Watch, Read, Listen

10 August 2016 – Woot! Woot! Woot! Thirteen cheers for Annika….she's now a TEENAGER! We celebrated her birthday with family in Michigan before we returned home to China. We even had Aunt Karen and Uncle Chuck join us for the birthday celebration! Also celebrating with us: Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Ray, Aunt Beth, cousins Lily, Gregory,…

10 June 2016 – 21 years! I love Mark's recent Facebook post from today: Awwww….shucks!  I couldn't have said it better.  We've been on fun adventure since the very start ….and here's to many more adventures together!  (We're off to Austria to visit Opa!!!!!!)

8 June 2016 – Oh boy.  This time of year brings with it a tremendous mix of emotions from one of the spectrum clear to the other side.  I'm both ecstatic for summer to arrive. The kids, teachers, and parents are all ready for the drudgery of school and homework to be done for the…

6 June 2016 – This morning was the nail biting IST Secondary School's 2nd Semester Awards Assembly.  Students had opportunities to receive awards based on most improvement in a particular subject, outstanding achievement in a particular subject, honor roll, or high honor roll. Sometimes even a combination of the above!   Do you see Annika…

1 June 2016 – Wow!!!   Annika, you continue to amaze us with your athletic skills and your leadership skills.  Most of all, we're impressed with your "never give up" attitude.  We love how you're willing to go out on a limb and try new sports (this year you added basketball to your sports repertoire).…

20 May 2016 –   The IST Spring Formal (for all secondary students) was held at the very elegant and  history-laden Astor Hotel.   Annika went with her friends – Mimi, Simon, and Wenbo (don't know Wenbo?  That's ok, this is the first time we've met him and I think we managed to scare the…

May 2016 – With Mark out of town on a business trip I had figured that we wouldn't be celebrating Mother's Day but the girls had other thoughts! While I was still fast asleep (no, I didn't hear them at all!) they were busy in the kitchen, preparing a lovely and thoughtful breakfast for me.…

25 April 2016 – Water park seems to conjure up images of water slides, games, and loads of kids (and parents!) having fun.  This is NOT that sort of water park.   This water park is really a big garden surrounded by a man-made pond.  It's a lovely place to go – as long as…

30 April 2016 (long weekend) In my last post I mentioned that Mark is off to the USA on a business trip.  Since the school has Monday off, the girls and I have decided to take a mini-break from Tianjin and head to (much) warmer climates.  To Sanya!  (Do you remember our first summer here…

29 April 2016 – This is a VERY special morning …Ava is participating in the It's Speaking Time at IST (speech recital and speech competition).  As a matter of fact, we'll see her on stage three times: Witches monologue Professor Frimpinsock poem recital (as part of the speech competition) Speech choir Witches monologue: Ava's Monologue…