Christmas Eve

For the past two years we have traveled over the Christmas break but this year we stayed here in Shekou. Since we were here, I decided to do the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. At least, as traditional as I could make it. Several years ago, probably more like 15 years ago, we were spending Christmas with my brother Dave and his wife Susan in San Clemente, CA. Susan said that it was tradition to have the big dinner on Christmas Eve. I adopted that tradition after realizing how easier it made life on Christmas Day. You can spend all day on Christmas Eve preparing the dinner so that on Christmas Day your time can be spent just with the family. I loved that idea, so now it is our tradition as well.

I was fortunate to find a ham here but had to pay an arm and a leg for it, so we had ham, scalloped potatoes, homemade rolls, green beans, and vegies. I know there are several items missing to this traditional dinner, but we are in China and some things just aren't available or just too expensive. One other alteration I had to make is the dessert. The three years we have been here, I've yet to find a pie pan or even pie served anywhere. So, I had to make an Apple cobbler instead. I need to make sure to bring pie pans with us where ever we end up next year.

We invited two of Rachel's friends, Blair and Nancy, for Christmas Eve. Blair is from Oregon but has been in China for about nine years. She lives here with her Dad but has become part of our family. Nancy is Asian but calls Venezuala her home. She and her brother basically are on their own here. She is 16 and her brother is 15. Their parents have lived in Venezuala for the past few years while Nancy and her brother have lived here. Their parents have moved back to China but live about an hour away and are gone on business quite often, so she has become another addition to our family.

We didn't do the formal sitting at the table and just served it buffet style while we watched the Jim Carrey version of "The Christmas Carol".
Of course Christmas Eve has to include the traditional pajama presents. The kids always get to open one present on Christmas Eve and it is always pajamas.


Vika hasn't quite caught on and was a little disappointed that it wasn't a toy. They all quickly got their PJ's on and were off to bed so Santa could come.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Whenever possible we try to make it a tradition to go to Disneyland at Christmas time. This was a lot easier when Gavin worked for Disney and we lived close to one but we have still tried to keep this tradition. On our way to the Hong Kong Disneyland, Rachel found her Christmas present. We tried to keep it a surprise LOL...this was in the Kowloon Elements mall in Hong Kong where we stopped for lunch on the way. It was quite the bling bling Mercedes but Rachel said she would take it.
Most of Disneyland looks the same as the one in Anaheim just a smaller version with only a handful of the same rides but it still is the happiest place on Earth. I think this water fountain would be more appropriate in California with the surfing Mickey.


I'm sure this is just supposed to be a contemplating Donald but it kind of looks like he is sitting on a toilet...at least that's what Gavin said.
Yes, this is Hong Kong not Anaheim. One give away is it's not crowded and we are the only blonde white American's around.

One of the rides that we really like and is very different from Anaheim is the Jungle Cruise. The one here has shooting water and volcanoes that shoot fire.

When you line up you have a choice of English, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Even though we chose English, we still couldn't quite understand the guide because of her strong accent which didn't matter, it was still fun.


The workers at Disneyland would give the kids these stickers all throughout the park and they thought it was funny to stick it on us without us knowing or in places that we can't reach to remove. Actually, Gavin is the one that started that but the kids caught on quickly to the game.
Vika was finally tall enough to go on Space Mountain. This was the picture from her very first ride. She was a little scared at first, but came off saying it was her favorite ride which meant that she wanted to go again. The lines were very short so we were able to go on the ride 4 or 5 more times. The kids have figured out where the camera actually takes pictures so they try to do funny things such as Rachel plugging her nose like Jonny stinks and Gavin grabbing onto Nicole.

or Jonny and Nicole pretending to be asleep.
Rachel's only chance to drive here in China is on the Autotopia. She still needs a lot of practice, especially on keeping her eyes on the road and not letting her passengers distract her.

Rachel, Nicole, and Vika love the Carousel ride. This is a tradition for Rachel. She always wants to ride the Carousel. I'm sure she has been on this ride at Disneyland over a dozen times.



The main reason we go to Disneyland at Christmas is to see the tree and all the lights. You can't help but get into the Christmas spirit here.

Christmas Cookies

We have become quite the little bakers this Christmas but what would Christmas be without sugar cookies? I was lucky enough to find some Christmas cookie cut outs at Ikea so we spent a day baking and decorating cookies.

Vika loved using the colorful sprinkles and of course the M & M's to decorate with.

Nicole and her friend Kate joined in to decorate a few but Vika did the majority of the cookies. Of course they didn't last long around here. We took some to some friends and then the cookie monster named Daddy finished most of them off. We just might need to spend another day making these so we can have them to leave out for Santa.

