Edison's Site

Spiderman... Spiderman...
I got to wear my Spiderman costume!!
It was so much fun - I was a pig in mud going to school.

Of course - we get lots of candy, and because I'm a good boy I don't eat the whole bag.
When Mommy gets home she rifles through the bag to take out the pure sugar candies... because she loves me so and doeasn't want all my teeth to fall out so young.

But... there was one in particular she wasn't sure to leave for me or not... and she decided not.
Well... the next morning when I woke up - the first candy I was looking for was that one.
Being the reasonable boy I am, I was ok - but Mommy felt terrible.
She just loves me so.

All weekend, they tell me Pau Pau is leaving soon.
I don't want my Pau Pau to go. She's always awake and waiting for me in the morning. She helps brush my teeth and helps get me to bed at night... actually she always falls asleep before I do - but that is besides the point.
Mommy will miss the extra sleep she gets as well since I will look for Pau Pau in the mornings now.

No longer will I have 5 people come to the bus stop with me everyday - Daddy, Mommy, Auntie Gloria, Gong Gong and Pau Pau. Yes, 5!
The others at the bus stop must think my family is so silly.
Very few even have parents go and wait at the bus stop and I more often than not have at least 3.

Finally, one day I tell Gong Gong to go to Long Island and Pau Pau to stay.
Pau Pau thought that was funny, Gong Gong did not really.

We bring back 5 big bags full of presents.

When we get home... I am supposed to go to sleep before I can open any presents.

While I try to take my nap, my 5 big bags magically becomes 5 presents.
Mommy has her partners in crime, Pau Pau and Auntie Gloria opening my presents! Mommy doesn't like certain toys for me and just likes to screen them, plus she doesn't believe in opening all the presents at once - because then I don't truly get to enjoy each of them. Just too eager to open the next one, she just wants me to appreciate each one.

Luckily for Mommy - I don't notice that 30 presents in 5 big bags have some how become 5 presents. They did have a scare as I came out of my room to see what they were all doing. In the end, Mommy does feel bad that she's had the remaining presents hidden - but each progressing day I do get to open a few presents, so I do truly enjoy each one more than I would have otherwise.

On my real birthday - we had another small cake and more presents. I was a little confused because I already had my birthday - but it was still great fun.

The next day, Mommy gets an e-mail from my schoolmate and friend - Nicholas. Nicholas' Mom e-mailed to say what fun they had and the Nicholas asked his Mom to "ask Auntie when is Edison's next birthday party?"

Gong Gong, Pau Pau, Auntie Gloria, Mommy, Daddy and I start the day.
Carrying the 30+ wrapped party favors, party hats, table covers, name tags and empty bags... we're all ready for the big day.

While there - Mommy orders me a macaroni and cheese, so I am not hungry during the party. Little does she know - during the party I eat another entire plate of it while sitting with my friends because I was racing them to see who finished first. Mommy could not believe it.

When the clown arrived, he had come without his make-up on - and gave Mommy a slight scare, because she had only seen him once performing another birthday party at Ruby Tuesday. He turned out to be a really skinny young fellow. Pau Pau is so funny... she said why didn't he come all dressed and made-up already as the clown. She is so silly sometimes.

I get to enjoy some quiet time by myself in the play area of the restaurant.
Then the party gets started...
One child arrives, then another child with parents and another and another... steady stream for half an hour. Mommy's head is spinning, giving out names tags to know who everyone is and to know how many come. At the end of the day - all the tags are used and then some.

My cake was so cool... it had a cool red car made of chocolate sitting on top of a checkerboard choclate flag. We took some pictures... Lots of ooos and aaahhhs, then the other children started to come over and you could see all the little hands fidgetting to touch the cake. So Daddy tells the waiters to take the cake away - here I always have a fit, because I always want cake now and am afreaid ti doesn't come back. But before they take it away - my quick little fingers grab the chocolate square that had my name on it and start munching away. It's my birthday so I get to eat lots of chocolate if I like.

All the children have so much fun, they don't want to leave... some start crying. Then they figure out - party favors! Wrapped like little presents. How fast they all stop crying and patiently wait their turn to leave the party, say good-bye and get a party favor.

