Scenes from a hotel room!!

I’m pretty sure the guys will all be a bit shocked at what a great time we had over the weekend, even though we, of course, missed them terribly!! If you would have walked into our hotel room last night, you would have witnessed pure and utter chaos with 4 adults and 7 children making the most of our little getaway!!

We decided that since the kids had been in and out of the car all day that we would just order food to be delivered! We ordered heaps of food...5 pizzas, 4 pastas, bruschetta, and 2 caprese salads, all for about $60! By the end of the night, we did eat almost all of it - it was delicious!!

While we were eating, I had contacted a man who does watercolor paintings to come to our room and show us his work. He has some beautiful works of art and he ended up staying for over an hour. I’m so excited about the painting I bought because it will match some furniture that I have in storage (it’s exciting knowing that in a little over a year we’ll be decorating our own house!!)! He does a lot of paintings of hutongs (houses that unfortunately are being torn down now) and he then adds splashes of color. He told us different stories about the paintings and it was really interesting to attempt to understand how he, as the artist, views his own work! He even agreed to give my mother-in-law a lesson when she arrives at the end of April! I think she will really enjoy it!!

While we were finishing up buying some paintings, we had four foot massagers arrive!! It was a riot how they totally reconfigured the family room to make room for all of the chairs and tubs of water!! We enjoyed the foot massages so much that we asked them to stay for another hour...I ended up with a guy who claims he was a Chinese doctor and am still very sore from whatever he did to me!! We giggled away the whole time and the two hours only cost us each $35!

We only had one spilled glass of wine, one missing Georgie (Coop’s pacifier), and one call from the front desk making sure our room was not on fire!! Overall, I would have to declare the weekend a wonderful success!!

A Beautiful Day in Beijing

Yesterday, the kids and I ventured to Beijing for a day and night of fun with our wonderful friends!! The dads went to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong 7s (rugby tournament), so we decided that we would enjoy ourselves too!! We were very busy and thankful for a very patient driver who took us all over Beijing!! We met up for a very American lunch...hamburgers, chicken wings, french fries, and hot dogs. Then we made our way to the hair cutting place to get 5 kids’ haircuts!! Next stop was Jenny Lou’s for some groceries and a little toy (must have bribery on long days!)!

After all the errands were done, we took the kids to Chocolate World, which is a temporary exhibit set up next to the Bird’s Nest. The kids were excited to eat chocolate, but I think the mommies were even more excited! The exhibit was really amazing. They built so many things out of chocolate, including the Great Wall, terra cotta warriors, and a life sized BMW! It was a great way to end our afternoon and thanks to spring making her debut, we even got to watch kite flyers and the street vendors make all of their goodies!

Happy 4th Birthday my Darling Coop!!

On Wednesday, we celebrated Coop’s 4th birthday. We had actually celebrated with dear friends on Sunday (he got to pick 4 friends from his nursery class), so Wednesday was low key with presents in the morning, cake at school, a special play date with Sophie and Lucy, and then dinner at Din Tai Fung. I guess after writing all of that it wasn’t low key at all, but really all that mattered was that he enjoyed his very special day!!

Another one of Danny's famous cakes!!!

Karen drew this scene for the kids to color at their play date!! Coop loved all of the cars!!

Coop has grown so much this year, both physically and emotionally. He has gained over 5 pounds this year, which is more than he has gained since his first year of life! He is well over 3 feet tall and will soon overtake Eens!! His keen sense of smell (I often wonder if he developed that while in the NICU??) caused some grief during our quest for finding a puppy - he couldn’t go into any of the pet shops with us because they were “too stinky”! He continues to fight seasonal allergies since the fall, with them starting again now. I will be interested to see if some of those “allergies” are linked to the pollution when we get back to the US! During this past winter his eczema around his lip flared up weekly - again, I wonder if this is not due to the environment we are living in! Besides his “allergies” and eczema, he is thriving and I love watching him grow up!!!

(The Batman costume on the right is what Coop wore for Halloween in October, the left one is his new one which fits perfectly!)

