Now here is the winning shot for Bri--this was a play off for first in the ring toss...she is so talented that she can twirl and play ping pong at the same time!
I shall give you a few 'glimpses' of Adam and Bri's visit on another post. Enjoy!
Does this picture bring back any memories? Does it make any of you homesick?
On Monday we had our staff Christmas party. So. Much. FUN! We had Chinese and Italian food, fun games and lots of great conversation with some of the best people on the planet! 
A story: When we first arrived in Hong Kong in 2005, I had elected NOT to bring anything Christmas with me. I thought it would be too much trouble, and besides, our shipping allotment was small and we needed it for more pertinent things. However, when we got back from October conference, Irene and I began talking about Christmas. She was floored when I told her I was not decorating for Christmas--not even a tree! I told her I thought it would be too expensive to start from ground zero! Irene persisted--saying that I would regret it. A few weeks later, Irene and I got a phone call from Sandi Lai--a long time resident of Hong Kong. She knew that we needed to find decorations for the building and asked if we wanted to go to a discount Christmas store--beautiful things for a fraction of the price paid in the states! We said we would love to go. That was all it took. AND it wasn't even a junk store! It had an incredible inventory of wreaths, trees, and every kind of decoration imaginable. Not only did we find beautiful things for the building, but I got excited thinking about how reasonable it would be to decorate a tree! I succumbed, which delighted Irene and now made the task of actually finding a tree to buy a reality! What a marvelous Christmas adventure. From that day, Sandy introduced us to the junk store, and then took us to a wonderful high school Christmas bazaar--all with stellar results! With Irene by my side, we had a great time finding treasures to brighten our homes. And Irene was right. One year later, when the girls came to Hong Kong for Christmas...I was so grateful that our home was decorated--it was a wonderful way to say welcome home! So thanks to Irene, I have felt at home each Christmas we have spent away from home! So come on in...and enjoy the holiday cheer at apartment 1201. 
Ever since Kara did that 'opening the door' photo to her new flat...I wanted to duplicate it. However, an assistant photographer would have been most helpful--just know I tried my best!
Our festive wreath!
As long as it looks like Christmas, who needs counter space?
The Nativity is from the Philippines...I Love the Palm Trees!
A glimpse! 
The tree and The BIG window!
A littler closer view of the tree...
And now for the closeup!
One of my favorite nativities...Chinese style!
Dad and I are looking forward to December 22nd when Adam and Bri will arrive in Hong Kong for the holidays. I wish it could have been all of you...but I am grateful for what we have!
This is my grapevine pumpkin...cost? $2.50 
The Pilgrim Couple? $5.00 for the pair! The cute pillow? 60 cents...
Don't you love the snowman and the trees? $3.50 for the snowman, $1.50 for the two red trees and $2.00 for the green tree!
The Stockings? $1 each!
The ceramic Snowman pitcher? $2.50--and I got 8 of the little snowman candles for $3.00!
These three santas came to a grand total of 7 dollars. (by the way, the cute 'Let it Snow' is from our favorite Vinyl specialist...Happy Jo!)
The two berry trees?...$2.50 for the larger one, and $1.00 for the smaller. The berry centerpiece with the candle...$4.00.
These Santas were a bit pricey at $4.50 each, but I decided to splurge anyway!
These cute snowmen were a great find at just $2.60 each!
And now for a little 'junk store miracle'. One day as I was browsing through lots of 'junk' I spied a fabulous table runner. I picked it up and asked how much...the lady told me 25 dollars ($3.00 US) so I bought it. Then two weeks later at the same store, but hanging right above my head was a matching tree skirt. I couldn't believe it! It was, however, was a bit pricey...50 dollars ($6.45 US) but it was a perfect match, so I splurged. Exactly one week later, I was back at the same store, browsing through a pile of pillows and stockings--when at the bottom of the pile I spied a third piece that matched the other two--a small runner that was 10 dollars ($1.29 US). So I got it as well. What are the odds of finding three pieces from a set over 4 weeks?
So this ends my tale of junk store shopping...at least for 2008! Do you think I got my money's worth?
