The theme this year was Winter Wonderland. The girls wore their Christmas dresses. I knew there was some reason I threw it in the suitcase from America at the last minute!!

My friend, Betty, and I took our girls to the local salon for a wash and blow dry. Betty’s daughter, Samantha, has curlier hair than Emmy. They got their nails beautified, their hair washed and the curls straighten. The girls looked beautiful and were ready for night of dancing with Daddy.

We heard someone described Chinese communities as “fang bian”. Fang Bian means convenient which is a true description of Chinese areas. Behind our complex is our street of “fang bian” convenient. The strip of buildings has our wet market we buy all our fruit and vegetables. Next to it would be the all-important local hair salon and the bakery with the “sugar bread”, a doughnut.

Jim and Emmy went to the dance with Samantha and her Dad, Jimmer. The Szatkowski Family lives in our complex, which makes everything “fang bian”. Emmy and Daddy looking beautiful for their big night out.

Betty and I decided to take Eleri and Jack, Betty’s son age 5, to the Blue Frog for dinner. The Blue Frog is a local chain with the best hamburgers (or hamgabas in Elle terms) in town…along with happy hour everyday from 4pm to 8pm. At dinner, Jack taught Elle how to burp. Not a little girl burp, but on demand big boy burp. Elle to this day is the best burper of anyone (boy or girl) her age. We always think of Jack when she begins her “fun burp” sessions.