Not with a bang, but a whimper

A year ago, we partied until 2am and got to see our last New Year in Bangkok in style.  This year, we were all in bed before midnight.  Part of that is that we don’t know many people in Shanghai yet, but also the schedule.  The ladies had Xmas day and New Year day off, but otherwise, it’s school as usual.  NYE was a work day/school day, so getting up at  05:15 (J), 05:40 (Kiddo) and my 06:00 alarm, come 22-2300 we are all just done.

It’s not all bad.  Chinese New Year is a thing here and next week is half days and then 5 weeks off.  J and I are looking at things we can do around Shanghai to keep it fun and not just be homebodies the entire break.  We talked of travel, but again, we are new here and can save all that for next year.  Wade in slowly and not just jump in full bore.  

For being uneventful, we did have some fun.  I made a few nice meals for us.  NYE I did spaghetti with pork loin, fresh mushrooms, and roasted garlic.  Add to that a good salad, I found a good bread and got that, and we all enjoyed.  Besides that, the girls requested it, so “As they wish.”  Our cleaning lady brought us some eggs she got when she went “into the country”.  There’s a language barrier, so it was hard to get details, but she is from “small province near 3 hour car away” and got some fresh field eggs from her sister.  Duck and chicken.  I counted them up and she brought us 50 eggs.  3-4 broke in transit to us and I cracked one trying to find the space for them all, so we had 45 fresh eggs.  We also had pork belly, mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions in the house to go with he good bread, so I made a frittata type dish yesterday with some white cheddar to go with it and some hashbrowns.  Why not!  Lazy day at home so I could do the taters and eggs.  It was a nice lunch and J and I dug it. Kiddo isn’t big on scrambled eggs, so she was finicky. 

We made it a family day and night.  We started the 500 piece puzzle in the morning as I was doing prep and putzing about.  J is on the back end of a cold, so she was in rest and chill mode to boot.  I got Kiddo outside to run around a bit in the afternoon and then we ordered pizza and watched Shrek as a family.  It wasn’t the biggest New Years or the craziest, but it was very much us and cool to not do or be out or any of that and just be us.  J is starting to feel better and her energy is on the rise, Kiddo has drums tonight.  Then it’s Friday.  Saturday we are going to library as a family.  Sunday, J has an appointment to get her meds and I need to refill mine, so we’re gonna family mode into the city and grab lunch and do meds.  Then it’s just the short week until a full break.

We did have some holiday fun though.  There was as little fair type thing here and Kiddo got to get some cotton candy.  As you can see, she hated every minute of it.  It was smallish, but bigger than you would think if you knew our area.  Plus, for some reason, we got a free nail care kit.  Beats me, but the guy handed it to us, “For you.  Free. Free.  Celebration.”  OK.  Cool.  Thanks!

With it being the holidays and J not having Masters classes again until about 20 January, she’s been knitting again in the last few weeks.  She made Kiddo a scarf.  Kiddo helped pick out the yarn.  It’s soft and fluffy.  It also makes it really easy to find Kiddo on the playground right now.  Just look for the bright yellow flowing and that’ll be Kiddo romping and running about.  

Let’s go, Kiddo… break is almost upon us and you and Mumma need to take some time that’s more than a day here and a day there.  Besides, we’ve got to get an aquarium set up and then find a fish.  We’re super proud of you for how you have handled this year and even more impressed at how much Chinese you are picking up and using.  We are hoping to make 2025 the best yet and hoping to see you grow, explore, adventure, and just you as much as you can.  Keep being the coolest kid we know!