Saturday, January 17, 2009

Big Saturday Bike Ride

Last Saturday dawned bright and sunny inspiring Craig and his parents to go for a long, long bicycle ride. First, they rode straight to Neihu Sports Park where they stopped briefly at a lookout near the entrance to take a picture. There's a view of the Songshan Airport runway from there.


Craig didn't care too much about the view. He was too busy polishing off the junk food that his parents gave him to keep him quiet while they were riding.


As soon as he was taken off the bike Craig raced through the little tunnel to the sandpit where he was the only person. Although it was a Saturday it was a make-up work day for most people who would receive an extra day off at Chinese New Year.


Craig's Mum was soon in the sand to help Craig have some fun.


Whenever planes would fly over Craig would get a bit scared and need a hug from Mum.


After a while Craig moved over to the jungle gym where began a game that he has played before. It involves sliding down this nice yellow slide which he accomplished just a tiny bit too quickly for Craig's Mum to capture him in this picture.


Then Craig would run a lap around the whole jungle gym before racing up to Craig's Dad who would put him on top of the platform.


He ran a lot of laps.


At least a dozen.


And the result was pretty much the same every time, a happy smiling boy.


All that exercise meant Craig was happy about going for lunch, even if it was just KFC.


After lunch Craig and his parents found a place to sit in the sun outside of a 7-Eleven so Craig could have some yoghurt.


Then it was off to the nearby tiny park that they've been to before quite a few times now. Craig's Mum tried to play the "put the spade on the platform so Craig will climb the rope ladder" game.


But Craig avoided the climb by running over to a tiny staircase to grab the spade from the other direction.


He slipped a few times back while trying to walk up the last tube.


Craig then began playing a new game. It was very silly but, at times, he giggled like a maniac at his "stuff the plastic spade up Craig's Dad's shirt" game.


Kids are good at inventing their own games, aren't they?


Craig's Dad liked this game because he could play it lying down.


After that game concluded, Craig kept playing on the slide under the watchful eye of Craig's Mum.


During the looooooonng ride home, Craig's Mum needed to lie down because of a stomach upset. Craig provided sympathy


and companionship.


It was a wide open spot just below the lookout where the first picture of this post was taken.


Craig's Mum had to lie down again a few minutes later. This time Craig preferred to rock away on the rocking duck to sympathising with his Mum.


Craig had quite a good time there.


When they finally arrived home, Craig's Mum could lie down somewhere soft.


Craig turned his attention to the TV!

Half an Hour on a Rocking Horse

While Craig's Dad was at work on Friday afternoon some slightly warmer weather made it much nicer to go outside. Craig and his Mum ventured off to a nearby accompanied by Uncle Guapo and his two daughters. But Craig hadn't slept well the night before and was not in the mood to do anything energetic. He found a rocking horse and he sat.


He tried quite a few different sitting positions.





Craig's Mum says that when his cousin Soit-Jade came along to sit on the rocking horse he was happy to share.


Craig kept his hands on Soit-Jade even when she was getting off!


So she ended up staying a little longer.


Craig's younger cousin Yu-chi was also given a chance for a ride.


And they shared happily as well.


But, eventually there was only Craig! After outwaiting his cousins, he finally started to rock the rocking horse.

Brunch At NY Bagel Cafe and Dinner Downstairs

Thursday saw Craig's Dad get out of bed late. Craig was hungry and not in a mood to have to wait for breakfast but his parents insisted on traveling to New York Bagel Cafe for brunch as they had planned. After having something to eat Craig was in a much better mood and agreed to have his picture taken.


After a quick trip to take Craig's Mum's phone back to the shop to get repaired .....


it was time for lunch on the second floor. As usual the TV was showing silly Japanese cartoons.


Craig was encouraged to not watch the TV and continue drawing.


Craig's two cousins, Soit-Jade and Yu-chi were there with their mum, Craig's Aunty Jessie (aka Yu-fang.)


Craig decided to take off one of his socks to show his cousins how clever he is.


Craig's younger cousin, Yu-chi is a very cute little girl.


But, like many children her age she likes to run around instead of sitting still at dinner time and she loves to get up real close to the television. But that's pretty normal for a toddler.


Craig very bravely attempted, without success, to put his sock back on.


Then it was back upstairs for some games....


and story reading. And, soon it was time for bed.

Not Enough Pictures

Last Sunday morning Craig had brunch with his Dad at LA Cafe. Joining them was Craig's Dad former co-worker Greg, his daughters Chloe (pictured) and Naomi (squeezed out on the right.) Craig actually did lots of fun stuff in between mouthfuls of breakfast like hiding behind curtains and almost going for a walk with the girls but Craig's Dad was too busy feeding and chasing Craig to take any pictures. (That's his story and he's sticking to it.)


Later the same day Craig played his "I'm stuck" game at a cold windy park.


The cold weather continued for a few days leading to not many pictures being taken. Activities like listening to Uncle Guapo read a story have been popular, especially with Craig's Mum. Any short break from constant mothering is a good thing.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

New Sleeping Bag

Last Saturday was a very cold day. Craig had lunch on the second floor where he had a chance to play with his cousins.


As you would expect with three children four years and under, things were lively. The two girls had fun with Auntie Suprana's CDs, DVDs or whatever they could lay their hands on.


After lunch Craig had a chance to calm down a bit when he went on a shopping trip with his parents. After leaving the store Craig insisted on helping to carry some of the goods. He likes carrying the bags of new nappies .....


Taipei drivers are famous for their lack of respect for pedestrians. Craig's Mum kept a sharp eye on Craig while his irresponsible father took a pictures of Craig walking on the crosswalk.


Craig was much safer on the footpath.


The purpose of the shopping trip had been to buy a new sleeping sack for Craig. His feet stick out of his current one too far sometimes. Not a good thing to have happen on the coldest nights. Although a sleeping sack wasn't found, a lovely, and very warm-looking sleeping bag made its way out of the shop and back home. Craig seemed to like it when he was trying out.


This was the last Saturday night that Craig's Mum would be attending a computer class. Five weeks of 6:30~9:30pm classes for Craig's Mum meant that for five consecutive Saturdays, Craig had dinner at TGI Fridays!!


After dinner, Craig watched Finding Nemo for the one millionth time without receiving a prize.


One day earlier, Craig's Mum had taken this cute picture of Craig getting ready to go outside.


She used her phone's editing software to make this close-up. The look on the boy's face is priceless. "Why are you taking my picture again?"