May Flowers... Mothers Day, Celebrations and Therapy!

So after spending 10 months here we finally cracked…  and our first soldier has finally needed some therapy.  After several weeks of battling a “wicked phase” and in fear of worrying that this phase will never find its way out of our lives forever, we decided to seek the advice of a therapist for Garrett.  Nothing major of course (or I wouldn’t be writing about it) but no family is exempt from the ups and downs of life…. Particularly when that life is in China.   So Garrett and I set off on our scooters to our appointment.  When we told him he was going, he thought this woman was going to take his brain out of his head and "wring it out."  Good analogy!    I speak to the therapist… get a good feel about some tactics to handle this phase OTHER then wine and immediately feel better just knowing that we are not alone and that with the right measures this phase will be short lived.   When it was Garrett’s turn to speak to her, I sat in the room next door grateful for the paper thin walls.   The thirty minutes went by quickly.   It didn’t take me long to realize that Garrett thought the therapist was a medical doctor.  He   happily spent the majority of his 30 minutes discussing all of his physical ailments.   Including gum pain, his stubbed toe, bruised knees and even some soreness at his left earlobe.   When we were scootering home, I asked him what he thought… he told me his ear was feeling better already!  

  We bailed on the therapy after two weeks and I have decided to try an alternative therapy… Running!  I was actually very surprised he had the stamina he did… he ran just under 2 miles without taking a break!!   I am loving having my new running partner!!!

The Tooth Fairy:  Is she Chinese?
One of the few questions I have had to answer since moving here.

While out one evening Jordan lost a tooth…. Thankful, this came on a day that I actually went to the bank.   Initially,  my biggest fear was staying awake long enough to get into character.  So in preparation, I decided to put the money on my nightstand so that I would remember when I turned out the light.  For the first time, I had only large bills!!!  I see this as a step up because I usually don’t have any bills.   It just doesn’t feel right sneaking into your child's room while they are asleep and pilfering through the Hello Kitty Velcro purse of your 5 year old because she is the ONLY one that actually manages her money in this house!!   Good thing the kids do not know RMB conversion to USD.  They think they hit jackpot from the tooth fairy here!!

Mothers Day!

There are very few days that I don’t consider myself blessed to have the most important job in my life.  We spent the day doing some of my favorite things… Including eating, running, biking and we even had a painting contest.  There is one thing you can never get back with your children and that is time.  I am grateful to have more time with them living here…  it is nice to see them find their wings, but boy is it hard watching them use them!!! 

My Shanghai Friends!
I ended May with a fantastic surprise… my girlfriends got together and threw me an incredible birthday party.  It is hard to believe that after 10 short months here, I have found people that I feel like I have known forever.   It was fun celebrating my 29th birthday … again. 

Summer Sizzler!!  End of School Bash!

You can’t finish up the school year without doing the SAS mud slip and slide!  The kids are having to learn early on that friends come and go….  that saying good bye is not always easy and that with each new year as a expat, you will have the opportunity to meet new people from all over the world.   Jordan has  friends moving to Japan, Scotland, Germany, Thailand and the U.S.  I am grateful I thought enough to bring the world map with us and have it up on the wall.  No better way to learn Geography!!!   The kids had a great first year abroad.  We are gearing up for our home leave and are REALLY looking forward to being with our families & friends…   The countdown is ON!