Molly's First Haircut

I hated to do it, but I took Molly for her first haircut today. Her hair was hanging in her eyes, so I knew it was time. She did pretty good. No tears. But she kept moving her head around to see what the guy was doing. He was pretty quick though and we made it through. I did my best to bribe her with some snacks while he was working.

The Chinese women in the salon we went to recognized Molly from a few weeks ago when we were in while Mark and Morgan got haircuts. They adore Molly. The women all try to make her laugh and to hold her. They can't get over her peirced ears and her tongue which she is constantly sticking out. They asked how old she was, and couldn't get over it that her birthday is on Feb 7th, Chinese New Year. One woman said, "there will be many fireworks for you." When we were getting ready to leave, no kidding, about 12 employees all came into the lobby to see Molly and say good bye.

Pictures:
1. Before picture with our driver, Mr. Yu
2. Having a little snack
3. Ta-da....so pretty!

This and That

Here are two pictures from the fabric market. There are three levels of nothing but vendors where you can buy fabric to take home, or have clothing custom made. You can take in a picture from a magazine or catalog, or bring an item you want copied. They can do it. If you can dream it, they can sew it. The first picture is of Mark inside of Jason's. Mark has had custom made suits made from cashmere/silk blend fabric for less than $100. They also make cashmere overcoats for about $150. The second picture is just another example of what you would find in the market. You can have your custom made item in as little as two days. But usually about a week.


I went to the grocery store yesterday to pick up a few things. While wandering through the aisles I saw a sample table. Not unusual. But at closer glance the table was filled with small cups of Bailey's Irish Creme. A few of those could make grocery shopping a lot more fun.

While the weather is still cold here in Shanghai (30 degrees), we have not seen any major snow since Monday. However, the weather on CNN reports another storm is on its way. The Chinese Gov't is urging people to stay put for the Chinese New Year holiday. The storm earlier this week has left millions stranded at train stations across the nation. For some, this is the one time of year they get to see their family, which is why so many are still flocking to the stations. Meanwhile, all of the expat wives keep grumgling..."my husband said it doesn't snow in Shanghai."

Speaking of CNN, I was watching the news channel last night before bed. The major headlines were the weather, the US presidential primaries, and Britney Spears. How this poor girl has managed to make the International News, I have no idea. And this is not the first time. Earlier this month it was the same thing. CNN was reporting from the Iowa Caucus and then breaking to show Britney being taken from her home. Just lock the girl up already. Surely there are more important things to be reporting.

Star Student and Mobile Molly

When I picked Morgan up from school on Monday she had a decorated star in her hand. I asked her about it, and she told me she was the "Star Student" of the week. I am very proud of her for this. It took several rounds of questioning to determine that the children earn stars throughout the week for different things like listening, answering questions, helping out. The student with the most stars at the end of the week is named "Star Student". Teacher Tom decorates the star and presents it to that child on Monday.

Gone are the days when I can set Molly down on the floor with a few toys while I brush my hair and teeth in the morning, or type in the blog. She is so quick and adventurous now. I've had to put plugs in all of the outlets, which Morgan never seemed to bother with. Molly can spot one a mile away and make a b-line for it in no time flat. And I would love to know what genius put the bright red panic buttons at floor level. A bright red button just begging to pushed by curious little fingers. Garbages are on tabletops, cabinets are locked shut, and curtains are rigged so that Molly can't pull them down.

While this newfound mobility is frustrating, I am really proud of her. In no time, she will be running after Morgan. I know she could walk if she would try. The other night she was standing between the couch and the coffee table, pivoting between the two. She was laughing so hard, so proud of herself. She has a favorite window that she loves looking out. And will stay there for several minutes. Not only is she mobile, she is learning and understanding Chinese. She understands several words and will point to what you are saying. She knows light, big sister (sounds like JJ), little sister (MayMay), MaMa, ball, balloon, book and hand. She can clap her hands or give high 5 if you ask in Chinese. Its amazing! She can even say big sister, or what sounds like JJ. Its so cute!

SNOW Day!!

No kidding! Today, Morgan is home for a snow day. My driver told me yesterday "no snow...17 years!" Go figure. But again, this is par for us. It seems like every time we move to a new state, they have extremely cold and snowy winters. Like when we first moved to Tennessee and they had 8 inches of snow one winter day.

Today our driver, Mr. Yu, brought us a Chinese New Year gift from his company. He brought two packages of dried mushrooms. Thank heaven there are English instructions on the package. Last week, he brought us a bottle of cooking oil, and mandarin oranges (fresh, not in a can). This is very typical of the Chinese. They give very practical gifts including foods and money. We will reciprocate with the traditional hongboa (red envelope) before the Chinese New Years Eve.

On Sunday we will go to a "traditional" New Years celebration. I found it listed in an expat publication promising "traditional fashion with Dragon and Lion dance accompanied by classic Chinese drums and music." There will be supervised use of sparklers and craft projects for the kids. There will also be a brunch featuring chinese and western foods. It should be fun. We are looking forward to learning more about this holiday which is so special to the chinese.

