Our boys’ new adventures

A rare contribution from Ian

Recently the whole of China has been celebrating the start of the Year of the Dragon.  During this time of year, it is ordinarily not advisable to travel as the plane, train, bus, etc networks are over loaded with people returning to their hometowns for the festivities associated with the lunar new year celebrations.  As some estimated 250 million people are traveling over this period, the Lacy family traditionally takes some time out from traveling and enjoys the relative quiet of Shanghai.  However this year we thought that we should break up the 7 day holiday and take a short trip to visit Nanjing.  Primarily because we’ve always wanted to visit this former capital of China but also because we’ve heard that it is so accessible from Shanghai by China’s new high speed rail network.

Nanjing is now the capital of Jiangsu province and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture.  With an urban population of over five million, it has been the capital of China on several occasions and, in fact, its name means “Southern Capital”.  The city will host the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics and there are many posters around in preparation.

Getting to (and from) Nanjing was super easy and comfortable.  This is not a statement usually made with a 4yo and 2yo in tow (especially during Chinese New Year).  However I want to highlight the super High Speed Rail (HSR) network that China is building.  For your reference, HSR refers to any commercial train service with an average speed of 200kph or higher (we travelled on a new maglev line at ~350kph for most of the journey).  China has the world’s longest HSR network with about 13,000km of routes currently in service and about another 17,000km of lines under construction!  Nanjing is about 300kms away from Shanghai (by rail) and we got there in a little over an hour.

Getting into the Shanghai Train Station

Benjamin running thru the station

everyone wants dad although we've 4 seats!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day one saw us: travel from Shanghai to Nanjing; visit the mausoleum of Sun Yat Sen (father of modern China); and getting in to our very comfortable hotel (Intercontinental Nanjing).  For the first time we arranged for two adjoining rooms that were interconnected by a special door.  We did this to hopefully have some sleep.  However we still ended up having Michael in our bed (sleeping with Mum) and me having to settle Benjamin both nights.

breakfast at hotel

dad is feeding Benjamin watching TV!!!!

rare family photo...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day two saw us: go boating on the Lake Xuanwu (in a pathetically slow touristy electric motor boat); and have lunch with a work colleague (and her family) in the Confucius Temple area.  In the past, Nanjing’s nightlife was centered around the Confucius Temple area along the Qinhuai River, where night markets, restaurants and pubs thrived.

having lunch at a NJ restaurant

Michael in front of the temple

Benjamin woke up happy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day three saw us: visit the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall.  The Memorial Hall commemorates the Nanjing massacre which happened during WWII at the hands of the Japanese.  An estimated 300,000 civilians were brutally slaughtered and many other atrocities occurred.  The hall is wonderfully designed from an architecture perspective and is filled with enlightening displays – a must visit if you are near Nanjing.

the first shocking statue

then it gets more intense...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As previously mentioned, we had another relaxing train ride to conclude our trip.  Once home it was back into the routines, followed by a return to work.  Xin nian kuai le!

we took the subway to the train station!

time to go back to Shanghai

 

good bye Nanjing!!!

 

 

 

Most of you would remember Michael’s first bike (thanks to auntie Karen’s gift to Michael at 2) which is a balance bike.  He could fly and ride so fast in it that Poppa and Nanna were always fearful what could happen… After almost 2 years, Michael grew out of the balance bike and moved on to a borrowed bicycle with training wheels (hoping that a 4th birthday day will again be another gift!).  He was a little clumsy in a bigger 16″ wheel bike but was managing well.  After getting his new 4th b-day gift from Auntie Karen (Thanks again), we took literally two weekends for Ian to teach Michael to fly away… Enjoy the photo and video!  Needless to say, we were sooooo very proud!!!!!

Click below:

Michael’s bike ride

benjamin wants to do everything michael does!!!

We were lucky to have Uncle Frank and KK to come and help us out while Nila ventures for her visa.  Always grateful for their support.  Christmas is around the corner and we can’t wait for the summer and beach down under soon!!!!
Much love from Shanghai,

Ian, Stacey, Michael (turned 4) and Benjamin (who is going into school in January!!!)

I grew up going to Thailand for our annual vacations; hanging out around the swimming pools and fighting with my brothers.  That was my childhood.  It was hard to imagine for Benjamin and Michael to do it any other way, esp. Ian LOVES going to the beach (he had the luxury of growing up around Australian beaches!!!).  So this is our 3rd year bringing our two bubbas to our beloved Thailand.  Michael gets his hello (sawat-dee kap!) and  thank you (Khop khun khrap) down pat and Benjamin has suddenly turned into a pool jumping diver at every opportunity.  This is our second time in a row, we are staying at our lovely apartment in Phuket (thanks to Hannah R.!) and even found a direct flight from Shanghai to Phuket (despite the 1-hour delay – which is somewhat expected of the Shanghai Airport!)

