"I Like Being a Big Nerd"

I'm not sure where I'm going wrong.

My daughter insists on tucking her shirt into her gym shorts, and pulling the shorts up high.   When I tried to dissuade her, she countered that her friend wears hers like that (she's Chinese - it's a cultural thing, I see loads of kids around HK like that).  I pressed on:"Do any OTHER children wear their shirts tucked in like that?"  "No."  "Exactly." 

But I had to let her go like that.  She has to learn her own way.  It's hard to let go, but it must be done.

She came home from school with the shirt hanging out.

Now my son wants to have messy hair all the time.  I'll give him that - when I brush it neatly, he does look a bit....smart.

BUT.

Now he wants to look like Ben10, and combs it straight down his forehead.  It doesn't look like Ben10.  It looks like a bowl haircut.

I said,"Charlie, now you look like a big nerd like that!"

He said,"I like being a big nerd!"

Well then.

Reciprocation

This morning I wiped Charlie's bum. 

He usually goes into the loo, then when he's done he starts shouting,"Muuuummmmyyyy!  Muuuuuummmmmyyyy!  Mummy!"

And I come.

And wipe.

This morning I wiped Charlie's bum.

And afterwards he said,"Next time I'm going to wipe your bum!"

What a sweet child.

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

I keep telling the kids not to play with their food.
Unfortunately, I don't set a very good example...

So it's hard to get cross with them if they do it....

Well, at least they are eating their fruit!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.....

All the decorations are up all around town.

I'm itching to put up the Christmas stuff!

I have to at least wait til next week, though.  It would drive James batty if I put them up now.  Even next week is a bit early, but as we are having our Christmas party early this year, I want to make sure I'm not rushing at the last minute.

It doesn't help that it's still about 25 degrees out.

Awesome!

Putting the kids to bed:

Kate:"I love you mummy!"
Me:"I love you, Kate!"
Charlie:"Love you!"
Me:"I love you, Charlie!"
Me:"I have such awesome kids!"
Charlie:"No, you a awesome grownup!"

More Halloween Festivities...

And more face paint was used! 

On the Saturday, we had a Halloween party at our apartment complex.  It's a good thing I am the 'Face Painting Lady'!

Trick or Treating...

Making bracelets....

Posing for Mummies....

 Getting everyone to pose...

Of the night!  Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa....!

Making bracelets...

Lovebirds

Letting the kids tire themselves out!

Charlie watching the magic show with Uncle Raj....who soon put his back out, holding him!

Out Come the Face Paints!

And so another season of face-painting begins....

First was Charlie's school Halloween party....

...and he continues to be a 'back of the bus' kid....

Then in the evening I had to re-do his face paint, and then do Kate's, and then do mine....as we had Kate's school's (and mine!) Halloween barbecue to go to.  A fun time was had by all, and the kids really got into everything this year, even Charlie!  Last year, his witching hour was 7pm, so he missed most of the excitement, but this year he managed to keep it going til 9pm - even longer than I was really wanting to stay out.

Kate was super-smart: she suggested we head towards Art Jamming first thing, to avoid the lines like last year!  They were numbers 1 & 2!

What would Halloween be without candy floss?

Kate, the beautiful (!) magician's assistant!

Charlie went for the big kids' game - donut-eating!  I think it was just a ploy to get more sugar.

Help from big sis...

Zonked out (or being turned into a mini-vampire?) at 9pm!

Post-script for Half Term

Just a quick post to highlight the continuing conversion to Hong-Kong-ness that the kids are going through....

....the Hong Kong pose...

Creativity

Kate's T-Rex

Charlie's T-Rex

School Trip

I managed to make it to Charlie's school trip to Hong Kong Park.  I was a bit late due to work, but I made it and he was so excited to see me.  I must savour these moments, as I'm sure in about 8 years things will be slightly different!

With his favourite teacher...

Who's that hooligan behind me?!?

Scoop it up, dig, dig, dig it!

And he is displaying early signs of being the 'back of the bus' kid...

Evening

Half Term!

We decided to stay here in HK for half-term.  And in the end, it was more relaxing than going somewhere for the week.  We spent a whole day in the pool at the club.  We went to Ocean Park and Stanley.  The kids had sleepovers (sort of;  Kate's friend missed her daddy at bedtime and went home!).  Our trip to Disneyland and Kate's class picnic were canceled due to the impending (and then unrealised) super-typhoon, but we had a great day at our friends' place, watching movies, and a trip to Daddy's office for lunch to make up for them.

Happy Halloween!