My little Valentines

 We did just move but I couldn't let Valentines Day just slip by without any recognition.  Since I am very limited on baking supplies here I was so happy to find some mini muffins and I just happened to bring some powdered sugar and sprinkles from home.  We whipped up some icing and did a little valentine treat decorating.  We invited some friends over that live near us and moved here the same week we did.  The kids had a great time having friends over and decorating their treats.  


I gave each of the kids a little love note with some conversation hearts.  M was wondering where I got the conversation hearts because they don't have stuff like that here.  I told him I got them in Utah.  He asked in a very concerned voice if I had flown home without him.  What a cutie.  He was glad to find out that I didn't fly home without him but that I purchased them before I left.  That night R brought all the kids some chocolates and J and I some flowers.  He was surprised to get a can of his Favorite Dr. Pepper.  

It's Electric! J's 4th grade dance

Getting ready to head out to J's 4th grade dance.  It really isn't what you think...

There was nothing awkward weird or forced at this dance.  J might argue with that after she saw some of my sweet dance moves and was thoroughly embarrassed by them.  I have to plead my case and say that I was very well behaved up until we did the electric slide.  No really, I don't even remember the electric slide.  It was just a really fun casual night of parents hanging out with there kiddos and doing some line dancing and a little foursquare dancing.  I was a little jealous when she said she wished she would have brought dad because he would have behaved himself.  I did mention that at least I didn't pull out the camera all night and take a million pictures.  This is the only picture I got...for the whole...entire...night.  See I would say I am very well behaved.    Love you J!  

We have to give Grandma the credit for her fabulous outfit!  Best dressed girl there!

Drive to Puxi and Nanjing Road

We really had such a fun day.  After the Pearl Tower we drove into Puxi, the neighboring city to Pudong.    

We were in and out of Taxi's all day long and the kids were starting to get tired.  After exploring the city a bit we decided to get some dinner.  Jon Chen showed us a yummy restaurant in a mall on Nanjing road.  The food here is really fantastic.  It is going to take some getting used to seeing the entire fish brought out on a platter (head and all) and things on the menu like bull frog legs.   Everything we have tried so far we have liked, maybe one of these days we will actually try the bull frog legs..Sorry little frog.

 Usually when R babe starts getting restless 

we hand him the camera and that buys us some time.  

Here are a few of his shots and some others.

 Nanjing Road.  

I would say comparable to New York City.

We were taking some pictures and a lady wanted to get a picture of our family.  

We thought that was pretty funny that we were here to go sightseeing and 

we were quite a sight for other people to be seeing.

Pearl Tower

One of the most famous buildings in Shanghai is the Pearl Tower.

We took the elevator to the top of the second sphere.   It was a great view and quite the journey to get to the top.  I think they said the elevator goes 6 feet per second.  

While we were up there the kids got all sorts of attention from people.  With there blond hair and blue eyes we tend to stick out a bit.  It also doesn't help that we have four children in a country where 2 is usually the maximum.  

 Bet you can't guess which building is called the bottle opener.  I

This really is an amazing sight!   

Continuation of S.and T. museum

 Whac-a-mole

Largest Light Brite I have ever seen!

Science and Technology museum

The Taxi's here really would be such a fantastic way to get around if they all didn't  wreak of smoke!   The smell of the taxi didn't stop us from going out on our first adventure.  The options of things to do here really are endless.  We opted for something close to home, The Science and Technology museum was a great way to start our Saturday adventures.  It really was amazing and went right along with what C and I have been learning about in our homeschooling activities.  The animals were amazing and we felt right at home while wandering through the rainforest.  It was so huge we will need to go back and see all it had to offer.

 2012 The Year of the Dragon

Dumplings

 Enjoying a brunch of dumplings.  These little pork filled babies are delicious.  

I don't know if we will be catching any flies in the near future, but their chopstick skills are something to be envious of.

 Although we have been known to use the stab and eat technique.

First Few days in Shanghai

     Life just wouldn't be right if everything was perfect.  Sickness had gone through our household just days before we left.  Poor J didn't get it before we left and actually ended up getting sick on the airplane.  It was such a long day of flying and then when we got to the airport the shuttle picking us up wasn't quite big enough.  This really wasn't anything to stress about.  There are a dime a dozen taxi's in Shanghai.  I just felt for J because she wasn't feeling 100%.  I have to give it to her.  She didn't whine or complain, not adding to the stress of the day.  She really is amazing!  We got to our townhouse, pleasantly surprised at the size, cleanliness and comfort of it, furnished with water a few pieces of fruit.  Really a great welcome.  The location can't be beat.  We are right around the corner from the kids school and just a 5 minute taxi ride from many grocery stores.  The local restaurant's have a online delivery service all in English and they deliver for free.  We have been so blessed to have friends from the ward scoop us up and show us around.  Such a blessing to be a member of the church. and have an automatic support system.  

The second day here J still wasn't feeling great so R took the boys out to get some lunch and grab us a few grocery's at the store.  They needed to get out of the house and go exploring.  The third day rolled around J was feeling better and then R got a bad case of the flu.   I ventured out with all 4 kids to get lunch.  Mind you we were all up about 3A.M. so lunch time was at about 10A.M.  We got dumplings and a few grocery's.  It is going to take some getting used to not having a car.  It really limits how much you can get at the grocery store.  The grocery store was an interesting adventure in and of itself.  It was the first time I had ever seen live frogs, eels and coy sold at the meat counter, or I guess you would call it the aquarium counter.  

Things have been going really great.  It took the first week to get over the jet lag, but the kids are enjoying school and C and I are adjusting to homeschooling.  We will see how the next few weeks here go. 

Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the move

 Phase one of the move consisted of getting everything ready

the movers would take to be shipped on the boat.  

The stuff we will need over there but won't get for 2-4 months.  

I think this truck was actually bigger than our entire house. 

 Phase 2 was the process of making everything else magically fit

into the 12 containers we would be taking with us.  We had about 12 containers,

weighing in at about 70lbs each for a total of 840 lbs of luggage.

 We did have to do a little rearranging once we got to the airport and  had to leave a few minor things out, but for the most part it all worked out. 

The night before the big flight I woke up in the middle of the night to find out the power had gone out.  I didn't sleep much wondering how we would possibly get all the kids dressed, ready and the suitcases packed up and get out of the house by 6A.M.  We woke up about 5 and were trying to locate the kindle's.  M had just downloaded a cool flashlight app.  As soon as we found it our prayers had been answered and the lights came back on.  Luckily we were able to get everything done just in time for the arrival of Ralph and Rex.  They were kind enough to help us get all our stuff to the airport.  Tiff and Grandma are always such troopers in taking us to the airport early in the morning.  We are thankful to them for all their help.  Tiff was good to us and made all the kids a fun flying goody bag with all sorts of treats, crayons, and wrapped presents.  They kept the kids occupied and were such a life saver to have during the grueling 22 hours of traveling..