Christmas 2010

Ok,

Got some pics to load. There's lots to report on but it's going to take a few days to unpack some of it. This is a start though, right?

We actually got our air shipment delivered on Christmas Day. But we postponed the Christmas festivities a couple of days so we could unpack and wrap the gifts we had purchased in the US. Here is 8-year old Anna that has been a huge help with our settling in. She's been super at assisting with Samuel especially.
Have you seen the new Karate Kid movie? Well, we have our own version. Yep, Elijah got into a fisticuffs with a local Chinese kid eager to protect his territory. Elijah has a black eye to show for it. He's currently training with a local car mechanic who moonlights as a dojo master. The kung fu tournament is next weekend and we'll be sure to let you know how it turns out. (Ok, so maybe the black eye came via a trampoline collision with the kids next door.)
Rachel is the only one that thought it was funny that Dad claimed her gift as his own.
Samuel's first Christmas was a hit as long as the snacks kept coming. He really had no interest in subsequent gift unwrapping until he had completely drained his unopened snacks and candy. This look says to me, "Hey, you can pick up that camera after you've refilled my bowl Dad.
Dear friends, the Crandalls (our neighbors) and the Meyers (see link to the right), got our house all ready to move in including a Christmas tree. This sure beat the paper tree we used in our first Shanghai Christmas in 2006. We adorned it with a 'bubble wrap wreath' designed and manufactured by Emily Meyer. Since stockings are on the slow boat to China, literally, we got creative with some alternative stuffer holders. Seems that new underwear would have been especially appropriate this Christmas for Anna and Elijah.

I'm thrilled that pictures have now loaded. Check in later for some more updates. We are missing home big time but getting settled fast.