ayi means "aunt" in Mandarin. It's also what you call a nanny or a maid. Thus concludes our word-of-the-day.
Before I go run the scoreboard for the softball game (Shanghai vs. Hong Kong), I thought I'd post a brief rundown of CNY. Erica's visit inspired all sorts of tourism on our part. Isn't that funny how you don't really explore the city you live in until a) someone visits or b) you are about to move. So she and I (and the family, at times) saw the inside of the Jing An temple, we waited in line for 72 minutes to get famous dumplings at Yu Garden, of course we watched fireworks from our hotel room on the 31st floor, we spent a day and night in Hangzhou, and we rode the Maglev train to the airport. Erica flew out of Bangkok today, after 5 days on her own. So I will relay her reports from there soon, and of course photos and video from CNY will appear here soon also. Very busy week at work has made blogging take a back seat.
Sarah leaves tomorrow for Chicago, so I will single-parent for 8 days. Fun!
Desi's class blog has some new posts, including a funny video in which Desi makes a funny appearance. Check it out if you haven't.
more soon! peace and love and spring training!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
the Eagle has landed
So Auntie Erica is here. It's a work day for Sarah and I, but the kids are already out of school for New Year's. So Erica is at home with the boys and the neighbor's kids.
Welcome to Shanghai--watch my kids!
We'll show her downtown and Hangzhou soon. Expect pics soon.
I'm about outta here. Just wanted to post a Happy New Year wish for all of you. May the Year of the Tiger bring you good health and new adventures. If you were born in 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, or 1986, then it's your year.
I'm out!
Welcome to Shanghai--watch my kids!
We'll show her downtown and Hangzhou soon. Expect pics soon.
I'm about outta here. Just wanted to post a Happy New Year wish for all of you. May the Year of the Tiger bring you good health and new adventures. If you were born in 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, or 1986, then it's your year.
I'm out!
Monday, February 1, 2010
videos you may have missed...
looking at the stats on youtube, it appears some of you missed the Christmas videos of Emmett. also, a new one is up of Desi's award last week. he's so proud! check 'em out.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
WIld Things: another fun weekend
So we watched Where the Wild Things Are yesterday. great movie. intense, sad, funny, wonderful. captures the emotions of childhood without getting too sentimental. desi and his parents cried. emmett did not. that says a lot about the way we 4 are made, i think.
went to 2 kid birthday parties and a Haiti fundraiser at a bar that raised over $9000US. fun times.
also had an impromptu visit from most of the Leipold family on Sunday. always fun to have them over, especially now that they are moving to Singapore next year. we will miss them terribly, after all they have done to help us adjust and have fun here in SH.
as for last weekend's 70s party...
and, because the above photo doesn't do my shorts justice...
In other news, Desi got an award at school last week. Video soon on sarahpearlz's youtube channel. In the meantime, here is his class video production of the little red hen. I love Desi's delivery of his one big line.
T-MINUS ten days til Erica arrives. We're heading downtown for a couple nights, to see CNY fireworks, then one night in Hangzhou. That, you may recall, is the town Marco Polo called "beautiful" or something to that effect.
Emmett quote of the week:
The other day, as is his custom here lately, he came into our bedroom about 5am and got in bed with us. I couldn't fall back to sleep, so I took action. As I began to scoop him up, I said "I'm taking you back to your bed." He said "I'm not really interested in my bed." So much for that.
Desi quote of the week:
Mom: So Desi, what do you want to be when you grow up?
D: A police
Mom: Why?
D: (makes gun w/hands, points it at imaginary suspect) Hands up!
Bang!
Dead.
Let's hope he leaves Law Enforcement to cooler heads.
went to 2 kid birthday parties and a Haiti fundraiser at a bar that raised over $9000US. fun times.
also had an impromptu visit from most of the Leipold family on Sunday. always fun to have them over, especially now that they are moving to Singapore next year. we will miss them terribly, after all they have done to help us adjust and have fun here in SH.
as for last weekend's 70s party...
and, because the above photo doesn't do my shorts justice...
In other news, Desi got an award at school last week. Video soon on sarahpearlz's youtube channel. In the meantime, here is his class video production of the little red hen. I love Desi's delivery of his one big line.
T-MINUS ten days til Erica arrives. We're heading downtown for a couple nights, to see CNY fireworks, then one night in Hangzhou. That, you may recall, is the town Marco Polo called "beautiful" or something to that effect.
Emmett quote of the week:
The other day, as is his custom here lately, he came into our bedroom about 5am and got in bed with us. I couldn't fall back to sleep, so I took action. As I began to scoop him up, I said "I'm taking you back to your bed." He said "I'm not really interested in my bed." So much for that.
Desi quote of the week:
Mom: So Desi, what do you want to be when you grow up?
D: A police
Mom: Why?
D: (makes gun w/hands, points it at imaginary suspect) Hands up!
Bang!
Dead.
Let's hope he leaves Law Enforcement to cooler heads.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
in no particular order
fun weekend. 70s disco dancing, lots of backgammon, sunny enough for wiffle ball.
Sunday, the boys saw Disney on Ice with mom. much excitement. shortly thereafter, I heard the
quote of the weekend...
Desi (crying): Emmett hit me and stomped on me.
Dad: (in shocked, outraged voice) Emmy, did you stomp on Desi?
Emmett: No, I didn't stomp on him. I marched on him. Very hard.
In allergy news, Desi got to eat pizza. turns out, wheat still does him wrong. lots of sniffling last night.
stray cats are peeing on our patio furniture. i emailed property manager, threatening to poison cats. (I know my dad is proud of me right now). they said "be patient" and not to do anything drastic. so far, i am patient.