Our first and last trip to a Chinese McDonalds

We went to the mall today to do a little shopping. Morgan wanted to have lunch at McDonald's. We have not been to one here in China, and even though I tried really hard to persuade her otherwise, she insisted we have lunch at McD's. Ad this to out list of new experiences.

It was busy and rushed, but we pointed to the pictures on the menu to place our order. Their menu varies slightly here. Not all items are available and only some of the items are the same as what you would find in the US. Big Mac, chicken nuggets, french fries, etc. But they also had corn, fish sticks, and a variety of drinks listed as well.

Our food was slopped on our tray and we managed to find a table in the busy establishment. As we were eating, we noticed the Burger King (new to Shanghai) across the mall, virtually empty and a little less chaotic. Anyway, the food was cold and tasted weird. I think it was the oil they fried everything in. Just different than what you find in the states. And no Diet Cokes to wash it all down. Our pop choices were coke, sprite, or orange pop. We could have had tea or a milkshake. But not our ever beloved McDonald's Diet Coke. (I swear they put something in it to make it taste different and so good.) We high tailed it out of there and left the half eaten tray of food on the table. They actually have people working that clear the tables for you.

Later in the mall we were approached by a 30-ish Chinese woman telling me how beautiful my daughter was and asking how old. I thought this was another adoring Chinese onlooker. But it turns out she works for a modeling company here in Shanghai. She kept telling me how beautiful Morgan was. She wanted my telephone number which I would not give up. But I asked her for her card, which she gave me. I checked out the website, which looks legit, except that I cannot read it. It is all in Chinese. I may have Sophia translate it for me to see if it is anything we would be interested in.

Snow and Fireworks All in One Day!!

We woke up to snow this morning. Certainly not like anything we can compare to back home, but snow, none the less. The nice thing about Shanghai snow is that it doesn't stick. We have had big flakes coming down most of the day and no accumulation. We've been told several times, that this is a rare occasion.



We went to a friend's house for dinner tonight. They do not live in our compound, but another one just across the street. Morgan goes to school with their son, Bradley, which is where I met his Mom, Lori. They just arrived here from Delaware. Dave, the husband/dad, works for Bank of America. We had a really nice meal with them.



As we were finishing our dessert, we could hear and see a fireworks display not too far off in the distance. This really is very common. The Chinese like their fireworks and use any occasion as an excuse to light up the sky. Any day, is a good day for fireworks. When we got home, we realized that they had been lit right here in our compound. There is some sort of a function happening at the clubhouse tonight. This must be some celebration. They've set off a few more since we've been home, basically right outside our door. Morgan enjoys watching them through the widow. And, thank heaven, they haven't seemed to affect our sleeping Molly.

Video of Morgan's Gymnastic Lesson

Here is a short video of Morgan in her new red leotard, on the tall balance beam. She did great!! I was talking to one of the other mothers there, and she told me at the end of the 10 week session, they put on a little gymnastic meet. All of the children receive metals. I'll video that too, but you'll have to come to China to see it.

Chinese New Year

Today I attended Coffee Connection which is held at the Community Center of Shanghai. CCS caters to expats and offers classes, tours, help settling in and more. Every other Friday they have Coffee Connection with, of course coffee, and a topic of conversation. Today there was a presentation on the upcoming Chinese New Year and traditions.

It was very interesting. The Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar and is celebrated on a different date each year. This year Chinese New Year day is Feb 7 (Molly's 1st B-day) and lasts for 15 days. Legend has it that a terrible beast that lives at the bottom of the sea comes out on New Years Eve to torment the people in the villages. The people would flee the villages and go to the tops of the mountain. One year, an old man and woman decided they could not climb so they stayed behind. To warn off the beast, they lit candles all over the home, and hung red fabric to hide behind. When the beast appeared, he was terrified of the fire and red and went back to the sea. So it is now tradition to hang red decorations in your home to keep you safe, and to light fireworks. Mostly for the kids though.

It is also custom to give a red envelope (hongboa) containing a small amount of money to children. This is meant to buy them peace and to bribe ghosts away for another year. This tradition has since been comericalized and now extends to family, friends and employees. Employees such as drivers and ayis expect to receive an extra months salary in their red envelope. They take this gift back to their family and share it with them. We were informed that it is best to give them the red envelope before New Year's Eve.

The Chinese are very superstitious. They feel the house must be completely cleaned before New Year's Eve and all cleaning supplies should be put up and out of site. No cleaning shall take place until after the third day of the New Year. They fear that cleaning will sweep away luck and good health.

All debts should be paid before the New Year. If not, you will owe for the rest of the year. And likewise, it is not good to lend money during the New Year celebration, or you may end up lending money all year. It is also not good to cry on the New Years Eve, or you will be sad all year. Children especially like this, because they get away with mischief on New Years Day. The parents wont scold them because they don't want them to cry.

