Abraham's 6th Birthday!

I cannot believe my precious "baby" is six! This kid has gone through a lot as our first born. All our trial-and-error was done on him and he's put up with a lot! He has attended 3 different schools so far, has lived in 7 different houses, and has lived in two countries! He has been through so many changes in his young life and a lot has been expected from him since he was a baby. That being said, he is a tough kid with deep emotions and good insights. We love, love, love our little Abraham and we are so thankful that he is our son. We have learned so much from him these past six years, and he has brought so much joy to our family. He has truly changed our lives and it was Abraham who took William and I from being a couple to being parents. Thank you, little guy! We love you so much!
Here is the birthday boy getting ready to enjoy his french toast for breakfast!
Here are a few of his friends who came to celebrate with him! We had quite a little feast and the kids enjoyed trying a little of everything!

I wish I could say that his friends were playing a lovely song, but they were pretty much just pounding on the piano! Anyway, they were all having fun ;)

The "transformer" cake. Yes, a holiday cake with a transformer stuck on at the last moment. That has become our speciality in China. We did the same thing for Annabelle's "princess cake" last year!

The kids watch eagerly as Mommy lights the candles.

Baba has always been the one to cut the kids' birthday cakes for some reason.

What would a party be without our resident "spider man"?? Cute little brother enjoyed the party too!

More good friends enjoying cookie decorating! Thanks to my awesome friend, Melanie, who made the cookies and helped me so much with getting ready for the party. What a true friend!

This little sweetheart will be having her own party in a couple of weeks :)

Abraham absolutely loved having his friends over. At the last minute, right before people arrived, he ran up and put on his bumblebee costume!!

Make a wish, sweet boy! Happy birthday, Abraham!!!

Laughing hard with Daniel---these two have become really good buddies this year!

The happy birthday boy enjoying more treats!

We are so grateful to all our good friends, and new friends, who joined Abraham for his party. We love this little guy and I'm so glad he had a fun birthday. Happy 6th birthday, Abraham!!!!!

Where is the Simple Life?

You know how some families take incredible family pics without even trying? You know, they're all looking at the camera, smiling, happy to be posing for a picture? Ya, well, that is NOT the Qian family. This picture was just to good not to post! I'm about to fall over with exhaustion before the run has even started. William is just embracing the chaos. Alexander is completely suspicious of the person taking the picture. Abraham is trying to escape, and Annabelle just refuses to look. Yep, that's us. We. Are.The. Qians. I am in search of the simple life, but I'm realizing the term "simple" is all relative! We came to China in order to do just that---simplify. Instead, we find ourselves busier than ever and sometimes running faster than we have strength. Do you ever find, though, that even when you've cut out all you can, there is still too much on your plate? I sometimes feel that way. That's why I've decided that "the simple life" may just have to be a state of mind for the time being :)
I have so much to be grateful for! Thanksgiving, as a formal holiday, came and went this year without any celebration in our household. It just so happened that the kids were sick, we still had to work, and we sort of forgot about it! However, as I thought about it later, I realized that Thanksgiving is really an on-going event. I am (hopefully) always aware of how incredibly blessed I am and I hope I can take the time to celebrate it all year long. Having said that, I'll look forward to my turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie one of these days!We hope to spend Christmas in a very peaceful, low-key way this year. Last year's Christmas had quite a dark cloud over it due to the ugliness William had to endure at his previous job. I remember both of us trying to be happy for the kids' sake, but not feeling a great deal of holiday joy. This year, we had hoped to travel somewhere to see friends or experience something new, but we have decided to simply stay home and be together. I am truly looking forward to that.

On Saturday, our whole family attended the Terry Fox run here in Guangzhou. None of us ran, but we walked the 5k and had a great time. We had the chance to talk to the kids about what a scary sickness cancer can be, and how even our little contribution will help the research to move forward. I hate thinking about the word, and have lost many loved ones to cancer in its various forms. However, I have other dear friends who have been blessed enough to beat it. My dear Mom unfortunately was not one of those survivors, but she held on long enough to meet Abraham.

And that just brings me back to blessings. I am so blessed to be married to William and to be the mother of three exceptionally sweet children. They are my world. If I can keep that focus, and I think I can, then life truly can be "simple"!

Enjoy every moment of this wonderful holiday season!!

Happy Halloween 2009!

Happy Halloween!!!
Yep, time does fly by and another Halloween has come and gone. We were a bit more low key this year, considering our usual pace. The kids decided that instead of going trick-or-treating with the other ex-pat kiddos in the neighborhood, they wanted to stay home and hand out the candy. We were like, "Are you sure??" They were sure---the thrill for them was opening the door and giving out the goodies. We loved it because it was much easier than traipsing around from house to house and we got to chill at home, decorate cookies, and just hang out. Besides, they got to go trick-or-treating at school on Friday :)

Then on Saturday, we had our traditional (well, okay, it's our second year) halloween party with Melanie, Shane and everyone else! Melanie is the queen of organizing parties and we all love her for getting us all together on holidays! The kids had a blast with their friends and we got to chat, eat yummy chilli, and watch the kids play. Then we came home and let the kids have a pretty fantastic bubble bath. Overall, a very happy halloween.

Life Is Good

It really is! It is also stressful, tiring, and sometimes disappointing. It can seem really bleak, and then all of a sudden, I have one of those moments where I realize just how great life is. I don't know what it is about our family, but God seems to want us to truly recognize our blessings. He gives us challenges, but He also provides opportunities to grow, to learn, and to lean on Him. I am so grateful for that. I have always been someone who learns things the hard way---often through extremes. I guess that is why I truly, truly appreciate the "good" and the "peace" and "calm" that living the gospel of Jesus Christ brings. I am so glad I was at church today to feel the Spirit that I needed to feel in order to face a busy week, to sort some things out, and to be reminded of the fact that we are all children of God. Life is good!