Daddy's made aquiantance with the ower because we had so many people, it was a record event for them. So the owner wanted opinions on how they did... and as people who know Daddy - his opinions are never in short supply.
For this half hour or so conversation, I get to play some more in the play area. There was one little girl who came really late, almost a half hour before the end of the party... so it was nice that she got to at least play some. I made a train/bus with all the kiddie chairs, I was the driver - it was a good time. The clown also made me a special rainbow balloon too!

What a great day!
All the children went home with their parents - no one was harmed, so it was a success. We carry the bags and bags of presents home.

My Mommy put on the invitation to RSVP by Oct. 15.
Remember she thought we would be lucky to have 12 people in total.
When she booked the restaurant - Ruby Tuesday, she said 25 people to get a section of the restaurant even though she thought it would be virtually impossible to have that many coming.

Well, Mommy underestimated how popular I am... or that in fact children do attend other children's birthday parties.

As of Oct. 15... 18 children with at least one parent, and the occasional additional sibling and parent. We were at almost 50 people.
Then during the week... every day another child and parent RSVP'd.
Mommy had to keep going back to buy party favors... the toy store started to recognize her. The cake was already ordered and clown in place. Could he handle 30 children?

By end of week the total was almost 70 people.
What was Mommy going to tell the restaurant?
Definitely not 70 people.

I've been to Ocean Park with Daddy and Auntie Gloria when Mommy was away.

But this time Mommy, Pau Pau and Auntie Gloria go with me. (Gong Gong has figured out that ESPN here in Hong Kong carries major league baseball... and the Mets and Yankees are in the playoffs - so no tearing Gong Gong away from the TV.)

I saw a dolphin show, sharks, jelly fish, pandas (one eating and one sleeping) and lots of different fish. Mommy and Pau Pau hadn't seen some of these in their entire life! I love the huge aquarium they have, and can spend all day there...
There's fish almost as big as me!

My other favorite is the sky tram. It goes across the mountains and has a view of the water... so beautiful. Auntie Gloria said the first time we went with Daddy, Daddy held on so tightly to the handbars he was sweating because he was so nervous. Silly Daddy.

I always have fun with Gong Gong and Pau Pau. The other day I was going to sleep. They said I had to sleep like Sleeping Beauty. I say - "No... I'm Sleeping Boy."
I think a second... no wait! "I'm Sleeping Handsome."
They laugh and laugh at such a witty and clever grandson they have.

Nai Nai said that my teacher told her I know the rules, but just don't think they apply to me.

These days, Mommy is always saying, that she is going to have trouble with me... not because I don't behave, but because I am smarter than her and soon she won't be able have any more good reasons to tell me.

Which reminds her of a riddle. Mommy's Godparents - Nancy and Louis had bought her a shirt when she was about 6. She didn't understand it at the time, but does now of course.
It said:
Who is smarter?
Mr. Smarter or Mr. Smarter's baby?
Mr. Smarter's baby, because he is a little Smarter.

Pau Pau did something with the shirt... so Mommy doesn't have it anymore.
: (

Yesterday when we were at lunch one of my friends was eating a dragon fruit... Gong Gong said how interesting... a black sesame cake. He's so silly.

Second day of school - and in the morning I ask Gong Gong and Pau Pau to come to lunch again... they can't say no. This time Pau Pau brings some fruit for me! I declare over and over - Wo you shui guo! I have fruit. Dragon fruit too! I never had it before - kind of like a kiwi Mommy says with the seeds. I eat it all up.

When Mommy comes home from work and hears I got them to school go again... she tells me "one more time" and that's it. I'm such a reasonable boy and know I've gotten special treat already say ok.

I know that on occasion a parent will go on the bus with their child.
Nai Nai did it when I first started my summer school... I think Pau Pau or Daddy did as well before. I know Mommy did most recently when she came to my performance at school.

So of course I am going to ask Gong Gong first thing in the morning before going to school.
Mommy and Daddy are still asleep. Pau Pau and Gong Gong still jet lagged wake up with me.
It's their first school morning with me, they follow Auntie Gloria's lead a little bit.
In all the commotion, I ask "Gong Gong, will you go on bus with me? "
Gong Gong heard... "... bus with me" and replies "Yes of course"

We get to bus stop... Gong Gong does not get on bus... what's going on?
Mommy explains that Gong Gong did not hear properly what I said - but I respond "Other children have their Daddy on the bus."
You know I am right.
Sigh - Gong Gong and Pau Pau will stop by at lunch time instead.
That works too! I am a happy boy.

