A video link.

Lili was a part of a little film about being targeted because of your differences. 

So proud of this girl.  No speaking part but she's there in the group shots with a big smile. 

https://inclusiveleadershipco-op.org/2016/11/20/what-do-you-do/#more-9421

The weekend.

Well this weekend flew by!  We got out a bit more than usual.  We've been trying to stick close to home for Kai.  Hoping that helps while he's adjusting to school and major changes. 

Friday night we went to the town light up, went on a hay ride and sang carols then watched the arrival of Santa.  Luk and Jia are terrified of him so once they saw Santa arrive they were good to go.  Lili and Fei stayed in town and hung out with friends.  Eric picked them up after the fireworks. 

On Saturday Lili played piano at an old age care home with other kids from her music school.  My cousin Debbie and my Mom came with us.  We had time to play at Winners first.  I found a box to use as Kai's life box.  Common in adoption to make life books, I fill boxes instead.  Could be made into books another day for now I give myself points for saving and storing things.  Boxes are fun to go through too. 

Kai was happy with his box.  He has no idea what it's for yet.  I'll let him help me put in our bits and pieces that I've gathered so far.

Saturday night we went to Chemainus to Ding Ho's.  New owners.  They are making fabulous Chow Mein.  Just like at the old Sampan in Victoria!  Pretty exciting find.
Jia wants me to add that she loves the noodles too.

Sunday Gramma and Grampa picked up Lili and Fei and took them shopping.  There is a winter dance coming up and they both got cute dresses.  Thanks so much Mom for taking and treating them.  They're happy with them and I'm thrilled we're not shopping the night before!

Then this afternoon I took all five kids to see Moana.  We haven't taken the boys for a while.  I was hopeful that they were ready.  We talked lots at lunch about what was happening and expectations.  Best laid plans...sigh.  I didn't see a lot of the movie.  Kai was quite upset about having 3d glasses.  I'm not sure how much he can see.  Likely worse in a darkened theater.  Then black glasses over his glasses making it even darker.  He wanted his drink that I held back for after his popcorn but then he refused popcorn and kept asking for his drink.  I caved after an hour.  He drank the whole thing at once and then ate popcorn and then wanted his drink that was empty.  He wouldn't sit back and kept touching the kid in front of us.  Poor kid finally put his hood on.  Then I got more forceful and made Kai sit back in his chair.  So he cried.  Sobbed loudly for the last half hour.  Also had a hard time getting him to shush.  I don't know how much of the show he saw.  He was elated when it was over :)  Luk who normally screams and is loud actually managed just fine.  He was between Lili and Fei. He did tell Lili he was scared and in her oh so nurturing way she told him to close his eyes.  So he did.  Too funny.  In the end Jia thought the movie was ok. Luk said it was creepy. Lili and Fei thought it was pointless.  I'm not going to buy it and it's not likely I'd watch it again.  I usually read the adoption movie reviews especially when it's Disney.  So I can be prepared. So many orphans, so many missing parents.  This time it said there was a brutal abandonment.  Ya.  There is.  Birth mother throws human son off a cliff to the ocean.  The gods save him and make him the demi god Maui.  We were able to discuss this at dinner.  What fun dinner conversation.  

Sadie and Barney from Chemainus.

Boys class on a field trip with their big buddies.  Nature walk.

Lili with her fluffy.

Fei with our shared fluffy.

Back to Normal

We were home yesterday afternoon.  We grocery shopped on the way home.  Loaded everything into the house and got settled.  The boys were thrilled to get back to their toy room.  Jia crashed for four hours!  Lili, Fei and I went to see the Fantastic Beasts movie.  I really liked it.  They didn't. 

In the morning when I was packing up the hotel room Kai joined me and helped the whole time.  He wasn't panicked or upset.  Progress. 

Today was my flex day.  Eric took over the kids and I not only stayed in jammies but got two naps!!  Feeling totally rested.  The little kids came home with a bunch of homework and they all just plowed through it. 

I requested pancakes for dinner and Eric made them for us.  Not often we put a meal out that everyone is happy about.  Jia asked if they could have colored pancakes.  As seen on a food pod cast.  They were insanely excited about this.  They looked repulsive and delicious all at once.  Kids loved them. 

Science World

Jia's world is complete for the moment.  She has been asking for a year to go.  Today she asked if we could just go see the things she has seen online. Ya' our six year old has been researching Science World!  

She was reading everything and trying hard to figure things out.  Total heaven for her.  We did four hours.  She could stay all day and go back tomorrow.

Lili and Fei enjoyed it.  They took off and tried lots.  Fei spent some time playing with Jia. Lili was scouting ahead.

The boys were clueless.  They were concerned with pushing buttons, touching everything and getting a turn but rarely had any idea what they were doing.  Like shoving balls in a ball launcher but never looking up or figuring out that the balls were launching.

Bless Eric for taking them most of the time.  They both wander.  He had to have them in hand. 

We've never had Kai in such a stimulating environment before.  Yikes.  We're not going to sign up for more of that any time soon.  We've pin pointed some things to work on first.

He is LOUD.  Turn taking took a dive in the chaos today. He'll knock over anyone in the way.  Even babies.  We've run into this before.  I'm terrified when he gets near little ones.  He also will touch anyone he can reach.  So, quite a bit to work on before we can manage Disneyland with Kai! 

He was having fun but for every fun moment there were two upsets.

Eric is a big kid.  He found fun. 

I'm tired.  Need some time to calm down.   Too stimulating for me.  Too stressful managing the boys.

We drove around Stanley Park but it was  too cold to go play. 

Eric and big girls are going out for dinner.  A nice break from the littles.  The littles are eating dinner in tonight. 

Harmony Donuts

When looking for things to do in North Vancouver, Harmony Donuts came up. 

Old fashioned vanilla cake donuts with funky and traditional toppings.  We all like donuts ;)  So that was a win suggestion.

We got there this morning on our way to Science World.   The lady working there was a riot.  The store is really cool.  The donuts look so fun.  Each of us picked out two.  That was fun.  So many options.

I have to say the rave reviews on-line were dead on.  Glad we took the time to go.  One of the best donuts I've ever had.  $10 for 14. 

Luk was ambivalent and couldn't eat a whole one.  Jia took one bite.

The rest of us loved them.

I had a lemon coconut and an orange chocolate. Mmm.

Keeping Busy

After the Oakridge Mall, Eric took the kids to the Bloedel Conservatory.  Jia calls it Bird Land. 

They came to get Luk and I and we went to Chinatown for lunch.  Luk was allowed clear liquid, cereal and soup.  He got his Won Tons.  The food was fabulous.  Eric had been before with the littles.  Then we strolled around for a bit.  Kids were horrified at the smell.  Apparently it smells worse than actual China.  ;)  Might be close. 

We came back to North Vancouver and were looking for a movie theater when I realized we were at 171 Esplanade.  The address for Sunrise.  With five adoptions through Sunrise I've addressed MANY envelopes to this address.  Ha ha.  So we stopped on a whim to see Delia but she is away. 

Dinner at Dennys and back to the hotel.

That was a lot for one day! 

Out of order.