Spring in HK

Patrick & Evan - playing nicely together!

May, 2013


Spring has been wonderful in Hong Kong and we are looking forward to summer - especially since we will be in the states in July!  The past few months have flown by with visitors and fun days.  The weather has been okay - there was a lot of rain, but now we are getting some sunshine, but also lots of humidity.

Over Easter weekend, Tom and I went to Cebu in the Phillipeans for a get-a-way.  It was delightful. We slept in, hung out by the pool and beach, had cocktails, and went sailing.

Cebu, Phillipeans

My sister & her husband, Christina and Bill, came over for a visit in April.  We took them all around Hong Kong and tired them out so by the time they went to Thailand they had even more of an excuse to be lazy at the beach. It was great to see them - they brought two suitcases full of goodies from the states (mostly kid clothing that I refuse to spend the money on here).

Christina exiting the pirate cave!  We walked from one end to the other in the pitch black.

Taking a peaceful stroll after our pirate adventure!

Bill tasting culture

My parents also came in for a visit - they were in Asia for 3 weeks, and spent about 2 weeks with us and 1 week in Thailand.  We had a great visit as well (and they also came with 2 suitcases of goodies... we got spoiled).  They loved meeting Evan and watching the boys in their Hong Kong routines.  One of the highlights of their trip was riding an elephant in Thailand - although I wasn't there, I managed to get a picture of their memory of a lifetime (see below). We took them to Macau (the Vegas of Asia) and we went to a fantastic show: The House of Dancing Water.  Another highlight was getting stuck in a rainstorm in Discovery Bay and Patrick refusing to get off the beach... so he was stripped of his clothes so he could continue to play on the playground and beach. Below are some pics of their trip.

Riding a cable car with a view!

Enjoying the night life in Hong Kong!

Patrick's face says it all (@ Ocean Park)

Mom & Dad & Elephant in Thailand

At the Venetian in Macau

Hanging with the Grammy & Papa

Family Update:

Patrick is doing well.  He recently started swimming lessons.  He is still enjoying school.  He will get out at the end of June for the summer and will return at the end of August.  He still enjoys playing cars and has to choose one vehicle to sleep with every night.  He has been really good with Evan lately.  He puts all Evan's toys by him in the morning and tells Evan to play.

Evan is great and nearing the 6 month mark - which makes me happy and sad at the same time.  The past 6 months have gone by too fast for mom, but at the same time - I love that he is more interactive everyday.  He is rolling everywhere and adores watching Patrick.  He's learning tricks early.

Patrick & Daddy

Brothers forever :)

My babe!

He is going to be active!!

Brother fun

Norlie's (our helper) daughter, NJ,  just moved to Hong Kong and is working with another American Family.  It's great to have her around!  Norlie has also been with us for a little over 6 months... we are so blessed to have her as part of our family!

We are also enjoying the typical weekends in Hong Kong. We go to beaches, markets, and other sites around the city.  Patrick still mostly enjoys riding around on the trains, taxis, and boats, but there is always something to see when we get there.  We are not the only tourists in HK - sometimes we think Patrick must look like some celebrity in China, because he is always treated like one.  He is always getting his picture taken and some people even pick him up.  All without permission.  It is nice though when people give him a piece of candy or snack that we didn't manage to have with us... it makes his day.  Below is a picture of our favorite and most hilarious fame moment - a bus full of Chinese tourists in suits tried to get a few shots of him at the beach.... Of course, Tom gloated all day that they were taking pics of him not Patrick, but I wasn't fooled.

The paparazzi

And some other pictures of us out & about:

Patrick walking through Wan Chai Market - our neighborhood

Hanging out in Tsim Sha Tsui

It's now getting HOT, the hazy skies have turned blue

Evan enjoying the swing :)

Tom has been training for a dragon boat race that takes place in a couple weeks.  He is on the Walmart Asia team and usually comes back from practice sore.  I'm enjoying the boys, playdates, dance classes, reading, and walks around Hong Kong.  Tom has been doing some work in Toyko, Japan.  I am going to join him in Toyko for a long weekend this week.  I haven't been there for about 5 years so it will be good to go back and it will be great to have another get-a-way and some time together.

Looking forward to being back in the states in July... I will have the boys and will be touring Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.  Tom will be in Bentonville, AR for work and have to return to HK for work, but we will meet back up out east for some family time before heading back to our home in Hong Kong.
Hope to see many of you this summer.
With love,
The Alessi Family