There was a performance by a young kindergarten class doing a traditional dance. They were adorable and wore costumes and had makeup. Of course I didn't have my camera with me. One woman demonstrated how to make traditional dumplings. Apparently, a mother in law can tell if a woman will make a good wife for her son if she can quickly make beautiful dumplings.

The class was filled with a lot of interesting information. It is fun to learn about this new holiday we will be celebrating this year.

On another note....Morgan had a field trip today to the Oriental Pearl Tower. The teacher asked the children where they would like to go. Most of the kids voted for the aquarium, but had already been there. But Morgan suggested the Pearl Tower. She obsessed with it and can spot if a mile away. Even Teacher Tom had not been there yet. I am anxious to hear what Morgan thought about going all the way to the top. She was very excited to be going and to be riding on the school bus (an extra long van). Here is a picture from Mark and I were here in October.

She likes it...she really likes it!!!

Molly and I went for our first bike ride together today, and she LOVED it!!!! The sun is finally shining here and I wanted to get Molly outside. The temperature is 36 degrees but windy, so I was a little worried about taking her out. I finally decided to just do it, and I am so glad we did.

At first, Molls wasn't too sure about the seat and being strapped in. But once we got moving she had a ball. She was cooing and tugging at my jacket. It wasn't too hard to pedal with her on either. So we braved the busy roads of Shanghai together. There wasn't too much traffic, being it right around lunch time. There is a specific lane just for bikes and scooters which is separated by a cement barrier from vehicle traffic. We left the compound and just went around the block. It went so well that we went around for a second time. I hope we can get out again soon. I feel confident now that we can go for rides around town, quick trips to the store or lunch and more.

I'll get pictures next time.

House Pictures

Here are some pictures of the house now that we've moved in and added some of our own things. We haven't been able to hang pictures yet, though. The walls are cement and Mark needs to pick up the proper drill bit to do so. The furniture, curtains, and lamps came with the house. Everything else is ours. Sorry, no pictures of Molly's room. Sadly her room has just her crib and the girls kitchen playset.

"Whole Chicken....NO Feet"

Grocery shopping in China has proven to be interesting. There are some very different items carried in the stores here. Some things I just don't even know what they are. Others are fruits and vegetables that we don't have in the states. One of my favorites is the Dragon Fruit. It has a bright pink spiky rind. The inside flesh is white and specked with black seeds (similar to those of kiwi).

Then there are things like meat and fish that are just sold and packaged differently than what we're used to. While shopping today, I was looking for chicken breast. I came across a packaged whole chicken that was still looking at me. The label read "whole chicken, no feet". And I still can't get used to seeing some of the chickens with black skin. Apparently this is a certain breed.

In the meat department you see whole sides of pork hanging from the ceiling. Customers pick through bins of what I think are ribs. You can buy almost any part (muscle or not) of any cow/pig/lamb you would like.

The fish & seafood department is similar. The fish is so fresh in fact that your dinner is still swimming in the tank right in front of you. You simply tell the employee which you'd like and he fishes it out of the tank with a net. I don't know what happens next, but can only imagine.

I am very happy that I stocked up on baby food before we moved, and that I can find some "normal" Gerber foods in the import stores here. The cereal in local stores come in varieties such as fish and vegetables, salmon and carrots, bone marrow and carrots. I guess starting them early on fish gets them ready for dried fish flakes, and dried shrimps. These go nicely with the different varieties of seaweed available.

Pictures

Here are some pictures of Molly and a few of Morgan with her friend, Emily, at swim lessons:

Molly's crawling!!

Proof that Molly can crawl. Look at her go!!!!

Pictures

Mark with his girls on Friday.

Molly literally in her toy cabinet:

Me and the girls. And despite, Molly's worried face, she really does enjoy the pool.

That will take some getting used to

Obviously certain things are done differently here in China from we are used to at home. But there are some that will take a little longer to get used to than others.

For instance here, you can smoke cigarettes almost anywhere. Most restaurants allow it and don't typically have a secluded section. So you can be enjoying your meal and the guy next to you lights up. I was at the hair salon yesterday (my hair turned out fine by the way) and a woman 2 chairs over from me was smoking while having her hair colored. I might be wrong, but I can't imagine all those chemicals near an open flame can be too safe.

I have seen more men relieving themselves on the side of the road here in China than I ever saw at any college party/tailgate/fraternity house. It is so common for a vehicle to just pull over to the side of the road and the driver just gets out and lets it hang out. Luckily not our driver....yet. Parents will also let their children use the nearest sewer drain as their potty. I have yet to see any woman doing this, but I would not be surprised if I do someday.

Speaking of bathrooms....anything goes here in China. Whenever I walk into a public bathroom I am always prepared for the worst. In less than modern restaurants and shops you may find simply a hole in the floor. Even when you are in a very modern, new, public establishment you need to be prepared. Our nice, upscale mall does not have toilet paper available. Not only is there no toilet paper, but no dispenser either. They didn't just run out. And not all places have soap. So I always have tissue and hand sanitizer with me at all times.

