Scaffolding

We are re-stuccoing the house after Daryl put in new windows. It is almost done and it looks wonderful. The top picture is the back of the house after the stucco is done and the deck is finished. The bottom photos are of all the scaffolding around the house while the work was/is being done. They are now on the front of the house.

I went to a basic podcast class yesterday. It was really amazing. I hope to get on the ball and post more to this blog.

Happy Chinese New Years

Dallas Michael Draper

My new grandson!
http://mikeandkris.blogspot.com/

Fancy Nancy Party

Melissa put the slide show on my blog and I am hoping that I don't mess it up while telling about the party. On my birthday, which was a Saturday, Daryl took me to breakfast. When we got home, Melissa, Kristin, Jen, and many of my friends (Megen, Melanie, Stephanie, Karalee, Dixie) were at my house and surprised me. It was so fun to see them all. I love the book "Fancy Nancy" and my grandsons humor me and allow me read it to them. They girls gave me a Fancy Nancy party, complete with tiara, boas, napkin holders, fancy dishes, and tea. It was a wonderful surprise - thanks all!

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!