Our Dining Room

This week our restaurant street got even better -- Avocado Tree arrived! This Beijing chain tries to imitate Chipotle with imported beef and organic vegetables. Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and smoothies!

Magnolia's verdict after our first visit: "Let's eat here lots of times before we leave China!"

The Bicycle Whisperer

In October, we got Magnolia and Kaleia bicycles. We no longer had a super steep driveway and were surrounded by a flat courtyard. Perfect! 

Not so much. 

Cards with Lucy

Who needs a bilingual preschool when you can play cards with Lucy outside her parents' fruit store with your Spanish friends?

Lucy and Kaleia

Magnolia, Gabriel, and Lucy playing cards

Word of the Weed: Doorman

Doorman (noun): a person wearing an official looking uniform. This may include, but is not limited to people employed to open doors, military, police, and security guards. 

"There's our old doorman!" - Kaleia (2), seeing our doorman in the courtyard

"Where is that doorman going?" - Kaleia (2), asking about an embassy guard leaving his post on his bicycle

The girls with our favorite doorman (January 2012)

Mona's Portrait

By Magnolia (4)

Birthday in Beijing

I turned 34 yesterday. There was much less fanfare than the last birthday our family celebrated here. For the most part, it was a normal day in China, but we ended the day with a nice dinner and dessert. Magnolia very proudly kept these birthday candles a secret until they were presented.

My highlight was also my favorite present, enthusiastically handed to me by Magnolia as I walked in the door after work. Brian had suggested she make me a card a few days earlier. But on the day, unprompted, she found our Dr. Seuss Happy Birthday to You! book to copy the words and added a cake. 

 

A Birthday Card from Magnolia

Happy Birthday to Me!

Word of the Week: Scrinkles or Wrinklies

Scrinkles (noun): a small furrow, ridge or crease on a normally smooth surface; wrinklies (synonym)

My toes have scrinkles! - Kaleia, age 2.75

They are not scrinkles. They are wrinkles! - Magnolia, age 4

My toes have wrinklies! - Kaleia 

Mother's Day in Beijing and Children Paradise

For Mother's Day, we had two wonderful meals out, brunch and dinner. Both happened to be at Element Fresh, though at different branches. After some refreshing afternoon naps, we headed to Si De Park for some "quiet" and "nature." Overall it was a great day. Below are some of my highlights.

Aquatic Ecstasy, Medical Emergencies, and Unusual Affections. At the Mall.

The evening was pleasantly warm and frozen yogurt was calling our names, so we set out for a family walk to nearby Solana mall. The girls were ECSTATIC about the choreographed fountain shows set to classical music. Who needs Disneyland?

(More after the jump.)

Swing and a Mrs.

Kaleia's Theater

Kaleia, Monkey, and Baby are watching Finding Nemo with their snacks of choice. 

"Baby is pretend so she gets pretend food. Baby, look at the camera!"

Banana.

Temple of Heaven

As our time in Beijing comes to a close, we are trying to at least see all the traditional sites near us. We took advantage of a BLUE SKY! Saturday and spent the morning exploring the Temple of Heaven and its surrounding park with our friends Julij and Prism. 

Kaleia, Prism, and Magnolia

More to follow the break...