I want the boys to feel right at home and sometimes that means doing just a little bit more then normal. Today is a fall festival in China and Chen's mom wrote me telling me about it and how it is one of Chen's favorite holidays. She then told me his favorite snack from this festival are Moon Cakes, not to be confused with American Moon Pies or snakes.
You see earlier this week Chen had asked if we could go and get some snakes and made a slithering motion with his hand.
I was horrified, I asked what did he want the snakes for as the entire family including Julius our German student stood there staring at him, our mouths hanging open. He then said "to eat", OK so after my husband picked me up off the ground, I thought perhaps there is a communication error here as Chen did not look like the snake eating type to me, not that I know what a snake eater looks like.
Alex, always trying to be accommodating suggested Chen try alligator because we could get that at the local grocery store as he politely explained he did not think Kroeger carried Snakes.
Chen looked equally horrified now as we all stood there staring at each other, was he upset over the Alligator or no snakes? He started saying over and over "I want to get some, you know snakes!" Then he looked at me a broad smile emerged and he said"OH OH OH!", which I have learned in Chen language means Tammy has it wrong. Chen then looked directly to me, spelling each letter slowly S-N-A-C-K-S.
OK, truth be told did I know he wanted snacks all along..yep..did I want him to work for the right word, yes, and now every morning when he makes his lunch he shows me his treat and says "Snack", puts it in his bag and smiles broadly, his eyes twinkling and I tell him no "Snakes" and we all laugh.
Alex still wants Alligator though.
But tonight it will be Moon Cakes if I can find some Lychee seed paste.

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