Aren't they handsome!

Santa

My cute China boys on Santa's lap. They are staying home for Christmas this year. We did see Kathleen the first part of December when she came for her brother's wedding. She enjoyed the flight by herself! Kathleen's mom is spending Christmas with them.

China #2

The end of September, first of October, Daryl and I went to China. We had a great time. Daryl was up at 5 am every morning and went for a 2 hour bike ride. He came home and then took Liam to school on his bike. There are not many people out that time of day and so he said he could ride most anywhere. There are groups of older people doing exercises and dances or yoga. Jeff and Kathleen were on vacation the first week we were there and we took advantage of the bikes and bike carriers and went on a lot of bike rides. Daryl found a Walmart - it isn't ANYTHING like our Walmart - especially the meat department! We did some sightseeing and shopping.


This is Liam's school. This is a temple in a Chinese garden.


This is Century Park and the city is getting ready for the World Expo to be held there in 2010. It is a very nice park that has a stream of water running down both sides with tons of flowers.

One of the fun things we did was our visit to the planning and zoning building. Now, I know this doesn't sound like much fun, but they had an amazing scale model of the city of Shanghai including the new buildings, especially those for the Expo. Daryl could have spent days there.

We found a few shopping malls that are ten stories high with BMW's, Rolls Royce's, Mercedes Benz, etc. There are many many people at each station in the malls waiting to help you.

We were there for 2 1/2 weeks and can't wait to go back for another visit.

House

Daryl has wanted a project for awhile and every Sunday looks in the paper to see what houses are for sale. With the economy and housing market the way it is, there have been quite a few houses on short sales - ready to go into foreclosure. In August, we looked at a couple that needed some work (a project) and made an offer. It was accepted and the next weekend (Labor Day), we started moving in.

The house really can't be classified as a "fixer-upper" but needs some extensive work. All the windows and outside doors have leaked for a long time and need to be replaced; the inside is/was purple and all needed paint; the basement is completely unfinished. Oh, and it is a big house - our plan is to do the work and update it and then sell it in a couple years when the market turns.

The work done at this point is the basement has all new windows and one new door. We still need to replace one door in the basement. There is also a new window in the kitchen. The window replacement has been stopped at this point due to weather. We have done quite a bit of painting and have replaced some of the lighting and are now doing some electrical work. By they way, I use the term "we" loosely - Daryl works, I watch and run errands. I will post some pictures when I get them from one computer to another.

Summer 2008

As I sit waiting for it to snow (UGH), I am remembering the fun we had this summer. Ali came from Philadelphia. When I picked her up from the airport, I couldn't believe how much she had grown - such a little lady. Kathleen and the boys were here and we got to see Jeff for a short time. It is always fun to have them here. Melissa and boys and Kristin and Jen came often we we had a good time. The boys are the BEST! Papa built them a tree house and, as Liam would say, "No girls allowed!" Ali, Liam and I spent one night in the tree house - it took me awhile to recover from that!

Uncle Mike's favorite holiday is July 4th. He helped the boys with the fireworks. Both Liam and Tyler, however, weren't sure about the noise!

A few of my favorites!

I apologize in advance for how this turns out. As you know, Grandma is very creative and my girls are very creative - it skipped a generation! The pictures are in no particular order, and even if I wanted them to be, I wouldn't be able to make it happen!

The Schall's NOT playing whiffle ball!

Maddie showing her smile

This was my favorite of all the pics of the greats because ALL of the greats were there.

Jen and Curtis

Katie and Hunter
Megan on the scale, weighing purses
Dylan going down - and up - the slide
Richard - even he is getting old!

Gramps with Elsa
Tyler, Sierra and Jake fishing - he became Tyler's favorite
Four generations (look at the proud grandma!)

Liam and Olivia feeding the ducks.

Jeff helping one of the nieces play whiffle ball.
My four grandsons - this is my favorite because they are all looking in different directions - it is perfect!
Liam, Tyler, Hunter, Jesse

Collin swimming

Grams with Jasmine - she loves the greats!
Gramps and Dylan going for a ride.
Tyler running after Jesse - it kept them busy for hours.
Kristin and Mike cleaning Grams kitchen - getting ready for the festivities.
Phil and family - I just love it!

A few more photos .....

Nate took Ali fishing and she brought her fish home to show us. They cleaned it and put it the fridge. I promptly (and secretly) threw it away.

Ali and Tyler at the fireworks. We went to the University where Daryl used to work to watch them. Tyler didn't like the noise much; Dylan thought the whole thing was great!

Ali

Ali came from Philadelphia the end of June and is going home Monday (Aug 4). We have had a good time, but she is ready to see her family! We did a lot of things: the reunion (floating the river, swimming, the jump house, whiffle ball); went swimming; played in the river; went to my office where she organized a project for the front office and another one for me. (She is truly her mother's daughter, although is still learning the fine art of the details!) She played with Tori, her friend from before, and made new friends (Noelle and Jude). She got to spend some time with Nonnie, and she also informed us several times she was BORED! She also spent time doing Math and Reading.

This is a picture of the bike my family gave me for Mother's Day. I love riding it and am working on the hills. Thank you so much!

