Ellie: (finds the piece of chocolate she had put in her bike basket to save for later) 

Kristie: Do you want to eat your chocolate now?

Ellie: Yes.

Kristie: Okay. 

Ellie: Because we already ate lunch. And because after lunch we ate strawberries. And because after strawberries I want to eat chocolate.

A nice big bunch of cilantro and some green onions. 

I suppose, to be completely honest, I should mention that I get this for free every time I go to the market. Sometimes I get a hunk of ginger too. Why? Because that's the way things work here in Taiwan. Stores are small, shopping is personal, and when you are a regular customer they give you free stuff. I love it! A lot.

What do I do with all this cilantro and onions? I buy a couple of tomatoes and a lime to make salsa, of course! What else is there to do?? (Particularly since there is a significant lack of Mexican fare here.)

Yummy!

On a completely different note, today is my birthday! Hooray, 29! My incredibly wonderful husband got me a pass to our gym and has offered to make it easy for me to get over there to exercise. That means agreeing to watch the kids or doing after dinner clean up so I am free to get out. See? I told you he was incredibly wonderful.

I started last week, taking yoga classes and swimming. They also have spa facilities, like hot tubs and saunas. This is good, because after a couple of yoga classes I have more sore muscles than I even knew I had muscles. (It's been awhile since I've worked out consistently.) 

Jason also took me out on a date last night! Our first in awhile, but I think we'll make it a habit. Ellie did fine with a baby-sitter, although she ended up staying awake until 11pm. Abram? Not so good. He was in bed "for the night" before we left. But he woke up (as he tends to do) and I think he cried for quite a while until we came home. I guess he'll just have to get over it. 

Speaking of Abram, he'll be 11 MONTHS OLD tomorrow (and a full year in just 4 weeks). I'll try to get ready an update on him soon. Someone else has a birthday coming up in just over a week, she'll be 3 years old. My kids are growing. :) And to wrap up this random paragraph, tomorrow we're leaving for 4 days in the south of the island (read: tropical beaches, an aquarium and yummy food). Be on the lookout for a post about our travels too. Then again, you might not want to hold your breath...I've been spending a bit of time at the gym lately.

It seems...

...Ellie is....

...up to her old tricks!

Kristie: (kissing He-jing on the cheek) I love you!

He-jing: I love Jesus!

Sometimes we call him the Little Wrecking Ball.

And what does the LORD require of you

But to do justice,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 

Ellie: (blowing her nose)

Jason: Ellie, it's time to pray.

Ellie: But Daddy, I need to blow my nose!

Jason: Oh, okay. That's fine. You can finish first.

Ellie: Yeah, Daddy. I'm not a polar bear and having four hands, Daddy.

....you might:

Ride your "new, brand, pink bike" to the park.

Park your bike. Sit on the slide steps to eat a snack.

    

Finish your cracker. Wipe your mouth. Talk to your Mommy, ask some questions. See an airplane. Talk to your Mommy some more.

Wear your shirt backwards because you put it on yourself and that's the way you wanted it. Use one slide for walking up and the other slide for sliding down. Get annoyed when other children do not follow your Rules for the Slides.

Talk to your Mommy while you get ready to slide. Ask some more questions. Slide down on your knees because you are that cool.

That mischievous grin.

That devilish twinkle in his eyes.

You know you're in love.