Shanghai is not very baby (or handicap) friendly. Don't get me wrong, they love their children (and ours) and dote on them every chance they get. But there are stairs everywhere. Impossible to manage with a stroller (or wheelchair). I've been using my baby carrier a ton here. Well worth the investment, not so good on my back and shoulders. In all of the restaurants and shops we have been to, I have seen a changing table in only 1 of them. Good thing we have the minivan and I am able to change Molls on the back bench when necessary.

I am certainly not complaining about these things. Just mentioning the fact that things are done differently here is all, and that it will take time and patience to get used to that.

Morgan started gymnastic lessons

Today was Morgan's first day of gymnastic lessons and she had a great time. The Mom's I met at our play date on Thursday told me about the lessons. I was able to register Morgan yesterday and she started today. Classes on are Saturday mornings from 9-9:40 at a school right by our house. They go for 10 weeks. It was a pretty large class of 3 & 4 yr olds, about 20, but there were 5 coaches there too. The coaches were very enthousiastic and kept things moving for the kids.

After warming up, the kids were broken into 3 different groups and they rotated through 3 different stations. They did forward and backward rolls on the mats, then handstands along the wall, and then walked across the balance beam. There were two balance beams. One was just a couple of inches off the floor and was no problem for the kids. But the other beam was so far off the floor. About as tall as my rib cage. The kids walked across with assistance from one of the coaches and then jumped off onto the mats below. I couldn't get over it.

Morgan really enjoyed the lesson and is anxious to go back next week. A uniform leotard was included in the registration price so she will wear that at the next lesson. I will be sure to take pictures.

TV Choices

I guess you can say that one of the good things about our tv choices here is they are very limited. Which gives us more time to do things together as a family, or just be more active. We have a total of 29 tv channels. 17 of those are local Chinese Channels. The programming is unique and usually consists of some sort of wacky variety show. These channels are monitored by the government and "will be changed as and when required and decided by the Country".

The remaining 12 channels are in English and consist of a slew of news channels (CNBC, CNN, BBC), ESPN, Discovery, and Nat'l Geographic. We have some movie channels (HBO, SHOW, Cinemax), but these are hit or miss with the programming. And, like the US, seem to run the same movies over and over again. We also get a channel, AXN, that runs several prime time drama shows from the US (CSI, Numbers, 24, Las Vegas). It is hard to tell if they are from the current season or just reruns, since these are not shows we watched on a regular basis back home.

DVDs come cheap here and there is a store around the corner from us that offers 20% discount for each purchase. You can purchase new release DVDs for the same price it would cost to rent a movie in the US. They also have box sets of shows like Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, and Sopranos for about $10 usd.

Making Friends Quickly

Mark got in from Thailand OK and arrived home around 7:30 yesterday morning. The girls were thrilled to have him home and Morgan insisted he take her to school. Since Mark was working from his "home office", it was not a problem. After dropping Morgan off at school we ran some errands and had lunch together.

Morgan had a swimming play date after school. Sondra, who I had lunch with the other day, introduced 5 of us Moms with young girls and scheduled the play date for all of us to meet. There were 6 girls in the pool from the ages of 3-6, including Emily, Morgan's friend from school. three of the other girls attend the same Montessori school, but are in the all Mandarin class. It was great. They all got along really well and had a fun time. (Sorry, I forgot the camera. Next time.) The 5 of us Moms and 3 other woman plan to meet for lunch on Monday afternoon.

Mark is back to work today, Friday. I am getting my hair cut this morning. Wish me luck. I think the stylist is British, so I have half a chance at explaining what I want done to my hair.

No Turkey Dinners in this House

After school today, Morgan and I decided to make brownies in honor of Mark's coming home. I have not previously used this oven, but have heard horror stories about it. First off, it is way small. About half the size of what we're used to in the states. Secondly, there is nothing precise about it. You sort of turn the dial to the desired temperature and hope for the best. And it takes forever to preheat. We were done mixing the batter way before the oven was to temperature.

Meanwhile, Sophia (ayi) and Mr. Yu (driver) were in awe of what we were doing. They kept analyzing the box and asking about the ingredients (water, oil, eggs). They were amazed. And they couldn't get over the fact that I let Morgan lick the spoon. Mr. Yu even took a picture with his cell phone to send to family.

Forty five minutes later I checked the brownies and they looked great and smelled wonderful. So I was very surprised when I cut into them after dinner to find them undercooked. I should probably stick them in the oven for 10 minutes or so. But it's not worth the effort to preheat the thing.

Needless to say, we'll be going out for Thanksgiving dinner. I can't even imagine trying to prepare a large feast in this kichen.

On a positive note, my fried rice turned out pretty good. Despite not having any soy sauce in the house. ;-)

New Experiences

Part of the reason we agreed to this international assignment was for the experiences, and today I had several.

I went to the morning market here at our club. For less than $12 usd I purchased strawberries, a zucchini and yellow tomatoes, a bouquet of fresh flowers, 2 small baguettes, and some pork chops.

