The Importance Of Flexibility

Not the physical kind, although that is good to have, too.  No, I'm talking about making plans, changing them completely on a moments notice, then going back to the original with modifications and not suffering any great stress because of it.  

As you may remember, I had a plan this morning to get up early so we could go with Tim, drop him off at work, take the kids to the kindergarten/playschool/preschool/daycare (whatever you want to call it), meet Celine for some shopping, go to the gym and pool then pick the kids up from school.  A rather ambitious morning but I thought I could do it.  Well, that plan didn't last long.  For reasons beyond her control Celine had to cancel late last night.  I decided that I would still try to get the kids to school early and do my thing for the morning so at 11:00 last night I asked Tim to wake me when he got up.  At 6:00am I modified slightly and asked Tim to tell Tian Ye to come straight back to us after dropping Tim off at work.  By 6:30 I told Tim not to bother telling Tian Ye anything, that perhaps I would take the boys for the afternoon after the rest of the kids there have had their nap.  By 7:40 I was rather cranky and decided that I needed a break and it couldn't wait until the afternoon.  I got the kids dressed, got my shower and had Tian Ye pick us up at 9:00.

As we were getting ready to go I was trying to think of what I needed to bring, something I should have done last night, so even though I had most of the stuff I needed to go to the gym I decided not to bother today.  I realized as I was getting the kids' shoes on that they probably weren't going to be allowed to stay since they don't have any indoor sneakers.  I was also worried that they wouldn't accept the blood work papers since Nicholas's name wasn't even on his and I wasn't sure if they were going to ask for money today, which I didn't have on me.  I figured with all that I likely wasn't going to get them in for the morning and even if I did, there wouldn't be enough time for the gym.

We arrived sometime around 9:30 and Ryan couldn't wait to get into the main playroom.  I told him he had to wait while I spoke to the lady who was helping us with paperwork.  They showed no concern over the blood work papers and she said that it would be fine if they just brought new shoes next time, especially since they were only going to be staying for a couple of hours.  It ended up that I didn't have to pay today since the woman who usually looks after the financial part was out sick.  The lady filled out a couple of forms then gave me a few details.  She, her name was TeeLee (spelling is probably way off!) was going to take Nicholas to her class while Ryan was going to go with another teacher named Danni, who had come out to meet us.  Ryan  couldn't wait any longer to get into the playroom so I told him to go ahead.  Poor Danni, who perhaps was wanting to ask me a few questions about him, took off after him and I didn't see them again.  I yelled after Ryan that I would be back a little later to get him but I don't think he heard me.

Nicholas was a little more hesitant but went along with his teacher who was trying to hold his hand.  As I have mentioned before he doesn't like to be touched so he kept grabbing it back.  I just shook my head and said, "He won't even hold my hand most of the time".  She gave up and just let him walk beside her.  Then he was gone.

Freedom!  And much easier to get than I thought it would be.  I walked out into the rain and danced across the street to the van and Tian Ye who looked a little surprised to see me so soon.  What to do now?  I would have had plenty of time to go to the gym but since I hadn't brought the bag of clothes that didn't matter anymore.  Maybe next time.  I decided to go to Ole and get some food and look around the mall for a bit.  It's amazing what you notice when you don't have your eyes pinned on two little boys.  I managed to snap a few pictures from this cool store before the saleslady came out and shooed me away.  I guess you aren't allowed to take pictures of really expensive handbags here.

About $1600 - not too bad I guess.

Around $2500 - pretty cool though.

$2300 - Don't you love it?

$2700 - Ahoy matey!

$3300 - An impressive fish.

Too bad I missed getting the armadillo.  I'll try for that one next time.  I'm wondering where I can get knock-offs of these.  We already attract a lot of attention wherever we go, so why not carry a giant fish around with us?

I checked out the toy store to see what they had and the pricing then went across the way to the piano store I mentioned one other time.  I got a picture from there too.

Very Chinesey.

Since I didn't have a whole lot of time I roamed around a few more stores then went to Ole for a peaceful grocery shopping experience.  It was lovely.  After that it was time to go back to the school to collect the kids.  It was getting close to lunch and I knew they would be hungry and likely wouldn't eat the food served there.  Also, the other kids would be settling down for a nap soon and Nick and Ryan aren't going to sleep there.

When we got back I went in and first they brought Nicholas out.  He was on the verge of tears but held on okay.  I was asked him about his morning and he wasn't too happy about it.  Next Ryan's teacher brought him out and his eyes too were pretty teary.  He clutched on to me and wouldn't let go.  I asked him if he had fun and he said he did, although it didn't look like it.  Apparently when he had realized that I hadn't followed them in he cried, quite loudly.  Nicholas said he managed to not cry but since he and Ryan were taken to different classrooms he worried the whole time about how Ry was doing.  The teacher said that she and others had tried to feed Nicholas but he wouldn't eat.  She asked if they liked Chinese food.  I told them that Ryan does but they said he wouldn't eat either.  She asked Nicholas could feed himself.  Ah, yeah.  He's almost five years old!  I said that they both could eat by themselves and go to the bathroom by themselves and they looked shocked.  I said that perhaps next time I would bring them sandwiches and maybe eventually they would start to like the food.  Although, they also served cake for someone's birthday and Nick wouldn't eat that so I'm sure it was just nerves.  I was also informed by Nick's teacher that he didn't like it when the other teachers wanted to hold his hand and hug him.  Duh!  She said she told them that he doesn't like to be touched and I just explained that every time we go out people are trying to do that so he has really started to hate it.  I will remind them again the next time they go.

We left and the whole way home Nicholas told me he didn't want to go back to that school and tried to convince me that he likes shopping with me, as long as we go to toy stores.  I told him that most of the places I want to go don't have toys, plus I want to be able to go to the gym.  "Fine," he said, "we will go to the gym".  Ha!  Fat chance.  I told him that he would get used to the place and start to make friends and then it would be fun.  Ryan insisted that even though he cried at playschool, it was fun.  I hope he still thinks that the next time we go!

When we got home the kids had bite to eat and Ryan went for a short nap.  Nicholas and I attempted banana bread made with rice flour, which I have done before.  The difference this time was that it was not the brown rice flour I usually use but glutinous white flour.  The thing rose but when I took it out of the oven after an hour and cut it open, it looked like it hadn't cooked on the inside.  I stuck it back in even though it was really brown and on the verge of being burnt.  At this point, about two hours after I should have done it, I looked up the definition of glutinous rice flour.  Turns out that the 'glutinous' part refers, not to gluten some of you may think, but to the fact that when mixed with liquid it acquires 'glue like' characteristics.  Ah ha!  That would explain the gooey mess on the inside of my banana loaf that cooked for an hour and fifteen minutes.  It tasted okay but was extremely chewing and not particularly appealing.  I must try to find brown rice flour.  In the meantime, I have learned this glutinous rice flour is useful in making certain Chinese, Korean, or Japanese dishes so I will have to check out a few recipes and try it out.

After Ryan's nap we headed outside to what turned out to be a beautiful day.  It began with rain but the sun had come out and there was a bit of a cool breeze making it very comfortable.  Sue joined us for a while until we decided that it was time to come back in and make supper.  We had a nice meal where everyone ate the same thing, beef and rice with veggies, albeit somewhat begrudgingly.  Now the boys are in bed and it is time for us to relax.  Tomorrow we will go shoe shopping and check out a mall that is supposed to have a pool on the eighth floor.  That would be cool!

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer.  It won't last long!