The boys are having the best of times.  The beach is still so huge to them and so Ian made Benjamin little pools to dip in and Michael is learning to jump the waves.  And they are loving the swimming pools and Benjamin just couldn’t wait to get his swimming “lessons” from dada.  Michael is swimming like a fish – getting very confident (sometimes too much) around the water, diving board and slides (thanks to the Kellys!)  Benjamin is babbling a lot more clearly these days:

- Ben ben is his name

- Saw Saw is when he is saying sorry (he does it very quick whenever he knew he got into trouble!)

- Ai is his hi and Bye seems too easy to say now

- a blow kiss melts all of us away…

When it was raining outside (like now), Michael enjoyed learning from his activities book of English and Maths (of course very limited TV was allowed!) with either Ian or me.   We all had a somewhat very relaxing time (and managed a romantic dinner when the boys are down asleep!).

Until next time, enjoy our photos and much love from Phuket, 

Our Boys’ Album – October 2011

Ian, Stacey, Michael (almost at 4) and Benjamin (at 19 months soon).

While we are in China, we vowed to visit as many different Chinese cities / towns / areas as possible, as the country is vast and with much history.  This time, we have the occasion of Ian reaching a big birthday milestone (wink wink!) and Lijiang was the just the perfect destination.

We travelled to Lijiang with Ian’s parents (their first time to the west of China too!) and stayed at the Banyan Tree there.  It was definitely a treat and we loved every day of our holiday there.  However what we discovered was how we have taken Shanghai for granted!  The variety of choices in LJ was quite limited and while we take for granted that Shanghai has all these imported grocery and Chinese selection, we now become very grateful for these little small things.  LJ is a beautiful city with blue sky and nice people and we couldn’t have been luckier to visit such a gem in China.  Can’t wait to explore more of China again next year (hoping it to be Xian next!)

in the meantime, enjoy our boys and photos.

Our boys’ Album – July 2011

Ian and I are soooo excited!  Benjamin finally took his first step today without any assistance, Tuesday May 3, 2011 (just about 13.5 months young!).  Benjamin was a somewhat slower developer, he is only starting to have his upper fourth teeth to grow in the last 1.5 month.  He didn’t turn to his back by himself until he was 10 months old (normally babies turn at 5-6 months).  But he quickly learned to start to crawl (when he met his nanna in Oz during last Christmas) and walking with help seemed to come quite naturally when he “competes” with Michael everyday up and down our hallway.

We always knew that he was ready to take off anytime soon and he did it today!!!!!  Both Ian and I are a bit disappointed that we didn’t see it for the first time, but we are just so excited and thrilled that our Benjamin has taken his first step and became a real toddler.

From Our Boys’ album – Video Clips

Much Congratulations, our Benjamini… we’re so proud of you.

Your Mom, Dad and bigger brother.

It has been a few busy days.  Michael and Benjamin finally went to Disneyland and they LOVED it.  Michael enjoyed every minute of Disney (although he knows little about the famous characters like Dumbo or Lion King!) and Benjamin was oohing and ahing during the afternoon parade!  We left there still haven’t done all the rides or show, but Michael said that we will be back soon (and Mom suspects that it will be a few years before we visit again!). But iIt was simplya  magical day.

Then there was a lot of catching up with friends and family.  Michael was especially stimulated from all the new sights, sounds, and public transport that his imaginary boarding house is  filling up quickly with green car, new kids and new tables / food.  It is amazing to watch a 3-year old boy absorb all these new things and translate / transform them into his imaginary world!

Benjamin has been quite the darling, although permanently attached to his mom.  He’d cry everytime I am out of sight.  It is fascinating to watch esp for me as I am a working mom (which means he leaves me every day for a good number of hours) but secretly thrilled that my boys are so attached to me!

We got Ian here for the weekend which was fantastic… we tried to do the least but managed to get away for a date-night as well.  It was nice to be back to Hong Kong, a place where we met, got married and had Michael.

Enjoy our photos and until the next blog,

Our trip to HK – April 2011

Ian, Stacey, Michael & Benjamin.

As we finally enter warmer weather, the boys and us got to leave the house in fewer layers of clothes and get our feet on the grass!  We have had a fun few weeks as Benjamin turned 1 year old and Uncle Frank came to visit and babysat the boys while he figures out what to do after graduations!

Benjamin had a great birthday and we made him a nice butter cake.  He was a little miffed about Michael “helping” him out with blowing the candle and all his new toys, but at least Michael knows that these new toys are Benjamin’s and he asks to borrow them for a play!  Benjamin is “almost” walking especially with the practice of chasing his brother every day with the walker or scooter.  It’s any wonder that they avoid the corners so skillfully!  It gives me so much fright just to look!