Sophia, our ayi, did not want me to take Molly outside, because it is "too cold". At 39 degrees, I think it would be OK for 15 minutes. I know she doesn't approve of how I dress the girls. They are not bundled with enough layers. You should see the children around here. They all look like stay puff marshmallow men. No joke! They have layers and layers of clothes on. The poor kids look as though they will melt with all those layers.

I did take Molly out to Carrefour today. We bought an automatic rice maker along with a huge bag of rice. You cannot buy a small bag of rice. I have a ten pound bag that will surely a year. It is funny to see more rice makers than toasters and coffee pots in the electronics area of the store. I'll need Sophia to show me how to use it. But I'm hoping I can duplicate Morgan's new favorite meal, fried rice with eggs. Its a good way to sneak in the veggies and protein. While standing in line at the checkout, there were several Chinese women flirting with Molly. They are fascinated by her. They too were not happy that she only had on jeans and no other layers of clothes. I could even see the disappointment in our driver's eyes when they were discussing this.

I've been looking for some large area rugs for the house and have not had any luck. IKEA has some that would work, but the colors are a little funky. I went to B & Q today, similar to Home Depot, hoping for better luck. Mr. Yu thought the prices were too high. I asked him where to go to find cheaper rugs. He took me to the local shopping mart. I've been in the markets here where you bargain for silk scarves, and cashmere sweaters and fake bags. But this was different. This is where the locals do their shopping for home goods and clothes. Mr. Yu took me in and found the booth where they had rugs. I found one I liked and asked if they had three alike. They did and I was able to bargain for the three rugs. I paid the same price for 3 that I would have paid for 1 at B & Q. They are a cream color, shag style rug. They look very nice with the decor in the home.

Mark gets in very early on Thursday morning. We are anxious to have him back home.

The Spaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

Morgan was back to school today and lovin' it!! When I dropped her off I got to meet Emily and her parents. It turns out they live in our neighborhood and have a younger daughter as well. I see play dates in our future.

With Morgan in school full time and Sophia doing the housework, I have quite a bit of free time on my hands. It is nice to be able to put Molly down for a nap and then go shopping, or to work out. Today, I went the spa. Oh man!! It was awesome. It is right here in our neighborhood and was like heaven. You get your own little room, with a jacuzzi tub filled with warm water and flower petals. There is also a vanity with toiletries and your own personal shower. I had a facial and a foot massage together at the same time. Such a great experience. Foot massages are all the rage here. There are several places around town that only do foot massages. You just walk in, sit down, and relax.

I did more unpacking before heading to lunch with a woman whose husband works with Mark. They have been here for 4 years now, so she had a lot of insightful information to share. Her children are teenagers, but she is introducing me to other moms with children the same age as ours. She is a really nice woman who seems to take new expat wives under her wing to guide them in the right direction. GM should hire her to do this full time.

I picked Morgan up after another successful day at her new school. We hurried home to have a snack and change for her swim lesson. The lesson is right here at the indoor pool. There are only 3 kids in her class, so she gets a lot of personal attention. Coach Cassey had a heavy accent that I just couldn't place as either British, Australian, or Irish. At any rate, she was very good with the kids and was quite impressed with Morgan's confidence in the water. We go every Tuesday now until Summer.

Nothing on the agenda tomorrow, but my calendar is already filling up for next week with lunches and play dates. I also need to squeeze in a haircut at sometime and cant wait for another opportunity to hit the spa.

Morgan's First Day of School!!

Today was Morgan's first day at her new school. She did great! She walked in with confidence and had no problem with me leaving her this morning. Teacher Tom said she adjusted well and was eager to particpate during group time. She made a new friend, Emily, and a few others, although
she can't remember their names. She is excited to go back tomorrow. Here are a few pictures from her first day:

Another Grey Day

When we first arrived in Shanghai, we were greeted with warmer temperatures and clear blue skies. The weather has since taken a turn for the worse. It is cold (upper 30's), rainy and very grey here today. According to weather.com, there is no change in sight. Yuck!!

We had a nice phone call from Karl today. Morgan and Amelia were able to talk....and talk....and talk. I was able to do my hair and put my makeup on while they were chatting up a storm. Boy are we in trouble if they are able to talk like this at such a young age. I'm not looking forward to the teenage years. Here is a pic of Morgan while she was chatting away with her older cousin.

Our Shining Star

So I know I promised video of Molly crawling...but after much bribing with her ever beloved graham crackers, she would not budge. But I was able to get a shot of her playing her xylaphone. I know I'm a little biased but she is really pretty good. Take a look:

Molly's crawling!!!

This morning I witnessed Molly actually crawling. She only went about 2 feet and then sat back up. She went another two feet and then stopped. Morgan and I spent a good 30 min trying to get her to do it again. I will try again when she gets up from her nap and will of course try to catch it on video. Stay tuned.....

