Have you ever seen...? (twenty three)

...wedding dresses featuring Snoopy?

A local shopping centre currently has an  exhibition displaying wedding gowns designed by Ms Audrey Schilt. Descriptions accompanied each dress.

"Every young lady will surely swoon when they discover the Woodstock plush bouquet and the lovely Snoopy on the shoulder."

"The specially designed slim cut dress celebrates and flatters a woman's curves, while the embroidered hand-crafted Snoopy pattern and gold-encrusted tulle will take your breath away."

"The intricately imprinted Snoopy image on the duchess satin fabric will draw the eye of every guest to this gorgeous dress."

First day in kindergarten

Tirzah was very excited to be going to her first day of big school, almost as much as her Daddy was to be taking her.

She loved putting on her school uniform and backpack.

We rode the escalator to the MTR platform.

She listened carefully for the Fo Tan stop to be announced.

Tirzah is pointing to the station where her kindergarten is.

ICS kindergarten is on the seventh floor.

Waiting outside the classroom...

Meeting some classmates...

Hanging up her bag...

And after the first day the verdict is in... "We all love school!"

Model photos

I was so happy to finally see some photos from the modelling shoot that our kids did in April for an online magazine called LoveKids. Aren't the photos (and children) gorgeous? Which is your favourite photo?

You can see the digital magazine pictures by clicking here.

August 1

Look who turned nine years old today!

Jemilla asked for pancakes for breakfast, during which she opened her presents. They included new earrings from Nana and Grandpa, a DVD and Belville Lego from us, Smiggle stuff from Croakers, a book from the Peets, swim shirt from the Priors, and a t-shirt from Joelle which she wore for the rest of the day.

Craig and I had to work, so most of Jemilla's day was pretty normal. She requested Shakey's Pizza for tea...

...and frozen yoghurt for dessert.

We're hoping to have a little party when her friends return from their summer holidays overseas. In the meantime, thank you to those who sent birthday wishes and gifts!

The Eyres Abroad

We had such a wonderful holiday in Perth, and most of it we owe to the Eyres family who very kindly house-swapped with us. After returning to Hong Kong we had just a few hours when our paths crossed to exchange news with the Eyres before they had to leave for their flight back to Australia.

We took them to Tai Mei Tuk for a bike ride and dinner.

Lollipops were a special treat for dessert.

Our kids and Joelle put on a final show together for the grown-ups.

Then, it was sadly time to say good-bye. You can read all about the Eyres' adventures in Hong Kong on their blog here.

And if any of my readers are keen to have a holiday in Hong Kong, we are very open to another house swap in the future!

Good-bye, Perth ... Hello, Hong Kong

Our flight back to Hong Kong was quite the opposite of this time last year. We had a direct flight, no one was sick, and the plane was so empty that the children stretched out on two seats each and Craig and I each had four! We stepped out of the airport into muggy heat, but we are all feeling relatively happy to be here.

More photos from Perth

Thank you, Lori, for taking this family photo of us at church. And thank you, Manou, for finding a replacement doll for Tirzah. She loves her "Alinta Number Three"!

No trip to Perth would be complete for us without a visit to Hillary's for fish and chips. This is the same jetty in Craig's painting here.

I was delighted to find our old cat Bronte still healthy and happy at the Adams' house. She is thirteen years old now.

Australia has so much grass! It's perfect for kicking a ball...

Having a picnic...

Playing Polly Pocket...

Having another picnic...

Or even just rolling around on!

Jemilla and Keegan attended a fun Vacation Bible School at North Beach Baptist Church for five days.

We went to the drive-in cinema and saw Cars 2.

These photos were taken at our friends the Matchetts' house.

The Matchetts organised tickets for Craig and Keegan to an AFL game. (Geoff, just because Keegan is wearing an Eagles scarf does not mean that he has switched allegiance from the Swans.)

Tirzah and her friend Suzanne wore identical dresses to church one day.

Our good friends the Luptons kindly timed our visit to Perth with the arrival of their new daughter Amali. Here I am with Leonie and her mother and Amali.

Keegan loved participating in a multi-sports holiday program at a nearby stadium.

Here is Jemilla on a visit to her old school, Kingsway Christian College.

None quite like this in Hong Kong!

This was the kids' first time driving through a car wash.

One last photo from my time with my best friend Amanda...