Merry Christmas!

We were excited to spend the Christmas season with our family back in the States!  We got to spend time with both sets of Grandparents and cousins from both sides of the family, it was a fantastic trip!  My only complaint is that it went by way too fast!  We tried to add a few days to our trip but couldn't justify spending 1,500 extra dollars for 4 extra days :(   It gets expensive flying 6 people around!!

For 95% of our married life we have lived at least a state away from our families. Some years we traveled to spend the holidays with them, and some years we did not. This was honestly the most excited I have ever been to spend Christmas in Utah :) and it did not disappoint!  Here are a few highlights...

Sledding and Snowplowing at Grandma and Grandpa's house

(Hurray for a white Christmas!)

 

 

 

Temple Lights and Gingerbread Houses with Oma and Grandpa

 (and Jamie scoring major points in the favorite uncle category!)

Skiing at Sundance!

The kids all did great! And Keely really caught the hang of it this year!

 



 Lots of outside play time in the snow!  They didn't want to come home! 

 

Me?  I was just content walking around Target for a few hours :) clean, wide isles, lots of selection, people I could understand and signs I could read!

 

Luke, Zak, and Keely slept over at their cousin's house one night so Jake was a little lonely.  We thought he was playing games on the iPad but when I looked later I found many pictures of Rob and I wrapping Christmas gifts!  Including pictures of the gifts :) He was a little spy {I'm sure the big kids tried to bribe him or something:)  } - sorry big kids, better luck next year!!

 

As much fun as we had and as much as we love and adore our family, I was a little worried about how difficult it would be to return to China.  Surprisingly we jumped right back into life here.  There is just something about being in your own home...even if that home is in China.

 

 

 

Poor Jake

 

 

 

Wool City Market - Qing He Mao Fang Cheng

 

 

 

I have had many chances to go shopping here in Beijing.  I decided to start listing them and taking pictures so you can have an idea of what it is like.  When I do go out, it is usually just to one market because it takes sooooo long!  It also pays to go with a group of ladies who know where these places are!  I have a few friends who have been here for more than 15 years!!  That's how we found this place.

 

 

 

 

 

It is called the wool market.  This one is unlike the other markets that target tourists and ex-pats.  In those markets all of the vendors speak very good English.  This is a Chinese market where English is not spoken - so it was a great chance for me to practice my Chinese!! 

 

 

 

 

This building had 5 floors of shop after shop filled with fabrics and yarn.  They did have some sweaters and wool coats already made.  You can find a style you like and they will measure you and make one to fit you.  Or you can bring in a picture of anything and they will make that for you!  Awesome!!  A lot of cashmere/wool sweaters and coats for great prices!  You can also buy their scrap fabric and have either them or another tailor make you anything.  I found a few pieces of tweed I am going to have made into skirts for 50 Yuan (8 USD).  The cost to have a skirt made is about 15 USD.

Tang Hu Lu

Tanghulu is a traditional Chinese snack that consists of candied fruits on bamboo skewers.  When I asked my driver what it was he pulled up the word "Hawthorn."  I don't think I have ever eaten  hawthorn in the states :)

 

 

 

But it was good!!  They take the seeds out, put them on the skewer then put a hard sugar coating on them.  I was told that foreigners really like them (probably because they are sweet!)  They most often use Hawthorn but apparently also use other fruit like strawberries and kiwi.  I'll have to try those!

They are sold by street vendors and by guys riding bicycles with stacks of these sticking out the back - that is where we found ours :)  Kind of had a sweet and tangy flavor, they also sometimes sprinkle them with sesame seeds or some other seed.  AND it cost a whopping 2 Yuan (about 32 cents US!)!

Beijing Traffic

 

I fear for my life every time I get in a car in Beijing :)  There is some sort of unwritten law about driving survival here that they all know, but doesn't make any sense.  Things like turning left in front of oncoming traffic, a LOT of honking, swerving, driving in the wrong lane, passing whenever you feel the person in front of you is going to slow - even if a car is coming in the other direction, NEVER slowing for pedestrians or scooters -- even in crosswalks, my list could go on and on... 

 

This is one of my favorites, because my driver likes to do this - it gets us where we want to go faster.  They regularly use the shoulder for an extra lane.  Of course you may have to swerve back into traffic when there is a car stalled on the side, so be ready!  These people know their cars WELL - how close they are to other cars on the sides, back and front.  I'm pretty sure I have seen four cars side-by-side driving on a two-lane road.  I may have even been able to roll down my window and tap the car beside me -- while driving  :)



 

 

 

 

 

 

This is our driver Kevin.  I was slyly trying to take his picture :)  Just in-case I ever go missing...