FYI, my favorite 90s band is touring this year, a decade after breaking up. so, depending on when/where they play in July, I might see them. maybe even in your city, if need be. so maybe I'll see some of you I don't get to see often.
also, the new school calendar is out. The Pearlzes will be in Phoenix for Xmas 2010. it's sunny there, ya know, and we'd love to be your excuse to get warm in december. we can't put you up in our place, but we'd love to see you by our pool.
feeling thankful I'm not in Haiti. one of my heroes, Paul Farmer, has worked there for decades, and deserves your money, if you're inclined to donate. he's a badass.
back to work. go Saints!
Sunday, the boys saw Disney on Ice with mom. much excitement. shortly thereafter, I heard the
quote of the weekend...
Desi (crying): Emmett hit me and stomped on me.
Dad: (in shocked, outraged voice) Emmy, did you stomp on Desi?
Emmett: No, I didn't stomp on him. I marched on him. Very hard.
In allergy news, Desi got to eat pizza. turns out, wheat still does him wrong. lots of sniffling last night.
stray cats are peeing on our patio furniture. i emailed property manager, threatening to poison cats. (I know my dad is proud of me right now). they said "be patient" and not to do anything drastic. so far, i am patient.
FYI, my favorite 90s band is touring this year, a decade after breaking up. so, depending on when/where they play in July, I might see them. maybe even in your city, if need be. so maybe I'll see some of you I don't get to see often.
also, the new school calendar is out. The Pearlzes will be in Phoenix for Xmas 2010. it's sunny there, ya know, and we'd love to be your excuse to get warm in december. we can't put you up in our place, but we'd love to see you by our pool.
feeling thankful I'm not in Haiti. one of my heroes, Paul Farmer, has worked there for decades, and deserves your money, if you're inclined to donate. he's a badass.
back to work. go Saints!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
pics from Vietnam and beyond (aka: our apartment)
Sometimes I think that Apple could sell a KidMac that came with only Safari and Photo Booth. Here's why I think that:
"Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam. We've all been there."
Can you identify the source of this quote? It's the last line of one of my favorite books. And now it's true! For the Pearlz family, at least. A few choice shots...
Here Katie maintains Zen-like composure, despite the hustle of Saigon's moped army
2 lucky guys show off their new cars
The beach at Mui Ne was chill, and populated by kitesurfers (as you can see in this shot) and Russians, just FYI
Caught a beautiful sunset on our way to mini-golf. Or, as our travel companion Kathryn insisted on calling it, "putt putt." The greens were concrete, so I don't recommend the Mui Ne mini-golf/putt-putt. (BTW, what do YOU call it? Feel free to comment here on the blog). My officemate, who just coincidentally attended Arcadia (a high school in Phoenix that used to be a rival of my alma mater) calls it "goony golf."
"Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam. We've all been there."
Can you identify the source of this quote? It's the last line of one of my favorite books. And now it's true! For the Pearlz family, at least. A few choice shots...
Here Katie maintains Zen-like composure, despite the hustle of Saigon's moped army
2 lucky guys show off their new cars
The beach at Mui Ne was chill, and populated by kitesurfers (as you can see in this shot) and Russians, just FYI
Caught a beautiful sunset on our way to mini-golf. Or, as our travel companion Kathryn insisted on calling it, "putt putt." The greens were concrete, so I don't recommend the Mui Ne mini-golf/putt-putt. (BTW, what do YOU call it? Feel free to comment here on the blog). My officemate, who just coincidentally attended Arcadia (a high school in Phoenix that used to be a rival of my alma mater) calls it "goony golf."
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Absence makes the heart grow fonder...
...let's hope at least one of you readers is still checking this blog, despite my lack of updates.
All is well here. Awful chilly, but nothing unusual for January. We're healthy, back at school as of a week ago, and in the groove again. Days are getting longer, and Chinese New Year is only a couple weeks away. Erica will visit us then, and we're looking forward to it. Can you say FIREWORKS?!!
We spent most of Winter Break in Vietnam, on the beach. I hadn't been back since I lived there briefly in '97. I can still speak a little, I am proud to report. Sarah liked it, as did the boys. I was nervous "showing off" one of my fave places to them, but they quickly recognized its charms. Nice people, great food, beautiful sunny beach in December. We spent only a couple days in Saigon, then 6 in Mui Ne, a fishing village/kite-surfing mecca. The dad in the family we traveled with is a big kitesurfer, so in afternoons we'd watch him shred with the dozens of others. Looks fun, but Mui Ne is not the best place to learn. Maybe next time!
Photos/more posts to come tomorrow. Just had to get off the snide today.
All is well here. Awful chilly, but nothing unusual for January. We're healthy, back at school as of a week ago, and in the groove again. Days are getting longer, and Chinese New Year is only a couple weeks away. Erica will visit us then, and we're looking forward to it. Can you say FIREWORKS?!!
We spent most of Winter Break in Vietnam, on the beach. I hadn't been back since I lived there briefly in '97. I can still speak a little, I am proud to report. Sarah liked it, as did the boys. I was nervous "showing off" one of my fave places to them, but they quickly recognized its charms. Nice people, great food, beautiful sunny beach in December. We spent only a couple days in Saigon, then 6 in Mui Ne, a fishing village/kite-surfing mecca. The dad in the family we traveled with is a big kitesurfer, so in afternoons we'd watch him shred with the dozens of others. Looks fun, but Mui Ne is not the best place to learn. Maybe next time!
Photos/more posts to come tomorrow. Just had to get off the snide today.
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