I'm such a happy boy!
I'm gearing up myself to be spoiled and will use my new found whiny voice to the max!
Tickle me Elmo (the new one), Boeing Plan set, Jelly beans and gummy bears oh my!

It is Thursday morning - the day before the Friday before the Mid-Autumn Festival (8th month 15th day.)

It's time for me to bring my Deng Lung to school.
For some reason, the little light in my Deng Lung is broken.
It's 7:15 am. I go to school at 8:00am.
What do we do?
Daddy starts looking at it. Then decides to take apart the microphone piece where the batteries sit.
7:30am - now my Deng Lung is in pieces and something's broken so Daddy can't even put the microphone stick back together.
7:40am - Daddy has to leave for work, now Mommy's around.
I want to bring my Deng Lung to school. Mommy tells me it's broken , so I can't bring it to school.
7:50am - I start having a fit and tell Mommy and Ms. Gloria that Chai Lao Si said to bring it.
Mommy thinks I made that up... and continues to insist no Deng Lung, because Ms. Gloria has to fix it (BUY a NEW one - spelled out not spoken. Yes, I understand when they speak but not spell, yet.)
8:00am - I tell Mommy again, Ms. Chai Lao Si said to bring it. Still no Deng Lung for school.

We get to the bus stop for school, and everyone has their Deng Lung... except me.
I don't say anything and am a very good boy for not having my Deng Lung.

When I come home from school - my new Deng Lung is waiting for me.
So, next morning I bring my Deng Lung and extra lights too for school.
We get to the bus stop. I am the only one with a Deng Lung.

Moral of the story - I'm only 3 years old - but I know what I am talking about.
I said Chai Lao Si said... and Mommy didn't listen.
Today it was my turn to teach Mommy something.
The most impressive thing was that I was a very good sport over the whole thing... so Mommy was proud of me.

It's so different to celebrate a Chinese Holiday in Hong Kong!

In school I learn about Lanterns (Deng Lung) and Moon Cake... which I never would in NY.
Mommy even had a celebration at work - a feast and early release from work.
She would never have that in the US. There's even the frozen skin (bing pei) moon cake... that she's never seen before too. Hong Kong is crazy for moon cake.

At the store, we were looking for birthday invitations for my upcoming party... then I found this inflatable character hanging from a plastic microphone. I was dragging it around... Mommy had no idea what it was. Then it was time to leave the store and time for "I WANT THIS," in my newly discovered whiny tone. When Mommy realizes it's supposed to be a Deng Lung, she approves to have it since it is a cultural toy. Plus sadly, she's never seen one of these in her life either.

I pick a train instead of the character (since we didn't even know who it was.)
I'm so happy - when we bring it home, we turn on the light from the microphone and I'm so giddy.

So many new things to experience with this festival!

If you know my Mommy - you will notice that she has planned and worried more for my birthdays than she did for here wedding. Including a cake tasting for my second birthday, she didn't even do that for her own wedding cake. I think that birthday cake cost as much as her wedding cake...
My third birthday was a great big pumpkin cake and puppet show at a little quaint cottage in Central Park. On the way back from the cottage, when Mommy asked what cake I wanted, I said a pumpkin cake. She thought I would want a car or dinosaur - easy enough she thought, but a pumpkin? So she wanted to know why - I told her because "I'm her pumpkin boy." Of course at this comment, just any ordinary pumpkin cake would not do - it had to be the shape of a pumpkin and look like a pumpkin for her precious pumpkin boy. My Mommy went to many lengths searching and searching, but did it.
She just loves me so... so now what to do here in Hong Kong.

All the birthdays before, there's much family and friends - so never any worries over turnout. But in Hong Kong - we know only a handful of people.

At school I attend 2 sessions - in the morning "International" section and afternoon "Main" section. International teaches in English and Main teaches in Manderin. One class has 23 children, the other 27. So in total about 50 children will get invitations.

Mommy figures we will be lucky to have a dozen people.