China doesn’t seem to agree with any of the photo uploader and hence we’re stuck with the below options.  Enjoy our photos!

 

With love from Shanghai,
Ian, Stacey, Michael (who can write and spell his name) & Benjamin (can now turn the walker direction as he pleases!)

Our little baby Benjamin who was only so tiny (and took only two push to come out) is turning ONE year old on Friday 3/18/2011.  How did the time go?????????  As usual, we won’t throw a huge party for Benjamin but will make a small cake for him (according to Michael, the cake is white and it will have a blue color “B” and “1″ on it!)

While we have been slack w/ photos and videos, Benjamin is already almost turning into a toddler:

- He is almost walking (he races against his brother Michael with the walker and Michael’s scooter!)

- He crawls so fast that Nanna calls him speedy gozales !

- He is refusing to eat mashed up food (and want real pasta, fish, meat, and fruit!)

- He is almost out of his bottle (Mom has been adamant in “training” him in using a zippy cup!)

- He now baths with Michael where Michael draws a line in the bath to make sure that his little brother doesn’t “bother” him!

- He is babbling about curtains, ge ge (Michael), dada (Ian), and when he cries, he goes “mama mamma”….  so cute.

- He has got more nicknames than all three of us combined (didi – mean little brother in mandarin, mimi – a name suggested by michael, Benjamini – don’t ask us why?!)…

We are going to miss our little baby but we warmly welcome him to toddlerhood.  Happy Birthday, our beloved Benjamin.

Much love from Shanghai,

Ian, Stacey, Michael (at 3+ but still wants to be 5) and Benjamin (who turns 1 tomorrow).

It has been so busy for us since Christmas Holidays, followed by new year and then chinese new year.  Of course the boys are continuing to make tremendous progress and are our joy and happiness every day (see photos below taken just before Christmas by our friend Belinda).

Benjamin finally took has first crawl in Australia (in front of Nana – again!).  Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the best (re. rain, later flood and cyclone in Queensland) but it was nice to see Michael and Benjamin hang out with the Aussie Cousins.  All of the cousins have grown a lot in 12 months and Michael just adored being around every one of them.  Charlie is his favourite (seeing that she is the only girl cousin on the Lacy family side and she is FIVE years old).  All the boys show Michael how to be more Australian (catching spiders, climbing on cubby house and jumping the waves).  Every day (if it didn’t rain), we were out swimming and playing.  Michael also took his first boat ride in his Poppa’s boat and thought it was so “cool”.  Of course Christmas day was just too great with all the great presents from all the uncles, aunties and Nanna & Poppa.  Both Michael and Benjamin were well spoiled.

Once settled back in Shanghai, we had to face the once-again too-cold winter.  This is the coldest winter in our 2+ years in Shanghai and there were days that poor Benjamin would not be able to step out of the house for a stroll (too windy / cold).  Michael was especially delighted to be back to school (he didn’t forget his mandarin this time, as we tried to speak to him as much as possible in Oz).  With the many new books he got from Santa, Michael has also improved on his reading / listening / memorizing capability.  He is now able to read stories to Benjamin by memory holding up a book and it’s so sweet to watch.  Benjamin continues to want to meddle into Michael’s latest lego tower, train track and drawing.  And we’d suppose that’s what sibling relationship is all about.

During Chinese New Year, we stayed in Shanghai for a break from all the travels (and SH is actually half decent from a “crowd” perspective as half the population has left for travels / home-town visits).  We finally became the tourists and did lots of “touristy” activities; riding on the tourist tunnel from Pudong to the Bund, riding on the ferry and going to the aquarium (there was only ONE diverman, so you can imagine Michael’s disappointment!).  The weather was absolutely glorious 10-15 degrees Celsius and sunny every day.  Our best 7-days in Shanghai to-date.

Benjamin is turning one soon (March 18 – how did the time go!?) and Michael is well established in his “older brother” status (i.e. bossing Benjamin around).  We are looking forward to warmer weather and until next time, much love from Shanghai,

Ian, Stacey, Michael (who loves to read “ali baba &the thieves) and Benjamin (who now can wobbly “walk” with his walker)

Our Boys’ Album – Special Edition – December 2010

Dear friends and family, we (i.e. Stacey) couldn’t help but make our boys take   photo with Santa in Shanghai this year.  Michael had a ball (hence the cheeky look!) and Benjamin was apprehensive about this white-beard man.  We hope to save the environment by sending you our e-wishes again this year.

May this card finds you and your family happy, healthy and joyous in this Christmas!

With much love,

Ian, Stacey, Michael (at 3 and about to jump on a plane to meet diverman in oz) and Benjamin (who would be most pleased to get out of the cold!)