Coopie loves super heroes and everything boy!! In the picture above you will see him dressed as Batman (thank you grandma and grandpa) on his big day!! He loves video games and is definitely more technologically advanced than I am!! He can work the I-touch much faster than me and he conquers levels in Super Mario before I do!! I have also noticed this year that he is a risk taker. I watch him ride his scooter outside and one would think he has been on it since he was a baby. Much of this has to do with the fact that he wants to be just like his big brother and sister, but I think he also has a very daring personality, which is a bit scary for me!! His creativity is developing thanks to his best buddy. He is even venturing into art by drawing his interpretations of Disneyland!! Lately he has learned all of his letters, both upper and lower case! He goes around the house telling us how to spell everything that has letters on it!! His favorite is, “I know how to spell IST (abbreviation for the kids’ school!), IST”!! He just giggles after he tells me this!!

Of course, some of Coop’s challenging behaviors still prevail at times. He doesn’t like when other adults touch him or try to help him. We are working on this, he just requires a bit of warming up time. I’m also hoping this year he will gain a bit of patience when we are out and about - the world still definitely revolves around him!! Living in China does not help either of these two personality traits because people are always touching him (or trying to - he scares them when he yells!) and when you go out for what you think will be a 2 hour adventure, it can very easily turn into a 6 hour outing! Coopie also has trouble calming himself when he gets upset. I am really trying to help him learn how to control himself enough so that he doesn’t spin totally out of control, but this task is not an easy one for him or I!! He has been a fighter since day 1, and I’m sure this will be an asset as he gets older, but for now that determination gets him into a wee bit of trouble!!

I feel so blessed to have Cooper as my son. He, without knowing it has taught me so many lessons in the last four years... Each day is a gift that must be cherished and appreciated!! Hug your babies many times throughout the day, they are special treasures full of love!! And, when all else fails, count to 5 and breath deeply!!

The memories of his birth and the months that followed it are (and probably always will be) still fresh in my mind, but I have tried really hard this year not to relive the scary moments, and instead to focus on the fact that I have a beautiful, healthy, energetic, loving four year old!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOP!!!

Spooky Sky

We woke up on Saturday morning to an orange sky - it was quite creepy. Danny went outside and saw a layer of dust on all of the cars, and only then did we understand that a massive sandstorm was going through the city. This was our first sandstorm experience since we have been in Tianjin, and I wish it would be our last, but I'm sure we won't be so lucky. The sky was thick with pollution, and many people were wearing their masks to protect there lungs from the particles in the air. Last year we experienced so many clear, blue sky days that many times I dismissed the books and others accounts that the pollution was really bad here. This year has been a totally different story! It is sad that the measures the cities put into effect for the Olympics truly worked and now they have gone back to their old ways and the pollution and sandstorms have returned. I'm sure there is much more to the whole story, but that is how I see it.

This is an article about the sandstorms that have hit the cities...More sandstorms on the way

And, here are some pictures that Danny captured of our orange sky!!

Soccer Star

Or, according to Eens, he is going to be a football star!! This past Saturday Eens started playing club soccer (or football, depending on what country you are from or in - China says football)! Danny and I were both shocked and thrilled that he wanted to play! Eens is not that athletic, and typically given the choice he would rather build something or play on the computer! This is pretty exciting watching him playing a sport! I must say there were a few tears on Saturday, but Danny kept getting him back on the field! The coaches are fantastic - one is Chinese and the other one is from the UK! We all know that they produce some pretty good soccer players, so we are very happy that he is learning to play from experienced coaches! We don't have huge expectations by any means, but as long as he has fun and learns he can't touch the ball, then we will declare the season a success!!

All for a good cause!

This past Friday night Danny and I went to the first Black and White charity event in Tianjin to raise money for the orphanage! All the money that was raised will go directly to the local orphanage to help pay for more ayis (helpers) and provide surgeries for children. I believe the amount raised during the evening was over $10,000!

Although Danny grumbles about getting dressed up and going out, we always end up having a wonderful time. We spent lots of time catching up with friends we don't see that often and enjoying the new Westin Hotel that just opened!