Big Brother & Little Brother

Soccer Saturdays

I love soccer season. It's not the games themselves, really. It's more the atmosphere---the families all outside on a Saturday morning, kids running every which way, the Moms and Dads out there "coaching", and of course---hot dogs and ice cream after the games. I can't wait until Alexander is old enough to play. He seems to be the true athlete in the family! In the meantime, we're all enjoying soccer Saturdays!

Soccer Season Begins Again

I just love the expressions here. They're supposed to be shaking hands saying "good game", but it kind of seems
like they're giving each other the eye. Young love?

H.K. Disneyland...We finally made it!

We have been planning and hoping to go to Disneyland since last summer, when we first moved to China.
As you know, things don't always go quite as we hope and plan.  Every time there was a break last year,
it just wasn't in the cards for us to take this trip.  But, finally, finally, we made it!  We took the ferry there on Monday
and took a bus back on Wednesday.  The traveling part itself was not exactly "fun", but Disneyland was amazing.
 
Enjoy the multitude of mini-posts that follow here!  (Remember, I can't upload photos the normal way anymore---it all has
to go through my email and is a gigantic pain!)  But, it is worth it to share this with all of you.  We had a great time,
and we are so happy we finally made it to Hong Kong Disneyland!!!!!

Hong Kong Disneyland

 

 

  

We had such a fantastic time in Hong Kong!  Disneyland was incredible, and the kids loved it.  Of course, getting there and back with three kids was exhausting for Mommy & Daddy but the actual time at Disneyland was great. 
 
We also loved the hotel---super fun swimming, non-stop Disney channel in the room, and an awesome breakfast on our last day (thanks to William for splurging on a way-too-expensive meal :)  Abraham and I loved the Mickey-shaped waffles and Annabelle kept going back to the buffet for these mini strawberry pie-type things.  Alexander just loved trying one of everything. 
 
We met Minnie mouse, saw Belle, Snow White, Aurora, and many others. The highlight was when Mulan just walked up to Mei Mei and started chatting with her.  We were just resting by the side of the road and all of a sudden Mulan walked out of this restaurant, right toward us!  I think I was the most excited of all, but Annabelle was pretty star-struck too.  It was really cool since we all love Mulan :)
 
Anyway, a fantastic trip. Enjoy the pics!
 

 

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Hong Kong Disneyland

 

  

We're Going To Disneyland!!!

 

  

Recent Random Realizations

Some things I have realized or re-realized within the last few days:

1. I really like going to church. It hasn't always been easy to enjoy the service while keeping little kids entertained, but I like the act and process of going to church. I always feel better after having gone and most times, I come away feeling that I learned something important. I enjoy the lessons, the conversations, and the feeling I have when I'm there.

2. I have a wonderful husband. William is just good to the very core. There is nothing about his character that I would change, even if I could. He is a great example to me in many ways and it truly is a miracle that we found each other. I am so lucky!

3. Our kids have turned a corner, especially Abraham and Annabelle. As busy as the beginning to this school year has been, it occurred to me that they are really thriving at home, at school, and at primary. Everything used to be a "battle". I used to have to "gear up" for absolutely everything where they were concerned---having to talk them into going to primary, or getting their backpacks ready for school. Now, they pretty much do what needs to be done, and they like it.

4. Our kids are learning the gospel---it is becoming a part of who they are. I began to notice this last year and I'll be honest---it was surprisingly difficult for me. It brought me face to face with my own testimony and I spent a lot of time, energy, thought, and emotion asking myself if this is what I really wanted. William was a tremendous help to me through this, but it really was a very personal journey, as well. I wondered: Could I really look them in the eye and say that I knew there
was a God? Could I tell them I really believed we would be together forever? Did Mommy really believe all those things they were singing about in primary? It was a difficult time for me, as I knew I should have been happy, but instead just felt this burdensome, yet profound, responsibility to make sure I wasn't just telling them what I hoped was true. Now, I feel peace. I don't have the answers to everything I wish I did, but I love that they love the gospel and I see it bringing joy into their lives and into our lives, as well.

5. We don't need to buy diapers or pull-ups anymore! Annabelle pointed this out to me the other day and it was an awesome realization. I have been changing diapers and potty-training for years, and years, and years without a break. I am deeply grateful that I am done with that! And Yeah to Alex for being really, really advanced when it comes to potty training. He just turned 2 in March and already stays dry all night. Go Ping Ping!

6. I really love my sisters, and I miss them! Nobody knows your history like family and my sisters and I have overcome a lot--individually and as a family. We have bonds that cannot be broken and I am grateful for them---and for Shaleen, Jay, and Scarlet. I can't wait to see them all next summer.

7. Even though I'm exhausted quite often these days, I have got to hold on to the personal dreams and goals that I have, or once had. There are projects I have started that I'd like to get back to. There are goals I'd once thought about that haven't yet materialized. I know there is a time and season for everything, but I feel like I need to at least re-visit some personal goals.

8. I really appreciate good writing. I have such respect for strong writers and the messages they are able to convey. I'm so grateful that the world has all types of people, but lately I find I'm really grateful for creativity.

9. I am really excited to go to Disneyland! We are heading there this week and I cannot wait to experience this with William and our precious kids. Hoping for good weather, hassle-free travel, and fun!!

Well, this was a random post, but that's the beautiful thing about blogging. Anything goes. I have a lot to be grateful for and I love staying in touch with all of you through our blogs. Have a wonderful week!

Happy Birthday China!

 

 &nb

Happy Birthday, China!