February Update!

We don’t get to many days where is snows in Shanghai so today we loved seeing the white stuff stick…  

We are definitely eager for the weather to get nicer… the colder weather has seemed to over stay its welcome!  We are by far NOT cold weather people after 10 years in S. Florida!  This has been a huge adjustment for all of us!!

While the kids are gone at school, I try to venture out and do the same errands I used to run at home.  Only here, I am never disappointed with one of those OMG! moments when food shopping.  So rarely do I actually take out my phone or camera to take pictures… but standing in line behind this, I couldn’t help myself.   I am actually impressed that these are wrapped… even partially.  Typically, they are thrown haphazardly in a huge bin and the locals pick through each slab.   They are then just thrown on a cart unwrapped and hauled out to someones van.  As awful as this looks… you get use to seeing it and even the kids aren’t grossed out by this sort of sighting.  Does that mean we have been here too long????

There isn’t much that will keep Jordan inside…   But after some time saving up her allowance, she was able to buy herself a new skateboard.   Somehow her old skateboard didn’t make it onto our sea shipment.   

As much as Jordan loves to be outside… my inside kiddos are always finding something crazy to do.  Garrett and Ayden are the best of friends!   And ironically are both equally the boss.  

Our snaggle beauty… Let the Gawky phase begin!!

Garrett was SO excited to show off his book report on snakes.  No doubt… he picked this because it is the one animal that I fear the most. 

We are preparing to celebrate Jordan and Garrett’s first holy communion.  They have been working very hard in their classes no doubt going for the snacks and friends they have made.  This was an exciting event until someone had to break the news to Jordan that the occasion warrants a dress.   Needless to say, this did NOT go over very well and bribing tactics are in full motion.   Ayden however was ALL on board trying on each dress we were looking at and demanding that she was ALL over communion if it requires “fancy” wear.   We are keeping our fingers crossed for the big day and hoping that the priest doesn’t notice her white cleats with the white dress…  

Our little celebrity!!  Ayden made the front cover the the Shanghai American School Magazine!!!  

Naturally, this went completely to her head…  as she is now telling everyone she is famous!

Celebrating the Year of the Snake in Boracay, Philippines!

Happy Chinese New Year!!! And one place we never seem to be during this holiday to celebrate IS China!  Its a good time to get away because the locals celebrate all week and set off fireworks all night long.  The fireworks are nice at first, but it gets old after a while and the resulting smoke can really get thick in the city really raising the pollution index even worse.  

No doubt we have found paradise in the Philippines as this is our second trip back to Boracay!  

While it takes two plane rides, an hour and a half bus trip, a boat and a Tuk Tuk transfer  (think rustic motorcycle side car)  Never in the US! -- once you arrive on this small island -- the pain from the endless journey dissolves quickly as you sink you feet in the white sugar sand.   With all of the amazing beaches we could explore on this side of the world, you know it has to be good for us to come back.

For an island that isn’t that far a flight away from Shanghai, it sure takes an all day adventure to get to.  This is boat ride we take as the second to last leg of the journey.  The 15 minute boat ride takes us to our destination island of Boracay.

Boracay is a tropical paradise that is an hour flight south of Manilla (about 4 hours plan ride from Shanghai)   The crystal clear water and white beaches puts it on Forbes top 10 beaches in the world.  You shed your shoes the moment you arrive as the sand starts at your front door!

Our youngest surfer girl is the first in her bathing suit and out the door.  Last year she was still recovering from a broken ankle so it was great to see her fully healed and running at full speed.  You can almost see her imaginary wings spread wide as she heads off running for the water.  It didn’t take Ayden long to find someone to braid her hair.  At dinner the first night, Ayden mysteriously disappeared.  We spied her talking to a couple of local women with a small tent full of beads and threads set up near the restaurant… she came back with a skip asking for some cheap money.  She came back 20 minutes later with a smile on her face and many braids in her hair.  To see her negotiate and independently arrange this was awesome.  Garrett never far was close by pacing the perimeter of the tent until she was done… she was in good hands.  