I'm pretty sure by the end of the night Danny was having a good time and it was all for a great cause!!

Buying Airline Tickets = Mafan!!

The children's spring break is coming up in early April and we have decided that we will spend some time in Japan. Danny and I have wanted to go, but have put it off because the exchange rate is terrible now with the yen. We recently decided that we should just go in April because the cherry blossoms are blooming and the Japanese children begin their school year, so we can sneak a few days at Tokyo Disney and hope that the crowds aren't terrible!!

I have found that booking flights in Asia is incredibly frustrating. There are a few options when booking...you can use the internet (which proved to be too difficult for me), you can pay with a credit card and be charged 3% by the travel agent, another fee from the credit card company, and risk having your information stolen, or you can pay in cash directly to the travel agent. I have dappled in the first two options without much luck, so this time I paid cash for the tickets. This probably seems like a minor inconvenience, but it is a bit of a pain. First, I have to go to the ATM for several days in advance because we are only allowed to take out a certain amount of money in a 24 hour period (when you buy 5 tickets, you need a lot of cash!). Second, I have

to go to Beijing to the English speaking travel agent to give him the money. And lastly, I have to carry all of the cash in my purse for a bit of time, which I do not feel comfortable with! Thankfully this time Karen came and acted as my bodyguard as we made our way through Beijing! I won't complain too much because we now have our tickets and we get to go to Japan!!

Shopping Bargains!

I have been shopping a bit lately (I know this is a big shocker!!). Of course the majority of my shopping is finding the perfect gifts for all of our loved ones back at home, but occasionally I find a few things for myself!! Over the past two weeks I have been to the silk market twice and a ceramics market once. The ceramics market is great because it is all products that were supposed to be exported, but didn't quite make it!! I found these fantastics dishes all microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe for under $25 total. (sorry picture is upside down!)

I have decided to buy some bags for party favors for my baby sister's bachelorette party. This is the type of bag I bought, except in pink! They are great because you can throw a bunch of things in them and they wipe clean!! My purse lady was a bit overwhelmed when I explained that I needed 20!! Poor Danny, he just tries to look the other way when I walk in the door with loads of bags!

Now, I thought I was getting a bargain on this cute shirt for El, until I got home. I looked at it a few times and realized why it only cost me $2 - the sleeves are totally different and one doesn't even match!! I'm sure the shop owners were giggling when I walked off with it all smug from using my bargaining skills!!

Spring, where are you???

I’ve been looking for spring for two weeks, but apparently she is still hiding! We have had snow for the past three Mondays and our temps have only hit 60 a few times in the past couple of weeks. I was looking at our blog from last year and one year ago the temperature was 84 degrees!! I’ve even had my ayi clean all of our winter gear several times only to have to pull it out again. Maybe I will put that task off until May!

I actually have seen some sure signs of spring today. The trees are budding, the grass is turning green, the locals are not bundled in layer upon layer, and they are removing all of the green tarps off of the trees. Spring temps will decide to come eventually, so I will try and be patient. In the meantime, we have had to turn on our central heat because Tianjin has turned off all of the forced heat that came up through our floors. It really isn't a big deal for us, but for many locals this is a cold time, especially at night. They don't have central heating - they rely on the heating provided by the city.

As spring approaches, unfortunately it means a new school term, which means some of our treasured friends are leaving in the next couple of weeks. My heart is breaking once again from realizing that good-byes are right around the corner. Ellie’s best friend Minori will be going back to Japan at the beginning of April because the Japanese school year begins then. I am very sad for Ellie. She is only 8, yet in the past 6 months she has had to adjust to 3 good friends leaving. I know this is part of the gig, but I don’t think it gets easier for any of us. I am very good friends with Minori’s mommy, so I will feel Ellie’s sorrow right along with her. I also have a brave, brave friend from the states leaving this week. She has only been here since November (they were just on a short term assignment), but she has made a massive effort to learn about the culture and be a part of the expat community. She really is amazing!! Then towards the end of April my Beijing shopping pal from Bettendorf will be going back! She is obviously more than just a shopping pal - we know some of the same people, places, and attitudes that go with living in the midwest. I will miss her more than she probably knows even though I only get to see her a few times a month!!

