Firecrackers and a Monkey?

Okay, just as we were learning how to sleep with fireworks going off continuously every night, this morning we heard what sounded like 1,000 "Blackcat" firecrackers going off in front of our house.

The girls ran outside and quickly returned with the report that "there were a kzillion firecrackers going off and a large monkey-man walking around!...come look...come look!"

The next thing we knew our doorbell rang and there he was with candy for the girls and wishing us Happy New Year from the neighborhood management company.

Per the piece of paper that they handed us, this character is a traditional Chinese 'Mammon'. Later today we can go to the clubhouse for a demonstration on how to make Chinese dumplings.

And to think, the New Year festival doesn't officially end until February 9th....

Chinese Year at School

The celebration of the Chinese New Year is definitely a big event and we are learning more each day of just how big! Last Thursday, they celebrated at the girl's school. The kids were asked to dress in Chinese traditional clothes and there was a dragon and lion performance. Here are some of the pics.

On the way out the door...

Friends at school...

The performance...

Chinese New Year Dinners

Chinese New Year is a huge celebration here and things have started this week and will last until February 5th. One of the customs is to have an annual dinner with those that you know or work with before everyone returns to their hometown to spend the holiday with their parents and family.

Last Sunday, Joe asked to dinner and it turned out to be fantstic. He took us to a restaurant near his home and treated us to a first class meal. The girls did great with the food...actually better than Samantha who learned that she really doesn't like tofu!

Then Friday, we had our annual dinner at work. This was the first time I had the opportunity to attend an annual dinner and it was great. Everyone relaxed and celebrated the accomplishments and successes of 2008. It really was a great way to close out the year and start the holiday!

Black Box of Death

One of the exciting things that we looked forward to when we moved to Shanghai was the opportunity to learn about a new culture. Of course we envisioned this would be through meeting new friends and observing the local people, etc. which has been true. However, sometimes the learning comes in a unique way.

I obviously have alot to learn and I am calling my latest lesson the "Black Box of Death." At every location in our company worldwide, the employees have ID badges. Our Shanghai office started out with just 3 people and so badges weren't top on the "to-do" list.

However, now we are over 30 people strong and so I asked our HR manager to get badges for everyone in the office so we could maintain the security of the office and know each other as new employees join. He agreed and worked with our corporate office to get the badges made and shipped over. Sounded good and I marked that task off my list...until Thursday when our HR manager came into my office and shut the door.

HR: We have a problem with the new badges.

Me: OK, (I'm thinking that people may want a better picture, lanyard, etc)

HR: Some of the team feels uncomfortable with them

Me: Alright, what is making them uncomfortable

HR: They don't like being asked to wear the badges that we gave them

Me: OK, what's the issue

HR: Well, there is a black box around the picture on the badge, they don't like this

Me: Hmmm, the black border just helps the picture standout against the white background

HR: Yes, but in China this black box represents a funeral or death...we are putting them in a black box which is offensive...it's kind of a black box of death

Me: OK, you got me...never saw that one coming!

Well, needless to say we are changing the badges to have the black frame removed and I have learned another valuable lesson out of what I expect will be one of many more to come. I'm truly blessed to have such a great team that is patient and works with me as I stumble and bumble along.

Christmas in Houston

We spent our second week in Houston and had another great week with family. We really fell down on the job with the camera and so there are alot great times missing below like playing on the blow up slide, riding motorcycles to Uncle John's, installing a new garage door opener with dad, shopping for food to take back to China, and lots of Tex-Mex, BBQ and Whataburger!

Opening more presents!

Time with Doug who really couldn't think of anything else except for the new truck he got for Christmas...

Spending the night with Aunt Melissa...

Lots and lots and lots of playing with Matt!

A little football and a nice foot massage for Uncle Mickey...and yes, it was warm enough for shorts which was really nice!

Keeping up with email...

Catching up with "Ol' Ma"...

Solving the financial crisis...

And getting to see almost all the great-grandclan except for Kaylee and Wyatt.

Steve, Jana, Kaylee and Wyatt - we sure missed seeing y'all and will be keeping you in our prayers as Steve heads for the Middle-East.

All smiles before the 18-hour fun-filled plane ride home!

Christmas Day!

Christmas is definitely a special day for our family as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. Each year in December, we do an advent Jesse Tree to walk through the bible and the events that led up Christ's birth. Each evening the girls open a package with a symbol inside that points to a verse or event in the bible followed by singing and a short devotional.

Christmas morning finally arrived! And yes, the girls are in matching pajamas. The one present that they get to open on Christmas Eve is their pajamas.

After all the damage was done with the gifts, we went over to Uncle Brock's and Aunt Shug's for Christmas dinner. And let me tell you, when Uncle Brock puts on Christmas dinner...he really does it right! Ham, Turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, cranberry sauce, broccoli and rice, rolls, fruit salad...

It was fantastic and definitely more than 700 calories worth!

Thank you Uncle Brock for a wonderful Christmas!!

Christmas in Texas

Lookout Texas here we come!!

The girls got to bake fruitcake cookies with Boom Pa. (In case you are wondering if fruit cake cookies could actually be worth making...they are really good and nothing like fruit cake.)

We definitely were able to escape the hustle and bustle of work and school at Boom Pa's by feeding the cows...

Riding the four-wheeler...

making friends with "Jake" the mule...

seeing a 1 day old Longhorn calf...

and baking pies...

and pies and pies!

Christmas in China

Well, we had a blessed and wonderful Christmas and we'll try to catch you up on the next few posts. Here are some pics from the girls' Christmas programs and other December happenings in Shanghai.

Sarah Jane at the local Starbucks.

Sydney sang with her choir at a local outdoor mall. We heard mall and assumed it was indoors, bad assumption in 40 degree weather!

These cooks taking their break and watching the choir was classic, so I had to take their picture.

Caroline's 3rd grade class put on a great play about the night Jesus was born.

Caroline with her soccer/football team as the season ended.