Walking in a Winter Wonderland

It has been a really mild winter for us. Don't get me wrong, we've still had some snow. The girls started making forts this year to hide in. It's all fun and games until the snowballs start flying while mom is trying to shovel the sidewalk below.

Sometimes it is hard to keep track of Carl while shoveling at the same time. Here you can seem him off in the distance, exploring the neighborhood as he wanders down the sidewalk. I am standing on our sidewalk which ends where the small path begins. 

 I was really sad I didn't get a picture of the snow shooting out the top of this huge street snow-blower. You also can't see here it, but to the left of the green dump truck, there's also a large 6 foot tall sidewalk snow-blower shooting snow into the truck. The Japanese really take their snow removal seriously.

We've heard for years that the downhill skiing here is great. I am not a good judge of that, as this was my first time. I am happy to report that all limbs made it back from our skiing trip unbroken.

 Warmer weather does mean awesome snowmen. Jane reported that Ryan had to make a ramp to get the second snowball into the proper position. On the right we're feeding the Siberian swans (at least they're rumored to be Siberian, and I suppose that we are close enough that it isn't out of the question).

That Carl likes to help his dad, especially if it means he can swipe one of the girl's aprons and climb on the chair. 

 I finished my crazy quilt! I started 15 months ago, and had many interruptions, but I made it.

 It's hard work at our house. Carl takes it upon himself to take everything apart that he can get his hands on. It is astounding that he is such a avid supporter of the second law of thermodynamics at such a young age -- his entire day consists of converting order to disorder, randomness and chaos. It's exhausting!

I love Malaysia!

Last week I went to the 9th Asian Pacific Conference on Clinical Nutrition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I was so excited to still be in Asia for one more year so I could attend. I love Malaysia for many reasons: it's tropical, they speak English, the people are friendly and funny, the food is yummy (if spicy at times), things are inexpensive and it hold a special place in my heart as one of the stops along the early spice trade routes. 

 To the left you can see the impressive Petronas towers as viewed from my exit from the metro system. Above you can see me working hard at my conference. I got this cute little Chinese girl to stand with me so I didn't feel so lonely as the only American at the conference (although I was the only one from the US). To maintain my credentials as a registered dietitian I have to have 75 hours of continuing education over 5 years. I could always read 75 journal articles or travel to climes unknown. I chose the later.

One day I took a walking and eating tour of Kuala Lumpur. I was so excited to try street food at places where I knew I wouldn't get sick. (They take Australian tourists every day to these places.  If people started getting sick I would have known really fast.) Our first stop was the home cooked Indian restaurant joint. (By the way, the population of Malaysia is made of Indians, Chinese and Malays). I learned how to the rice and curry dish you see below with my fingers. After the excitement wore off, I became acutely aware of the fiery curry seeping into my dried and cracked fingers. To the bottom left is a traditional Malaysian house spruced up for tourists.

The bowl below contains sweetened condenced milk, shaved ice, toasted coconut, interested bright green gelatin slugs and it was delicious!

On my last couple of days I met up with my mom and dad who are serving as LDS missionaries over the Asia humanitarian aid projects and are based in Hong Kong. We were lucky enough to meet up while they were doing some wheelchair training in Malaysia. It was eye opening for me in a couple ways. #1, Senior missionaries work hard. I was so happy to come home to my 4 kids under six so I could have regular nap times again. #2, Senior missionaries do a great job taking care of people. #3, Senior missionaries get to meet amazing people and do unforgettable service. 

 I talked my mom and the Public Affairs missionaries into visiting the KL bird park with me. I got to feed and ostrich! They are kind of fierce animals and I was happy to leave with all my fingers intact. I love hornbill birds and was delighted to see some roaming free.

 

 Could I go anywhere without getting a market picture or two? The vegetables on the left have a pink ton from the tarp above not the "rose colored glasses" setting on my camera. On the right is where I bought a kurta top.

 On my way back I stayed at a "capsule hotel" at the Haneda airport. This was my room that I crawled into for the night. I had been itching to try one of these for a long time, but thought I would never get the chance since this would not be a good place for kids. You have to be totally quite (Japanese quiet not American quiet- that's the difference between a buzzing fly and an F-16 fighter plane). Oh, and there is no door, just a screen curtain that comes down 80% of the way. Only in Japan would I feel safe enough to sleep.

Three cheers for Ryan who successfully kept the kids alive while I was gallivanting around! Here they are showing off their new Indian prince/princess clothing.