We drove on Christmas Day to the Gigi and Bumpa's. Nicole, Dale and Olivia were there alreay. Gigi and Bumpa had recovered from the flu, but since Suzanne had it, our family Christmas dinner was postponed. That was okay, the kids got to have some one on one time with little Miss Olivia. They all had fun playing.
The next day, we went over to the Thompson's for our family Christmas. The kids all got to open up their Christmas gifts and they were pretty excited about it. It was kind of crazy actually. Alex got more cars and Elizabeth got Elina, the Barbie doll from Fairytopia/Mermadia stories. Elizabeth had a ball playing with Ally and Anna. You can see the two girls in their Chinese dresses. Suzanne and I got hats made by Gigi. You can see the picture of Suzanne's.
You can see from the pictures, there was a little bit of snow. Not much though. The kids never really got to play in it.
The adults played cards and got to exchange gifts that way. The most popular gift was the Poker bucket. It had poker chips, cards, beef jerkey, and alcohol. We passed on that one and took the McDonalds gift card and the lottery tickets. Didn't hit it big - $8!!
It was a lot of fun to be with everyone. Unfortunately, Steve, Kim, Nathan, and Sarah weren't there. They traveled to Michigan at Thanksgiving and were spending xmas in Minnesota. We did get to talk with them on the phone and that was nice.
The next day, Olivia got flu :(
click above to view pictures
Friday, January 19, 2007
Roessler Christmas (Macomb, MI) 12/23 - 12/25
While we were at Gigi and Bumpa's, Alex got the flu. I know where he picked it up too.....we first got up there on a Wednesday and went right to the bowling alley to see Gigi bowl. Alex didn't make it past the arcade because he saw the race car video game and had to sit in the seat and turn the steering wheel. Then he had his cars with him and was on the floor up and down the alley with them. I'm sure this is where he picked it up! Anyway, it was a 24 hour bug. He, of course, passed it on to Gigi and Bumpa. Then Anna Marie got it and Elizabeth and I had a mild case. Then we went back to the Roessler's for Christmas eve and after Christmas, Ethan got it! I didn't feel so bad when I heard it was going around other families as well.
click above for pictures
The kids and I had fun spending time a few days with Gigi and Bumpa and seeing Jake, Josh, Ally, and Anna. After their house, we drove back to the Roessler's on the 23rd. I wasn't feeling so hot, so we didn't do much celebrating for my 29th birthday :) We did, however, have to finish some Christmas shopping. So Kirk, Elizabeth, Grammy, and I went to Lakeside Mall to finish up. The reason we had to finish was that I ordered a Princess blanket from Disney.com and I put in the wrong zip code so it didn't make it to the Roessler's in time for Santa to bring it. We also bought a new camera which you will see new pictures being taken with.
Christmas Eve, we went to 4pm mass at ? Can't remember the name. Anyway, it was packed and the kids did a great job at mass. They were all really good since we had to be there at 3pm to get a seat! Alex, near the end, got ants in his pants as well as something else that really stunk!
Kevin, Chrystal, and Grammy stayed up to put together the train table and Kirk and PopPop passed out, snoring......gee imagine that!
Santa Claus came and he brought everything that was asked for, even the real pink lipstick that Elizabeth asked for! Alex and Ethan got a lot of Cars. Alex finally got McQueen. (We spent the better part of November and December going to every McDonalds in Shanghai since the "Cars" characters were the happy meal toys! We never got McQueen, we had to buy him on Ebay!)
The last gift to be opened was the train table. Alex did not want to leave playing with his cars. He threw a fit when we carried him into the room where the table was. As soon as the blanket was lifted, the tears stopped. Ethan and Alex played for the rest of our day there with the table, it was a hit. Alex has one waiting for him at the apartment in Shanghai.
Then it was time to head up to the Thompson's to celebrate Christmas with the Dufon side. Only Nicole called and said not to hurry, dinner was postponed a day....Suzanne got the flu!! :( Thank goodness it was only the 24 hour bug!
click above for pictures
Back to Michigan 12/18 - 12/23
Our trip back to the US started in Michigan. We stayed with Ethan, Kevin, and Chrystal. Alex and Elizabeth had a lot of fun playing with their cousin.
We then spent a day at the Harris' with the Wasik's. Chesna and Beth showed up for dinner as well. Elizabeth had a ball playing with Katherine Wasik. You can see how big Rachel Harris is getting. Not a baby anymore!
The kids also had fun playing with Ashley and Emily, Aunt Chrystal's girls that she watches.
After that, the kids and I drove up to the farm and Kirk worked. Elizabeth and Alex had a ball playing with Anna and Ally.
click above for pictures
We're Back!
We're back from our trip to the US. We arrive back last Friday night. We will be posting notes, pictures and videos of our trip very soon. We have had very poor Internet service since we have been back due to the earthquake that hit Taiwan just after Christmas. This has made our Vonage phone service not work consistently, so if you are trying to call us please leave a message or send an e-mail.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Chistmas in Shanghai 2006
Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family. We will be traveling to the US tomorrow to spend a few weeks with our family. We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We have been very blessed to have a safe and healthy 2006 and we pray that the new year brings the same to all of you.
We had a small Shanghai celebration with Shou Ju and the kids this afternoon. You can see the photo and video links above.
love kath, kirk, elizabeth and alex
Lizzy at the Beauty Shop
Elizabeth made her first trip to the Beauty Shop today to get her hair trimmed. Her hairdresser's name is Farhana and she is from India. She also does her friend Orla's hair. She has a nice time being pampered so much so she was falling asleep.
