Playground Fun

Spending lots of time outside before it will become too cold.

Nussa

One of our breakfast staples is bread with Nussa. Nussa is an European equivalent of Nutella (chocolate/hazelnut spread). It can get messy with two year olds.

Homework

At Kindergarten, Lizzy already has homework. She actually likes it at this point, we'll see how long that lasts. We don't have a desk for her yet, so she does her homework on the dining room table.


Hayden usually joins her during homework times. Here he is...ooh, is that the school calendar he's cutting up?

Breakfast at the Nikko

Last weekend we went to the Nikko Hotel for a buffet breakfast. It's kind of a Wang family tradition so it's fun to continue it with the Brandt family. Except for the Wang family can afford this tradition more frequently than the Brandt family....



After we walked in the restaurant, we as usual, asked for a highchair for Hayden. But we've come to realize, perhaps Hayden has outgrown high chairs. Look how high the chair puts him?! Why don't my kids listen to me when I tell them to stop growing!

Coffee!

Last week we went downtown as a family. When we passed by a Starbucks, Hayden exclaims "coffee!" and ran inside. Jason looks at me surprised, "how does he know?"

That's because I've been taking him for Starbucks outings since he was a baby. He likes coffee, I kid you not! Our favorite Mommy Hayden outings are Starbucks with caramel macchiato and a chocolate muffin. :)

Picking Lizzy up

Last year, Lizzy had a shu shu (driver) bring her home from school. he pulled right up to our apartment and Lizzy could come upstairs herself. This year, she is taking the big school bus that drops her off at the main entrance of our complex. So we have to go up to the gate and pick her up. Sometimes we'll bring Hayden along.

Choo Choo Train Bed

Some of you may know, I have not slept with my husband for two and a half years. Hayden has been in my bed while Jason has been living in the guest room. Most people comment, "you need to get him out of your room!", or they look sympathetically, "oh, your son can't sleep on his own?", and most often I hear, "WHY???"

Here are my reasons:
1) Having babies sleep in their crib in their own room is really a cultural phenomenon, most babies in the world sleep with their parents (I myself, slept in the same room with my Mom until 18!)
2) When Hayden was a baby, it was soooo much easier, I NEVER had to get out of bed to feed or comfort him. And it worked well only because I am a very heavy sleeper and can sleep through his tossing and turning
3) most importantly, I just loved it! I love snuggling up next to my sweet little boy every night, I love waking up with his cute little face staring at me, I love that I got to share this special time of the day with him for the first couple years of his life.

But alas, I also miss my husband. And our commitment was to switch him to his own room at around 2 years old. I kept finding excuses to prolong the switch (he's jetlagged, we have guests this week, etc.) but we finally did it! I bought him some special choo choo train sheets which he loved. And he has transitioned with no tears.

I wish I could say the same.