Can it possibly be?

No - I can't believe it is the end of the year already. I couldn't possibly allow December to only have one post - so here is the final post of the year. We have visitors from the States at the moment and are traveling to Beijing with them on the 2nd January for a couple of days. The weather in Beijing is looking, well, cold. As in Illinois depths of winter cold. As in a high of zero (32F) and lows of, well it doesn't bear thinking about. So I've gone out and bought some robust trousers for Alex and Sebastien to wear. We're planning on seeing the Forbidden City and the Great Wall - but we shall see.

Finishing the year up re-acquainting myself with Xiamen, especially the relatively cooler and wetter winter. Drying clothes is proving taxing though we are getting there. Still catching up on the laundry from our trip to Australia! Have a few more things to buy before heading to Beijing including proper weatherproof shoes for Sebastien - the Robeez/Bobux just don't dry fast enough in this weather. Perhaps I just need to have seven pairs of shoes for him...wait, that's Alex!

Alex is trying to readjust to school and is not enjoying it at the moment. She really misses us during the day and has consistently told us each evening that she cried for Mama today. Only two more weeks and then she has her mid-year break. One month without school - boy is Mama in trouble!! Not sure what we'll be doing for the spring festival coming up at the end of January - it must be the year of the Ox as I've suddenly been surrounded by oxen decorations everywhere I go. So from the Year of the Rat we go into the Year of the Ox - and as a water ox, this should be a good year for me, no?!

Anyway, I will be in contact after we return from Beijing - still waiting on some guest posts (poke) - and will continue to bring our story up to date on our arrival in China.

A happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all.