so much.  I laughed.  Lady, we've waited a long time to get to this point.  Being on hold with you for an hour is the easiest part!

Hannah said a few really sweet things today.  She told me that Hudson can sleep in her bed if he's scared because he doesn't know us yet.  She also offered to teach him how to ride a tricycle.  I get all teary-eyed thinking about what a great big sister she's going to be.  I'm also relieved that she'll have someone to play with at home.  There's only so much hula-hooping, jump roping, hide-and-seek, and ball throwing that I have patience for.

Update 4/28/12 - Serviced apartment in Taipei secured for beginning and end of trip.  Great location.  Yippie!

Sunday 6/3 - Depart
Monday 6/4 - Arrive in Taipei late, check in to apt and zzzzzzz.
Tuesday 6/5 - Sleep in!
Wednesday 6/6
Thursday 6/7
Friday 6/8 - visit Ping Tung, spend night in Kaoshiung
Saturday 6/9 -Kaoshiung
Sunday 6/10 - Kaohsiung
Monday 6/11 - beach house at Kenting
Tuesday 6/12 - beach house at Kenting, travel back to Tainan for the night
Wednesday 6/13 - Hudson day in Tainan, travel back to Taipei, check into apt again
Thursday 6/14 - AIT appointment
Friday 6/15
Saturday 6/16 - go to Jade and Flower Market in Taipei
Sunday 6/17 - Father's Day
Monday 6/18 - Fly home

Hudson's finished room

Dream, Discover, Grow! I finished Hudson's room last night by hanging up the wall art and applying custom vinyl decals. Christy at Graphic Spaces was wonderful to work with.  I put all of the vinyl decals up in less than two hours. They were very simple to apply in comparison with another product I'd previously purchased at a Target.

Sunday Snaps

 Yes, it's a lot of pink.  Isn't it?
 I've stopped trying to tell her that these are weeds, not flowers.

 

She tells me, "Mama, they're WEED FLOWERS!"