2011- A Year in Review

Traditionally, we send out a Christmas letter every year, as we love hearing updates from family and friends.  This year the logistics were a little complicated.  We have stamps from the US, and I can forward through Cody's office mail, but I did not get cards ordered from the USA in time so:
 MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR, and HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!
 I now know to purchase Christmas cards, Halloween candy etc all while in US over the Summer :-)

Here some of this year's highlights:

1) Of course first big highlight was the big move to Shanghai.

Flight time 14 hours

Leaving Chicago

2) But first we celebrated Claire and Carlie's 8th birthday at the American Girl doll store in Chicago.

Claire

Carlie

Kyle

Even Kyle, who was just barely tolerating this event, was excited about the food. (I think, Kyle and Cody were the only boys in the place, bless 'em)

3) We located temporary housing in Shanghai.
  This is harder than you would think.  The real estate market is highly competitive.  The higher you are in the high rise the more desirable, as the better the view, we figured out.
We were on the second level ;-).  But all we really cared about was the great pool!

4) Getting a phone in China
  This took an entire day and it was life changing, definitely a highlight!  First, purchased an unlocked iphone, then different store for sim card, then different store for data plan,  then to store to figure out why phone is not working.  It took weeks to figure out how to text in english, it was all Chinese, literally.

Apple Store

5) Located permanent temporary housing
  This house is where we now call home. It took 2 months to get our furniture, but it feels more like home to us now.  Getting the pantry full of food that we packed in the shipment was really the biggest highlight of getting our belongings.  It was also nice to be in walking distance to their school and to church.

6) Finding a great school and having everyone accepted was a big hurdle. 

 The second grade was really crowded at our school of choice, and one of the girls was wait listed.  We were contemplating whether we would have to have them at different schools.  There are a ton of school choices with British, Singapore, German and American schools available.  They all were eventually accepted thankfully. (It would be tough with one second grader using the metric system and asking for her allowance in pounds.)

7) Of course one of the biggest highlights was Claire's recovery from her appendicitis.  We had only been here two months, and she became ill.  Luckily we knew where to go ( English was spoken, they took insurance etc. ) She had an uncomplicated appendectomy, and was discharged after 3 days in the hospital.  Thank you for all the prayers!

8) Cody took many trips for work, and will be doing much more traveling.  Work days here are complicated.  We can tell when the US office opens as his phone starts buzzing with emails pouring in at night.  He often has on conference calls during US operating hours.  He has made many trips in and outside of China:  Beijing, Singapore, Tasmania etc.  It has been a highlight of his career, and the biggest challenge.  He is enjoying this opportunity to work abroad.

No cell phones or email on board! YAY!

9)We got to see family for Christmas!  We went on a cruise for one week of Christmas to the Caribbean (Nassau, St. Thomas, and St. Marteen) with family and spent one week visiting family in Texas.

Carlie

 Rock wall on ship

Carlie climbed this wall at least 5 times, all the way to the top.

Please direct me to nearest beach chair.

New suit

Captain Kyle

Park midship

Slightly rough seas

Merry go round rides every day

Tree climbing

From rock climbing on ship to tree climbing in West Texas, we had a great visit to the US!

10)  And the highest highlight for us was when Kyle decided to be baptized!  Kyle was baptized in Texas, with much of his family around him!  What a blessing that was for him and us!

10.5) Okay so Karen also turned 40 this year, trying to slide through without confessing, but figure it is okay on the other side of the hill.  It has been a great ride to the top!  Thank you for all the surprise phone calls, surprise party, embarrassing pictures of my youth etc.  No sliding by in this family!