Once again, we are reminded how important it is to cherish our friendships and not take time for granted! I know this new season will bring some sadness, but I plan on focusing on the many, many blessings!

Tuesday Afternoon Knitting Club

I’ve always wanted to learn to knit, but never had the time or the patience! Now, as an expat wife, I have the time and most days I even have the patience (unless it’s been a China day!). A friend of mine finally got the ball rolling (hehe) and said she would teach a few of us. Of course, this a completely open group, and what started out as about 3 of us getting together has now turned into sometimes up to 10 on any given Tuesday afternoon! I was originally the “virgin” knitter, but we have some other newbies, so I’m feeling pretty good about my efforts. I told my mom that scarves may be gifts next Christmas, but she pointed out that I have been working on one scarf now for almost two months, so I may not finish too many in time for the holiday!! Here is my first effort! I only started over about three times and it only has a few holes in it!!

As with any social group, this knitting group has turned into much more than just working on a hobby. These ladies are amazing. We come from all nationalities (last count there were more than 8!), but yet we are here in Tianjin supporting our husband’s and watching as our children grow up in an international setting. I am the first to admit that sometimes being the expat spouse can be difficult. We have left behind families, careers, and all that is familiar to enter an unknown world where we can only hope we don’t lose our own identities. Lately I have found it very easy to get caught up in an indulgent lifestyle (one that can no way continue once I get back to the US). It’s easy to go to lunch everyday and find someone to shop with or go to the spa with. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my friends, but I’m starting to realize that I need a little bit more. I’m searching for a good balance, because at the end of the day, my family is my priority, and in order for me to be a good wife and mom, I must feel secure in my own skin. I sense that many women here have similar feelings, and I love that sense of being understood every Tuesday afternoon. Our group will change over time, but I hope the sense of security stays the same!

Finally, the last floor of our house!

We all agree that we made a great decision when we moved to our new house! We still miss our neighbors, but we are just making an extra effort to see them as much as possible! I'm sure my driver wonders why we moved since he goes to Karen's almost daily to drop me off or pick her up!! I also think as the weather gets nicer that I will miss our after school outside time tremendously, but, those friendships are worth the extra 30 minutes in the car.

These pictures are of the third (bonus) floor of our house. I am so thankful for the extra storage space, the guest bedroom, and an extra play space for the kids! In this house we can breathe and spread out when we need space, but at the same time, our first floor living area is cozy and perfect for all of us to be together!

We're looking forward to our first visitors (Danny's mom and dad) at the end of April!!! We have plenty of space now and would love to have more visitors next year (most likely our final year here!)!!

After filling this house pretty quickly, I am truly amazed at how skilled I must be at finding homes for things because our old house was about half the size with very little storage!

Super Gross!

I don't even know if I should be posting these pictures, but I am still in shock that someone did this and thinks it is okay!! My driver, whom I am very fond of, has a little cold. I knew right away that he wasn't feeling well when he pulled up with a big box of kleenex in the front seat. I didn't think too much about it until I took a good look at him and saw kleenex pieces stuck up his nose. I was disturbed about this, but it got worse when I found the little pieces all over my grass and driveway. Yuck, yuck, yuck!

A Perfect Fit!!

Mei mei has turned out to be the perfect fit into our family!! We all love her to pieces and I'm pretty sure she feels the same way!! She enjoys lazy days of playing catch, learning to sit, playing Wii, learning the piano, and cuddling with all of us!! We have decided to crate train her because that is what we did with our other pups! Ayi did not like this practice, but now she is amazed that Mei rarely has an accident!! She explained to me that her dog has a pan in the bathroom that she uses - can you imagine how stinky that gets?!! But, ayi is a huge help and Mei seems to love her too!

