Post about the highlights

More dental work for me this week.  The tooth that I had a root canal in Vietnam is aching again and I went to the dentist here and the filling had come out.  They want me to see the endodontist to make sure that all is well.  So, a temp filling is in it, but it’s still hard to chew and eat normally.  Tuesday, I’ll have that done.  That just leaves the next two days to figure out.

The good news is, I LOVE making soup and we had all we needed in house, so soup it is.  I’m not doing anything gourmet or hardcore.  Made a mirepoix and had stock in the freezer, added some chicken and potatoes to go with veggies.  J and Kiddo are out and at the mall, so they can get to Tops and get a loaf of bread to have with it.  Simple.  Easy.  Most importantly, however, easy to eat.  At least for me.  Yesterday we did pork chops and mashed potatoes, so that was easy enough.  It does bite having more tooth problems.  See what I did there???  HAHA

As for the weekend, Kiddo and J climbed yesterday.  As you can see, Kiddo is a monkey like usual.  She’s getting so daring and brave to go with strong and full of energy.  It’s fun for her and J has a good time with her.  The perk is that J can usually get in a few climbs herself, when Kiddo needs a break to refuel and munch things.  They were home by lunch and then, in the afternoon, Kiddo and I did some errands and hanging out.  We did some school and math with Poley as well.  That guy is REALLY bad at math, especially subtraction.  Kiddo, however, had me write a problem with “at least 4 numbers and it needs to have a plus and minus in it.”  So, I gave her 22+7-10+4-12+3.  She got 14.  Poley got 107.  I told you that guy is not great at math.  LOL

Today, however, is the day we have been talking about since Friday night.  

Kiddo, in her creativity and always active way, has been burning through art supplies and creating so much.  She had some requests, however.

So, straight from the horse’s mouth.  HIGHLIGHTERS!!!!  All for her.  Can you even believe it.  And more tape, because can you even call it art at age 6 if you aren’t using at least a yard of tape?  What strange and wonderful little notes we are going to get on post-it notes as well.  

Watching her play and teach her friends things or just her chatting with J and me… It’s too much right now.  Yesterday, while her and I were out, she talked pretty much constantly for the 90 minutes.  I got jokes, riddles, fun factoids, questions about everything, and random musing and wonderings.  It’s fun just hanging out with her and letting her talk and chat and just be with us.  

While her and I were out and talking, J was at home, working.  Most of her work was applying for jobs.  She got out about 30 applications and a few of them were a bit more targeted.  Schools she would really want to work at or that we’d really like Kiddo to go to next year.  Kiddo saw some of this and she’s getting excited herself.  Add on top that we are leaving for China in a week and Kiddo is beyond excited.  She is wrapping her brain around the fact that we are going to be moving and she will live in a new place, with a new language, new school, new things to learn, new friends, and a new house.  

J and I have some excitement about this as well.  Where?  What job?  What city?  What country?  Travel from that area and what cheap flights can we get to what cool locations?  The food and culture of wherever we end up.  Etc etc etc.  On top of that, for visa and work permit reasons in our new job and country, we may need to fly back to LA and then see what flight or routing we will need to get to our next country, but that might mean 2-3 weeks in the states.  We’d love to see our Cali friends, if we can.  But, we are also looking at traveling.  Pacific NW or CO.  Maybe Yew Nork (As Kiddo calls it).  Or, hit LA, bounce up to BC Canada, back to LA and out.  We still have time and a million other balls need to fall into place, but it may be that we will be earning some world traveler stripes this summer.  And to answer the question before it can be asked… No.  We have no plans to see the Midwest or the Chicago/Wisconsin area.  We’ve seen it.  Didn’t impress us enough to stay.  <Shrug>  Sorry about that, midwest.  

Other than that, I’ve got dentistry this week and then I need to start packing and putting together our China luggage and planning, so I’ll get up a post if I can.  If not, I can guarantee that we do a China Blog.  Hong Kong too, if we can, but we’re only there a few days and more to scout the area, as it’s a place J is applying.  I’m sure, however, that we’ll have something to say about it.  And the food.  And all of it.  Kiddo already is asking if she can do a Vlog about it, so expect a Kiddo vid in the next weeks as well.

Let’s go, Kiddo…. Busy week, but then China and more exploring.  We can’t wait to hear your thoughts and questions and comments and everything else you have to share about that and everything else.