Let's start with one that is in keeping with the Season. You know I am always keeping my eyes out for the quirky (and sometimes scary) and I can safely say that I had never seen this before on the shelf until the Holiday season.
While my Mom is here I took her to one of my favorite little neighborhoods, Taicang Lu, and had pizza at a great restaurant. The one we ordered was delicious, but I do not think I will be brave enough to try this menu offering:
I'll happily put pineapple on my pizza, but Banana??? I don't think so.
And we've saved the best one for last...This was seen in YuYuan Gardens: Skull Soup, anyone?
All in all December is always a very busy month for our family. We start the festivities 2 weeks before Christmas with Heinz's Birthday and this year we celebrated by going to an indoor go-kart track so that he could feel like a kid again! Conrad went with him on his first round
and while he loves races cars, he wasn't a big fan of go-karting (could have been due to the helmet that was bigger than he was!) so Daddy got to go again by himself!
He was always so speedy that I never did get a clear picture! Meanwhile Conrad reverted to his favorite mode of racing:
and Vivi watched and cheered everyone on from the Pits:
Everyone was a Champion that day!
Then Santa brought Grammy as Mommy's early Christmas present!
We decorated the tree
and made Christmas cookies.
We decorated gingerbread houses at Charlie and Henry's house
and more cookies at our house with our neighbors.
(Then we taught Grammy how to play Mahjong!)
Before we knew it it was time to hang up our 'happy shoes' (not to worry Santa, the candles will burn out before you have to land here!)
Finally! It's Christmas morning! Merry Christmas everyone!
Even Grammy got a stocking!
Daddy enjoys his Lindt Bear and Reindeer!
Even Barney helped open the presents.
Although there were toys all over the floor, Vivi was infected with 'Bubblic', the addiction to popping bubbles!
Aunt Jenny dresses a Princess but the Youth League Soccer shirt inherited from cousin Zachary (and worn nearly every day!) is proof of the tomboy still hiding inside!
A Panda hat and a pair of shades and we're ready for our Birthday outing to the Zoo: Conrad is 5!
He rode some rides
and saw the animals. The cheetah is the fastest!
Back to the race car theme and he finally gets the 5 candle on his cake!
His friends came over and we made balloon racers out of juice boxes and bottle caps, played Pin the Wheel on the Porsche, and had races with the pull-back racers that each guest was given. He loved his race car cake (despite the Barbie pink color and Mr. Magoo car look... the local cake industry has no need to fear my mad cake skills!)
but the radio controlled car was his favorite gift of the day!
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, it's almost time to close the lid on this one,
we just have to be sure to take all the important things out of the box before we do!
I cannot believe 2011 is nearly over, but we are looking forward to 2012. It's the Year of the Dragon, -we'll get into that later.
We send our best wishes for a safe and Happy New Year. Maybe 2012 will be the year that you come visit us! I am ever hopeful! Love to you all~
