Santa's Little Helper

it's the most wonderful time of the year...

Due to the fact that it's still 70 degrees in Hong Kong and all the Santa's are Chinese men, it's been somewhat difficult to get in the holiday spirit.  It seemed crazy to get a Christmas tree since we're going back to the States for the holidays, and unfortunately I packed zero Christmas decorations or ornaments in our move.  In a desperate attempt to reach my inner Cindy Lou Who, I decided Tyler deserved a gingerbread house for his first Christmas at the very least.  I know what your thinking...and unfortunately at this time my artistic creations are not for sale!  

Seriously, we are so ridiculously excited to come home for Christmas!  We would love to see as many friends and family as we can over the course of our stay.  We'll be in Cincy December 19-24th, Muskegon December 24-31st, and back in Cincy the 31st thru January 2nd.  Happy Holidays!

A minute with TKB

When Tyler's not cruising the streets of Hong Kong, you can usually find him relaxing in this recliner. Note to soon-to-be parents...this bouncy seat is a must...we wouldn't get through dinner with both hands free without it. And you get the added benefit of incredibly romantic dinner music!

Lantau Island...home of the Big Buddha

Recently we took a trip to Lantau island, the largest island in Hong Kong.  It's almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island, and home to some of the region's best beaches, wilderness trails, and monasteries, in addition to the Hong Kong International airport.  The island is easily accesible by the MTR, Hong Kong's mass transit railway.  The highlight of our trip was a cable car ride that links the town of Tung Chung to a village called Ngong Ping.    

The cable car ride provided breathtaking views of the island...

In addition to a spectacular view of Hong Kong's airport.

The village of Ngong Ping is home to a huge Buddhist monastery called Po Lin, although today it's more of a tourist attraction than religious retreat.  On a hill above the monastery sits the Tian Tan Buddha, apparently the world's largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha.

The big Buddha is surrounded by several of his much smaller, Buddhist friends...

Guess who's 3 months old!!!

It's hard to believe it's been only 3 months since Tyler arrived, considering how much our lives have changed in such a short amount of time.  The little man is already a whopping 15 lbs...and according to the Chinese, looks like he's twice his age!     

Thanksgiving Blessings...

Wishing you all a fabulous Thanksgiving!  

Our little swimmer!

Check out the lean physique...

Map of Hong Kong

The area we live in is centrally located on the island, midway between Causeway Bay and Tai Tam on the map below... 

Hong Kong is comprised of over 260 islands, and Hong Kong Island is the second largest in the territory.  The island is approximately 3o square miles, and the urban area known as Central on the northside is one of the most densely populated locations in the world.  

Steve's office is located in Wanchai, and overlooks the harbour.  Across the water is the city of Kowloon.   

We have arrived...

We are officially three weeks in as Hong Kong's newest residents! I'm totally new to blogging, so first off let me apologize for any rookie mistakes. The purpose of this blog is to keep all of our friends and family updated on our adventures and travels, as well as give you a chance to watch Tyler grow. We've accomplished a multitude of tasks over these past few weeks, hence why it has taken me so long to get this up and running, yet somehow the things-to-do list never seems to shrink...

High on our list of priorities was finding a place to live (right up there with buying a new hairdryer, why again can't the world operate on one universal electrical outlet?). We're moving in to our new home next Wednesday, located in an apartment complex called Hong Kong Parkview. It's a huge complex, almost resort-like, with 18 towers, two outdoor pools, one indoor pool, tennis courts, gym, grocery store and spa. The perfect location for my two year sabbatical!

The apartment is located in the middle of the island, adjacent to a country park. There are fantastic hiking trails surrounding the grounds, going in every possible direction, with breathtaking views of the city, as well as the south side of the island looking out at the Pacific Ocean.