Our Christmas when we got home

When we got back from our trip...it was time for us to open presents! The kids had a blast and were happy with all the things they got. Cohen loved his cars and liked the little doll the girls got. The girls loved there American boy dolls and there chinese dolls they got (don't look chinese just bought in china). I think they had a good Christmas. Here are some pictures and you can click on our photo gallery to the right of this blog.

Our Christmas Trip to Thailand: Phuket Part 2

For the second off of Christmas we went to Phuket and stayed in a villa that had its own pool. It was beautiful!! and so much fun. I think it was the nicest hotel I had ever stayed at. It had a outdoor bathroom with a pool right outside. The kids loved it and it made our lives easier so we could stay near by while Cohen slept. They place also had a kids place where they would watch the kids (Avery and Rylan) while we relaxed. We walked on the beach, played at the pool, walked to the markets and restuarants, and took a boat out one day and went snorkeling with the kids. It was fun!! Avery has really gotten the hang of swimming. We still have her wear her life jacket since we have three kids to watch!! We spent Christmas day there so we brought some gifts for them to open. They seemed to enjoy it! All and all it was an enjoyable to trip that we really got to relax. Here are some pictures and look at our photo gallery for more!! We hope all is well and we miss everyone!!

Our Christmas Trip to Bangkok: Part 1

For Christmas this year, we decided to head to Thailand. We first went to Bangkok and spent 5 days there. It was fun to be there. The favorite things the kids got to do was ride the tuk-tuk around the city. A tuk-tuk, is like a motorcycle with seats in the back for our family and a cover on it. It makes a reving noise that sounds kind of like a Tuk-tuk noise. It was fun. While we were there, we took the kids to Build-a-bear workshop where they got to pick a bear for Christmas. It was a treat because it is nothing we can do in China. We also went to a park where we got to swing and ride a paddle boat. It was exciting! The kids also got to see a giant lizard that eats rats!! Avery was scared before we came because a lady had told her they were all over Bangkok and that they like meat so watch out. We only saw one. We also did some shopping and ate lots of thai food. YUMMY!! THe girls also went out and had a manicure done. We loved it and the ladies loved the girls! Aubrey also went to see the doctor one day. What for you might ask???? We will be expanding our family this July with a new addtion. We were quite surprised. The check-up went well. We told the kids on Christmas day and they were so excited. Avery and Rylan both want a girl so we will see!! We plan to go to Oregon to have the baby this summer. It shall be an exciting time!! Attached are some pictures and you can go to our gallery to see more pics! Enjoy!!

The Christmas Show at QSI

The girl's school had a Christmas show before they got out of school for the holidays. It was so cute! They did a trip around the world where they broad casted live to different countries and talked about traditions in other countries. They represented USA, Puerto Rico, Malaysia, Sweden, Finland, France, and some other countries. It was really fun!! Rylan's class represented Puerto Rico with Feliznada and Avery's class did Sweden with "St Lucia". Here is a picture and video!! Enjoy

Decorate the Christmas Tree

After Thanksgiving, we put up our Christmas tree. Chris was able to buy some clear lights that do not blink so our tree looked a little better. We always put on some Christmas music and decorate. It is usually pretty fun. This year, we needed to put the breakable ones high because Cohen likes to pull them off. Here are some pictures!!

The Chengdu Women's Club Annual Christmas Bazaar

Every year, the women's club takes part in their biggest fundraiser of the year and it is called the Christmas Bazaar. We invite everyone to come and get vendors to provide food, and local chinese to sale stuff. They would give a certain percentage to what they earn. We also have games for the kids where they win prizes. It is really fun. This year, I was in charge of recruiting volunteers. It was not an easy task, but lots of people gave me contacts and it went well. We had about 1200 people come and we made about $23,000 US dollars. And it all goes to charity to local areas around Chengdu!! We were excited to see all the work pay off!! Here is a video of the kids singing Christmas carols at the event. Each international school took a turn!! Rylan was not in her school performance because we were not sure of her hand so she just watched. Avery sang in both of these songs below and Cohen got into to second song. Enjoy!!

Thanksgiving in Chengdu

Thanksgiving came this year and it seemed different because the girls had school and no holiday. I was also used to leaving to go see family or family coming to see us!! This was our first thanksgiving away and we missed home. The girl's school had a thanksgiving lunch so I met them up there to eat with them. It was fun, turkey, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. After the lunch, one of Rylan's classmates got mouth and hand disease and they also suspected Rylan. She had some bumps on her hands but it was much different than her classmates. So Thanksgving I took her to the doctor. He basically could say she had and could not say she didn't so he told me to keep out of school. That day we were suppose to go and have thanksgiving dessert at our friend's house, but had to cancel so we had soup and grill cheese sandwiches. Not quite a Thanksgiving dinner. Friday night, we went to a Thanksgiving dinner at this nice hotel called Intercontiental hotel. It was really nice. They had all the Thanksgiving fixens and NFL football games playing on a big screen. They even had cake making activity for the kids and activities for them to do. Cohen and Rylan stayed home since we were unsure of her diagnoses. Our ayi watched her. Here are some pictures of Avery making a cake!!

