March

Cover Model

Elliot had a modeling shoot for the first time here in Hong Kong a couple of months ago. Here is the result. He is on the cover of Milk B and on page 38. I am not sure why they picked that photo for the cover. I remember there being much cuter and happier shots with the kids, but I don't sell magazines.







My friend spotted this display right here in Tai Po. Elliot didn't have to try too hard to mimic the cover of the magazine, he wasn't too excited to pose for me.

March 25th 2005 "Good Friday" was the day Elliot Daniel Sweeney was born.

Daddy was sure during the entire pregnancy that it was going to be a boy, he just knew. Mom on the other hand had to wait for him to tell her after baby came out that she had a son.




Daniel at the Memphis Zoo October 2006


2007

Around his 2 year birthday on a visit to Grandpa and Grandma Sweeneys in Tennessee playing basketball with Uncle Aaron


2008 This photo shows what we were just beginning to realize when brother was 3 years old, That he liked being funny.



2009

We move our 3 going on 4 year old from his home country the USA to Hong Kong China. He calls the MTR stop University - Universary and his favorite place to eat is basghetti house. (Spaghetti House)
He likes Star Wars and calls the droid army robots- "Roger rogers" He not only says cute words. He also "hates" walking and cries every time we walk from our Apartment to our shuttle ( 3 minutes walk) I think he cries because he knows that means a day or at least a good hour or more walking, possibly standing on a MTR train or bus. I believe it was 4 months after we lived in Hong Kong that he finally stopped whining or crying about having to walk. A typical American kid at 3 years old is in a stroller or car when in transit, so we empathized with his discomfort. But we still made him walk.



2010
He says goodbye to the closest friend he ever had. He asks everyday for months to see his friend ( who had returned to the States) this loss which is common in Hong Kong, is hard for mom to see him experience.

He becomes enrolled at the Norwegian International school in Tai Po
He is a K3 student which is equivalent to US kindergarten.
He develops what mom calls his Hong Kong- English as a second language accent. The term Pan Pacific accent was mentioned.
He says Ai Ya ( a common expression in Chinese when something Minor wrong/accidentally happens) His inflection in words starts to go up . The teacher says Elliot is often pulled in several directions because all the boys want to play with him


2011
Spider Man
He is all boy. loves wrestling with daddy and 'fighting" will make a shooting sound effect out of anything you put in his hand. Wants to be with dad a lot but is sensitive to Mom and shows great concern for her when she hurts herself or seems upset.


at a modeling shoot in Hong Kong.


Elliot Daniel you make us laugh because you try so hard to be funny. But you make us smile because we see your heart that loves your family. Hearing you sing This is the day the Lord has made and Praise Him, is not only cute but also brings us great joy. Your favorite books are Daniel in the Lions den and Jesus and the passover. We are thankful for your humor and like you showing us how fast you can run and how strong you are, but what bring us greater joy is seeing you learn about a God who loves you more than us and who has great plans for your life.
Happy Birthday Dan!

Halfway to a decade

We celebrated Elliot Daniel who was born on March 25th 2005 with a little party at our flat.

The agenda:
Decorate your own gift bag
Hot' Lego'
Bear Toss
scavenger hunt
guess the legos


In attendance counting only the kids:
The Harveys- Keegan, Jemilla, and Tirzah-
Krohns- Isaiah, Abby, Sammy
Aaron

Cupcakes with 'fondant' legos. Bethany helped me construct these edible legos and made a perfect lego man. This was fun stuff to work with- I plan to do it again.










Nathan told me he would make balloon animals for the kids. I was getting a little worried because it was two days before the party and he had yet to look up any tutorial on how to make them. I started to doubt him coming through on this decision.
He spent a mere 15 minutes watching a you tube video. At the party he made swords, poodles, hats and shields for the kids.

Elliot's Fifth from outypants on Vimeo.

Elliot Turns 4 in Hong Kong

We were able to have a nice birthday party for Elliot thanks to the Krohns. We grilled out, had delicious chocolate cupcakes made by Bethany and the kids played a game. Brother wanted a light Saber but we were unsuccessful in finding one, even with clerks who could speak English. ( see the post about thoughts and life to get this) He still had a great birthday and loved his new Transformer.

 The kids had a treasure hunt where they had to follow clues written on a piece of paper. Their treasure was the Chocolate Kinder eggs. These thinly chocolated covered eggs that easily separate to produce a prize inside. It can be a figurine that has funny eyes,spins etc. Or a puzzle, usually a small trinket of some kind you have to assemble. The last I heard they were illegal in the United States. 

I was trying to come up with a game for the kids to play and thought about pin the light saber on the Jedi. 

 You have to understand that I am here with limited resources. I think if I had millions to invest in a store in HK it would be Party City. Toys R Us was the only place I could find licensed party ware. I should have saved all Star Wars decorations from my 30th Birthday party and sent it over.

I say all this to say that I had to free hand the drawing of Darth Vader. Bethany thankfully had a printer and could print out a face for me, I knew I couldn't do that. 

 I was thinking at first, less is more and had the idea to make a cape and not really attempt any limbs, I knew they would be atrocious. It was really late and I decided I would do feet as I looked at him in boots but no arms. 

 It was the entertainment for the adults, probably more so than the kids. Nathan commented on him being "hippy" and womanly. The kids didn't comment that Darth Vader had deformities, so I guess it passed their test for now, give them 10 more years to look back at the pictures for their remarks.
Elliot cried when we had to leave as he always does when we leave their house. It was a good birthday and really helped ease the loss of not being in Grand Rapids with family for this occasion.




party time from outypants on Vimeo.