December 26th - Formosa Aboriginal Cultural Village

Today we went to the Aboriginal Village. It was a nice relaxing day. It seems Jevin's ear infection has calmed down a bit. His high fever is gone and his grumpiness is too. He even slept through the night. We figure it was his Christmas gift to us. Believe me, it was the best gift he could have given us.

The Village was fun. We saw all sorts of things. We love when people come to visit us. It allows us to be tourists.

We watched shows and bought souvenirs.

After we were through, Ron and Terry bought us dinner at Chili's in Taichung. Oh what a perfect day.

Christmas Day part 3

After we finished opening gift Ron and Jason picked up the turkey. When they got back we ate our dinner together with Tiger and Winsten. After, we went to our church's Christmas service. We ended the evening back at home with our friends and family.

Christmas Day Part 2

So Josie and Jevin had a blast. When we returned from getting breakfast, we continued the gift-fest. Jevin got a little behind so Josie helped him out a bit. Her favorite gifts were a nail care set and a camera... both from Grandma M. Of course our favorites were the clothes as always. Jevin's favorites were the different wrapping papers.

It took us about... 5 hours to open all the gifts. Santa came for everyone.

Christmas Day Part 1

When we first woke up we found that Santa had left so many present and stocking for us to open.

After we drove around Huatan delivering a little greeting to those people we are friendly with. All this while we waited for the breakfast store guy, so named "Slow-Guy" for obvious reasons. We ordered and then we dropped of this card at the onion-cake lady, the doctor, the flower people, the Woo's. We also picked up some coffee at a coffee shop in town... and when we got back to "Slow-Guy" we still had to wait. But the wait is good. He does make the best "dan-bein" in Huatan.

Rudolph the Reindeer Red-Nose....

On December 24th we had some special guests arrive. Our relatives, Ron and Terry, came to spend the holiday with us... How are they our relatives? Well, I'll only explain this once. Ron is Jason's mother's cousin. When they first arrived we chatted for a bit and then we went out for Teppanyaki which is basically cheap Japanese Village. It was a great meal. Josie sang "Rudolph the Reindeer Red Nose" all the way home. We found that rather amusing. And right as we were entering Huatan we went through a Check-Stop. The police officer came to the car. His eyes bugged out a bit... and then he just said, "Merry Christmas" and waved us on. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to blow for my first Check-Stop as a driver.

Josie's December Artwork 2

These are the most recent art projects... The bear is from Josie's Plasticine class at school and the other is from her first two classes at an art school on Min Tsu road... She has soooooooooooooo much fun there...

Poor Jevin is Sick Again...

So he had a cold for about 2 weeks... I finally gave in and took him to the doctor when I felt his cough had gotten so bad that he was choking during the car ride home... The doctor checked him out and ... there was nothing wrong. His chest was clear. I guess he was finished his cold.

Oh but could we be so lucky...? No. On Tuesday I took him to school only to get a call saying we needed to take him to the doctor. He had had a fever all night and then at school. My good friend Gladys said she could watch him for the day. So during my one hour break I took Jevin to her. Her house is right by the Changhua Christian Hospital, so with the 15 minutes I had left in my break, we went there. As it was his first visit to this hospital (save and except being born there) he was allowed to trump all other patients and go first so I actually got to talk to the doctor.
It is an ear infection... and apparently the two weeks prior probably added to the infection... I think. Something may have gotten lost in translation.

Needless to say, here is a disgusting picture of Jevin's nose. hahahah

Leopard King Safari Park with Liwen, James and Stanley

On Saturday, Dec. 13, Lewin, James and their son Stanley (who is only a week younger than Josie) made a trip with us to the "Zoo" in Tainan. It goes by the name Leopard King Safari Park but also by the name Wan Pi world. Wan Pi is the Chinese word for "Naughty". We like this zoo better then Taipei's Zoo because this one is interactive. There are many "petting-zoo" areas. Also this on is do-able in one day whereas the Taipei Zoo can never be finished in just one day.
The video on my camera didn't work... Oh, but if you could have seen Josie jumping like a kangaroo to sneak up on the small kangaroo type creatures they had there. She got sooooooooooo close.
Also, Liwen opened up new experiences to Jevin. He got to ride on a see-saw and a merry-go-round for the first time ever.
It was a very relaxing and fun day.

Josie's Art Work

From Josie's Plasticine class

In Josie's words... "Face"

"Cup"

"Chicken"

"Spider"

"Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" i.e. Sheep

"Tree"

"Ka-boom" i.e. fireworks

"Flowers"

"Man"

The art class at school has finished and she chose to go in the Plasticine class instead. However, we put her in an art class outside of her kindergarten. She LOVES it. And mommy loves that the teacher can speak English... Always a bonus. So stay tuned for more of Josie's art...

Hogie's Birthday - He loses his head!!!!!

Oh yeah...I got them to make a Hogie cake.... And the kids loved it. The adults too...

Taipei 101 - Tiffany's Christmas Tree

So we had to go to Taipei to extend Jevin's passport now that he is considered Canadian with the acquisition of his "Canada Card". And since we were going there, I decided it would be a good time to renew Josie's passport as well so that we wouldn't have to make that same trip again this year. This way, our ARC's will all expire at the same time. Nonetheless, since we were in Taipei and since we finished super fast, I decided Josie could see Taipei 101. We met our friend Mikki and her mom there. Mikki showed us the children's area of the bookstore and Josie was in HEAVEN! So many books - so little time. I tell you... when she learns to read, that girl is going to be a bookworm. So this picture was taken outside of Taipei 101. The store "Tiffany & Co." made the tree this year. Josie was shocked at how big it was and how little she was in the picture.