The Abba Party

There is a woman here named, Kim, she has been living here with her family for 4 years now. Anyway, she turned 40 this month and decided to have a ABBA themed party. Everyone had to dress up that came. I was on the fence about it and Chris did not want to get dressed up and fitted for a costume. He said he had done that in Fratenity days! One of my good friends offered to go with me. So we got costumes made in 4 days and put on some wigs and dressed up. We looked like twins, only she is almost 6 ft tall so it was funny. Here is a picture of us!! The party was at a restuarant. We had a lot of fun and people sang some sungs!! I hope you enjoy the pics!!

The kids play soccer! (football)

This fall it was a short season of soccer. Avery only played this time and it only went for 4 weeks. I think it is not her sport because she really didn't enjoy it, not mention it was really cold the days we played. Cohen however wanted to play so bad!! It is hard to believe that he is only 16 months and is ready to play with the big kids. I got some pictures of him however did not get any of Avery. None of the pictures turned out good. Here is Cohen and another little boy from Sweden who played together on the sidelines!!

The Zoo outside of Chengdu

The girls had a teacher workshop training one day on Nov 10 so Chris took the day off and we went to a zoo that is about 2 hours north of here. It was on a mountain side and we were told we could feed the animals with real meat!! When we entered the park, there was camels and donkeys blocking the road. Cohen got a little scared because they came right up to the van. We first had lunch at a restuarant up there and then bought our tickets. We were the only ones in the car. When they let us through the gates, it felt like Juriasic Park. They opened the gate and then closed it and we were in with the wild life. The Loins were first and then we fed the bears, and lastly the tigers. It was crazy they came right up to the bus and put their claws on the window ready to eat. The chinese tour guide gave us meat on a sitck to feed them with. It was crazy and my heart was racing. It was an amazing experience. After that, they dropped us off to climb through the wildlife. We got to feed deer, monkeys, and the girls got to feed koi fish with baby bottles. I think that was there favorite. Cohen didn't get scared with the animals when we walked but he was in the back pack so he had his daddy to protect him. The walk through the park went on forever, but we got out 3 hours later and the girls walked/climbed stairs the whole time. Please see out web gallery for more pictures!!

Fall Festival at QSI and Halloween

This was our first halloween here in Chengdu and our school put on a really fun fall festival. They took a family picture, had games where the kids got some treats and toys, food to purchase, and got to go to their classrooms for candy. They even got a book to take home when they went to the library!! The kids had a blast. Rylan and Avery were dressed as bumble bees and Cohen was a penguin. I got the outfits last year before I left. Cohen was so cute, he loved his little penguin feet/shoes and now wears them as slippers all around the house. He wants to wear them all the time except when we go outside. The Chengdu Women's Club also had a trick/treating in a compound by us. We decided to try it. We had dinner with some friends first and then went to the compound. There were a ton of people there. We even went to some resturants such as a dumpling shop and the kids got candy there as well. Some parts were a little scary for Rylan and understood why we didn't do this is USA. You never know what you will get when you knock on the door Avery asked why we didn't do this at home? I told her we usually go to the fall festival. We also invited to go to the consulate with our friends who are diplomats from USA. We got to play games and eat food. The girls task was to mummy wrap their daddy. It was not successful, but was fun. Avery also participated in lots of games to include a broomstick pushing a pumpkin. I think the kids at a good time. Please look in our photo gallery to see more pictures!!

Our Trip to Hong Kong for October holiday!!

The first of October is a holiday here in China, so we decided to head on over to Hong Kong! We flew into Shen Zhen and then rented a driver who took us across the border. It went pretty well and we got to our hotel easily. We stayed at Hotel Nikko and it was a nice atmosphere. There was a lot of places to eat and it was close to the ferry so we could go into Hong Kong fairly easily. We were so surprise at how clean everything was and how people were punished if they pee in the street or spit, as well as smoke in areas they are not suppose to. There was so much shopping that is was overwhelming. We went to the Peak one day, a fun amusement park the next, one day we to went to the hospital to get Cohen's lead checked as well as shots, and another day just to spend at the outdoor pool at our hotel, and the last day we went to this place called Stanely Market. We did not make it to Disneyland because one amusement park was enough for us!! All and all we had a good time. We even went to TOY R US and the kids were so excited!! There was just alot of people since it was a chinese holiday. We also saw a dragon parade lit with incense. It was quite an experience!! Attached are some pictures and please go to our Web Gallery to see more!!

