I woke up late today after staying up watching Family Matters, making the day feel much shorter. In the morning, my dad kept calling for me repeatedly, which frustrated me.
In the afternoon, I napped while Hamer went to town with her aunt, returning happily with new toys. Later, I struggled while changing my uncle’s bandages and discussed adjustments with my dad.
The day ended warmly with a family dinner, bringing back a comforting sense of togetherness.
Hamer and her grandma played a claw machine game while in town. They won two toys and had a blast.
I deliberately led Hamer through a harvested field. She excitedly treated it as an obstacle course, making our return journey much more fun.
Hamer got hands-on experience kneading dough and even tried adding firewood to the stove.
A Day of Exploration and Family Time
I took Hamer to explore the Xinjiang River, where she turned our walk through harvested fields into an obstacle course. At lunch, she enjoyed leftovers more than expected.
In the afternoon, we went shopping with her Grandma, played the claw machine, and stocked up on snacks and toys.
In the evening, Hamer helped make dumplings and experimented with adding firewood to the stove in my Grandma’s house.
As the Lunar New Year festivities come to an end, today marked the tail end of the holiday.
Lunar New Year - Day 8: The Last Days of Celebration
My uncle’s wound still isn’t healing well, but he was more active and engaged with the family.
At noon, my sister and nephews came over, filling the house with laughter and games.
In the evening, we visited my eldest sister’s house and had meaningful conversations, strengthening our family bonds. Walking home through the dark village, Hamer reflected on the day, calling it “both happy and sad.”
Lunar New Year - Day 7, I decided to extend my stay instead of returning to Beijing as planned, so I could take care of my uncle and spend more time with family.
Hamer learned to ride a bigger bike, her joy radiating as she mastered it. I took the kids to the movies while also dropping Yaoyao off at school. The roads were congested, but I managed well.
I’ve been feeling incredibly sleepy at night, barely staying awake while writing my journal.
Hamer: I did it.😃
Lunar New Year - Day 6, we attended my cousin’s engagement ceremony, traveling as a family on a large bus, which felt like a fun group trip. At the groom’s house, we enjoyed a spread of local snacks before touring the area.
In the evening, we had dinner at my cousin’s place, where his daughter impressively prepared two full tables of delicious food. After dinner, I had a heartfelt conversation with my sister-in-law, realizing how valuable it is just to listen and connect.