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about getting a dog while we are in China. First off, the buying process really scared me and then I was worried about the health of the dog we chose. I was also concerned about the travel we do, and about getting the puppy back to the US when it is time (it was heartbreaking to leave Jenni and I knew we couldn't do it again). Now, I am so thankful that we found our little Mei. She makes our house feel like a home. When we leave and then come back she is so eager for us to pick her up and cuddle. Ellie has possibly found her calling - she absolutely adores Mei mei. She takes her for walks, feeds her, and teaches her tricks - she is amazing with her!

Up high and freaking out!

On one of our beautiful days in Hong Kong, I got the great idea to take a cable car up into the mountains to see the Tian Tan Buddha Statue in Ngong Ping Village. We were at Disney and the weather was perfect - the sky was clear and there was no wind. I knew we had another day in Disney and I knew the weather wasn't guaranteed to be perfect again, so I convinced everyone that this was a good idea and off we went! Straight away I knew we may run into some issues. When we got to the ticket window the woman told us that the walk up to the Buddha closed at 5:30 - it was 4:30 at the time. I looked at her strangely because I thought the whole ride would only take about 15 minutes, not 45! But, we were there and we thought that we would at least see the Buddha (it was giant right?!!).

We first saw this sign as we were entering the cable car - we all kind of laughed it off - it was a beautiful day!

Here we are at the beginning of the journey - giddy with excitement.

And as the cable car climbed up the mountain, the wind began, the clouds came, and I began to freak out.

As you can see, we couldn't even see out the cable car because we were stuck in a cloud! It was so windy and freezing cold - what was I thinking?!! Then when we were about halfway up, the entire apparatus stopped and we watched as men in winter gear were running around yelling trying to fix something. Not exactly what I was hoping to see! I looked at Danny and told him that maybe this is what Everest is like (remember I was in complete panic mode!!)!

We did finally make it to the top and this was as close as we could get to the Buddha covered in layers of clouds!

We also got the opportunity to see wild oxen all over the place, which possibly made the trip worth it?!! I don't think so, but it was quite entertaining watching the locals try and chase them!

I will just chalk this ride up to another adventure to add to the many we have had while living in China. I can say if you come and visit us and want to ride the cable car in Hong Kong, I am going to have to pass - it was a bit too exciting for me!!

A Magical Day!!

One of the main reasons we go to Hong Kong is to enjoy Disneyland with the kids. After our first trip last December, we couldn't wait to come back! It is considerably smaller than Disney World, but the little touches are all still there and our kids love it. We love the fact that we can walk on almost all of the rides, and the kids think it is great that they can ride the same ride over and over and over again!! We also can walk around the entire park and do most attractions in 1/2 a day (of course, we always get a 2 day pass because I can't get enough!)! We love the fact that we can walk from our resort to the park and it is a beautiful walk. We also love that the characters really interact with the kids - they come to the hotel and they walk around the park and will stop and talk to you. This is not allowed in Disney World, so it is a nice little touch that makes you realize that sometimes bigger is not necessarily better!!

This trip we discovered that El's favorite ride is still Space Mountain, Eens is undecided between Jungle Cruise (even though he cried on it the first time, he begged to go on it again!) and Buzz Lightyear, and Coop's favorite is now Orbitron (a bit like Dumbo except you are in a spaceship!)! The kids also really enjoyed the parade, eating ice cream and drinking coke icees!

We started our day off with breakfast with the characters in our hotel. Eens, as usual, tortured them. (Remember this summer Steph?!!) Thank goodness he is charming or else I don't think they would be too happy! Doesn't he just look a bit naughty??!! I'm not sure what goes through his mind when he sees a person in a costume and a plastic head!!
After breakfast we went to the park and enjoyed 2 wonderful days together!!

Just trying to fit in with the locals!!

Aren't the signs great?! All signs have Mandarin, Cantonese, and English on them. Danny loved the fact that he should be sober before riding Winnie the Pooh! It actually might be more entertaining if you had a little something to drink!

Look, no lines!!

After our wonderful days at the park, we walked along the South China Sea, back to our hotel!

Once again, Disney exceeded all of our expectations!! Our next Disney stop is hopefully Tokyo Disney!