New Foods

So even though we've moved to this new country with tons of exotic foods to try...we have yet to do so. We haven't even eaten at a "Chinese" place yet. We have had some Asian dishes, but at places that are typically classified as serving American meals. However, the girls have tried new foods since we've been here so I thought I would share.

A few days ago, Morgan asked me for eggs for breakfast. Most of you know that if you ask this child if she would like eggs, she is quick to tell you "I don't like eggs." So I was surprised by this. She made sure we added them to our grocery list. She ordered fried rice yesterday because I mentioned that it has eggs in it.

Molly is growing up so fast and really wants to eat "table foods". I don't blame her. But since I haven't exactly been cooking lately its hard to come up with something to give her. Morgan orders the hot dog at Johnny Moo's. It is a foot long hot dog that extends several inches past the bun. The last couple of times we have gone, I cut several small dices for Molly and she LOVES it.

Both of my girl ate fish yesterday. I ordered fish last night and because I couldn't give Molly any of Morgan's mac n cheese (allergic), I needed to give her something besides the Gerber Mixed Veggies. I gave her a few small flakes to start, and she gobbled it up. Eventually Morgan asked if she could try it. The two of them ate half of my dinner. Of course I am happy that my girls are willing to try new foods and they actually like them. I'm hoping this leads into us trying a few more new foods soon.

By the way, last night at dinner, Morgan asked the servers if she could have chopsticks with her mac n cheese. The Chinese waitresses all giggled and watched as she ate her macaroni with the chopsticks.

Odds and ends

Today was a busy day filled with several different activities. The girls stayed home with Sophia this morning while I had an apointment with Visa Services to arrange for my and the girl's residence visas. Of course there was a wait. But, I met an Australian couple who were really quite nice. Tim works for GM as well, and they also arrived in Shanghai on Dec 29. They have a daughter (6) and a son (4). The wife, Sue, and I exchanged information and hope to get the kids together soon. Morgan and their son may even be in the same Kindergarten class next Fall.

I picked Morgan up from home and we went to her new preschool. She got to see her classroom and meet her teacher, Mr. Tom. They were very excited to meet Morgan and she already has a hook with her name on it for her coat and bag. She cannot wait to start school on Monday. This will be a big change for all of us. She will be going to school M-F from 9-3.

Morgan and I then went to Carrefour to pick up a few groceries. Several small trips to the market each week seems to be the norm around here. Its not an all bad thing. We then headed to Decathalon, a sports store. I bought a new bike for myself and Molly. Nothing fancy. For less than the price of a decent dinner, I purchased a regular, around town bike with a basket in front and a baby seat in the back. Molly and I can go visit friends, out for coffee, or to the grocery store. It was raining today, but I am anxious to test it out. And to see how Molly likes her seat.

More unpacking today. Things are coming along. Just trying to find a home for everything. We brought a lot of stuff. And we are finding, some of it we can't use or dont need at all. We already have a couple of boxes that will stay packed until we are ready to move again.

I talked to Mark just a few minutes ago. He is on the plane waiting to take off for Thailand. However, they are currently grounded due to the fog. He is looking forward to getting in a few rounds of golf this weekend and then touring the GM facilities there this week.

Just us girls this weekend. You can bet we will hit the shops and probably Johnny Moo's too (per Morgan's request).

Moving Day!!

Yesterday (Thursday) was moving day for us. Our sea container arrived and we spent the day unpacking. The crew showed up about 9:30. We had to verify that it was in fact our container that they brought. They had to park the container outside of our compound. Then they loaded up a small moving truck (sorry, no bike carts) with boxes and brought them to our house. The crew was very efficient. They unloaded the truck AND unpacked the boxes. They were gone by 2:30 and even took a one hour lunch. Everything seems to be fine and we've only come across one broken candle. Not too bad considering how far the boxes traveled.

Morgan was in heaven yesterday. She played with her horses, dollhouse, and dress up clothes. She had a tea party and read her books that she hasn't seen since November. It was like Christmas for her. The kitchen and Master bedroom are pretty well put together. The girls rooms are in good shape and will be finished today. The basement is a disaster and needs some serious attention.

Mark leaves today for Thailand. He will be gone until Thursday. I am hoping to have the house unpacked when he gets home. Today I go for an interview for my residence Visa. I am also taking Morgan to her new school to check it out and meet the teachers. She cannot wait to start classes on Monday.

Morning Market

Every Wednesday morning from 7:30-?, there is a market set up near the clubhouse of our neighborhood. A neighbor told me about it, so Morgan and I checked it out this morning. There were two vendors selling fruits and veggies, one vendor selling all types of meat, another with beautiful fresh flowers, and another selling bread, rolls and pastries. The prices were quite reasonable. I followed the lead of another market go-er and paid the listed price. I'm not sure if I could bargain for better prices if I become a regular at the market. From what I hear, there are more vendors come Spring. So, time will tell.

We spent the rest of the day just getting ready for move-in day tomorrow. Should be interesting. Our record holds true, it is supposed to rain tomorrow. From what I've heard, the movers will park the sea contain at the maintenance area of our neighborhood. Then they load up bicycle carts and bring the boxes to our villa. We are expecting about 8 movers. 3 to unload the sea container and 5 to unpack. I'll be sure to take pictures.