We spent one day on a scavenger hunt which included a ride on a zip line overlooking the Western side of the island known around the world for it’s windsurfing and kite boarding.  Garrett ever our adventurer loved the zip lining.  He may be afraid of his own shadow sometimes but there is no thrill ride he will turn down.

Garrett loved the chance to hold this crocodile, but we decided to keep it quick with the mama crock close by...

One great thing about Boracay is the dive sites are very close to the resort and there is a dive shop on site.  Fortunately Chris and I were able to get away for a few dives on our own.   The kids were begging us to go so we put them in a class of their own.  They can’t get certified until they turn 12, but we did find out that they LOVED it and plan to join us in our adventures in the future. 

It didn't take the Carey's long to find a little LOCO FRIO!!!!

No doubt…  the beach just brings out the best in everyone… 

The kids got to pick out a gift for themselves and decided on a skim board.  The flat beach was perfect for it and after a few bumps and bruises they managed to really pick it up and enjoy it.  The adults quickly decided they were better off with volleyball and happy hour...

Let the adventures continue as we explore the world on the other side….  

January Update - Welcome 2013!

Burrr it is cold here!    Something that has been very hard to get use to.   Pearl tower, the Huang Pu River, the bottle opener and in the foreground the famous Bund!  The Bund, also called Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, is a famous waterfront on the Huang Pu river and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years.  It is from the bund that you have the best views of the famous Pearl Tower (building with the circular spheres on the left) and the “Bottle Opener” -- the blue building lit up with the open notch at the time, hence giving it it’s name.  

One of the most amazing architectural achievements we are witnessing while we living here is the building of the Shanghai Tower.  This building is in the process of being built to the right (in the photo) of the “Bottle Opener” and will be the tallest building in Asia and the second tallest building in the world.  Upon its completion in 2014, the building will stand approximately 632 metres (2,073 ft) high and will have 121 stories!  It not quite taller then the bottle opener at this point… but it grows each week! 

  This is a view from one of our favorite restaurants in Shanghai, Mercato.  This year we decided to forgo the wild New Years adventures and did our “date night” a few nights later without the crowds.  We were able to view all these amazing sites from our table.

The Chinese New Year is a huge holiday celebrated over the course of a few weeks.  They decorate for their New year like we would decorate for Christmas (Of course without the Santa's) .  They celebrate their New Year as we would celebrate our Independence day.  The pollution index nearly doubles from all of the fireworks.   Our town is preparing for the Lantern Festival!  There are always new festive decorations being put up and it is a fun way to learn about their culture while celebrating!!  

 

Well, given the cold weather it does not stop us from running out doors and having our pit crew with us is a bonus!!    We could never train for the Great Wall Marathon with out our support team.  Garrett is usually our lead horse…  if you listen closely he spends the entire ride singing.  Jordan is typically next in line…  She likes to use this time to have our “special” talks but typically follows Garrett’s lead and spends the better part of her ride belting out tunes….  Ayden is our complainer.  She either rides 40 feet behind us or is on “super speed” and we are yelling for her to slow down.  Either way she is one thing of for sure  NON STOP talking from her… 

I am a super reader!!!  And lets just say she took this cape very seriously… 

I love having a kindergartener!  There are so many activities to get involved in and this particular day we were teaching the kids how to make their own dumplings.  The art of dumpling making began in China… and I have to admit, I found it surprisingly challenging.  Each “folder” had their own very specialized technique.  I felt very inadequate in the folding process but a pro in eating!!   The kids absolutely loved not only making them, but eating them as well!   It is an art I am still trying to perfect, but a memory that I will have with Ayden for a lifetime!    

We all catch our children in those rare moments where they are getting along so well, you want to take a picture of it to freeze the moment in time.  I have to admit, my kids really do get along for the most part.