We had a very merry Christmas this year with just our little family of four, all the way out here in Dalian, China. The overview is - got up, opened presents, had breakfast, went to Mass, came home, made dinner, watched some Christmas movies, and went to bed. All just the four of us (and our driver, and the Chinese people at their party at Church before the Korean Mass and the Korean people). Just like home! Well... almost...!
The girls did great with the gifts this year. I feel like Lucia really *got* it this year. She understood about Santa coming while she was sleeping, and really loved opening and playing with all her gifts. She was stoked to show Ama and Apa everything she got on Skype! Magdalena, typical 14-month-old, enjoyed the atmosphere more than the actual gifts, but she did like her stroller, the balls, the train, and the kitchen too! Next year will be even more fun!
We went to Mass at 11:30 downtown. I thought the English service was on as usual for 5 pm, but Alex thought it was different. So I emailed the (Korean) priest. He would know, right? He said the only mass in English was at 11:30 in the Dalian Church (not our little side parish hall room). Those were his EXACT WORDS.
Given that our Easter Vigil Mass experience was so ... weird... we decided to go early to get a seat (Easter was packed!). We arrived at 11 and NO ONE was in the Church. The Chinese service had just ended, and the parishioners were having a party in the Parish Hall. So we joined for a bit - we were a big novelty (especially Magdalena!). We went to the Church in time for the 11:30 service, only to find that it was in KOREAN. 100% Korean. We understood next to nothing (does Amen and Yesu count?). But on the upside, we got a good place to sit, the girls behaved well in the pews, the choir was lovely (we did understand some of the Latin they sang), and we of course received Communion and were able to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Church, as we traditionally do. And we picked up some Sezchuan sandwiches (pulled pork in bread rolls) and soup at a take-out place, after. As well as dropped off the candy canes and diapers for the orphans. All in all, a good day!
Here are the photos capturing our day:
The living room after Santa's visit:
Here come Dada and Magdalena!
Woo-Hoo! Basketball! (Lucia insists on wearing dresses daily - won't come downstairs unless she is out of pajamas in a dress!)
Sweet, an airplane! (fēijī)! (Magdalena says "aih-pay"). It actually drives all around with some crazy take-off noises and flashing lights!
Lucia finally got her kitchen. And yes, she does go #2 on the potty, too. That was her gift to Mama & Dada...! :-)
And don't underestimate that train set! Santa actually outsourced the kitchen and the train from IKEA.
Lucia LOVED her second stroller - a carriage-style this time. Magdalena got a stroller too, a purple umbrella style, so she has something to play with when Lucia isn't in the mood for sharing.
Both girls got some books - our kids just LOVE books:
Wow, these kids made out! I'll have to take a video at some point of the duck that actually lays eggs (except that one wheel already broke, so it is kind of lopsided now!). Here you can see Lucia wearing the pearl necklace that Alex got Mama. :-)
Our ayi knitted each of the girls a beautiful scarf! It compliments their matching knit hats well!
Here we are at Church - at the party before the Korean Mass.
I wanted to put in a few videos of the girls playing with their toys, and the Chinese Church party-goers having fun with Magdalena's dancing, but we're having some problems with our internet right now (so SLOW, Alex can't stand it!). So I'll have to post those later.
Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy New Year!!
Makes me think of one of the masses we went to in Germany while Nate was there. We went to the American mass so he could hear some English for a change and turned out to be all in Spanish which they do only a couple times a year. Love all the pics. Lily was giggling at pretty much all of them.
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