Yay!!! Great news!!!!

Our sea container arrived and made it past the customs inspection. It will be delivered on Thursday morning. We are thrilled!! Sophia will be here to help with the girls, and our consultant, Isabella, will be here in the morning to help translate.

Otherwise, a pretty quiet day here.

Sophia's First Day

Sophia started work today. She arrived a little early. I could actually see her outside, looking at her watch and then waiting until just before 8:30 to come in. Molly had just woken up and needed a fresh diaper. I started to change her, but Sophia jumped right in and took over. She also fed Molly her breakfast while I finished getting Morgan ready for the day. I showed her around the house and gave her my expectations. She started a load of laundry and then we all went out for groceries.

I brought Sophia along so she could pick out the supplies she knows will work here. She is great with the girls and they have both taken to her already. She amused Morgan in the car by folding & refolding a single sheet of paper into an airplane, ship, pants, and other fun shapes. We made our purchases and headed for home. She got right to work while I gave the girls their lunch.

Shortly after noon, I asked her when she wanted to take her break for lunch. She told me 1. But by almost 2:30 she still hadn't taken a break. I asked her again, and she said "it's OK....I keep working". She never did take a break. Tomorrow I will insist she take the break.

Today she did several loads of laundry, ironed, cleaned the kitchen (including the in/outside of the cabinets), wiped down the bathrooms, and dusted furniture. She also straightened our closets and emptied the trash.

We did have a slight issue. The laundry was still in the dryer when she left. I didn't think it was a big deal. Until Mark went into the laundry room to find some workout clothes. Our sheets and towels did not get washed today. Since the sea container hasn't arrived yet, we only have the one set. So needless to say, Mark and I have been doing laundry tonight so we can have sheets to sleep on and towels for showering. I will have to mention that to Sophia tomorrow.

Overall, today went well. She is very friendly, good with the girls and seems to be a hard worker. This is a test week to see how things go. If all goes well, then we'll try it out for one month and so on.

It's been a full week....

We've officially been in China for one full week now. We are settling in just fine and making our way around town too. We are amazed at how easy it is to make friends here and how often we see them around town. No regrets so far. In fact, Morgan told me the other night that she does not want to move...ever again. Now dont let that get you down. She also told me she wants everyone to come here for a visit soon.

Morgan and I went to church this morning at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. It's only 5 minutes from the house and they offer English mass at 10:30's on Sundays. Mass was packed full of American's and a good mix of other nationalities. The priest was Chinese so it made it somewhat difficult to understand his broken English. But overall, it was a traditional mass complete with choir, children's sermon, and eucharist.

We met Mark and Molly for lunch at Element Fresh. Like I predicted, it has become a favorite for all of us. Mark and Molls were late meeting us since the van wouldnt start. Mr. Yu's company sent someone out to jump the battery. Unfortunatley that was not the end of our car troubles. While out shopping today, the car stalled out again. Someone gave it a jump and we made it home OK. Mr. Yu took the van to be serviced and hopefully it will be fine for Mark's ride into work tomorrow.

Before the second stallout, we headed to the fabric market. This was truly overwhelming. Shops, one after the other, filled with the finest silks, wool and cashmier. You walk in and tell them what you want and which fabric you like. They measure you and you have a custom made garment in one week. For a little more RMB you can have it sooner. Suits for as little $80. Cashmier jackets for less than $150. Unbeleivable. Especially considering they are customed tailored just for you. I saw a jacket I LOVED, but promised the shopkeeper I would be back. The girls were fussing and ready for naps. I will definitely be back.

A little family time

I was up early this morning and took advantage of some alone time. I headed to the gym around 6:15 and had the entire place to myself. After my workout I wanted to soak in the hot tub and then shower before heading for home. When I entered the locker room, I found two of the club housekeepers soaking their feet in the hot tub. I laughed and they blushed before racing out of there.

When I got back home, Mark and the girls were awake. I made breakfast for the family and then everyone got ready for our day. We made it to IKEA just past 10 and pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. Unusual around here. We picked up a few things for the house to make it feel a little more homey. Our sea container should arrive soon and we hope it makes it out of customs by the end of the month.

We headed off to Xintiandi. An area of town with restaurants, sidewalk cafe's, boutiques and art vendors. There are also several bars which offer entertainment at night. We had lunch at Paulaner Brauhaus, a traditional German restaurant. We walked around the shops some before heading for home. The weather was beautiful. I feels like it gets warmer by the day here.

Just a side note...here is a picture of our "garbage man". Trash gets picked up twice daily by this guy on his bike.

Trying something new

I wanted to see how uploading videos to this site works for us and everyone. Please let me know if it is easy to open and view from your pc. Thanks! If it works out, then look for more videos in the near future.