Our Gingerbread House

A Christmas tradition that I remember from my childhood was the Gingerbread house my mom would make just about every year. She would spend hours decorating these beautiful creations and then on New Years Day we would get to demolish and eat them. I've never made one from scratch on my own and decided that I wanted to create this tradition in our family. Being here in China, I wasn't sure if I would be able to find the right things needed but quickly started my search. Day one Vika and I spent mixing the gingerbread dough. We were fortunate enough to find all the right ingredients and with the help of the internet we found a good recipe with patterns and directions. Vika and I spent a few hours trying to find the different candies needed and although we couldn't find all the things we wanted, we found enough to make our houses.

I let the dough refrigerate overnight and spent the next morning rolling, cutting, and baking the different pieces needed. Then Nicole and I were off to IKEA to see if we could find some cake decorating tools for the house. We had lunch there enjoying the Swedish Meatballs (for only $1.50) and were happily surprised to find the things we needed along with some Christmas cookie cutouts for Sugar cookies.
That evening we started the construction of the houses. I was a bit nervous if it would all work. I used the icing recipe suggested and with a little holding and molding, we were able to construct the houses. I made two houses so that Vika and Nicole could decorate one all by themselves (or with a little help from me) but mostly on their own.
The creativity began and we ended up with two beautiful masterpieces. It was so fun and I love looking at them sitting on our tables. The aroma of gingerbread and beautiful houses makes it really feel like Christmas. I don't know why we didn't do this before and it will definitely become a tradition in our home.
The IKEA icing bags became very sticky as the the icing seeped through the sides. Another thing to add to our list of things to bring with are good cake decorating bags and tools.
Rachel was our photographer here and was able to capture the beauty of our creations.

My Little Dancer

Rachel has become this beautiful expressive choreographer and dancer. She has choreographed several dance pieces and performed them at school. She choreographed this number to the song "Parachutes" by Trevor Hall. It was so beautiful that she made me cry when I first saw her dance. I had recorded it but it was going to take 10 hours to upload so I only have these still photos.

The meaning of the dance represents the Atonement. The white sheet represents a parachute that will save us which is the Savior. The song talks about how there are plenty of parachutes to go around to save us just like the Savior is there for all of us. She did this dance barefoot outside and was covered with dirt which represents the mistakes we make throughout our lives but we can become clean through the Atonement. I just love seeing her dance and hope that she will continue doing this.

Santa in China

Yes, Santa does come to China. Vika was able to see Santa and receive an early Christmas present from him at our QSI kids Christmas party.
Vika was very happy to get a Cinderella polly pocket doll from Santa.
Rachel and Vika participated in a Reindeer run at the party and blew the competition away.
After the party we went to McDonald's and this little Asian woman dressed in a Santa dress was passing out miniature ice cream cones. I tried to get a picture of the little "Santa's Elf" but I couldn't get a good picture. They really are trying to get the spirit of Christmas a little more each year.

Gavin and I went to the Hong Kong Temple and on the way there on the bus we saw this "Home Depot", at least the Chinese version. They seemed to have everything you would need from drawer handles to mops but not quite the variety.
Hong Kong really knows how to celebrate Christmas. The mall near the temple has a Christmas tree that is 4 stories high. Pretty amazing and beautiful.

TIC

We woke this morning to another TIC (This is China) incident. They really are the most inconsiderate people ever. At sunrise which was approximately 6:30 in the morning we woke to a very loud hammering sound. They decided to start demolition of the tower and building right behind us with a large Paul Bunyon sized jack hammer connected on the end of a crane arm. They used it to break out the brick near the top of the tower. Believe me, we were not too happy to be woken up that early on a Sunday morning. We didn't get to sleep until 1:00 in the morning because of the loud bands playing out at Seaworld Plaza and then to be woken up that early with more loud noises? Not fun. This is when we are grateful for the laws in America. This would never be allowed near a residential area. Like I said, this was another TIC moment.

Now it's on to Christmas

With Thanksgiving over, it's on to my favorite holiday of the year...Christmas.

Tradition has been to put up the tree and all the decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving, so that's what we did. The Chinese are trying to get the whole Christmas thing and each year it seems to get better and better. I was able to find this "fake" tree our first year here and haven't seen one this nice since. I got an awesome deal for $40.00. I'm sure this would be way more back home. My two little elves, Nicole and Vika, did most of the work. We put on Christmas music and they got busy. The outcome was awesome. They did a great job. The only thing missing is snow...
Each year I always get at least one new decoration. This year I walked into Walmart, which I really try to avoid, and they had a whole section of Christmas decorations. I found these cute little Santa pillows and Santa.
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!!! The music, decorations and spirit make it the best holiday even here in China.