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.

Surfacing...

Hey. Sorry for the lack of communication. We have had a very difficult time getting online with a VPN that allows blogger and Facebook. Facebook is still real sketchy and blogger is not yet successfully uploading photos. We won't give up.

Every one is good here at Villa 11 in Shanghai Garden on Lian Hua Lu at Hu Min Lu in Puxi, Shanghai. In some aspects of getting situated, it seems we take 2 steps back before making 1 step forward. But we are getting there.

Email us or comment here if you'd like our new US phone number. It will be a local call for many in Michigan.

The Shanghai Bowman's

Flashback

We applied many lessons learned for this transition. Revisiting old blog entries flagged a major improvement......I've got at least 3 new deodorants in tow plus the plane shipment will be delivered much sooner.

Historic details found here

Construction Zone

Yikes, it's been a while since we blogged. And though you may disagree, we feel like we are coming back into some "blog-worthy" material as we return to Shanghai. Life with 4 kids in the USA is less newsworthy than the same life amongst 21 million Chinese people. Our return to Shanghai is different this go round as we are living outside the "bubble" of other expatriates.

The travel plans have slipped one day due to some issues with the airline so we fly tomorrow.

May pictures

A fun evening at a park.

The kids have been loving the hot weather and playing in the pool.

Joy with her new baby girl, Leia. She is so precious!

All 6 of us together!

A morning of school

Rachel loves being a big sister

A special family dinner outing.

It's amazing what happens when the baby toys come out!

Our four precious treasures!

Update

I have been neglecting the blog... what is new? :) Here are some updated pics going back in time. I am too lazy/tired to put them into the correct order.





the first ride in the burley.

Rachel loves to pull Samuel around in the wagon but got in for the picture.

Monday morning, Anna and Elijah had gymnastics... getting everyone ready and out the door wasn't too bad.

The Hazards surprised us to welcome Samuel and Ryan and I home. We love you guys!

Friday, the night before we flew out, was my birthday and Ryan, my amazing husband, planned a surprise bday/welcome Samuel party with my best friends from China. What an amazing birthday gift to be able to see such beloved friends again before heading home. Again, I am terrible with taking pictures so never think of it until people are leaving so we missed the Wongs and other great picture opportunites. Thank you, Ryan!!!!! This picture is of my dear friend Flo and her family. We stayed with them during our Shanghai days.

My dear friend, Lisa, and her family.

My dear friends Emily and Rebecca. I miss you all already!

Elise and Samuel.

The last night that our adopting group was together, we had a pizza party in the hall so here are a couple of pictures of that. They also surprised me with a cake--thank you again! We really were blessed with a great travel group. It was so fun to become friends with the other families.

We went on a river cruise with our travel group. It was beautiful.

Ryan and Samuel feeding the fish cereal.

The flight went well. Neither Ryan nor I want to be in a plane for a while again but we are home! It was WONDERFUL to see Anna, Elijah, and Rachel again, and amazing to see how quickly they bonded with Samuel.

Since being back, the first couple of days we had to really work with Samuel for him to not sleep during the day but at night and he is doing so well. Last night, he slept 11 hours without waking once and is doing fine just taking one nap during the day. Anna and Samuel have bonded immediately. Elijah loves playing with Samuel and they are continuing to bond. Rachel is struggling a bit. She loves to hold "baby Sam'l" who doesn't seem to like being held by someone not much bigger than him. I think this relationship will take the most time. She really likes him and wants to play with him but struggles when Mommy holds or help Samuel and can't hold her at the same time. As we have been out and about a lot and Samuel cannot walk, this has been quite often. I hope that tomorrow we can be home a bit more so that I can focus on spending time with each of the kids.

It has been busy, but it has been wonderful! I am so thankful for God's goodness poured out on us! Thanks for checking in on us!