We have heard that Taiwan has the highest number of motorbikes per capita. This quick clip gives you an idea of what the streets look like here in Taiwan.
We love our motorbike and drive it everywhere locally -- very convenient way to get around! (And easy to find parking for!)
2008/07/23
2008/07/14
Riding the MRT
"MRT" stands for 'mass rapid transportation' and is the name Taiwan uses for it's subway system. Here we are traveling into the city with some friends.Can anyone name the two people directly in front and the four off to the right side???
2008/06/30
Projectile from top bunk (a.k.a. Revenge of the Rotavirus!)
It's just past midnight, the whole house is sleeping... and then the sound of whimpering... which soon turned into crying... the kind you know you're going to have to will yourself out of bed for (sigh...roll over...sigh again... stretch...). Michael (as usual) was the one who got up to investigate -- and what a sight met his eyes!
Kenna, who hadn't felt very well when going to bed, had just spewed her spaghetti.
(Disclaimer: don't read further if you don't want the details)
Now, this was not any normal upchucking episode! Kenna knew it would not be good to throw up in her bed, so she decided to lean over the side instead. Only problem? She sleeps on the top bunk. Yeah... so there was twice-stirred tomato sauce dripping from the wood railings, spots on the bed, spew sprayed all over the walls, closet doors, dressers (it bounced off of everything and splattered everything), chunks of chuck all over the toys (of course we hadn't picked up the room on that particular night and nearly every toy in the house was on the floor in that room!), vile-smelling vomit oozing into every crack of the alphabet-puzzle foamies that covered the whole floor... yes, that'll do, you say!
And thus began the "Revenge of the Rotavirus" that attacked the youngest 3 kids for almost the whole next month.
Not only did the rotavirus bring on puking every 10 minutes or less for several hours in a row, the severe diarrhea that was also part of the fun made us go through several packages of diapers. Even Kenna had to wear diapers for a couple days because it was so impossible to control!
Anaya and Nathan just laid like rag dolls on the couch -- so out of it. They had to be on a BRAT (bananas, rice, apples, toast -- and that was it!) diet for 2 weeks -- poor kids -- it was torture for them to watch us eat other foods, so we all went on the brat diet for a bit. We had to force-squirt rehydration drinks down their mouth. Many kids in our area had to be hospitalized, but we managed to just avoid that.
After rotavirus, we went through hand-foot-mouth with the kids (Elise's class closed down for 10 days!), then finished off the sick season with bronchitus.
Bring on summer vacation! (Please?)
Kenna, who hadn't felt very well when going to bed, had just spewed her spaghetti.
(Disclaimer: don't read further if you don't want the details)
Now, this was not any normal upchucking episode! Kenna knew it would not be good to throw up in her bed, so she decided to lean over the side instead. Only problem? She sleeps on the top bunk. Yeah... so there was twice-stirred tomato sauce dripping from the wood railings, spots on the bed, spew sprayed all over the walls, closet doors, dressers (it bounced off of everything and splattered everything), chunks of chuck all over the toys (of course we hadn't picked up the room on that particular night and nearly every toy in the house was on the floor in that room!), vile-smelling vomit oozing into every crack of the alphabet-puzzle foamies that covered the whole floor... yes, that'll do, you say!
And thus began the "Revenge of the Rotavirus" that attacked the youngest 3 kids for almost the whole next month.
Not only did the rotavirus bring on puking every 10 minutes or less for several hours in a row, the severe diarrhea that was also part of the fun made us go through several packages of diapers. Even Kenna had to wear diapers for a couple days because it was so impossible to control!
Anaya and Nathan just laid like rag dolls on the couch -- so out of it. They had to be on a BRAT (bananas, rice, apples, toast -- and that was it!) diet for 2 weeks -- poor kids -- it was torture for them to watch us eat other foods, so we all went on the brat diet for a bit. We had to force-squirt rehydration drinks down their mouth. Many kids in our area had to be hospitalized, but we managed to just avoid that.
