First day of her third school...

Today is the first day of my daughter's new school. Here are some of the first she will experience today...

• It will snow all day.
• She will get to walk to school. 
• she will have kids from her school to walk to school with.
• She will have to wear snow boots, pants, heavy coat, hat gloves to walk 5 five minutes to school.
• Recess is outside unless it get -5 degrees.

Cultural Shock!!

Hong Kong, Dec 11th 2012..

Repulse bay beach

To

Minot, North Dakota, Feb. 1st 2013

Near our new home!

Traveling with a kid.

My traveling girl. Airports are like our second home.

My 10 yr old daughter and I are off to Minot,ND to our new home. We have a full day of travel.

My daughter has been traveling since she was 8 mo old. I have to say she is the best traveling partner to have. She does not stress, she gets upset, but she handles it well. She rolls with the flow and she kicks butt at Uno. 

What do I pack for her for air travel through the U.S. 

(Yes, packing for oversea flights is very different then packing state to state flights)

Truth be-told I don't pack for her any more. She knows what she needs. 

Our number one family rule for traveling:

  "Your bring it, pack it, or buy it; you carry it." 

We have held to that rule very strongly. We rarely made exceptions even when she was throwing a tantrum in the middle of the Airport (yes, she did that a few times). It is not as mean as it sounds. We always planned for her age and always had the right type of bags to help her carry what she needed. 

 There is no way I can go into every adventure we have taken since she was 8 mo old. I will tell you what she packed for this trip. We had four connecting flights and we are flying in winter time. We had to be prepared for possible delays and cancellations. I always go over the itinerary and I slip a copy in her bag in case we get separated. 

For this trip I had her dress in layers and to carry her winter coat

My daughter's packing list:

• She picked the bag for her carry-on
• Prepackaged snacks
• Empty water bottle: I have the flight attendants fill up the water bottle with a beverage.
• iPod
• Uno card
• 1 book
• 1 Pillow
• Her favorite stuffed animal (Froggy has travel with us since she was 8 mo old...we don't leave home without it)
• Journal blank paper
• Small pouch of color pencils
• Small amount cash
• Notebook computer

That is about it. 

Its cold up North!

We are flying up there on Thursday the 31st...when we land that evening it is suppose to be -15 degrees ...

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

LET THE FUN BEGAN!

**LATEST ON THE FRIGID TEMPS & DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS:

WIND CHILL ADVISORY:
In effect from Midnight through 4PM CST Wednesday. Through tomorrow afternoon, expect temperatures of 25 to 40 below zero.

WIND CHILL WARNING:
In effect from 4PM CST Wednesday through 9AM CST Friday. During this period, wind chill values will be between 40 and 50 below zero.

These are dangerously cold conditions. Precautions should be taken to ensure your personal safety, as well as that of children, pets and the elderly. Dress in layers and covered exposed skin. Avoid being outdoors for prolonged periods of time as hypothermia is a major risk and frostbite can occur in as little as FIVE minutes.

What's a kid to do??

My daughter was up early as could be and she wanted to shovel snow! Are you kidding me? She really does not have much experience with snow, but hey why not get some practice before we move up to Minot, freaking cold North Dakota. I thought sure she will stay out there for a little bit and quite because she would be too cold to finish.

 NOPE, again I was wrong, she finished the sidewalk and the driveway by herself!

Snow??

My daughter wished for snow. I told her if it snowed I would take her outside no matter what time it was. I made this promise after I heard the forecast state " no snow - it was going to go around San Angelo". I felt pretty confident...maybe do to sleep deprivation... Not sure what I was thinking when I made the promise. Anyway guess what happen at 11 pm tonight...That right, it started to snow!! AND we went outside to play!!

Small TX road trip

2 hour Road trip within TX. My daughter's face is plastered to the window with amazement from all the space, animals & landscape. The Upcoming year is going to be a year of firsts for her. This is going to be fun to see America through her eyes.