Our Tree

A christmas tree is one of those things that needs to be experienced in person to really appreciate its beauty. I tried to take a picture of the whole tree, but none came out quite right. I can assure you that our tree this year is pretty, and unlike the previous years, it's actually not a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

It's a real Balsam Fir from Nova Scotia, just about 5 feet tall, with lots of branches for ornaments. The kids and I picked it out the other day after the night of freezing rain. Each needle was encased in ice, so when we took it home, there was a pool of water underneath the tree after it thawed. We really are not in California anymore (after all these months, am I still in denial?)!

Momo and Claire helped me decorate the tree with old and new ornaments, some of which were made by me and the kids last year. We surprised Jim with it all lit up when he got home that night. Though born and raised a Buddhist, there is a special place in my heart for Christmas trees!

New York City

New York City. Just saying those three words can put one into a different state of consciousness. It's the zenith of city life, the arts, theatre, finances, culture, entertainment. And it never lets you down. We just got a little taste of all that this weekend!

Our friend Tom invited us to stay in his 'extra' apartment on the upper west side, right next to Central Park. You don't turn down that kind of offer, if you can afford it! So we thought going to New York city to visit an old friend around Christmas time would be fun: we would go see the Rockerfeller Christmas tree, play at Central Park, take the train to Brooklyn. We forgot that everyone else in the world had the same idea.


Our journey to and from was on the infamous Amtrak train, notorious for being delayed for whatever reason. Thank goodness our kids are good travelers and managed to sleep or play through the unexpected delays on both ways. Regardless, we made it to the city and made the most of it.

New York really is the city that doesn't sleep. We arrived at one in the morning and most shops and restaurants were bustling with people and patrons. Time Square looked like Disneyland for adults, and Central park, lit up with holiday lights, looked like a page from a fairy tale.

We did go see the big Christmas tree, and even had a hot New York pretzel from one of those ubiquitous street vendors. We visited Tom's financial trading office, caught a children's performance in Brooklyn, and played a bunch in Central Park. Of course a trip to NYC wouldn't be the same (for children) without a visit to the Natural History museum. Our kids were giddy with excitement as they skip and run around the animal exhibitions. I think they even begged to stay forever.

One of the most memorable moments for me, however, was at a humble burger joint where we had our last meal with Tom. Forgoing the regular quarter-pounder, I asked for an 'open turkey' dish with mushroom sauce. Once the food arrived, the waiter presented the dish I had ordered in front of me. It looked nothing like what I had imagined. Not only did I not see any turkey, but the dish looked more like a large pot of stew with dill leaves floating everywhere. "Good luck with that, Miss, " wished the waiter (with a very New York accent), a bit pessimistic about my ability to consume the order. How very New York was that?

Dinner Talk

Momo eating ice cream - at our California home

Jim came home early today for a change. He even picked up the kids from school after lunch! Yup, not a usual day around here.

We had dinner as a family, sitting around our little dining table, chit-chatting about this and that. Claire started telling us a story of how she and her friend 'solved a problem for Momo' today. This was during dessert, and we were having panettone with ice cream. Of course we had to ask a lot of questions. "What problem? Momo, what happened? Clairey, what did you do?"

He put down his spoon, and started telling us from beginning to end.

Jim had more questions. But priority is priority, so the little guy said:

"Daddy, may I finish my ice cream first, and then I can tell you?"

Polite isn't he?

And as for Claire, she somehow ate all of her ice cream and told us the story at the same time. She multi-tasked. We were not surprised.

Father's Day - Thailand

I must admit that this day often sneaks up on me, and sometimes takes a detour around my head. Why? Because Hallmark doesn't register it as an important holiday (so you don't hear about it in this country). Because they would rather celebrate 'administrative assistant day' instead of honoring, oh, the fathers and King of Thailand.

Today, I remembered. It dawned on me this morning when I checked the news on line and I saw what day it was. Quickly, I emailed my father and wished him a happy father's day (even though the day was almost over in Thailand's time). The day carried on as normal as any other day until tonight when I decided that I needed a flu-shot.

What does a flu-shot have to do with Thailand's Father's day? Well, it so happened that the 'flu-clinic' was held at Mount Auburn Hospital, right down the street from where we live. And that happens to be where the King of Thailand was born on this day, 80 years ago!

So after someone injected me with a small amount of inactivated flu protein, I visited the altar where there were framed images of the King and the Queen of Thailand. I took the elevator to the fifth floor which houses, not surprisingly, the maternity ward. Right underneath the images stood a freshly delivered bouquet of flowers from one of the Thai restaurants in town. For a short moment, I felt at home, and fulfilled. I had made an homage to the significance of this very day! Long Live the King of Thailand! And Dad, Happy Father's day, again!

Snow Angels

The little snow angels took a nap today. It started to snow again while they were sleeping, so waking them up was a piece of cake when all I had to say was "Guys, it's snowing outside, look!"

We ventured out, complete with snow pants and snow boots, ready to make some snow angels, and snow bears, and snow balls. I am glad somebody likes snow around here!

