Travel is More

In 3 short days, we will be on our way to Bali for the winter holiday. I am beyond ready to relax and explore with my little family.  My dad and his wife will be joining us along with our best friends here in China, so we're lucky to spend the holiday season with people we love! 

A house we're renting with our friends

I'm also looking forward to doing some reading. I mostly enjoy reading non-fiction books. Here are a few that I hope to begin this break.

Found here

Found here

Found here

 "Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." 

-Miriam Beard, Realism in Romantic Japan 

I began to read How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm and one of the chapters started with this inspiring quote. Don't you love when you read something that make you stop in your tracks and re-read it again and again? I think it's so fitting for us since we'll be traveling this holiday. Lately, I've been in a lull. I've been feeling pretty home-sick and second guessing our decision to stay abroad for the holidays. Reading this quote reaffirmed why we live abroad- to be able to experience change, to continue to learn to be more open-minded, and grow together as a family.

I will miss our dear friends and family so much this holiday season. Please know that we are thinking about you and hope you're Christmas is nothing short of magical. We can't wait to see you all in a few months. 

Hope your holiday season is merry and bright! xo

Christmas Spirit

I saw this version of Little Drummer Boy on Facebook and I fell in love with it. Totally put me more in the Christmas spirit (if that's even possible).

I've also been playing Christmas music non-stop while my second graders work for the past oh... I don't know... three weeks?! (don't judge...) A Very She & Him Christmas has the best songs ever! 

A Very She & Him Christmas

They are probably getting WAY sick of my holiday playlist, but that's what they have to put up with when they have me as a teacher. 

Things I'm most looking forward to about being in the U.S. for Christmas:

1. The smell of a REAL Christmas tree (ahhh... pine, I can ALMOST smell it now)
2. Snow (no needed explanation)
3. Home-cooked Christmas food & deserts (We've gone to nice brunches the past two years for Christmas in Thailand & Cambodia which have been AMAZING, but it's just not the same as having special, family Christmas dishes)
4. Taking Sawyer to see Santa
5. Christmas lights (there's a drive through light display that we will definitely go to...largest in WI!)
6. Christmas drinks at Starbucks... mmmm

and most of all...
Spending time with my family and friends! :) 


There was a book sale at our school today, which is a pretty deal since buying books in China is not an easy task. I couldn't resist getting little man something, so I bought him the book, Henry's Holiday.

 Henry's Holiday

Oh my word, it is the cutest book. It is from the UK, so you might not be able to purchase it easily in the U.S. It's about this baby penguin named Henry, who is too cold. So he decides to jump on a cruise ship and finds himself on a tropical island. But, he gets too hot, feels miserable, and lonely on the island (he misses his mommy). He ends up swimming all the way back home and realizes that "the grass is always greener on the other side." My favorite part is in the end, 

"And when he cuddled Mummy Penguin, he felt warm all over, and inside as well." 

So clearly, this book had to find its way home with me. 

What are some of your favorite holiday books and holiday songs? 

I'll leave you with a few photos of our past two Christmas' abroad... 

Christmas 2011- Chiang Mai, Thailand

Tuk-Tuk

Kurt's parents & us

 Elephant Sanctuary 

Cambodia Christmas 2012 

(I was pregnant with Sawyer, he was just a little bean then!)

At Raffles for brunch on Christmas

Angkor Wat

Sawyer's Christmas Wishlist

I just put together some things that Santa will be bringing Sawyer for Christmas this year. Since we live in China, I tried to think of some practical things that he will be able to use from now-June (when we go back to the states). I also have to keep in mind that we don't have unlimited suitcase room (although a girl can dream... ) 

1. OXO Tot Baby Blocks Freezer Storage Container- I think this will be handy to have since we'll be making Sawyer's baby food to freeze and grab these when we need to feed him.  

2. Lamaze Toy, Mortimer The Moose - Sawyer has this octopus by Lamaze and is obsessed with him, so I figured his octopus needs a new friend! 

3. A Book of Sleep- Love adding books to his collection, especially when it has to do with sleep! 

4. Dino Sleep Footed PJ's- There's nothing sweeter then boys who love dinosaurs and these PJ's are so stinkin' cute! I got an awesome deal on them during GAP's Black Friday sale.

5. Leather Baby Moccasins-  I couldn't resist these adorable charocal grey moccasins for little man. They are 15% off through Dec. 2nd 

6. Boon Squirt Silicon Dispensing Spoon-  I've heard great things about this and I think it will come in handy when he starts eating "real" food. 

7. Plan Toy Pull Along Snail- I love "classic" wooden toys and I think this will be a great addition when Sawyer starts to walk. 

8. Make My Day Silicone Bib- This bib can easily be washed off in between feedings in the sink.... it's going to be a staple during Sawyer's meals. 

9. Personalized Baby's First Christmas Ornament-  I was so excited when the etsy seller said she could create a Hong Kong ornament for Sawyer. I can't wait to see how it turns out! 

Ready for Christmas Break

I did it, I started a blog...FINALLY! I hope this can be a place where I can share the pieces of our life here in China. 

The countdown to Christmas break has officially begun! There are 13 school days, or 17 more "regular" days until we fly back to the USA and introduce Sawyer to the States. We get about two and a half weeks off of school and we haven't been back to the USA since summer of 2012 since we had to stay here this past summer (me being so pregnant and all). I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about flying 15+ hours with a four month old, but I know that at the end of the day, I get to see my family and friends and they will FINALLY be able to meet Sawyer, which is SO worth it. Christmas is also my absolute favorite holiday (Halloween is a close second) and even though I love traveling to tropical places during the past two Christmas breaks (Thailand & Cambodia), it's just not the same as watching the beautiful snow fall, smelling REAL Christmas trees, and spending time with family. 

This weekend, I did some damage online shopping, so many great Black Friday deals! My plan is to have all/most of my shopping done so when I get back to the States, I can relax and stroll around the mall for fun, instead of frantically trying to buy everyone presents while recovering from jet-lag. Today, I thought it would be a good idea to take a family Christmas photo to send out for holiday cards...it was a bit ambitious. In the end we didn't get a "perfect" photo, but we did get some entertaining ones! :) 

Did you do any Black Friday shopping? Are you sending out Christmas cards/photos this year?