Dancing Klicks

Little Bit is a tap dancing ballerina!

The bigs decided to stick with Gymnastics this year, but Little Bit opted for ballet and tap class. She is so excited!

Klicking our way to school

Down in sunny Texas, school is back in session!

The Big and Middle Bits are excited to go back and are ready to earn our steady 6 Klicks per day going to and from school.

Splash-n-Dash

The Big Bit swam/ran a kids Splash-n-Dash today. It is amazing to see her strength, courage and self assurance. She is not on swim team, she's not a runner. But she loves doing these races and trying her best.

Her swim was in a pool. Most of the kids are on competition teams but Big Bit held her own. She got stuck in a traffic jam but she didn't panic.

So very proud!!

4000 Klicks in the best of ways

These last 600 kilometers have been earned in so many interesting ways and in so many interesting places!

Last day biking to and from school this year....

Finding the Texas State Capitol Building...

Swimming Klicks with fun swim teachers...

Meeting some interesting walking partners along the way...

Taking our rolly-polly-pill-bug-doodle-bugs for walks...

Camping Klicks...

Biking Klicks...

And more biking Klicks...

Fourth of July Firework Klicks...

And more friends along the way...

Lifting Klicks...

Subway Klicks...

Jelly Klicks?!...

Vertical Klicks...

Longest Street in the World Klicks...

(Yonge St in Toronto, who knew?! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonge_Street)

Ice cream Klicks with feathered friends...

Running Klicks. Oh wait, he's not in our family!

This is my brain on wheels

I love to cycle. It makes me happy!

This is me, mid-30K ride, taking a 'selfie' to send to my brother because I am riding and I am HAPPY!

This also makes me happy. This is me, behind all three of my girls, all without training wheels!! Oma and Nonno came for a visit and we went on an "epic ride." The girls did so well, as did Oma and Nonno! We rode along the bayou ("bi-yo" with a long i and a long o for those of you not from around these parts). We found snails, birds, alligators, squirrels... all sorts of life!

Klicks in the Garden

We have had a proper winter down here in Houston and haven't been able to plant anything in our new, big, lovely yard until well, today. It was still below freezing over night just a few days ago.

Now, I know all your northerners find 32F a moderate temperature. But for our lovely Canna or happy cone flowers, 32F is cold!

Middle-bit was home from school today but was feeling up to a little shopping in the morning. We spent a fantastic morning walking around the garden center near our house. We picked up lots of supplies and $0.99 plants.

I think she may have inherited all the various gardening genes. Middle-bit so enjoyed walking through the plants, asking questions and learning everything she could. She was quick to understand what we need for our yard.

By the time we got home, she was pretty worn out and rested while I cleaned beds and started the planting. But we chatted and had a wonderful day together.

Do airplane klicks count?

I know, we disappeared for a while!

Since last we posted, we have found out we are being transferred. We are going to Houston after just over 1 year in Beijing. We are sad to leave but excited to go! It has been a little crazy trying to get everything coordinated. Add the holidays in there and it has been a whirlwind of activity! Unfortunately, very little of that activity has been forward moving klicks. But we have managed to earn a few...

They were earned walking, sledding, skating, running, biking... we had fun!

And if airplane kilometers translated into klicks for us, let's see... 3 girls and myself from Beijing to DFW, to Detroit, to DFW, back to Beijing and soon, back to DFW. The Dad flew Beijing to Toronto, TO to Houston and then to Beijing. I think we would have earned some major klicks!

Middle Bit with a Big Heart

Today, I was just about bursting with pride for our Middle Bit. She is so very committed to getting Klicks. She was riding her bike home from the bus and asked how many Klicks she earns going to and from the bus stop. I told her .75 there and .75 home so 1.5 total. She asked if we could take a trip all around the compound so she could earn 2 extra Klicks for today.

That doesn't sound like much but its about 5C and windy. She was hungry and tired and yet, she asked to keep going.

She seems very tuned in to how this connects us, all the way around the world, back to her Aunt Chrissy.

When you're up you're up, and when you're down you're down...

The Grand Ol Second Grade,

we have 100 Kids.

We marched them up to the top of The Wall

then we marched them down again.