After rotavirus, we went through hand-foot-mouth with the kids (Elise's class closed down for 10 days!), then finished off the sick season with bronchitus.
Bring on summer vacation! (Please?)
2008/06/20
Diving from the top bunk
Yes, at just 16 months of age, Nathan mastered the art of climbing to the top bunk. Yay.
We tried to keep close tabs on him, but of course one evening he managed to sneak up there and we didn't know it till we heard the big THUD! Right onto the back of his head/neck (so says Kenna, who was 'playing' with him and apparently watching... yes, Kenna, thanks for watching...). He was in quite a bit of pain, not acting normal, eyes were a bit roll-aroundy, and he went right to sleep 2 minutes later and did NOT want to be woken up -- so we decided we'd better load everyone up in the van (kids all in pj's)and make a trip to the emergency room.
You feel like great parents when you turn up at the ER and try to explain just how it was that your one-year-old fell off the top of a bunk bed.
Anyhow, everything was ok, Nathan started to perk up and return to his normal self, even cracking a few smiles, they sent us back home -- and didn't charge us anything! Nice!! Love healthcare in Taiwan! :-)
We tried to keep close tabs on him, but of course one evening he managed to sneak up there and we didn't know it till we heard the big THUD! Right onto the back of his head/neck (so says Kenna, who was 'playing' with him and apparently watching... yes, Kenna, thanks for watching...). He was in quite a bit of pain, not acting normal, eyes were a bit roll-aroundy, and he went right to sleep 2 minutes later and did NOT want to be woken up -- so we decided we'd better load everyone up in the van (kids all in pj's)and make a trip to the emergency room.
You feel like great parents when you turn up at the ER and try to explain just how it was that your one-year-old fell off the top of a bunk bed.
Anyhow, everything was ok, Nathan started to perk up and return to his normal self, even cracking a few smiles, they sent us back home -- and didn't charge us anything! Nice!! Love healthcare in Taiwan! :-)
2008/05/17
Friends
We spent a day at the park with some good friends -- our kids are all quite close in age as you can see, and our kids absolutely love it whenever they get to play with Ian, Caleb, and Ella! In fact, if they had their way, we'd all rent a big flat and live together so they could play 24-7! :-) Here they are all getting ready to hop on a kiddie train for a little ride...We love you Contivals!
2007/12/22
Don't 'pank my bum!
"Don't 'pank my bum!" ... "Don't 'pank my bum!" -- were the 2-yr-old cries heard faintly coming from the back bedroom. So, of course I had to go see what was going on. Guilt was written all over Anaya's face.
Glancing down at the top of Elise's desk, I saw the reason for it: a pair of scissors and a nice chunk of blonde hair. Yep, one pigtail definitely had less hair than the other! Thankfully, she only took chunks out of it, rather than cut it straight off. Looks like she has a knack for hairdressing. Hey, maybe she could thin my hair!
2007/12/07
Unfortunately, not coffee grounds
I got out the blender the other day, set it on the counter, moved it over a bit, and noticed a few dark specks on the countertop where the blender had just been. So, standing on a chair, I decided to inspect the shelf where I had taken the blender down from, and discovered what you see in the picture. Nice! 
I wish I could say somehow we spilled coffee grounds under the blender on the top shelf, but no, this is something else... and no, not nice! Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting!
Yes, the bottom part of the blender had become home to a cockroach, and this was the evidence of his apparently several-month stay. Yum.
Mmmm...Mmmm... think I might head off to go make a smoothie!
(On second thought, maybe I'll go fill up the bleach bottle instead! Ugghhh!)
I wish I could say somehow we spilled coffee grounds under the blender on the top shelf, but no, this is something else... and no, not nice! Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting!
Yes, the bottom part of the blender had become home to a cockroach, and this was the evidence of his apparently several-month stay. Yum.
Mmmm...Mmmm... think I might head off to go make a smoothie!
(On second thought, maybe I'll go fill up the bleach bottle instead! Ugghhh!)
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