Mini Photo Shoot!

A couple of weeks ago a friend took a few shots of our kiddos in our courtyard. I had forgotten what a haven our courtyard is compared to the hustle and bustle of the city beyond our gate. The kids made sure to put on the biggest corniest grins possible but there were a handful of pictures that I thought really captured their personalities- I posted them on the blog itself and not in this post. The ones in this post are a bit more cheesy.

Huh????

Well, I just wrote a post with a collection of photos of people napping. That is one custom that I think would be great to adopt- wouldn't it be great to have a nap everyday (even if you are a grown up!)? Well, this post is about one cultural habit (I'm not sure how many people participate in it) that I just scratch my head and go "huh?".


I think I'll pass on this one.


Can you tell what they are doing? I'll give you some context. Recently I met a friend in the VERY busy plaza that is adjacent to our home. Hundreds of people walked by us in the 10 minutes that we were there chatting. But one man caught my attention instantly. He sat down on the bench a few feet from us, put on a head lamp, hung his sign, and waited. I wasn't sure what or who he was waiting for (since I couldn't read his sign) but within a minute or so my curiosity was met with an answer- he had a customer.















The customer has come to get his ears cleaned. The "professional ear cleaner" pulled out a dozen or so cleaners that looked like minature chimney brooms and proceeded to do his job. Yikes! No one else seemed to think much of what was going on- All I could think of was this statement- "You should never put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear."

Where do you take your nap?

So, over the last few months, while out and about in our city, I've accumulated a good number of photos on my cell phone. These pictures are just a small glimpse into a culture that is not my own. Some cultural habits I would love to make my own... others habits/ customs make me just scratch my head and say "Huh?".

This first selection of photos is one of people taking naps just about anywhere that they can catch some shut eye. In this country it is common for infants all the way to senior citizens to take an afternoon rest. Some locations are more strict about this practice. In our previous city in was unheard of to visit someone between the hours or 1 and 3 in the afternoon. We have not found it so strictly observed here... but it is still common to see folks taking a little rest in the afternoon. Because we are in such a large city there is very little grass to spread out on (like in our previous city- workers would take their afternoon nap on the side of the highway or wherever possible) but city slickers, with little grass, are still able to find a place to rest.


Maybe an abandoned elevator doorway would be comfy?
















Why not just park your car, open the doors and stretch out for a while?
















A park bench in the local city square?



















Don't have a park bench? Don't have a car? That's ok- even a motorcycle will do...


Sometimes I wish I could sleep so soundly :)

First Day of School!

Back Packs were waiting at the door. Clothes were picked out. Water bottles were full. Pencil case was loaded. There was excitement in the air. There were butterflies in their stomachs. Today was the first day of school for the Hanley kiddos.

We ate, dressed, put on our rain boots and headed out in the rain for kindergarten. The drop off went pretty well. CJ recognized a few of his classmates- there were lots of new faces. Eliza marched right in and sat her self down (though she did put her fingers in her ears because there were LOTS of crying classmates in her 3 year old class). And Miriam, with some help, made it into her class.

After a run to the grocery store I came home and I couldn't believe it- all three of my kiddos were gone for the morning. This is the first time in 7 years that I didn't have a little person at home with me on a school day. It was SO quiet. I'm glad they only go to school for 1/2 days :)

It hasn't always been easy for them to go to a school in a different country with a different culture and language but they are doing well. We are so thankful! They are gradually adding to their vocabulary and are becoming more and more accustomed to making new friends and playing in Chinese.






CJ goes to kindergarten in the morning to learn Chinese and to have some friends (it is a lot less pressure than Chinese Elementary School). He was so glad to be back in school. He likes being in the oldest class in the school.




















Miriam cried the other day... she didn't want to wait till Monday to go to school. She was counting down the days till she could see her teacher. (This year she has the same teacher as last year). She was still a little apprehensive- but had a great day!















Eliza has been ready for school since June. Whenever she saw her back pack she would say, "That's my school bag. I'm going to school." She too had a great day and is looking forward to tomorrow.











We're so thankful that HE gave them such a great day!

Shots from the Summer

There are only a few days left in our summer (Chinese school starts on Sept. 6). It has been a full summer & a great time together as a family. We've read lots of books, enjoyed some water relief in the neighborhood pools, eaten a fare share of ice cream and Popsicles, made forts, had puppet shows, learned lots about Ancient History (started History home school a little early) and had some good 'ol summer fun. But I do have to admit that the more time that we've shared together has also increased the times that I've had to have the conversations about treating each other with love.

Here are some fun pictures from our summer, in no particular order.



This is a picture of our friend Stacy with the kids. She was a History Major in College and one day was a "Guest Lecturer" in the Hanley Homeschool History Class. Fun! Fun! They are showing their archaeological dig find- M&M's.










CJ and one of his pals from the neighborhood. Fun in a bug tent!














"Aloha Miriam"... just one of the many dress-up outfits!




CJ poses with his best friend, Wang Ze Long. Wang Ze Long brought CJ a farewell gift- a hat that is worn by the people of his hometown in northwest China. We will all miss Wang Ze Long.








CJ shows off his "Graduation Certificate" from 1st Grade (Homeschool). We're so proud of his accomplishments this year!

We were able to go to a really great water park with our friends Stacy, Anna and Sarah in July. It was such a great day to have fun together. We're so glad to have some American friends in our city.






Do you call this swimming? I'm not sure! You think they aren't wearing much in this picture? You should have seen what they were wearing when I went to go and see what all the giggles were about! ;) I'm glad we live on the 8th floor and didn't have so many spectators.







