Back in Shanghai!

After a fantastic several weeks state side, we are back in Shanghai and hitting some local shopping markets to find furniture for our apartment.  We decided to “let go” of our rental furniture and buy some memorable pieces of our adventure here.  This particular shop/warehouse —  is named “The Rat Warehouse” by the expats that shop here.  It is like an extreme version of the T.V. show Pickers.   The store is dark and piled high with various furniture pieces and knick knacks.  The owner walks around in a leisure suit to bargain.  It is a true experience...

Once we recovered from the jet lag, it was time to go back to school!!!  

Ayden loves school and is starting her second year at SAS.  She is in Kindergarten with a fantastic teacher from Pakistan.  This year she is most excited to be able to sit at the “big” table at lunch and carry her own tray and select her own food.  She has a lot of the same kids in her class from her pre K year, but her best friend, Charley was put in another class.  (Not at ALL surprised with THAT one)  They seem to hook up though at lunch and playground and find trouble when they are together.  

Garrett is starting 2nd grade this year and is also the family translator.  (Along with Chris but Garrett’s Chinese is easier to understand as it lacks the “Boston” accent.)    He was excited to see so many of his friends in his classroom and was more excited then I expected going back to school.  He was most excited that being in 2nd grade meant that you get to play on the “big kid” playground.  Apparently, this is a huge status changer.  Garrett LOVES his new teacher.  We are hopeful the feeling is mutual...

Jordan is starting her 4th grade year at SAS.  No surprise that we walk down the hallway her first day of school to several of her pals “high fiveing” her.  

Much like Garrett, Jordan’s status also rose this year as she too went to a different “big kid” playground.  This new status change also means that they are able to decide if they want to be outside to play or they can go to the library to “chill out.”   It is nice to see them get some independence.   

The first day of school we were early to the bus stop in the morning… (for those that know me this is a RARE occurrence).  I was lost all day not having the activity they bring and I won’t lie, I actually felt a mid life crisis brewing.  I was 20 minutes EARLY to the bus stop in the afternoon… excited for them to come home.  The extra 20 minutes waiting gave me some time to think and worry about my mental status.   Day two:  we were in full sprint to the bus stop in the morning and I was back to my old self cutting it close at drop off.   Not sure what happened in between… I am still working on that… 

End of Summer... Sad saying good bye again.

There is a lot I can say about the past 12 months… there were times that we were challenged with some new life adventures, but it wasn’t until I got home and spent some time with one of my nephews Jared… that I realized an important life lesson.  As we landed, we were immediately introduced to two new concepts.  The first one was  “Roo” cups… Highly sugared drinks that come in a size much too larger for a little body and truly a parents nightmare 20 minutes after ingestion.  (Jared’s wicked sweet tooth)  You can almost see their eyes glazing over as they are drinking the toxic waste.   

The second concept, was “YOLO.”  It wasn’t until I returned to China that I realized it’s true meaning to me.    (A meaning I will get to in a future post) But what it means is.. 

“YOLO … You Only Live Once”  

We sucked every last bit of summer into our visit… and spent nearly everyday with the wind in our hair and sunscreen on our skin.   We  had an amazing summer…  Building sandcastles and memories…  

And while the kids are getting use to their city life in Shanghai...

They have learned that “home” isn’t a place...

Home is… who you are with! 

A Visit from our Families... Florida & Massachusetts!

One of the biggest highlights of coming home is seeing our families…  We first had my parents visit from Florida and then Chris’s parents arrived from Massachusetts.   As quickly as we thought the last year went, the week we spent with our parents blew by far too fast and we are already counting down the days until we see them again next summer.

We spent the majority of our visit going to the beach at various hours of the day.  This particular evening we spent at a bomb fire party on the beach… 

We made it out a night as adults and visited my moms favorite restaurant in Charleston.  Next year we hope to have my brother and his family join us to make our picture complete…   

 As soon as we landed in Charleston, we were quickly turned onto something calling “Rooing.”    The local gas station sells these LARGE cups that you can fill with slushies for 25 cents.  It became a part of our pre-beach routine.  As you can see from the picture below… Ayden took her “Roo Watch” seriously.  I think it took a good two weeks for the kids to finally come off of their summer sugar high!

 A bit young to be driving… I think Ayden has delusional thoughts that this will one day be her car!  What you don’t see is the 3 inch layer of sand on the floor of the “Crusher.”  I spent more money vacuuming the sand out then I did on gas all summer long!!! 

 I thought the car ran like a champ, but Chris isn’t happy until he is tinkering under the hood.   I am pretty sure this is what made him feel most at home while here.