WOW it's already Fall...what happen to June, July and August

What a great summer I had with my family! It's already fall and my parents have not updated my blog since back in the beginning of June. So here are some pictures of what I did this summer!

The summer started well with my sister, Mimi and my mama hanging out together during the week. We spent many mornings in our PJs.

I loved our visit to Georgian Bay to spend time with my future godparents, Mattie, Ben and Ella. The beach was great and I had a lot of fun hanging out with the boys!!

At the cottage you have to rinse feet in a bucket of water but I thought it made a great bath!

I went fishing up at uncle Bill's but I was not impressed with the wiggly things you have to put on a hook to catch the fish. I preferred to throw rocks in the water and watch Mimi catch the fish!

I went camping for the first time this summer with Uncle Bill and Megan! It was great to sleep outside and I hope that our neighbors did not mind my 5 am wake up call. Thank goodness for everyone around us my mama was able to convince me to go back to sleep until 6:30am but it was not easy with all the birds telling me to WAKE UP!

Mimi and I had a great time at the Ecomuseum and I got to see all sorts of funny looking animals but unfortunately my Mama would not let me climb the fences or walls nor let me stick my fingers in the cages!!

I spent many hours in our pool in the backyard.

I think I would make a good drunken sailor!

Up at Uncle Bill's Papa introduced me to one of the best desserts ever...Smores!!

MMmmmmm...my own juice box

I am a strong boy to be able to push my sister around

This is my Mama

I am not sure how this hat fits!!

Swimming pools, backyard fun and eating with my sister

I have been really busy recently and this past week I went swimming for the first time in mami and papi's pool.  Initially  I was not too sure if I liked it but as I continued to splash and kick the water I realized it was like being in a great big bathtub. I am also happy to have received this stylish TYR swim outfit from one of the moms at Amélie's preschool to keep protected from the sun and warm in the cold water.
I am liking this hanging out by the pool and cannot wait to start my swim lessons this summer at a pool near our house. Watch out here comes the "budha torpedo".

I am discovering all types of toys in my backyard. My favorite is my red car. I can now get in and out on my own but I still have not yet perfected how to move it with my feet...so my sister and mom push me around the backyard and this makes me laugh!

Mealtime is great especially when fed by my sister. She shares my food and lets me use my spoon to feed myself. My favorite is prunes with a mix of vanilla yogurt!

I'll keep you posted of all the other new things I discover this summer!!
Jacob Huifan XXXX

5 Days Back Home

Since we arrived home last Friday morning at 1am, we have been enjoying some quiet time as a family. We are gradually getting accustomed to the time change. We are no longer getting to bed at 4am and waking at 1pm, reminiscent of my university years!!  We seem to spend a lot of time in our PJs and we are learning a lot about the new member of our family. Firstly, we did not adequately baby proof our home. Compared to Amélie, he is a lot more busy investigating our home and if it is not bolted to the floor or locked shut, Jacob will find a way to open, empty or throw... he is a REAL BOY!!

Papa hanging with Amélie and Jacob

Very yummy fruits covered with chocolate, thank you Leggett Family

Morning or is it afternoon....a little dazed and confused!

Another Habs Fan and yes these locks are not baby proof!!!

Retour au bercail Home Sweet Home

Chers amis,

Nous sommes finalement de retour à la maison avec un sérieux décalage horaire. Nous avons été accueili par Nana (Pauline, la mère de Sonya) et Brian, le parrain d'Amélie. Ce fut une grande et chaleureuse surprise de les voir à cette heure aussi tardive. Nous nous sommes finalement couchés vers 4AM ce matin et avons réussi à dormir jusqu'à 11AM. Jacob est en pleine forme et découvre rapidement son nouveau chez-lui. Nous réalisons rapidement qu'il y a encore quelques ajustements à faire pour la sécurité accrue de Jacob dans la maison. Nous afficherons des photos plus tard. Je vais aussi établir un lien avec nos photos sur le web éventuellement.

Jacob derrière la barrière menant au sous-sol...

Nous avons passé un excellente escale à Toronto en compagnie de Carolyne et Garo (la marraine et parrain de Jacob) et leurs enfants Matthy, Ben et Ella ainsi que la mère de Carolyne, Mme Bayly. J'ai même attrapé une période de hockey entre les Bruins et Tampa Bay. Je retrouve nos affaires à la maison et ceci fait un bien énorme. 16 jours en Chine c'est plaisant mais assez!! Le gazon est très long et les pissenlits sont radieux!!

À bientôt!!

Martin, Sonya, Amélie & Jacob xxx


Dearest Friends

We are finally back home with a severe jet lag. We were warmly welcomed by Nana (Pauline, Sonys'a mom) and Brian (Amélie's god father). We hit the sack around 4AM and were able to sleep until 11AM this morning. Jacob is in great shape and is quickly discovering his new home. Our baby-proofing job is not quite there yet but it's coming. We will post pictures shortly of our homecoming and will likely post our pictures on the web once sorted out.

Happy camper!!

We also met up with Carolyne and Garo (Jacob's god parents) accompanied by Matthy, Ben and Ella as well as Mrs Bayly. I even caught a period of hockey between the Bruins and Tampa Bay in Toronto. It's finally great to be back home in our things; 16 days in China is great but greater to be home. Our grass is quite longs and load of dandelions happy to be growing...

So long!!

Martin, Sonya, Amélie and Jacob xxx
 

We are finally in Toronto

The Forbidden City... Emperor and Empress

At the North Entrance of the Forbidden city where the Emperor would keep his concubines...

Amazing roofs!!

Two trees in one that comes together to reinforce each others just like bonds within a family!

Some stone sculpture

And scary handle

For Prosperity and longevity!

Long lasting... a dragon head with a turtle body... symbolic!

At the exit of Tienanmen square with the family!!

Our two families - the Latour and Mailhot-Lessard

Visite chez le médecin, dégustation de thés et Promenade en Pousse-Pousse

At SOS medical clinic in Beijing for medical check-up

Huifan is not too happy to be weighed and measured

Happy Boy after a his examination.

On Monday morning we had an appointment at the SOS medical clinic in Beijing for Huifan. We were happy to see Dr.Lucy Chen who is a native Montrealer from Roxboro. Huifan was not as impressed to meet her and everyone in the waiting room could hear him as he wailed everytime the doctor tried to examine him. She said he was a very healthy boy with a good set of lungs!

Tea House Entrance

After the medical exam we visited a tea house and participated in a tea ceremony tasting 4 different teas. The ceremony cost us a lot less than the tea ceremony Martin did three and half years ago, which is a story to be told another time.

Learning how to infuse tea

Papa sampling

Huifan who didn't have enough tea

Mimi smelling the aroma

Amélie and Élise intrigued by  birds

Getting ready for a hutong tour of old Pekin

A tour through Pekins' (Beijings) hutongs gave us a look at the how the locals live the old part of Pekin (Beijing). The area we toured is approximately 400 years old. We visited with a family in which they were the third generation living in this home. It is built in such a way that there is a court yard in the center surrounded by six buildings which included the kitchen, living area for the parents, a bedroom for the oldest son, bedrooms for girls, a storage building.

The girls enjoying their ride together with Papa Richard

The girls watching a chinese board game

In  the eldest sons bedroom

Amélie taking a catnap

10 min break to observe an officials residence in old Pekin

Beautiful door knockers

Water break on an above 30 celcius day

Amélie expending ever last ounce of energy