I love this picture- we were taking a fast train to a nearby city where many American friends (with children) live. We didn't purchase a seat for Eliza thinking she could just sit on our laps for the 2 hour ride. Well, she informed us that she "needed her own space" and thought the window ledge was just perfect. We were able to make this trip twice- once for VBS (an unexpected surprise) and once for a little family vacation. Oh so nice to have some fellowship for the WHOLE family and some yummy western food (Mexican food and milk shakes)- oh how nice!




Eliza enjoying some time on our newly renovated neighborhood playground. (Don't you love the curls?)



















OK- now this may not seem like any big deal to you- but for Miriam this is HUGE! Miriam loves dressing up but usually her choices are things like a: Knight, Spiderman, Construction Worker, Golfer, Fireman.... See the theme? Well, the previous dress up picture in a grass skirt wasn't too big of a stretch since she recently saw a Barney video where HE was wearing a grass skirt. Well, when she came out of her room dressed in a "Dress" I carefully chose my words and calmly stated, "Miriam, you like very nice". Then I asked if I could take a picture. She agreed. She is gradually learning to enjoy the more dressy things (I think that is Eliza's influence) but it still is a bit embarrassing for her. I love her face- having fun trying something new but afraid to admit it.

The "Clip Clop" Birthday!

The day begins around 6:30 am for her. How do we know? The alarm. We know from a soft clip- clop sound that Eliza's day is about to begin. The sound gradually makes it's way to the door, across the hall, and searches out the adults in the home. Here comes Eliza donning her "clip clop" shoes- ready for the day. Eliza is truly learning the culture of her present home- China. She, like the rest of the ladies in our community, can do anything in her high heel shoes. She can walk for hours, ride a bike, chase a villain (aka- big brother and sister) and, if given the opportunity, could climb a mountain in her high heel shoes. For Eliza, a day would not be complete, without a pair of 'clip clop' shoes and a fancy dress.

Though Eliza has never seen the Disney Princess movies she is very familiar with these characters. She knows the colors of their dresses, their shoes, their hair and accessories. And after reading a older version of Cinderella (Translated and Illustrated by Marcia Brown) our kids fell in love with the story. So for this years birthday we thought it only appropriate to celebrate with a Princess Birthday. Cinderella was the leading lady and the theme of the cake.

There were gifts galore for Princess Eliza. PopPop and Mimi contributed clip clop shoes, princess clothes and accessories. Opa offered a copy of the Cinderella movie and Mom & Dad gave her some Cinderella figurines. Grandmom also added to the theme with a Princess book and other items. Friends from our city did not want to miss out and gave more shoes, makeup, play hairdryer, Princess pencils... What a day!

The alarm:


A shot of the Cinderella cake. I had lots of fun making the cake but it was a challenge in the 100+ degree heat. The icing kept melting and I had to apply multiple layers of blue icing to the skirt of the dress in attempts at making the coverage consistent.


Now she has a pair of shoes for everyday of the week. :)


Dress #2 for the day.


It's hard to believe that our baby is Three. It seems like just yesterday that she was coming home from the Hong Kong hospital. She is such a blessing to our family. She is so sensitive- she will break down into tears if she knows she has done something that makes Mommy and Daddy sad. She is a daredevil... doing stunts that make your heart race. And is a great communicator. She is constantly talking and telling us what is on her mind. This is a recent favorite. After a conversation about asking Jesus into your heart she said this: "Mom, when God comes into a persons belly it gets REALLY big." I think we have some more explaining to do. We are so thankful, to the Father, for the gift of our little Eliza Mae.
"How old are you?" THREE!

Some water relief...

Wow! It has been a scorcher here lately (as I heard it has been on the East Coast in the states). We've been running 100+ for the past week or so and are spending as much time as possible indoors, with the exception of early morning and late evenings outdoors. We recently found some water venues to help us cool off a bit. We were pleasently surprised to find out that we have a neighborhood pool. We didn't know it existed because it is hidden away on the 6th floor of one of the buildings in our complex. (Prior to the knowing about it we had to walk about 20 minutes to the nearby park for a swim). Anyhow, we have been glad to know that there is a nearby pool so we can cool off. The only thing that can be tricky is to manage the timing of going swimming. The pool is only open from 2-4 in the afternoon and then again from 6-8 in the evening.

Well, today I told the kids that we would try to make it to the pool to cool off a bit. We were about to get ready to go swimming this afternoon when I heard thunder and saw rain. They were disappointed but I reassured that we would try to go in the evening. Living in China for 4 years I've learned to say, "Lord willing we'll go..." or "We'll try to do..." about the events that we'd like to participate in because we can't always predict how things may happen in the future. (I guess that is true about life in general but the future here can be much more unpredictable than I experienced in the states). Anyhow, we ate dinner, Chris changed the kids into their suits and they headed to buy their tickets and go to the pool. Then came the disappointment of the unpredictable. The man who works in the office that sells tickets was off to dinner. They said that he would be back later but since the swimming time is limited already Chris didn't think it was worth waiting for the man and then paying for a really short swim time. The kids were crushed. Miriam and Eliza were crying by the time that they came back up to our apartment. I wanted to do something but we don't have a yard yet alone a sprinkler or a baby pool to swim around in. BUT hey, we do have a teeny tiny infant pool that I put on our balcony to work as a substitute "water table" that I thought the kids might enjoy pouring water in and out of buckets or pushing a small boat in during the summer months. The girls were all for it.

I never thought you could swim UNDER water that was only 6 inches deep. I never knew you could do "Camden Balls" into 6 inches of water. ("Camden Ball" is what Eliza screams when she jumps into the pool & holds her legs in a tucked position-Camden is the name of Chris' home town- hee hee). I never would have thought that googles would be a necessity.

I love watching our kiddos play together. Always a riot!