#3 -- I'm on a roll!

For All Those Who Care:

Another week has gone by so here comes another letter.  3 letters in 3 weeks -- I might be on a roll. This week has gone by so slowly that I feel that I have lived 5 weeks since my last post.  It feels like we've already been back in China for months now and it feels like the kids have been back in school for at least 3 weeks and not just the one.  This is typical of how time flies in Beijing -- ploddingly slow.  It's hard to describe but I can hardly remember what our old life was like back home in the States.  Did I really used to clean my own bathroom?  Did I really just hop into a car and run to Target when I needed some Scotch tape?  Did I really not need to use my Google translator or, worse yet, pantomime what said Scotch tape is?  Did I really just walk outside without first checking the pollution index/air quality app on my phone to decide whether I could go for a jog or take the kids to the park?  This has been a tough week full of "China Moments" that made me miss the comforts and conveniences of the good ol' USA but it was also sprinkled with some good moments like:

 Alex turned 9!!

 He combined the birthday money that he got from Marmie/Bapa and Nana/Papa to buy this remote control, fastest-looking car in the store.  He loves it!  Thanks, guys!

Alex and Claire started school -- YAY!!  And now that we live a little farther from the school they have upgraded from our little tuk-tuk to this sweet ride.  Kind of plush school buses, don't you think?

 

 

And on good air quality days we get to hang out at our neighborhood park complete with a mom-powered merry-go-round and a security guard that stares at you the whole time you're playing.  Wish I would have taken a picture of him. 

 

 

Too bad I didn't take a picture of the time this week that the tuk-tuk ran out of power when I was halfway home and had to make Buster steer while I pushed from behind with Cal strapped to my front.  But trust me, it was a sight!

 

Lots of more sights to see and adventures to be had!  Wish me luck and wish me a better attitude!

 

Love,

Kelli