 

 

Really, we lucked out getting this guy.  He's a cool guy and is very helpful.  He is one of the few who speak English, which is helpful for getting where we want to go and also practicing our Chinese with.  He used to be security at Hard Rock Cafe here in Beijing -- they gave them English lessons.  Hard Rock just closed down last month - so sad!  They actually had decent food for when we needed something other than Chinese!

World Air-Toss Championships

Okay, and while we are on the subject of school, let me give you a glimpse of the physical education department here at the elementary school.  I took this picture for the banners on the wall -

 Great Wall Runners (running program), spinning dunking dragons (see previous post), world air-toss (see below), Jedi Jugglers, Grade 2 circus, house color challenge (the classes compete against each other all year and accumulate points), mission impossible (they haven't done this one yet, so I'm not sure what it is yet), Terry Fox Run (cancer fund-raiser run). 

These are all in-school programs that the kids CAN participate in if they choose to.  A few weeks ago Zak watched his friend perform as part of the Jedi Jugglers - a program that they do during recess to learn how to juggle - once they master balls they go on to rings, then clubs.  The kids just love it!


So, for PE they have been playing this game that their PE teacher made-up.  They swing on the gym ropes and then their classmate hands them a ball and if they make a basket it's 5 points, if they make it into one of the 3 garbage cans it's 3 points, and if they make a basket and it lands in a garbage can it's 8 points.  They do two 10 minute rounds, switching sides in-between.

Here is Zak (He is wearing a beanie - I have no idea why, good luck maybe??) 

 

The PE coach introduced it as the WORLD air-toss championship because "I'm pretty sure we are the only ones in the world who do this."  :)



The 2012 4th grade champions!!

The BEST half-time show EVER!

 

...and I'm not exaggerating!

 

The High School Varsity Basketball team was playing a game at the "Great Wall Shootout" against the American School of Japan.  The game started about 1.5 hours before the school day ended and the students of the school (or teachers) that wanted to go to the game could.  I loved being there!!  So much excitement!  But the best part was the half-time show... introducing the --

 

 

SPINNING DUNKING DRAGONS

 

 

 

This was actually only about 1/4 of the kids, I was just trying to get a picture of Zak - there in the middle in the blue shorts. 

 

The Spinning Dunking Dragons are a group of 4th and 5th graders who for the last couple months spend some of their recess time with their coach practicing their skillz for this performance.  They spun all sizes of balls on their fingers and then one after one they jumped off little trampolines to dunk in the basketball hoops!!  SO COOL!!  And so much fun!!

 

 

 

I wish I would've brought my good camera - but I did manage to get this picture of Zak dunking.  If you look closely behind the kids spinning the balls - there he is with his blue shorts dunking his orange ball :)  Yay Zak!

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly, it was far more entertaining than any other performance I've seen at a half-time.  I love that my kids are getting experiences like this at school :)

 

 

Hong Kong Disney!

 

Of course the MOST exciting part of our Hong Kong trip was DISNEYLAND!

 

 

The question we get the most is...."so, how does it compare to Disneyland CA?"   Well, get ready for picture overload as I answer that question...:)

There were Teacups...

Space Mountain... my aliens fit right in :)

 

 

Jake's personal favorite - Autopia

 



 

They even had Mickey Mouse Ice-Cream!

 

 

 

 

It FELT like Disneyland - we loved it!  There aren't quite as many rides and attractions as Disneyland, but they have plans to expand.  They also had Small World, the train around the park, and Dumbo. The main rides we missed were Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, and the new Cars area.  We went to the park on Thursday and Friday and the longest we had to wait in a line was 20 minutes for the Autopia ride.  All other rides were 5 minutes max.  We rode Space Mountain and Grizzly Gulch (like Thunder Mtn. Railroad - but BETTER!!) over and over again just running right back on!

 

Of course there were a few things that were different - being in China and all...

 

 

What exciting thing is this lady taking a picture of???

 

 

 Yep, that would be us...

 

 

 

 poor Jake couldn't escape :)

 

But he Loved this car!

 



This was the new Toy Story area - it was so cute!!

 

My tough guys trying to see who will be the next King...

The old west town, Grizzly Gulch.  The roller coaster here was full of surprises!  My favorite ride :)

 Tarzan's Tree House



The park was decorated for Christmas, and they did have a parade and fireworks at the end of the day!

We're thinking we need to now try Tokyo Disney, and Paris Disney so we can compare them all....hmmm - Who wants to join us!!!