Easter 2013

A quick post to share highlights from our Easter weekend.

What is an Easter morning without a new family picture!
Here is the latest Six Meyers picture.

Backyard Fun: Our Easter Saturday was a lot of fun as our neighbors had an Easter Egg hunt in their back yard.

Salome was so cute showing off her eggs, which were plastic and filled with candy.

Asa made sure to get every egg, even those perched high in the trees!

Miriam was well pleased with the bountiful amount of eggs she found.

Easter Sunday: On Sunday we enjoyed another egg hunt a variety of outdoor activities sponsored by our church - The International Church of Shanghai.

Asa enjoyed making a little pig out of a plastic egg.

Miriam braved the rock climbing wall

I wasn't able to capture Salome enjoying the jumpy castle slide,

but when she fell asleep on my lap on the way home I knew she had a good time!

Em is still here!

Dear Joab has taken to writing more of our life down in blog posts these days. Thought I would give you a "Mom/Em" perspective on things as me today (note- what an amazing husband to even ask!) I said, that I would get adequate caffeine to make it through the day! Kind of a joke, but really I am just go-go-go most days. Most of my days start at 2 AM when my 17+ lb five month old wakes up for a feeding. Silas is so big! And he loves to nurse! I have tried to introduce solids...and he just laughs at me. I am hoping he rounds a corner soon and sleeps...we shall see.

Overall, we are doing well here in China land. This year has taught me a lot- mostly that to really live in a place that will never be home is well...hard. The goal in so many ways is to live our days here well. I sure pray we are!

Salome- oh my. She is so cute. SO VERBAL. I told her to come to lunch today and she responded with "Mommy, my Barbies are talking to me right now- I can not come to lunch". We bought some street breakfast food this morning and walked to the park- there she found another little girl and the two of them sqatted on the grass talking eating street food....

Asa- We bought a second-hand Wii game..and now Asa is in Wii heaven. Asa loves games (fun for that matter). And he and Miriam have a lot of fun together playing that. Asa still loves to make me laugh, eat a lot food (especially chocolate and bacon) and make amazing things out of Legos.

Miriam- is tackling a lot of school work like a pro. Her mind loves to learn, and she is filling it up with all kinds of stuff!

Now, Silas is up from nap. My time here is done. Lots of love to you from China- Em

Chinglish Humor

Living in China can be a source of great amusement, especially when it comes to the "creative" ways that the English language is used.  What we would call "Chinglish" or a mixture of English and Chinese is the preferred way to produce many English ads and materials.  On a recent Saturday date Emily and I ran across two places that made us smile.  

"Bar Culture" at Si Nan Mansions

The first was an "exhibit" of the Si Nan Mansions that are refurbished lane houses in the French Concession.  After reading a few of the captions it became clear what was billed as an "exhibit" comparing the daily lives of families in France and Shanghai was actually a not so subtle promotion of the government backed developer's greatness. For more commentary on the pros and cons of the development, check out this article. 

The photo that caught my attention featured a group of Western female models raising alcoholic beverages at a bar with the caption "The bar culture that blends a diversity of mainstream concepts brightens the night skies of the cities." I was unsure if they didn't care about the fact that their English didn't make any sense or if it was an intentionally convoluted sentence.

"Creative" Office Ads

The convoluted caption was nothing compared to the office development ads next to a subway stop near our home, however.  Somehow office workers lying in inter tubes, water saying and pulling out their "Superman" tattoo were suppose to convince would be tenants of the appeal of the office space.  I hope you get a good laugh out of the ad like we did.  

Oh, the simple joys of living in China - a place where things often just don't make sense.

Personally, I think the superman picture was the best; had to get a close up.

Notice that the hands, chest and face seem to be from a different guy!