What’s going through my head???  I’m just exhausted.  I’ve been coughing for the past few weeks and now Sucheng came down with something…of course right before our long trip. I really hope he gets better before our flight tomorrow.  The past few days we’ve been trying to pack a little at a time and seeing all our family and friends.  I know 6 months is not a long time, but I got really sad because my brother and his family will be moving to San Francisco this summer so we actually won’t see them until the end of the year.  It’s been so nice having them around in New Haven and Boston the past few years that it will be very strange not to see them every few weeks.  After all, California is not a drive away.  Anyhow, we hope they will move back to the east coast once Mike is done with his fellowship.  I’m sure we’ll make it out there for a visit at some point as well.

Well, I should get some rest before our long flight.  Next time I update this blog, we will be in Asia.  How exciting!

Four more days until we leave for Hong Kong.  Gosh, so much still to do, but why am I procrastinating?  I guess that’s just the way I operate.  I’m sure we’ll be just fine…

Cadence made these cards for our good friend Nancy and Nicole’s birthday.  She totally took me by surprise when she was able to write down all the letters for their names.  I spelled them out for her of course, but she was able to write the letters all on her own!

Last weekend our good friends from SOM who moved to New Jersey came to visit us.  Cadence and I hung out a lot with Edwin and his mom Corey when we were in New Haven.  We definitely have a special bond with them that’ll last for a life time.  The kids had so much fun playing and the adults enjoyed catching up.  It was also fun that they stayed over at our place,  so we had a sleepover.

Don’t they make such a cute couple? This can be their Christmas card

Too bad this group photo didn’t come out

Cadence, Edwin and Ally – they are so cute aren’t they?

Me and Ally – she looks so much like Edwin

Corey and Ally – Ally’s totally a Gerber baby

Cadence and baby Ally

We can’t wait for them to visit again once we come back from Hong Kong!

I’m talking about the New England Patriots that is.

We were lucky enough to get the opportunity to purchase tickets for the playoff game and guess what happened?  It was one of the worst games ever by Tom Brady.  He couldn’t make any plays and the whole team was just off.  The one good thing we got out from the game was great tailgating food.  It was perhaps the coldest day of the winter that day, but it was well worth it!

It’s been more than 6 months since we’ve moved back to Boston and we’re finally settled in.  Of course, this also means that Sucheng’s first rotation at his company is coming to an end.  Every 6 months, he moves to a different group in his company and he was lucky (I guess) to land a project in Hong Kong.  They’ve actually never sent anyone in his program to do a  project abroad, so this is a great opportunity for him.  We’re very excited, but guess what?  We only have 2 more weeks before we leave!  Hong Kong is vibrant and we love it there and 6 months isn’t that long.  We should be back in Boston by September and it looks like we’ll have some friends visiting us as well when we’re there.  We also hope to do a bit of traveling around Asia when we have the time and energy to do so.

As for me, my last day at work was last Friday.  It was a bitter sweet day.  I was sad to leave a job that I did really enjoy and people that I had great memories with.  However, I won’t miss the commute and I’m really looking forward to the next chapter in my life.  Since I can’t work in Hong Kong, I am hoping to take the chance to explore the city, spend more time with Cadence and take classes (cooking sounds fun for now).  We’ll see how things turn out when we get there.   I’m also looking for a preschool for Cadence and if I can’t find one, I’ll also be “home schooling” her for 6 months.

Anyhow, we’ll keep you all posted on how our packing goes the next 2 weeks and all the wonderful adventures that lie ahead of us!  Never a dull moment in our household…

We finally took Cadence to watch a movie in the movie theaters a few weekends ago.  How did it go?  Overall, a great success.  We prepped her and said that she wasn’t allowed to talk aloud (whispering was OK), can’t walk around and needed to behave.  She nodded to all of the above, so we took her to watch Princess and the Frog.  The result:  SHE LOVED IT.  She was excellent throughout the movie, although she did talk a few times, but that’s fine.  It is a kid movie after all.  She also got scared during certain parts, but then again, she gets scared very easily.  All in all, I think she enjoyed it and it was nice to be able to do this with her.

(Don’t laugh, but Sucheng actually really liked the movie too and it was actually his suggestion to take her to watch this movie…maybe he was the one who really wanted to watch it)

Cadence had an “older” friend over during the winter break – Zoe.  Zoe is in the 4-5 year old classroom and Cadence is very fond of the older girls.  Who wouldn’t be right?  They had such a great time dressing up as princesses, pretending like they were getting married and also building tents in Cadence’s bedroom.  It’s so much fun watching kids play at this age.  They have such a wonderful imagination.

Getting ready for the big wedding

Adding the last minute touches

et!

Aww, so sweet!

Our nephew Haan Guang is getting so big and super duper cute.  Here’s Cadence doing what she does best…opening presents for other people.

The last few days have been bitterly cold in Boston and I have yet to find my winter gear.  After we moved back to Boston, I seem to have misplaced my gloves, hat and scarves.  Great timing not to find them right?  Anyway, Cadence and I were out walking (in the freezing cold) and I told her that my hands were very cold since I didn’t have gloves.  She had her mittens on, so she was so kind and placed her other hand on top of my hand and said “here, this will keep you warm.”  I have such a sweet sweet little girl.