Nie Hau From China

Hello! Here we are in China, and we have adjusted pretty well. With traveling all night and half the day, it messes you all up anyways, so it wasn't a big deal. Today we went to a huge outdoor market, and haggled a lot over prices (well, we found things we wanted, and my dad haggled over prices) it's funny, because the difference in price was usually a dollar or less, but dad is ALL ABOUT a good deal. I got a couple hats, some cold weather boots, and some jeans. The jeans experience was pretty funny- so that is the story I will tell today.
We went to the Jeans booth because even with my "long johns" under my jeans, I was pretty cold, so we bought another warmer, fluffier pair. Well, I didn't think that both pairs of long johns would fit under my regular jeans, so my dad said we should go to "his jeans lady" and get new ones. We got to the jeans stall, and at the same time I was explaining about the jeans, we wanted to know where the restroom was. So at the same time I was trying to explain that I didn't want a pair of jeans that fit, but a bigger pair, my sisters were trying to ask where the bathroom was. Neither explanation was going very well, so my sisters drew a picture. Finally the lady started laughing, and motioned that she understood. She thought I needed bigger jeans because I had split mine while trying to use a squater toilet! Slightly embarrassing!
Anyway, she kept bringing me jeans that fit great, NOT understanding that I needed them bigger. She kept thinking I wanted them Stretchier. So finally I had one pair on, and motioned that I wanted ANOTHER pair, to put on OVER the pair I was already wearing. She thought I was nuts, but she brought me a bigger pair. Finally I said I would take the bigger ones, but not the smaller ones, and she was really confused. Right after that, as we were leaving the market, we saw two women screaming hysterically and sort of wrestling with each other. One had a brick in her hand and was screaming, crying, and trying to get away from the other one motioning that she was going to throw it. The other was screaming and trying to stop her. We got out of the way, becuase none of us wanted to get hit by a rogue brick!
I did end up using the "squater toilet" which is pretty standard here...for my first try, it wasn't too shabby....good news, and bad news. The good news is that I didn't get anything on me! The bad news is that I don't think I got much in the hole in the ground either!

Irony at it's finest...

Well, I'm ready. My bags are packed, I have my super-security Passport thingy that hangs around my neck so I don't get pick-pocketed, I have all-american snacks in my backpack (think Trail mix, beef jerkey, and protein bars) just in case the food doesn't agree with me, and 12 books that I requested from the Library came in, and I just need to decide which ones to bring.

So, I am taking 2 medium sized suit cases, but only one is packed with my stuff. Why you ask?
Behold- the suitcase of 400 fortune cookies--

Hilarious- this is SO my parents...if you know them, you totally get it! ADIOS PEOPLE!

Another conversation

I may be the only one that finds the things Jaxon says hilarious- but that's okay, because I am blogging this for my own personal records as well as general reading enjoyment of others.

Jaxon: I don't want to go to Sonic! I want to go home and eat a Hot Pocket!

Mom: Should I just leave you on the side of the road?

Jaxon: Yes! Leave me, Leave me!

M: But what is someone took you and I never got to see you again? I would be so sad I would cry forever!

J: What man mom? What man would take me?

M: A wicked man, who would steal you away. (Wicked is one of his new favorite words!)

J: Umm...Laman and Lemuel?

M: Kind of like Laman and Lemuel...

J: Umm...Mom...don't worry...they'll just stay in the video!

So, the moral of this story is- the living scripture videos really are awesome (at least the 3 that we inherited are great, but we can't afford any more!) but I guess I need to do a better job explaining that the videos actually come from the scriptures which came from real life...Ooops...

Oh My LOVE!

Behold, my two new favorite pictures of Jaxon and I! I don't know my SIL did it (thank you Emily, Thank you!!!) but look at the genuine smile on that boys' face...and he is not even (visibly) squirming to get away from me!!! This is from our fantastic trip to the zoo yesterday. It was PERFECT weather...about 68 degrees and overcast. It was pretty empty- and Jaxon, Hailey, and Katie loved it. Jaxon and Hailey do pester each other to no end (read: a 10 minute arguement about why Hailey wouldn't give Jaxon back his PRETEND airplane) but they are also apparently madly in love and going to be married! (more on that to come.) Also, I try not to plug my photo blog too often, but I just posted a reflection pic I took of a really cool family today...check it out, it's definately in my top 5 all-time favorites!

What to do??

Do I-
1. Bring my big ol' camera and lenses-
~ I will have to lug it around during a lot of walking
~ It will take up a lot of space in my backpack
~ I am probably not taking any shots that I am going to blow up or frame-
BUT...
~The things I see and do will be a once in a lifetime experience and will be absolutely amazing to capture with a nicer camera

2. Bring my small point and shoot-
~It will be easy to access
~I will probably take more pictures
BUT...

~I will miss some breath-taking once in a lifetime pictures that can't really be taken with this camera

HELP!!! HELP!!!HELP!!! HELP!!!HELP!!! HELP!!!HELP!!! HELP!!!HELP!!! HELP!!!HELP!!!

One Week and COUNTING!!!

I think I have everything I need...stomach meds, long johns, 50 things my parents have asked me to bring that they can't find in China (including 400 fortune cookies...does that seem ironic to anyone else???), my passport, my visa, and a large empty suitcase to fill with awesome shopping finds!! I am getting really excited for my trip, and every day makes it just a little more real!

Here are a few pictures to set "the mood!" My mom sent these darling outfits to the little ones in the family and asked me to take a few pictures and bring some with me so she can show all of her students.

This first one- seriously? That pose, what is that? Captain America...err...China?

Katie- the fastest toddler in the West (For one more week, then she will be the fasted toddler in Wisconsin again,...BOO HOO!!!) I promise, this is about the only picture where she is not just a pink and white streak!

Jonathan- you name the time and the place, he will be there posing for his shot- he loves the camera, and the camera loves him!

One for the Road...

"O-KAY!"

As I have previously mentioned, Jaxon really loves to play croquet (O-kay) with Dave. (Although the majority of the time was not actually spent playing croquet) They were having such a fantastic time that I had to snap some shots. There is nothing I love to see more than these two loving life and each other!

Do you think he might really love his dad?





Jaxon just noticed that the clouds move...he is really amazed!

Daddy the tickle Monster!

Playing Croquet