Together at Yu Yuan Bazaar, Shanghai, February 2006
Seems like there's always something big either currently happening or on the horizon for our family. World events, new assignments, frequent moves, church, school, vacations and life in general all serve to keep us on our toes--just the way we like it. There's no time to be bored in our family...
By following the links above, you can track the latest news for the family as a whole and learn more about each of us individually.
Recent highlights:
January 2007: Steve finishes his semester term papers and completes his first semester of grad school. Steve and Steven depart for a twenty-five day father-and-son trip through SE Asia with five other Olmsted Scholars. Michelle and Sabrina tell us the real fun is at home without any boys causing trouble.
February 2007: Boys sneakily return home a day early from SE Asia--arriving on Valentine's Day. We celebrate the Chinese New Year in Shanghai with another thunderous display of fireworks to usher in the Year of the Pig.
March 2007: We had a chance to meet the new Olmsted Class of 2007 China Scholars for Nanjing, Hangzhou and Shanghai who visited or stayed with us during their Foundation-sponsored house-hunting trips; Michelle and Sabrina made a Mother-daughter trip to Xiamen where Michelle ran the Xiamen International Half-Marathon.
April 2007: We hosted the Chairman of the Board of the Olmsted Foundation and his wonderful wife for four days as part of their visit to the current Olmsted Scholars in China; Also used their visit as an excuse to visit Suzhou finally to see some beautiful gardens and a silk-making factory.
May 2007: Focused on School
June 2007: Focused on School and end-of-semester research paper writing; Kids happily begin their Summer vacation.
July 2007: Finished the semester; Departed on our three week Great 2007 Summer Tour of China through Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang), Sichuan (Chengdu, Songpan, Jiuzhaigou) and Chongqing.
August 2007: Returned safe and sound (and tired) from our travels in time to meet Grandma ('Granny') Cheli here in Shanghai! Flew to Beijing with Grandma for a three-day whirlwind tour of the amazing sites in and around the city. Sadly said goodbye for another year, but with hope that her visit will prompt the rest of our families to make the trip over before we have to go home.
September 2007: Everyone starts school again; We watch US vs Nigeria at Women's World Cup in Shanghai.
October 2007: Steve visits Taiwan with TK (OSC 2007) just in time for Typhoon Krosa.
November 2007: Family trip to Guangzhou (visit ABD), Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao. Spend Thanksgiving in Macao at Macao International Food Festival--no turkey, but lots of great food.
December 2007: Last Christmas in Shanghai--kind of sad, but kind of glad. Steve gets a promotion!
January 2008: Finish end-of-semester research papers (70 pages worth!); India trip with fellow China Olmsted Scholars to see the "other" rising Asian power.
