The Great 5,000 Step Run!!

It was exhilerating, amazing, and darn right scary running on the Great Wall!! This was our first time seeing any part of the Great Wall, so when we first caught sight of it, we were completely enthralled. To think, hundreds of years ago this wall was built to keep out the Mongols - a little crazy, maybe, but definitely fascinating!! Then we began to look closer at the image that was before our eyes and reality set in that we actually had to run on the thing!! I guess, I just thought the Wall would be like the pictures we saw - pretty flat, built up on both sides so that we were protected. Um, not quite...there were parts of the wall that were exactly as I envisioned them and then there were the parts that were completely narrow with only one side of the wall and a rope to hold on to, not quite my cup of tea! You see, I'm terrified of heights, so despite the amazing views, I spent most of the run hanging onto ropes for dear life!

We're still having fun...

If only I knew what was up and over those steps!!

This is where fear gripped me!! It's really just a cliff!!Some of the amazing views that I didn't see until I downloaded the pics! Thanks Danny for being the photog!!!

This is just me hanging on with both hands...I'm thinking I'm almost done...hehe!!But look, there's more uphill running, therefore, I realize I will have to come down again!!This was our final decent...I'm not sure I have ever been so happy to complete something since giving birth!!Many of you are probably thinking we ran a marathon, the way I am going on and on. No, we only ran a 5K which took us almost an hour to complete!! Would I do it again? No, probably not, but I am happy that I did it once and got to experience the Great Wall while also doing a bit of one of my favorite activities, running!!

Why does it have to be so complicated??

Just want to let you all know that blogger.com, the site I use to create this blog has been blocked for the time being in China. UGHHH! I'm not really very happy about it, but there is not much that can be done! YouTube has been blocked here since March. Both YouTube and Blogger are part of Google, so the government must not be happy with something they have done!!

You are probably wondering how I am able to blog right now...ahhh technology!! Danny's work computer is actually on a US server so when he is home, I can use his computer!! I guess all I can say is that I will enjoy the many freedoms of the US when we return for our home visit this summer!!

It's Eens and Coop's turn to shine!

I've written several posts on Ellie's shining moments onstage during Friday morning assemblies, but today it was Eens and Coop's turn. Their assembly centered around kindness and being good friends. The nursery class did a couple of songs and then the pre-k class performed skits that they wrote! It was pretty obvious they were original when Eensie's hippo group started talking about how it would be a good idea to put soup in their shoes!! The things that 4 and 5 year olds come up with!! Coopie's moment in the spotlight started a bit rough when he refused to stand up while the other kids were jumping around doing a Jack in the box dance. I thought he might be crushed, but Miss Kerri (one of Eensie's teachers) came to the rescue and cuddled him just before the tears started! For his next number he got to use rhythm sticks and it was all good after that!!!

Costumes, courtesy of the creative minds of pre-kers!!

Mrs. Carollo, the principal had to joke that she should use nursery/pre-k assemblies as a fundraiser!! There were so many parents there, and this should be no surprise, they are so cute and unpredictable at this stage!!

As all of their teachers say, "Well done boys!!"

Wednesday Playdate!

Every Wednesday, the kids get out of school early and they are usually home by 2:45. Wednesdays have typically been our playdate days because the kids have more time to play and the mommies have more time to chat! It works out quite nicely! This past Wednesday we arranged a playdate with our new neighbors and my friend Anna and her children. Our new neighbor's son, Jordan, is in Coop's class and so is Anna's little boy Justus! I'm pretty sure this was Coop's first playdate - he usually tags along to play with Eens or El's friends!!

I actually met Anna through this blog!! She had googled children's birthday parties in Tianjin and my blog popped up. She read a bit and realized that it was my dear son Eens who had thrown sand in her sweet Justus's eyes on one of the first days of school! I was horrified, but thankfully, she has two boys so she completely understood that sometimes they can be aggressive! I am so happy that Coop is now in Justus's class because I get to see her a lot more socially!!

First, we went to Audrey's house and had snacks (I had to make dirt pudding because I found all natural gummy worms here!!)! Then we released them to the wild to play outside. I decided that it would be no problem if I finish my yummy cup of frothy coffee before going out to supervise, we were in our compound and there are gurads at the gate! I really didn't stay in that long when I decided I had better check on the kids. I found Eens and El right away, but Coop was no where to be found. I checked both parks, the house, Audrey's house again, and still no Coop. At this point my heart had dropped into my stomach and I was pretty concerned - he's usually so loud that I can find him wherever he goes. Ellie started looking and sure enough she found him within minutes hiding on the side of one of the houses. That little stinker!! I'm pretty sure over the course of the afternoon we lost a couple more children, but only for a bit!!

Ellie and her friends put on a dance for us!!

It was a great afternoon and it made me realize that I am really going to miss our friends and the security of our little compound this summer!

Roses, roses everywhere!

Summer is upon us here in Tianjin (according to the lunar calendar!), which I am completely grateful for!! The kids are outside nearly every afternoon until dinnertime wearing themselves out and getting incredibly dirty due to the very dry climate! The only problem I have found with the change of seasons is the daylight coming upon us at 5:00am. We do not practice daylight savings time here, so for over a month, Coopie has been waking at 5:30, happy as can be, ready to start the day!! When will he learn that just because it is so bright that it might as well be noon, it is NOT time to get up!! I tried bribery last weekend, but it didn't work!!

I am enjoying all of the flowers and vegetation in full bloom! Last year when we arrived, it was extremely hot and I was extremely stressed, so I didn't really pay any attention to my surroundings (except of course, the dirt - I did notice that!!). Now I understand why Tianjin is called the "city of roses", they are everywhere! Here are a few small gardens in our compound!

We want the cakeman!

On Saturday Eens was invited to his dear friend from Denmark's birthday party! He was so excited to go and I was looking forward to a nice afternoon chatting with the other moms!! His friend had invited the entire preK (guess who gets to do the same in a few weeks!!) so there were a lot of little ones there!!

I caught Eens actually eating and enjoying a cucumber (a year ago he wouldn't touch a vegetable!)

They ate some lunch and then they played inside and out for almost 3 hours! The highlight of the party came when the "cakeman" was brought out. The "cakeman" is a tradition in Denmark for birthdays. It is basically pastry shaped like a person and then decorated with candy! The whole tradition is very endearing, but our friends also included an interesting twist...when the mom cuts the "cakeman's" throat, all the kids scream!! A little morbid, but quite memorable!

Jiaozi Boy!

Eens did it again!! This time he ate 12 of the jaozi ayi made!! These jaozi are not small, so this is quite the feat for an almost 5 year old!! His daddy is very proud!