Super Fun Playgroup

We had a great time experimenting with FINGER PAINT.
I followed a simple recipe:
1/2 cup cornstarch + 2 cups water
Heat in saucepan til thickens
Add food coloring
Voila! - finger paint!!!
Well, I did put it into the fridge before the kids played with it...

Of course I asked the moms to bring old clothes... things that could get dirty...

Ellie and Hunter were really big fans

Hunter especially...

A Thanksgiving Turkey To Remember

On Thanksgiving night, our friends Angela & Cecilia invited us to join them and about 8 others for the most gourmet thanksgiving meal I've ever eaten. Like usual Thanksgiving feasts there was lots and lots of food, but not a casserole, mashed potato, nor chip and dip in sight... We're talking seafood, fancy salads, pasta - even the turkey was specially cooked in Italian herbs! Butterball - eat your heart out!!! Thanks, Angela & Cecilia for making it a Thanksgiving to remember - we are thankful for you being part of our lives at this season in Taipei!!!

Turkey as I've never imagined... but boy was it tasty!!!

Hunter lasted through most of the 2.5 hour feast at the table in a restaurant!!! That right there is a reason to give thanks!!!

Cecilia & me

Sharon & Helena

The Girl With a Curl and the Boy Without

The other morning Helena woke up with the most perfect pompadourian curl you've ever seen... even if I owned a curling iron I wouldn't have been able to get it to do this... she's just too cute!

And then there's Mr Hunter with the notoriously curly blonde hair...

Well, it was time for a haircut and since we'll be on vacation for two weeks it won't infringe on any new jobs lined up!

I think he's really going to miss his audience when we move back to NZ...

He Works Hard For His Money...

Lights! Camera! Action!!!! Well... not too much action since this was a catalogue photo shoot, but try telling Hunter to stay still!!! You may have thought the Nissan commercial was going to be the end of Hunter's modeling career (we thought the same) - but when Tony encouraged me to think of ways to earn some extra cash, you better believe I found an easier way that required less prep and actual work on my part... exploit my adorable children!?! Who me?!? HECK YEAH! I got in contact with an agent I met at the commercial shoot and she hooked us up with two jobs this past week. Of course, managing Hunter in a small room with lots of people and little things to touch does take some work, but I'd be doing that at home or in the park anyway - why not get paid for it?! Now, I don't think we'll be doing this all the time, but hey, we'll make hay while the sun shines, eh?!?

Every boy's dream?

Tuesday's shoot was for Chicco-Absorba... a brand for real kids (you'll see what I mean when you see Monday's outfits). Hunter had fun playing with marbles and other kids. I loved this process - I think these photos will come out really cool.

After a hard day at work... a much needed nap!

Here's our boy as we know him...

And here he is as a 'rock star'! or a Kiwi sheep hunter... take your pick!

And lovely Helena slept through most of the process on Monday, though Tuesday when they wanted to use her for a few shots she was too tired to sleep well... maybe next time she'll get her break!

It Was A Good Week

So of course I'm talking about last week...

Helena turned 3 months on Sunday, November 9 - it's amazing how much more animated she's become all of the sudden!

On Tuesday we ventured OUT of our house in the drizzle to the Torch Church mother's group at the church office! It's been a really long time since we've been there, and it was a bit of a stretch for the girls who play with Hunter, but overall it was nice to be out.

Wednesday was Playgroup... this week Rachel & Micah hosted our group at their place in Da Zhi. Another bit of a trek, but heck, in the rain I'm all for getting out of my own house and letting Hunter have a go at someone else's...

Hunter's new friend Ellie is the only girl (besides Helena) at the Playgroup. He wanted to go riding on the horse with her (of course she was already on the horse, but he jumped on the front of it, like a gentleman would) - but he ended up just practicing his mount...

The re-formed Playgroup buddies: Ellie, Micah, Hunter, Hilo and Michael in the background... Maxime ran out just before the photo was taken!

And now that she's 3 months she's suddenly much stronger and has more stamina (and drool) too! It's like she knew she was supposed to start doing something different on/after that day!

Tony's been working later than usual in preparation for some big consultations this week, so we met up for dinner at Chili's in order to spend some time together before he went back into the office. It was one of the most pleasant meals out with the kids we've ever had! Chili's gets two thumbs up from Hunter for the cup of milk he got and all the broccoli he could ever dream of! He was so full from those and the bits he ate off our meal that he didn't even miss the pizza that didn't quite get cooked right - a money-saving discovery for future dinners out!

Got milk?!?

On Saturday morning I took the kids to Marlin's school's festival. Thankfully the rain cleared and we were left with a scorching hot November day! Hunter loved looking at all the kids (and being looked at) and we enjoyed spending some time with Uncle Richard & Auntie Marlin.


I don't think you'd see this one at a US or NZ school festival! Based on the arcade game 'hit the mole' the player has to try to hit one of the 4 student 'moles' as they bring their heads up... wouldn't want to be in this class!


Richard really earned his title as "uncle" today as he chased after, sorted out food, fed, held and generally cared for Hunter.

Hunter & mommy

Later Saturday evening we joined up with a few of our cellgroup members to "warm" Anna & Sharon's new apartment. It was a good evening of getting to know each other better over a delicious family meal.

Fresh Air For A Day

On Saturday our Torch Church "foreigners" cell group tagged along with some others for a day trip out to Hsinchu. The itinerary was full of great plans, unfortunately it rained in the afternoon and since rain plus a tired toddler isn't a good mix our carload headed home a bit earlier than scheduled. Regardless, it was great to get out of the city and mingle with some of our church family.

The first stop was a SPA...

Tony & Hunter enjoyed some time together in the fresh pools despite the rain.

Helena needed to eat so we stayed inside. She got passed around by the aunties and seemed to enjoy the attention.

UNO - the international, intergenerational way to pass time.

Next stop - LUNCH...

Our lunch was provided by an Aboriginal Association that had also invited our pastor to preach for the day. What a delicious meal - home-grown green beans (Hunter's favorite), salty fish, and a freshly butchered wild pig - we were stuffed by the end of it!!!

What a wonderful sight - a bucket full of rice!!! Anna is our cellgroup leader and one of the pastors at our church... she's doing a great job connecting people.

We were supposed to go fruit picking, but the rain put a halt to that... instead we enjoyed the pre-picked persimmon harvest.

Hunter and his buddies...

These older girls take such good care of him when we attend the mother's small group on Tuesdays... it's good for him to have a few older sisters.

Our somewhat newly formed "foreigners" cell group

Hunter with Pastor Yang

Franklin Graham Festival

This past weekend 10's of thousands of people gathered at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial grounds to hear the evangelist Franklin Graham, as well as lots of local/international musical stars! I met up with some friends on Saturday night - it was incredible to see so many Christians gathered in one place worshipping together - and even more amazing to see so many people go forward to learn more about Jesus Christ!!!

Just Hanging Around

One of the reasons I try very hard to feed Helena at home... it's pretty hard to contain the little man for 25+ minutes if we're out just the three of us!!! Here we were in the 101 building waiting for the supermarket to open - after he'd finished his snack he was off to find something more interesting to do... so he positioned himself in front of the door so he could find someone more sympathetic to his plight.

Little Helena's US passport photo... it has already arrived - so she's officially a dual-ie... NZ & US citizen!!! Congratulations Helena!!!

Hunter's enjoying his new wardrobe passed down from my nephews...

What a stylish little guy... thanks for the clothes, Travis!!!

Our first attempts at the classic 'airplane' photo... anyone have any suggestions how to get it right?!?