Xintiandi Christmas
http://www.xintiandi.com/site/Default.aspx?tabid=101
Merry Christmas!!! This is our official Christmas picture taken at Xintiandi. Click on the link above to learn more about this area of Shanghai. Since we just took this last night, the picture didn't make the Christmas cards, sorry.
Concordia Christmas Program
Elizabeth had a school Christmas program. The preschool classes sang the "Friendy Beasts" song. The ladybug class were the Doves. They were very cute. Afterwards, we went to Haagen Daz.
Christmas Brunch at the JW Marriott
One of the favorite things to do on Sundays in Shanghai is to go to brunch at one of the 5 star hotels. These places have the most amazing spreads of food I have ever seen. We've tried the Shangri La and these pictures are from the JW Marriott. Alex and Elizabeth both ate really good and of course afterward, they polished off some homemade chocolate ice cream! They were cooked after that.
Lizzy & Daddy Go Shopping
Kirk and Elizabeth went to the Superbrand Mall by the Oriental Pearl Tower to do some Christmas shopping. They were gone all day and they had a lot of fun together. She had a choice to eat lunch at Blue Frog or McDonalds. Surprisingly, she chose McDonalds.
There is a video of her dancing!
Making M&M Cookies
My helpers! Elizabeth had a cookie exchange with school so we made M&M cookies. Not only because they are her favorite, but I couldn't find any chocolate chips. Have to remember to try to pick some of those up. Now that Alex is walking, he wants to be everywhere we are, even in a dinky kitchen!
Shanghai Toys R Us Grand Opening
There is now a ToysRUs in Shanghai. It is in the Superbrand Mall. Alex and I went with his friend Chloe and her mom, my friend, Sophia. This was the grand opening. It wasn't what we had expected. It was more dignitaries giving speeches. Chloe passed out and Alex was trying his new walking skills.
Alex & his "Cars"
Okay, I have to tell the story about the cars. Alex is a little bit of a Cars fan (the Disney movie). We had Mater (the tow truck with the funny teeth) from the States out of a Happy Meal. I never got more of them because he wasn't that interested in cars then. But now he is.
Now China McDonalds has them in their happy meals. So Kirk goes to every McDonalds he can find so that he can get Alex Cars. We are missing McQueen. I think we'll have to find that one on Ebay.
Alex's favorite is Mater. He feeds Mater his french fries or what ever else he's eating. It's pretty cute.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
phone isn't working
Our Vonage isn't working now, so if you are trying to call, I'm not ignoring you.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Coconut
Elizabeth's imagination is at it again. Today she told me that there is a monster that lives in her room. His name is Coconut. I asked her what he looked like. She said that he was big and round and had orange eyes and no hair. I told her to draw him. She did. He doesn't have feet or hands, she said. He has sticks. Then she told me he was sad, so she drew over his eyes and made them cry. She asked Kirk to write "No Coconuts Allowed" on her picture and hang it up on her door. Tonight she used him as an excuse to goof off before bed. So we told her that Coconut will sleep in our room tonight.
View at Night from our Apartment
Tonight was a pretty clear night so we set-up the tripod to take a photo. It turned out pretty good. Not all of the lights on the buildings are on, but this gives you a pretty good idea what our view is every night.
Trip to Yu Yuan Garden
Wow....what an adventure this was. It was a beautiful, chilly, sunny day on Saturday so we took a trip to the Yu Yuan Garden and bazaar. It's only about a 30 minute drive from our house and it's just over the river so if we took the subway, we could have made it in about 20 minutes maybe. Of course, there were about a bazillion people. And of course, Alex wanted nothing to do with being in the stroller, her wanted to walk. There is a ton of shopping that can be done here and there is a beautiful, traditional Chinese garden from the Ming Dinasty ( i think). It is supposed to be beautiful in the spring, just in time for when our parents visit. Elizabeth got a new purse here. It is reddish-pink. (her description). There is supposedly a restaurant that has the best jiaozi (dumplings) in Shanghai. But of course, I'm the only one who likes dumplings, so we had lunch at McDonald's. Great place to go, but next time will go in the morning without the haizen (children).
Christmas Chapel at Elizabeth's School
Elizabeth's preschool led the monthly chapel. They did the nativity scene and sang lots of songs. Elizabeth did a very good job and loves singing the songs. Her favorite is "Away in a Manger".
Elizabeth's friend Orla's 3rd Birthday Party
Elizabeth has a friend, Orla, who lives in Building 3 of our complex. Orla just turned 3 on Nov. 29 (same day as Jake's birthday). Orla and Elizabeth love to play dress up together and draw and do crafts. They are very similar creatures and usually fight for the 1st half hour of their play dates. Usually on Saturday or Sundays, Orla's mom, Kim, and I swap having play dates so that we each get to share in the joy of breaking up the fights. Kim is usually much smarter than me and has two of everything so that they don't fight. After the first 30 minutes, they play wonderfully together.
Kim planned a "little chef's" party for Orla's birthday. That lady is brave (or insane)! She had about 10 - 15 preschoolers making pancakes, rolling out and decorating cookies, and frosting and decorating cakes. As you can see, all the kids had a blast.
Orla's sister is Ciara (key-ra). She is Alex's friend. Whenever we are going to see her, Alex starts saying her name and gets very excited. It's pretty cute. I'll have to try to get that one on video.
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