7 months!

Okay I've been totally slacking on the blog posts lately, for two very legitimate reasons.  A) my macbook totally fried and I lost ALL of our photos, music, documents, etc.  (aka if you do not receive a Christmas card from us this year it is due to the fact that I do not have anyone's address); and B) there just aren't enough hours in the day.  I realize this is a pretty flimsy excuse considering the fact that I'm not working, but honestly my productivity output has severely decreased this past year.  I had this vision when I was pregnant that I would get so much accomplished during Tyler's naptime, train for a marathon, organize my recipe box, master Cantonese,  GOOD ONE!  This child sleeps maybe 45 minutes at a time, I consider myself lucky if I get to squeeze in a shower.  

Our little pork chop is seven months old now, and just started crawling!  Life just got a little more difficult.  Bailey was his total inspiration for this forward movement, he thinks she is just the greatest thing ever created, and chases her all around the apartment on all fours.  Bailey, apart from the occasional lick, wants absolutely nothing to do with him, due mostly to the fact that he yanks fistfuls of hair out whenever he catches her!  Notice how crumpled the 7 month sign is on the picture above, this would be due to the fact that nothing is safe from Tyler's mouth these days, he'll eat just about anything!  

Horvath Family Visit

My parents arrived in February for a week long visit.  Fortunately they had spent the week prior in Vietnam, so they were already fairly adjusted to the time change.  

Our pirate ship awaits...we took a tour of Victoria Harbour on this Aqua Luna Junk boat!

Cruising the harbour with cocktails...

View of Victoria Harbour from the Peak on a clear day (somewhat of a rarity spring time in HK!)

Grandma & Grandpa Horvath at the Peak

The youngest US weekly subscriber...

Standing in front of the harbour in Kowloon...

Kowloon side...looking out on Hong Kong Island.  Fun fact:  the tallest building in the distance is the IFC building, which was used in the Batman movie, The Dark Knight.  It's the 7th tallest building in the world.  

Hiking in Tai Tam Country Park, overlooking the reservoir.

Visiting the Big Buddha on Lantau Island.

A view of the Big Buddha in the distance from the Po Lin monastery...

Inside one of the temples in the Po Lin monastery...

Our last night with our visitors...hopefully they'll be back soon! 

Half a year old!

It's hard to believe that Tyler is 6 months old already!  So much has changed in our lives in such a short time span, and the days have just flown by.  Our little pork chop weighs in at nearly 20 pounds, is eating solids, sitting up on his own, and scooting all around the apartment (albeit backwards!)    

As you can see below, Tyler hasn't missed a meal!  

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

We kicked off the Chinese New Year celebration with a funky lion dance parade at our apartment complex.  2009 marks the year of the Ox, the second sign in the Chinese zodiac.

Dinner in Kowloon on the first night of the Chinese New Year celebration, overlooking Victoria Harbour and directly across from Hong Kong Island. Fantastic spot to view the fireworks!
Fireworks display over Victoria Harbour...


One of the barges caught fire at the end of the fireworks show...fortunately no one was hurt but it made for an exciting grand finale!

Hotel Bolhuis is open for business!

We have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of guests to share our experiences with, so we were so thrilled when Steve's parents and little bro, Ralfie, came for a visit at the end of January.    

Bar hopping in Lan Kwai Fong

View of Wanchai from a hiking trail near our apartment

View of Central from the Peak

Jardine's Lookout: view of Victoria Harbour

Shek O: southside of the island

Shek O

View of Repulse Bay from a hiking trail 

Repulse Bay

One of the reservoirs in Tai Tam Country Park (the park adjacent to our apartment complex)

If you've ever had a cocktail with my mother in-law you will appreciate this pic!  

Noonday Gun: Causeway Bay

Firing the Noonday Gun: lunchtime!

View of Central from the Peak

The Peak

View of Central from our patio

Junk tour in the Aberdeen Channel (the Jumbo Floating Restaurant is behind us)

Junk tour: Aberdeen Channel

Treating ourselves to an after dinner foot massage...Normie was asleep within seconds! 

View of Central from our patio

Stanley

A few weeks ago we decided to take a family stroll...starting at our apartment in the middle of the island, and ending our journey on the south side in the village of Stanley.  Stanley is by far one of my favorite destinations in Hong Kong.  There is a boardwalk with great pubs and restaurants, all overlooking the water, and a market in a maze of alleys selling everything from artwork, to clothing, souvenirs, jewelry, etc.  We had absolutely no idea how long it would take to arrive at our destination, but figured the trail was mostly downhill and totally within our capabilities.  The first half of the walk was through the Tai Tam Country Park that is adjacent to our apartment complex.  The path is paved and free of motor traffic, and is comprised of several bridges that span across the various reservoirs below.        

After hiking all the way to the end of the park, we arrived at an area overlooking Turtle Cove, which has a gorgeous, albeit small, beach.


After two hours, we finally arrived at our destination...Stanley boardwalk!  We treated ourselves to lunch al fresco and a big bowl of water for Bailey.  

View of Stanley Bay

the sweet tunes of a five monther...

Tyler is five months old!  He's over 17 pounds already and has started rolling around and sitting up by himself.  He loves to hear the sound of his own voice, and much to our neighbors dismay, squeals like a hyena throughout much of the day!     

Short video of our future choirboy...apparently he inherited his singing talents from his mother!