Snow

It did snow last night. The frosted white flakes came down just as the kids were getting ready for bed. We treated them by taking them outside for a second to have them stick out their tongues and wait for the flakes to drop down. They were so tired, though, that maybe it felt like a dream. Then at 5:45 this morning, we heard the two of them talking to each other about the snow that they could see from their window. It was exciting enough for them that they let us sleep until 6:30 when Momo offered to go start the coffee maker for us. Helpful boy that he is.

Snow. I can't say I missed it. Not at all. But to see the delight on the kids' faces made it tolerable... until I had to go out and buy snow pants and snow boots for them!

Cold

Not much to say. We have not been doing much since it's too cold to function. I take it back, actually, we did go to the Harvard Museum of Natural History today - only to find most of their school friends there. Refuge for preschoolers and parents alike! Maybe it will snow tonight so at least the cold is worth it.

Not the happiest Day

The kids had a doctor's appointment today for their annual check up.
Five immunization shots. Ten in all.
I went alone with them.
I think you can picture what happened. Not only did the one getting the shots cried, the other one would cry, too. They are twins, remember?
I felt like crying myself. In fact, right in the middle of it all, I told the nurse I needed a break. Please leave the room for a minute, I said (I was surprised she heard me in the midst of tearful wails). The three of us needed to catch a breath. For crying outloud - please stop hurting my children! I didn't actually say that one outloud.

Thank goodness that tomorrow is another day!

Art Show

We have been creative around here, and would like to show you some of the art work produced by our own four year old children! (Isn't Claire cute in Momo's shirt? She refused it at first, but it was out of neccessity).

If you had been following this blog all along, you may remember from last year some drawings done by Momo. He started at an early age (about two), with the interest and stamina. Now it looks like he is trying to master cubism of some sort. Meanwhile, Claire has grown exponentially in her artistic skills. She is now drawing self portraits, bears, houses, and ships! Although not shown here, they are able to write their names and do some simple spellings, too. Maybe four is different than three...

Here are the master pieces:

Our family, with our house and tree - by Claire

Momo and Claire - by Claire

Ship and captain at sea - by Claire

The artist at work

The Sydney Opera House, with chimneys! - by Momo

Fish (Tilapia) in Tank - by Momo

Apartment building, complete with stairs, patios, and door - by Momo

Ship at sea - by Momo

Winter Flora

I had a leisurely morning; it felt deserved after all the festivities yesterday!

Will you be surprised to hear that the kids are no different now (that they are four) than the day before (when they were three)? There is a saying in Thai that age is really just a number.

So I took a leisurely walk to go pick up the kids from school. It was windy, but warm. The warmth made me miss all the days we spent on the farm this summer, and all the plant life that surrounded us (and of course, our former home in California). It will be a long time before spring returns to New England.

Meanwhile, I will savor whatever I can - even if it's dried up berries or frozen roses, or even the ubiquitous decorative cabbages. The pink bike has its own appeal though, doesn't it?

Four Years

First day out of the womb.


First Year.


Second Year.


Third Year.


How full the four years have been!

We have traveled overseas 3 times.
We have lived in 3 houses.
We have moved twice.
They have been to three schools.
They have had many friends and teachers.
They have a lot more adventures to come.

The one thing that has not changed since the day they were born: they do love each other. And we hope that will be the constant throughout their lives!

Happy Birthday Momo and Claire! We love you!

Birthday Eve

"It's your last day of being three year olds," I told the kids today.
"Why, Mommy?" they asked. (Why must they ask why about everything? Why?)
"Time is linear, my friends," I replied.

And yet, in some ways, I wish they were not going to be four years old tomorrow!

We hung out in and around Harvard yard this morning. There is so much history here. Jim and I went to schools here (well, Jim did, I went to summer school here), we met here, and we made future plans together here. We even walked by the church on Harvard Street where I went to nursery school when I was four myself. We tried to point that out to the kids. Of course it didn't mean much to them. But to us, it was rather poignant.

Though time is linear, we can physically return to the same places where we once lived, and made memories. Perhaps someday our children will come back here with their own children, and share their own history with them - right here where a whole lot of history was made in and outside of our family.

Thanksgiving

We were supposed to go to Brooklyn for Thanksgiving, but our family is currently running a course of a tenacious coughing virus. We feel bad enough at home, and didn't want to burden our friends. So here it was, our first Thanksgiving by ourselves (if you don't count the germs).

It wasn't half bad, however. We had a lovely day, actually. It started with a walk into Harvard Square, a snack at a coffee shop, a home-made Thanksgiving lunch (turkey and all), and a visit to Walden Pond. It was so warm this afternoon that the kids were giddy with delight!

As for the Vespa, its bright and happy color made the otherwise gray morning, rather cheery.

Front Page

The Lincoln Journal was kind to publish my Thanksgiving article on their front page! I know it's a small paper, relatively. Still, I am honored and happy that I could go from being an acupuncturist to a freelance writer in a few months time. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the genes, and everyone else for the support!