around the globe

7.01.2010

our employees are cute.

On the 1 year anniversary of the Ice Cream shop, the employees made this sign (inside) that I hadn't seen until now. I can't believe they cut out each letter by hand, and the slogan they came up with:

If you can't read the slogan: Really Good Ice Cream Can Build Bright Future For Its Development, then they wrote below, "Raj & Justin, Good Luck For Your Business!"

Aren't they cute??

6.28.2010

dad camping

It has taken us 4+ years to find time to go camping in China! ...and this first trip was a bunch of dads, hiking with packs into the wilderness. The mountains surrounding Urumqi are quite amazing and beautiful! These are part of the Tianshan mountain range - to the south of the city. The guys drove up with their food & gear, and hiked about 4 miles up the steep rocky trails, dotted with grass and a winding creek. They found a flat area near the top to set up their tents. There wasn't anyone around!!

The guys made it in time to watch the sun set and make a fire out of old receipts and kindling. Of course there were jokes and silly stories, deep talks and bonding - but I wasn't there. This was the Dad Trip. Maybe next time!! I will just leave you with some of their pictures...

6.26.2010

Gold Gulf Hotel & Spa!!

We recently found a pool inside a hotel about 3 km away! Finding a clean pool is near impossible in this city - but we found a gem!! There are three separate pools - amazingly clear water, and very few people (at the right time of day!). It is also a Hotel & Spa - but that part is a bit pricey!! We bought a pool membership card, so that we can visit anytime and bring friends along too. We love this place!

The main pool is the perfect height for A&E to walk in, and the Children pool is only a few feet deep, complete with slides and climbing structures too. They have improved their swimming skills immensely - and can both swim underwater, float on their backs, and do somersaults too!

You can see in the picture above - two elevated whirlpools in the center, four lounges on the side, and some shower-jet thingies too. It's all indoors, so we can come all year-round! There is also a small lap pool for ME!! If only we had unlimited visits - I might come everyday! This is such an amazing find - and we really enjoy coming!

McNabb rating: 2 thumbs up!

6.25.2010

ice cream social

The past 2 years we have been gathering other foreign kids for a weekly co-op of sorts. This year (2009-2010) has been the largest so far - six 4/5 year olds, and six 6/7 year olds! It has been so fun to teach on different subjects, read stories, create art, do science experiments together, and also learn games in larger groups. There is no international school out here - so we are IT.

I think it has also been good for the children to see other kids learning alongside them, to motivate and challenge them along, and for interaction, as well as the chance to play games in English. The kids even have special t-shirts!! Asia & Eden really look forward to Co-op each week, so I know it has been a special time for them!

As we wrapped up the school year, we decided to celebrate with an Ice Cream Social!! (since we can do that so easily!!) We made bubble-gum ice cream, with all the possible toppings we could find. YUM!!

It was a LOT of sugar...but they burned it all off with the dads in PE class, right?!!

Urumqi Kids Co-op 2010

Sydney is almost ready for her own co-op -- we just need more kids her age!! Anyone want to move out here with some more 3 year olds? :) Pweeze??

6.20.2010

happy father's day to our superhero daddy!

We love you daddy! Thank you for being so fun, goofy and handsome. You are also a good cook. You are also so fun to play games with. Thank you for reading us stories everyday and for loving us so much. You are the BEST!!
Love, Asia, Eden & Sydney

The girls made unique frames for dad this year - in our Pre-K Co-op! Here are some of the kids in the 4-5 year old class. They were so proud of what they made!

I am so thankful for my superstar husband - who amazes me with his ability to juggle five million things with joyful ease. He functions in Chinese, English and Uyghur languages - while managing a growing ice cream business, friendships, running errands for me, AND he comes home with a happy heart! He spends quality time with each of his girls everyday (me included!), building forts, tickling, reading books, taking them on special dates (so they will have an example someday!), telling creative stories, affirming their beauty (in & out!), singing spontaneous songs, going exploring, riding bikes, teaching them Chinese, and even lending me a hand with homeschooling! ....all of this while making life here run smoothly in a foreign land for his girls. He really is the strength of our clan. I love his heart for these chickadees, and how he nurtures them individually - loving them so perfectly! We love you Daddy!!

6.18.2010

seven years old....

Asia is SEVEN!!! Another year sped by in record speed - and she is seven. It sometimes feels like she was born yesterday! She is taller, more independent, full of virtue, so joyful, and more mature most of the time. :) She is so captivating...and I need to remember these moments or they will be gone too soon.

This has been a year of growth for her! Her heart is so soft and tender, and she longs to be a good friend, a sweet sister, a loving daughter, making right choices for herself. She understands things beyond her years, and she is always listening, wondering, imagining. She has become more daring this year too - more confident, adventurous, daring. She reads books like you wouldn't believe - in every place or position. When we wake up in the morning, she is faithfully reading on the couch!! She loves to swim, and wear bright flashy colors. She loves soccer and babies and horses too. She sometimes asks if we will have more babies. :) Asia is full of love and light - she is so beautiful inside and out. I am so proud to be her momma.

On her actual birthday, she had her favorite breakfast, opened presents - and talked to her Nana, Poppa and Jamma on Skype. Later, I took Asia, Eden & BF Emma to the underground market (sounds shady, but it's not) to get their nails painted. It was so cute! They each got to choose their favorite design and get pampered. I brought lemonade and cherries to make it even more extravagant. They sat so still and were quite giddy. It only cost 10 kuai per kid! ($1.50)

For her Birthday Party – Asia wanted a Cowgirl Party!! We invited all her friends to the park for games & ice cream, which was wonderful for the 100 degree weather we had!! We stayed cool in the shade, with water balloon games and ice cream cones. We had about 45 friends(!!) there, picnicking and enjoying the party. I had fun planning her party, since I got to sew bandanna's for each of the kids! I was so tired after that extravaganza, but very content!

She was also given a rather large Chinese birthday cake from one of our local friends. The cake was quite colorful - decorated with spray paint??, with heaps of sweet whipping cream frosting, yet tasted SO artificial. We aren't fans of Chinese baked goods. Sadly, we didn't eat any - but we got this nifty picture!!

I really love celebrating each one of our girls, and it gives me such joy knowing that they are lavished with love and affection - knowing that they are such treasures, and gifts to us. Every child is a gift from above!! We love you sweet Asia, and we are so blessed by the beautiful little lady you are!!

6.15.2010

ways to stay cool in the summer heat

1. Put your feet in the blow-up pool. Yes, we are 8 floors up.

2. Cram lots of friends into the blow-up pool. Eight, to be exact.

3. Go with mom to the veggie stand and ask her to buy you a yogurt Popsicle.

4. Swing really fast on the swings.

5. Spray each other with spray-bottles outside.
(no picture for this one - but this included buckets of water, 8 spray bottles, and lots of wet kids)

6. Have a water balloon toss with friends. (thanks for the pkg mom!)