And when you're up you're up,

and when you're down you're down.

And when you're only half way up

there are lots of laughing sounds!

The second grade field trip was today. I was lucky enough to be a chaperone and yes, I said lucky!

The past few days have been horrible AQI; over 400 at times (when LA was in such hot water for poor air, they were at 70). All the parents were buzzing to see if the school would cancel the trip due to high AQI... the kids would have been so disappointed.

I was up about 1am and the AQI was at 429.

When my alarm went off at 6, the AQI was at 56. WHOO-HOOOOOO!

Big Bit and 2 friends were in my group. We went to Mutianyu (the same area we visited with Oma and Nonno when they came to Beijing). The air was so clear we could see mountains and mountains and more mountains. The leaves are changing; the colors were magnificent. We could not have ordered a better day.

All of 2nd Grade on The Wall

Big Bit and Buddies

 

Trick-or-Treat

Our compound (neighborhood) has an enormous Halloween party every year. They turn the club house into a haunted house then open the neighborhood for Trick-or-Treating. Our little witch and her friend, the black cat, Snow Princess and Angel were ready for action! They walked about half the neighborhood before deciding they were cold, had enough candy, and would rather jump on the trampoline with their glow bracelets than walk anymore. Not too shabby!

Left, Left, Left, Right, Left

What a fantastic morning! Middle Bit and Big Bit's Girl Scout troops participated in the Big Hike. All the Girl Scout troops from around Beijing gathered to hike together. The hostess troop put together a scavenger hunt with so many fun things. This is the Big Bit's troop "walking across the wooden bridge like a family of ducks." Ha!

When the hike was announced, I was a little concerned because we would be visiting the Huanghuacheng portion of the Great Wall. This is the portion of The Wall we visited our first time to The Wall and it was a whopper. Very steep hills, a difficult trail leading to the wall and none of the surrounding area looked much better. We were told we wouldn't be hiking ON the wall but I still harbored some doubt and concern.

Thank goodness I didn't express my concerns too loudly because the hike was perfect! A flat-ish, paved path around the lake near the wall. There were trails heading off the lake path for the older Girl Scouts to explore but the younger troops had a nice, even pathway. The Little Bit's Daisy troop did just part of the path then turned around; Big Bit's Brownie troop made it all the way around.

It was such a perfect day!

I keep saying I have new favorite seasons in Beijing. October is moving up in my heart! The leaves are changing, the weather is crisp and sunny (when the AQI is low). I could get used to this!

Little Feet Field Trip

Little Bit earned a fair number of Klicks today on a school field trip. They visited Equilus, an equestrian facility surprisingly close to our neighborhood.

I wasn't expecting much and was thoroughly surprised. The facilities were beautiful, the horses were amazing, the riding was excellent. The prices are out of this world (about $200 US for an hour long lesson). But I did find out the girls can come visit the horses anytime. Hmmm... maybe a winter day outing!

Little bit (in the Puppy hat) & friends getting instructions

One of the 4, count them FOUR indoor arenas

What to do when there is no school?

Head to FUNDAZZLE!

Yesterday and today were parent/teacher conference days at school. The Dad and I were at school for the fantastic reports on the Big Bit and the Middle Bit. We earned a fair chunk of Klicks biking to and fro.

Today, the AQI was pretty high and when asked what they wanted to do, they all wanted to head to Fundazzle, this massive indoor playground. After Fundazzle, we went shopping for the remainder of the Halloween costumes. They did quite a bit of walking, playing and laughing. It was a great way to spend a poor AQI day and earn Klicks!

The girls' favorite part of Fundazzle is the massive ball pit. The building once housed an Olympic (and possibly for the Olympics?) swimming and diving pool. The swimming pool area now houses a massive jungle gym. The diving pool is a ball pit. No kidding. The girls LOVE it! I cringe a little because we do living in the world of split pants (the babies don't wear diapers, their pants have a split so the bum is exposed and the kids just, um, 'take care of business' where ever they feel the need. again, no kidding.). But the girls love it. I disinfect them when we come home.

