Some love, a hug, and a wedding ❤

For starters, happy [belated] Valentine's Day (although considering the time change, you might be reading this right on the 14th)! The origin of Valentine's Day comes from many sources, and I'd been happy to do some research and inform you of my results, but that is not what this blog is about (unfortunately for me). This blog is about us, China, and us in China, on China, with China. This blog has no room for four-page essays on Valentine's Day. As a family, we did absolutely nothing special for this holiday. However, Matthew did make a Valentine's Day card today, which is, you know, pretty special. Red with messy pink hearts and jagged letters that form his name below that. He may have put too much glue (I cut the pieces out and he used a glue stick to stick them on randomly) but who really cares?  He's only two. (Make yourself known if you do care.)

SIDE NOTE: The Chinese have a Valentine's Day too! In August!


Baba, Mom, and Jenna went to walk James and Nathaniel back to the foster home today. Emma and I watched Matthew for two hours. Two hours, one-sixths that was taken to make Matthew's very-special card. Before the two left, Matthew actually hugged Nathaniel. Granted, Nathaniel was screaming for me to pick him up during the event, but still. Mom has been saying all day "How much quieter it's going to be with just Matthew" or "How different it'll feel with two less boys in the house". So far, I see no different, and it's been a whole hour of their absence. Sixty minutes. And it's not because I didn't do anything with them or acknowledge them. I'm just really bad at recognizing minor details like that (is the absence of two boys considered minor?).

Five days after Chinese New Year, the fireworks are still going, although the amount has been greatly reduced. Matthew is still bothered, but he doesn't freak out like he did in the beginning. He mentions it every time, though. Not one firework, or "boom boom", gets by him, no matter what he's doing. Whether he's laughing, whining, pouting, or sitting about doing nothing at all (ha! we wish that could be the situation every now and again), Matthew perks up at that distinct sound of a cracker and tells the whole world that there's a boom boom outside. For those interested, the total of fireworks today is... one, two, three... Oh, never mind. No one really cares the number, and no one is keeping track of it for anybody. Let's just see there wasn't much. The main firework show today was small and for a wedding outside our apartment gate, not for Chinese New Year. (For this wedding being part of the title, not much is said about it. Sorry.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sleep well!

Have fun!

Enjoy life!

Stay human!

[enter all other nice compliments and hopeful wishes you can give someone]!

Like (as opposed to LOVE),

Abby