Summah 2012!!

It didn’t take us long once landing in Charleston to dig our toes into the sand.  We had an amazing homecoming at the airport and it was absolutely perfect having my sister and her family there.   Between the two of us our families have kids ranging from 18 to 5 years old.    We are counting down the days to have Chris join us in three weeks and our family to be whole again.  

Jordan’s wings spread wide once arriving… she loved the ease of catching fish in my sisters pond. 

Jordan's fishing partner ~ Pop Pop (my dad) 

The diabolical duo… always finding fun!

If only I could really send them grocery shopping for me!   The Children’s museum was a fun alternative to some unexpected rainy weather. 

Finally, a place where pushing buttons is neither annoying nor is the button connected to some store alarm.  Garrett was in his glory!!!

Ayden didn’t waste any time opening the full service nail salon.   

But at the end of the day… our most favorite place to be… was the beach!!!  

It sure feels good to be home and with our family again!

Good Bye Shanghai... Hello USA!!!

It is hard to believe that we have lived in Asia a year.   It has been one year since we  have been home to the US and for 5 short weeks I will be saying good bye to what we now call “home” and hello to sunny Charleston, SC!   While we are very eager to see our family and friends our first year in China went much better then expected and there are many aspects to our adventure here that we are beginning to love…  

After 16 hours of flying and one more leg to go, we have finally landed on US soil!  The jet lag is starting to kick in, but it is nice to finally look around and be able to read all of the signs!

One of the first things I did was get our summer vehicle out of storage.  The “Crusher” ran fantastic and the beach chairs and boogie boards are loaded.

It didn’t take Jordan long to shed her shoes and get into summer mode.  First fish caught of the season… Jordan and Uncle Dezi!

Ayden’s fist dip in the pool…  I have a hunch she will have scales by the time we leave here! 

Nana and Pop Pop arrived! 

We spent a good part of our days plotting high/low tide and the waves… Ayden is now calling herself a “Surfer Chick!”

Garrett is happy no matter where he is…Great Kick Off to our summer!  

June 2012 ... Summah Break!!!! The Pluses and Minuses of Shanghai!

While I am planning my home leave I am trying to think about the things in the U.S. that I look forward to seeing the most. (Besides our family and friends)  I can honestly say even before food and good wine I am most excited to see the blue sky.  Some people don’t believe me when I say our air filters are in full tilt.  Here are the pictures to prove it…  Shanghai on a clear day… a view from the bus stop… 

Same time different day...

Skyline view of downtown Shanghai… Can you see Pearl tower??? 

There is a lot that I have learned our first year in Shanghai… and finding some of those “off the beaten trail” shopping hot spots is one of them.  This is me coming out of a store my friends and I named “The Rat warehouse.”   Basically, it is a version of dumpster diving and yes, it is worth the trip.   The reason it is called the “Rat Warehouse” is obvious and yes you see them while shopping.   I landed a couple of bamboo ladders I now use as blanket storages and one up in my room for my scarfs.   I couldn’t dig too deep as I forgot my flashlight.

There were some things that were tough to accept.   Jordan is probably our most easy going child, but the thought of going to the bathroom in the “squat toilet” was beyond anything she was comfortable with.  After much bribing she FINALLY went in one.   You would have thought she scored the winning touch town in her football game!!!    It’s the little things!!!  

Clearly, there are things that you just cannot get use to.  While out with a few friends for lunch, one of the waitresses left this delicacy on our table.  I did not notice it at first, but when I did, BOLTED from the table as if set on fire.  Yes, they are snakes and YES they drink this snake wine!  This is one wine that I will NOT drink…  I couldn’t even sit at the table with the bottle.