Streets of Shanghai

This is the best way to get around Shanghai. Everyone rides bikes and they have the right of way - first bikes, then taxis, last pedestrians. An interesting note - the lines in the roads are just suggestions! We used a taxi a lot - sometimes a scary experience (they aren't very expensive).
Jeff, Liam and I went for a bike ride to the Puxi side of Shanghai.



Liam and I were looking at some eels, fish and octopus that were being sold on the street when a rooster (just across from where we were standing) ran in front of us squawking - scared us to death!
This is what we had for lunch. It was really good!

Shanghai

Here are some pictures of my trip to China. It was the best and I really loved it. This building is Jin Mao. There is an observation deck on the 86th floor and you can see as far as the smog will let you. On the elevator to the deck, it is like going up a high mountain - ears plugging and all. There are over 6,000 skyscrapers in Shanghai and since there are no building rules or codes, you see a little of everything. Amazing!

This is the Pearl - a landmark in Shanghai. It is close to Jin Mao and you can see both from the window of Jeff and Kathleen's apartment. The pink is really pretty. Of to the side of both Jin Mao (which is the 5th tallest building in the world) and the Pearl, is the 3rd tallest building which is still being contructed.

The buildings with the red tops are the complex where Jeff and Kathleen live. They live in the shorter group - tower 10, third floor. There is a lot of green space - pools, parks, flowers - very pretty and nice.

Not a fan

I suppose one of these days it will be spring. We have had a few days of warm, sunny weather - in between snow storms. It has been a long, snowy, cold winter (I am grateful for the water) but it is time for ol' man winter to give up and go away.

Tagged

While I am trying to get my China trip in order, and so I can rest in peace, here goes.....

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning. B. Each player answers the questions about themselves. C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

10 years ago... We had lived in Logan about a year and I started working at the University. It was also the year Daryl and I went to Nagano for the Olympics - well, me for the fun and Daryl for the work.

5 things on my to do list today...

1. laundry, something I am not good at remembering - so different from 10 years ago
2. exercise
3. although I don't work on Mondays, I have a meeting tomorrow that I have to attend
4. work on my China trip pictures
5. exercise

Snacks I enjoy... I really like chips, but I rarely buy them. I would rather have licorice than chocolate. And I really love peanut butter.

What I would do if I were suddenly a billionaire... I would quit my job. I would travel First Class when I go to China (or anywhere else). I would love to have enough money to really help others.

5 bad habits....

1. I never get movies back in time and always have late fees
2. I am not great at keeping records
3. I RARELY cook, or grocery shop for that matter
4. I don't drink enough water
5. Playing Solitaire

5 jobs that I have had...

1. My first job was at Taco Time in Caldwell
2. Western Auto
3. secretary
4. Academic Advisor
5. my favorite - a mom and a grammy

5 things people don't know about me...

1. I rode and elephant and went on a hot air balloon ride when I was young (at different times)
2. I get really cranky when I am hungry
3. There is a bar of soap between my sheet and mattress. I stops for leg cramps (and yes, it does work)
4. I generally have more than one book going at a time
5. My favorite car is a Bentley - maybe I would buy one if I were a billionaire.

As for those of you who are tagged, I don't think there is anyone left. I would tag Tami, but, well, you know .........

Worry

I don't know where this came from, but I know it is true. When do you stop worrying? I have found the answer to be "Never."
"Is there a magic cutoff period when offspring become accountable for their own actions?
Is there a wonderful moment when parents can become detached spectators in the lives of their children and shrug, "It's their life," and feel nothing?

When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for doctors to put a few stitches in my daughter's head.
I asked, "When do you stop worrying?"
The nurse said, "When they get out of the accident stage."
My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and heard how one of my children talked incessantly, disrupted the class,
and was headed for a career making license plates.
As if to read my mind, a teacher said, "Don't worry, they all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them."
My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to ring, the cars to come home, the front door to open.
A friend said, "They're trying to find themselves.
Don't! worry, in a few years, you can stop worrying. They'll be adults."
My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being vulnerable.
I was still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle.
There was nothing I could do about it.
My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments.
My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and lead my own life.
I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted by my dad's warm smile and his occasional,
"You look pale. Are you all right? Call me the minute you get home. Are you depressed about something?"

Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry?
Is concern for one another handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of human frailties and the fears of the unknown?
Is concern a curse or is it a virtue that elevates us to the highest form of life?

One of my children became quite irritable recently, saying to me,
"Where were you? I've been calling for 3 days, and no one answered I was worried."
I smiled a warm smile.
The torch has been passed.

Breakfast

Jen and I went to Boise to see all her grandparents before she leaves for Minnesota. It was a great visit with Grams and Gramps and Grandma and Grandpa Reece. Two unexpected discoveries:

1. Tawi and Tip became friends. Now, we did leave Tawi in his cage and occasionally Tawi would nip Tip's nose and Tip would growl and nip back, but mostly they just hung out together.
2. I discovered a new breakfast: Yoplait yogurt with biotics, sliced banana, raisins, and sliced almonds. It is really good.

I also began to realize that Jen is leaving - soon. She is really happy and excited and ready to begin learning Spanish and teaching the gospel.