She Shan Hike

China celebrates October Holiday every year! A whole week off to celebrate the founding of modern China. We took one day and went to a hotel about an hour away. Here are my kids when I told them to look "normal" for a picture. Salome goes into Chinese squat, Asa looks goofy and Miriam is telling Asa how to act. This picture pretty much sums up our lives parenting right now!



Then I told them I meant it "LOOK NORMAL". I also love the "ad" car in the background.

They call it the She Shan Mountain. It is just a really big hill. But being so near to the ocean here we do not have many hills...so we decided to climb it. Here is Joab with Salome in front on a pagoda as you enter the park on the hill.

There is a huge Catholic Church on the top of the hill. You can read more about it here

With anything on a National Holiday that is free to go to, you have a ton of people hiking up the hill and taking pictures of you hiking up the hill. Asa had enough and exited this picture- leaving Joab all alone.

Finally a picture! Oh October Holiday we loved you! Can't wait for next year! And for those (and I know you are out there!!!) who would love to come and visit us....this time of year is perfect for visitors!!!!

Happy at 13 Years

Celebrating your 13th Wedding Anniversary is fun- but it is not the special of your 10th of the landmark of your 15th or 25th! But still we are thankful to still be best friends and loving life at 13 years!

Joab is in America for two weeks now- for work. The kids and I are missing him A LOT. Not as fun (and a ton more work!) to do this alone here. Asa asked me today "Will Daddy get here everyday sooner or further away?". The dude has NO sense of time- but I assured him someday soon daddy will be home!

The many faces of Salome

You have your first little girl- you buy baby dolls, baby doll clothes etc. Your first little girl never touches a baby doll. You think,I guess little girls are not into baby dolls.

You have your second little girl. You don't even get out the baby dolls (actually you gave all the baby dolls stuff away) because you think she will not like them.

Well, I was dead wrong. Not only does Salome love baby dolls she prefers to have one strapped to her body in the form of a baby sling! She then sings to it, kisses it and tells it they are going to go outside to play. Beyond cute.

Telling Salome to "smile"

Can't wait to see what kind of mother she will really be like someday!!!

Home - Part Two

The above "DIY" table is a fun table for me. I saw this red old (a KTV bar was getting remodled) on the side of the road and Joab asked if we could buy it! They kind of looked at us funny but for about $3.00 they even delivered it to our house! So when our landlord decided to buy us this HUGE television (we did not say no!) we had the perfect table to set it on!

Master bath

v
view from bedroom

master bedroom

Home Sweet Home- before this home was ours it was our good friends Denise and Lisa's. We are thankful we got to take it over when they moved back to the USA. Joab and I both feel that this house feels more like home than our first place in Shanghai (which we were at for four years!). The space, the friends we live near to, the green spaces are all so much better!

Come see us soon blog faithful!!!!

The New Apartment Tour- Part one

computer is slow tonight! So this will be brief. More later in next post. Above is the guest bathroom.

The hallway- on left is guest bathroom, then guest room/office. Straight is master bedroom, on right is the kids room.

Looking at living room then kitchen.

Looking from kitchen

Kitchen (with new Ayi)

View from kitchen

Iowa

Mom and I near the Mississippi River! We have the same smile.

How fun it was for us "city folk" to go to the Iowa countryside for two weeks this summer! My parents live very close to a lot of my Aunts and Uncles. So it was fun to catch up. Here is all of us with Uncle Ross.

Salome with Great Grandma Tweedy.

My cousin Trevor and I spent a lot of our early years together. In fact, some of my first memories ever are with him (and we got into a lot of trouble together too!). So it was really fun to get our two toddlers together. Here are James and Salome playing in the back of the pick up truck so Trev and I could chat together.

Great Grandma with all but two of her Great Grandchildren. Aunt Cindy and Uncle Kerm hosted a fun Birthday party one night!

We took a day trip to Hannibal, Missouri to see where Mark Twain was inspired to write many of his books. It was soooo hot! But it kept the crowds away and we had a great time! Here we are with Tom and Becky.

Salome loved the flowers at my Parent's house.

Oh America! This summer was truly great. It is the first time I have really felt like I have two homes- one in Asia and one in the Midwest. Having so many friends and family who love us is a true gift. Thanks to all who made this summer possible! We love you!

Des Monies

This summer we had a great time in Des Monies, Iowa! Joab's sister Elly and husband Fred live there and we had a mini family reunion for a few days there with the family that lived close. Above is Christy Grandma doing what she does best- loving her Grandkids.

We also visited the Living History Farms. For my city kids this was really fun! Here is Salome with the pigs.

Oh to can food! I love to can! This kitchen was amazing to see.

We also went to see the State Capitol Building. Here we are "standing" in Henry County. This is where Emily parents live.

Asa- always looking to make me laugh.

The inside was really cool! Both temperature wise and historically! It was over 100+F outside and the kids were dying. But really liked the Capitol and visiting Joab's cousin's business 8/7 Central which is very close to the State Capitol.

After Des Monies we traveled to Ames Iowa to see good friends the Boettgers. Our Camera got lost somewhere in our car and were not able to capture any memories there! So sad! But thank you Laura Lynn and Andy. Time with you is always so special.