Cohen's Birthday-Turns 1

Cohen turned one on Sept 25 and for his birthday the girls also had a half day. I picked them up afterschool and we met some friends at the famous ex-pat place, Peter's Tex Mex. Cohen even got a piece of cake!! After that we took him to the Chengdu Aqaurium. It is not much to look at, but the kids had fun with their friends. Later that day, he got his first haircut. When we got back from all our outings, our ayi had got Cohen a cake so we sang to him and ate some cake. He loved it!! Here are some pictures and a video. Look in our web gallery for more pictures

The girls get new bikes!!

When we got back, we decided that girls needed some bikes and since we have a bigger house now, we thought it would be fun for them. Rylan got one with training wheels and loved it. Avery got one without and learned to ride her bike in two short lessons. They both did great!! I will try to post a video of them when I can get one. Cohen even liked the bike and is ready to ride one!! Here some pictures

Avery and Rylan start school at QSI

We went back to China August 15. We left out of Portland and then to Vancouver, Canada, then to Beijing, and finally to Chengdu. It was a long flight and it was amazing that we made all our connections. Our flight was delayed out of Portland so when we got to Canada, the airlines where announcing our name over the airport because we were not there yet and did not have a ticket for Cohen. We made through customs quickly and the people were helpful to make sure we made it on the flight and we did. Then when we got to Beijing, we were delayed because Chris filled out the HINI questionaire saying Cohen had a running nose as well as him, so they detained us. Chris said it was just allergies and that we had no fever, so we had to wait in the sick area and fill out some new forms. Then we got to baggage claim and did not have to wait for our luggage because it was we were so late. While we were there, this GOD SEND chinese man came up to Chris and asked if we needed help. Chris quickly said yes because we only had 45 minutes to carry all our luggage, get it checked in as well as new tickets, and then go back through security and run to the gate. When we got to the air china place, the sweet man told us we proobably had to pay more for our baggage because we now were flying in country. He told us that he would work something out with the guy. He got our luggage checked in and then took us through the first class line so we could make our flight. We made it with no time to loose and paid the sweet 200 RMB for all his help because if it was not for him we would have never made it. God brought us a miracle helper.

We made it home and the girls started school a week later. Avery has a teacher who is from Austrailia and she loves to talk like her. Rylan has a teacher from Puerto Rico and she loves her as well. I think this will be a good year for them both. It is fun because they have all the same friends in their class as last year with some new additions. Here are some pics!! Enjoy!

Cohen is walking!!

Cohen took his first steps at 10 1/2 months and started really walking at 11 months. He is such a busy bee and it is hard to keep up with him. He is very smart, loves to put his problem solving skills to the test by using chairs, stools or toys to climb up on top of things like tables, couches, and Rylan's bed. He is all boy and much different from the girls!! It was been fine to have him. He also loves balls. He sometimes thinks he is a big kid and chases the older boys while they play soccer.

Chris and I 10 year anniversary in Oregon

We and I made 10 years August 7, 2009. It was too hard to leave Cohen for a weekend, we decided to to a day trip. So we left at 4:30 am to go on a hot air balloon ride and then went for a horseback ride in three vineyards. It was so much fun and something to remember for our 10th anniversary. During the hot balloon ride, they even took down on the Wilammette River for a dunk in the balloon and then back up in the sky we went. After the hot balloon ride, the company provided a full course brunch with mimosas and all. The horseback riding was also fun. The country side was beautiful looking over all the vineyards. We even got to try some wine. It was really fun and enjoyable!! Here are some pictures and please go to our web gallery to see more!!

Our time in the States- Oregon!!

After we left the south part of the states, we headed for some cooler weather, Oregon!! My parents just recently retired up there and my twin brother lives there as well. We were there for two weeks and had a great time. We went hiking, walks, to the beach, did some shopping, and had an unbirthday party for the kids. It was really fun!! Here are some pictures!Please go to our gallery to see more pictures

Summer in the states- Texas!

As you know we went back to the USA for 8 weeks. Part of the time we spent in Texas visiting friends and doing all our medical visits. (i.e doctor, dentist, etc) We spent a month there. Our associate pastor and friends were gracious to let us stay with them. The kids and I stayed different places per week and had a great time. We got to go to the swimming pool and it was so much fun!! We also got to have their birthday party at bounce city and invited all our friends!! It was a blast and the kids really enjoyed themselves. Here are some pictures and please look at our photo album to see more!! It was so special to spend time with our friends. We had a great time and miss everyone so much!!