Terry Fox Lives Here

Years ago, a young man decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. His story is pretty interesting.... average student, average athlete that worked so very hard to become good. Diagnosed with cancer, lost one leg, came back to run almost 10,000 km on one leg between training and his fundraising run. Only to succumb to cancer in the middle of his fund raising run... Terry Fox.

The girls' school has been participating in the Terry Fox run for 20 years. To celebrate, Terry Fox's sister Judith Fox, visited the school. There was a parent event one night I couldn't attend, but I did make it to the assembly where she spoke to the kids. It was short, but very sweet.

Her main point was Terry Fox's motto: Keep at it until you get it right.

Judith Fox is known as "the guardian of her brother's legacy." She was so young when he died, maybe 18 or so. I wonder about how she feels, 30+ years later, to have this be her life. Not in a negative way, just that I wonder if it is hard for her, or if it brings comfort... I wish I could have heard her speak Tuesday night. I heard it was amazing.

The girls both participated in the run (all three!). They each also donated their allowance to the Terry Fox fund. I'm so proud of them for working so hard to prepare for the run and for donating their allowance (that's their ice cream money... not taken lightly!).

Such a beautiful day!

I am so very, very proud of Big Bit and Middle Bit! The weather was perfect today: low AQI, sunny, not cool, not warm, just right.

We rode bikes down to another compound to play at their playground. The big girls rode all the way there, played and rode home. They then rode all around the compound neighborhood visiting friends.

Somehow, I didn't get any pictures of the fun playground but did snap a shot over my shoulder as we rode down the road (the purple is Little Bit's helmet). My trail of children!

Later in the day, I got in a 5k run. I did intervals and tried to keep my turnover high even during my slower sections. I hit the best 5k time I've had in a while. Still not my best, and still pretty slow. But I was moving faster than I have in a while!

Total today? a Whoppin' 36 kilometers!

Laughing in the Lane

The girls decided we ALL needed to walk our guest-dog, Loki, tonight. Normally, this is no big deal. But today... there are.... PUDDLES!!!!

Do you remember the dog treat commercial where the dog could smell "BACON!!!!" I think I heard Loki say "puddles" in much the same manner. I've never seen a dog so water crazy! He will jump on any puddle he sees then start to "dig" in it. He loves the water!

It's very cute, but when a 60+ pound dog wants to go to every puddle he sees, let's just say it makes for a very tight-leash walk!

Tonight, the girls are riding bikes trying to miss all the puddles. Loki is excitedly trying to get IN all the puddles.

I know the girls and I were laughing; I think the guards were laughing at me. And I'm pretty sure Loki was laughing.

Loving this low AQI!

We walked and rode and walked and rode today. The girls earned half of these Klicks. During the day, it's sometimes a little frustrating because I want Little Bit to ride in the bike trailer so I can go farther. But at the same time, I am so proud of her because she wants to ride her bike or walk so SHE is earning Klicks for Aunt Chrisy. I guess I really can't complain about that!

Total today: 15km

Walking Loki

We are dog sitting again, this time a black lab named Loki. He needs lots of walks... good for us! The girls and I took Loki out tonight. Girls on bikes, Loki and I on foot. All together, 13km today.

Walking and walking

Middle Bit's bike is on the blink; the chain keeps coming off. The Tool Man comes home tonight so hopefully, that will be remedied soon. Until then, Middle Bit is riding either in the tuk-tuk or stroller. She is disappointed to not be earning any Klicks for a few days. I did suggest she could walk to/from the bus stop each day but she decided that would take longer than she would like.

Our total for today: 11.5km

Catching Up, Posting Klicks

It has been a whirl-wind few weeks. This is my catch-up post.

We've walked, biked, run and swam some clicks in the last few weeks. One thing I am finding interesting is that our 5 doing 5000 goal is becoming part of our daily discussion. I am impressed with how attentive to this goal, this idea of doing something for Chrissy, the girls are.

So, to catch up:

Dad:
Walking to work every day for 3 weeks: 22.5
Running: 11
Biking to and from school: 10

Mom:
an Olympic distance triathlon (whoot!): 51.5KM
I finally was able to go run! Clear head and sweaty: 4.5km
To and from and to and from and to and from ... the bus stop: 4km

Girls:
Again with the to and from and from and to... : 12km

Add them together and...
115.5