Molly has been taking some steps while holding onto the table, couch etc. I thought I could bribe her into it by putting her favorite graham crackers at one of the table and her at the other. She took a few steps and then falls at the end of the video. No worries! She wasn't hurt and there were no tears. It won't be long until she's off and running with big sis, Morgan.

Meeting the Neighbors

Another great day here in Shanghai. The weather was beautiful....50's and sunny. Morgan was, once again, up bright and early this morning. It seems to be later and later each morning. Maybe by next weekend she'll be back on track.

I took Morgan to the pool this morning. She had a great time swimming. The water in the indoor pool is warm, so there is no hesitation getting in. I checked out the activites board to see about swim lessons for Morgan. They start up next week so I'm hoping its not too late to sign her up. The girls and I had lunch at the poolside cafe. They have a good selection of sandwhiches, salads and soups, and a few hot dishes. The activities club is cash free. So whenever we make a purchase at any of the onsite restaurants or spa, we just have to sign a slip and then we receive a bill at the end of each month.

Mark and the girls and I braved Carrefour (grocery store) again. I wanted to pick up a few things for the Ayi to have on Monday. And since I'm not will to go again on a weekend, we had to go tonight. We managed to get in and out quickly without any trouble. However, just as we were heading out, Mark saw someone he knows from work. Mike, Sondra, and their 2 teenage children live in our neighborhood. They've been in Shanghai for 4 years now. Sondra was very nice and offered to take me out around town sometime. She even has a friend whose two young daughters will be in Morgan's preschool. She offered to arrange a get together for us.

After dinner, we were invited to a neighbors house for drinks and dessert. Mark works with Serg. He and his family, Sally, Onica (9) and Westin (12) live just 5 houses down from us. They've been in Shangahi since mid-September. They also had Sherry, Mike and Jessie (14) over. They've been here just over 1 year, and live 4 house down from us. Everyone was very nice and offered to help at any time, if needed. Jessie even expressed an interest in babysitting. It just goes to show how much the expat community really look out for each other. It truly is like a closeknit family.

It was great to see inside of another villa here in the neighborhood. Serg's family have the same layout we have and we were able to get some ideas on how to arrange the furniture in our own place. A good weekend project.

Well...it's official...

we have an ayi (maid/nanny)!! I interviewed 5 different women today for the position. Our consultant that helped us with housing/schools/etc was here to help translate. Not all of them spoke English. I can only imagine how that goes. Trying to explain what you want done around the house. Although, they all had experience as maids and nannies, so I guess it gets worked out somehow.

We decided on "Sophia, a chinese woman with several years of experience. Including work in a Kindergarden and as a piano teacher. She speaks and understands most English. She worked with an American family before. They also had 2 daughters. She will work M-F starting at 8:30, beginning this Monday. She is also willing to work overtime (Saturday's and evenings) as needed. This will take some getting used to, but seems to be the way of the ISP life here in Shanghai.

Once again, we headed to the children's play area here in the neighborhood. I talked with two moms there and Morgan enjoyed playing with their daughters. One of the moms, Rachel, is from MI. She does not live in the neighborhood. The other mom, Missy, is from Minnessota and lives close by. Morgan and her two daughters got along great. We exhanged phone numbers and walked home together.

Another successful day!

Girls can do anything!!!

Its just us girls today. Mark is back to work. He sent our driver home for us, since the stroller was in the back of the van. We decided to head out for a little fun. A test, if you will, to see if we could do this on our own. And you know what??? We CAN!!!

First we went to Starbucks, for a little pick me up since Morgan was awake at 4 this morning and Molly by 6:30. Then we headed off to the underground shopping market. I purchased a Baby Einstein DVD and a box set of 3 Barbie DVDs for about $20 usd total. Probably a little more than I should have paid, but this looked like a "real" shop and not a place to bargain. Then I purchased two rat ornaments. 2008 is the year of the rat, so these are keepsakes for the girls. The ornaments are actually very pretty, even though they are rats. I paid $6 usd total. I also bought two cashmere "Ralph Lauren" sweaters for Mark for $30 total. I didn't think I did too bad. However, Mark insisted I should have taken our driver in with us for an even better price.

The language has not been too much of an issue. There is usually someone close by that can speak English to help translate. I found a pretty embroidered jacket today that I just loved, but it was the wrong size. I had a hard time asking if there were other sizes or colors in the back. It can be a little frustrating. Oh...and when I asked our driver to take us to McDonald's (per Morgan's request) we ended up at a shopping market called Metro. Eventually he understood and even had coupons with him that he was willing to share. Apparently his daughter (age 11) loves McD's. We never even made it there, cause Morgan changed her mind and we ended up at Element Fresh instead. I told you it was going to be a favorite.

The weather has been beautiful since we've arrived here. Always sunny. A little cold (upper 30's), and windy down by the riverfront, but we can't complain. I've been told we are heading into the rainy season, so we'll see what that's like.

Tomorrow I will interview ayis (maids). Our consultant that helped us find our house will bring them by the house and will help translate for us. Should be interesting. I'll keep you posted.