Sisters...build a car together.

Spring break and some new furniture inspire a joint car-making effort.

Tinkering under the hood

Click below to see more pictures and to watch the girls tell you about their car.

Graaaaama and Grumpa! Rush Visit

We received our third vistors this month. Brian's parents, Clive and Carol squeezed in a very quick trip -- 5 days! -- to come see us. We were all really excited to have them here. Click below to read about their visit.

Grandma and Grandpa arriving

Chinese Kitchen: Vegetarian

My first day of Chinese New Year vacation I decided to take a day for myself -- my perfect day in Beijing. After enjoying getting Magnolia and Kaleia off to school, I spent an enjoyable hour connecting with my parents on skype. Then I headed to Starbucks for my favorite drink, a Black Tea Latte (the closest I can get to a Chai) and honey raisin muffin. I followed that up with a blissful 2 hour massage at a classy spa near us that gives teachers two hours for the price of one on Mondays -- one perk of my Tsinghua teacher id. 

Fully relaxed, I headed to what I thought was going to be my much anticipated Winter Comfort Foods cooking class at the Hutong. But I had done it again. My class wasn't until tomorrow. I realized this while waiting for the subway when I received a call saying it would be cancelled, again. I was the only one signed up. But I was welcome to come to today's call instead: Vegetarian. Since I was almost there, and I can hardly stomach the smell of the meat section and the sight of full carcasses hanging, I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did. It has been my favorite class so far. Click below to see why. 

"Mama holda you"

"Mama holda you" was the soundtrack to my spring break. Two sick girls was not in my plan for my week off from work. While Magnolia was the only one using words, Kaleia conveyed her message with screams and out-stretched arms, flinging her body in my general direction.

The first few days it was music to this working mom's ears. All the snuggles and hugs filled me up. Soon the protests for "Mama do it" whenever Brian tried to help became ridiculous. By the end of the week, I was exhausted and the once sweet melody of "Mama holda you" was tiresome.

I still struggled to go back to work, heading to another group of whiny toddlers--I mean teenagers--that want me to do everything for them. Monday morning Magnolia struggled too. She sat in bed protesting getting out of bed until Mama came to do it. She eventually gave in. The balance is being restored. It has to.