Friday, May 24, 2013

Two Weeks In Pictures

I have tried to stop the count down until we move. Can you believe it? I am trying to stop time so I won't have to leave? Who would've thought? Sure, I am excited to start our next chapter in LA and thrilled to see family and friends. . . but our adventure here in Beijing has been amazing and there are just experiences we won't have after we leave. I hope these "week in pictures" posts have helped you to get a bit of a glimpse into our lives here.
Three Weeks From Today!

Lunch at the top of China World 3, aka Guomao.
It is the tallest building in Beijing, for now.

Our view from the top of China World 3.
We were lucky to pick a clear(ish) day!

One of the shared desserts at our sky-high lunch.
What I do on the treadmill to make sure I can have the above treats every now and then.

Lunch Date with Hubby at 798 District.

This lobelia made me miss my mom and my own backyard.

Cool doors in the 798 District.

Pals from church stuffing pillows for a migrant school.

We made and stuffed over 100 pillows for the school, along with 100 blankets.

Super cute kid with a super huge pizza pie! Kro's Nest Beijing.

E and her BFF!

Checking out cars...keep dreaming!

Last week eggs, this week homemade syrup.


Cool car at the gym aka City Wall Marriott.

These are the amazing women who have kept me sane through this Beijing experience!
Especially the one behind the camera!

We had the amazing blessing of meeting and listening to Elder Neil L Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Click here for more info on who he is and why this was so special to us.

My adorable hubby. I love him in a suit:)

We have a Yoshinoya AND Dairy Queen in our church building. We don't go there on Sundays so when this special meeting was on Tuesday night, needless to say DQ was filled with Mormons! 

This is the park that I take Jupiter every day. I love seeing so many generations gathered. The white haired man in the back is there every afternoon doing Tai Chi. He is one of my many "friends" that I see daily but never speak to...just smile. 

A blingy Jeep. Besides all the gold trim the license plate frame was bedazzled. 

Date night with the boy. He and I both love these macarons. 

E just completed her first year of seminary where she called in and studied the Old Testament with a teacher and a class from 6am -7am every day before school. Good job E!

D performed as The Monkey King in their very own version of the famous Peking Opera.
Very impressive. 

Upside Down Pineapple Cupcakes!

As always, thanks for reading!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

This Week In Pictures

Taking each day at a time, as our days are dwindling. 
The Peonies are in bloom at RiTan Park!

E and her sweet friend (who happened to be born in MY hometown) prepping for their church leader's baby shower.

New Tom's for Spring!

Minor procedure involving getting some moles removed. They put him completely out.

Will this be the last time we see her play? I sure hope not!

Wangjing Soho is going to be quite amazing! Read more about this billionaire Chinese woman here.
You may remember me posting a pic of Galaxy Soho here

Jupiter with his Vet. First exam to get him back to the US. Two more to go!

Ahhhh! California weather! Hooray!

We had been patiently waiting for D to tell us when he was going to get his hair cut.
Finally! 
 Mother's Day Bouquet!



Getting ready for a baby shower:)

Cooking lessons: fried egg 101

Late night fruit buying outside our building.

Monday, May 6, 2013

This Week In Pictures

 What a fun week we had! 
Hubby had previously been working around the clock, but things seemed to lighten up just in time for the Chinese Holiday on May first.  He was able to take Mon - Wed off and we had a great time together. Then the kids got Wed off.

On Monday we went with friends to a fancy restaurant called Maison Boloud, right at Tiananmen Square. Boy was it a treat! The chef greeted us at our table and dropped off these yummy Gruyere Puffs. That wasn't the only surprise we didn't order! As a matter of fact we got more "extra" treats than what we ordered.
A little puff cloud filled with Gruyere cheese.

I cannot explain how much these people mean to us!

Tasty hors d'oeuvres we did not order. Smoked salmon and spinach quiches.
The hors d'oeuvres we did order. Mackerel with an assortment of mustards.

My amazing Caesar Salad.

My entreè; bread crumbs with salted cod baked with quail egg and tomato on top.


Hubby's entreè; lamb

Hubby's dessert; peanut butter and chocolate...SO GOOD!

My dessert; lemon tarte
Pal's dessert; crème brulee

A surprise assortment of caramels, nougat and delicate macarons. 
I have never been to a restaurant where I felt so pampered and every single thing I put in my mouth was absolutely delightful. So grateful for this special day!

Despite our huge meal above I finally felt comfortable to go to the tailor and get a Chinese style dress made. 
I have waited a long time to feel small enough to go and do this.


That plum fabric is what I chose. I also got a temple dress made.
That is the tailor who is making the dresses.

While I was getting fitted, Hubby decided to browse the silk scarves for Jupiter! Yes, he thought to buy one to carry him in while hiking the Great Wall....don't ask!
More French food!
We found this small cafe near our house that allows dogs! 
Shanghainese style dumplings
We never get tired of the cute ladies making the jiao zi. This type has solid soup inside, then when they are steamed the soup melts and fills the dumpling. SO GOOD!

A dent in the wall near our house.

Pork organs cooked and sold on the street. No thanks!
Check out the guy chopping right there.
On May Day we packed up the kids in the car and headed out to Mutianyu at the Great Wall to ride the toboggan. On the way there is a huge sculpture of fruit in a walnut marking a fruit farm.
Gigantic fruit. Despite excellent directions we still got lost.
 I recommend always paying the very fair price to hire a driver for the day.

We finally made it! The boy and I on the chair lift up to the wall.
Did you know you can get Subway at the Great Wall? Good to know!
The view of part of the toboggan track from the chair lift.

Our entire family at the Great Wall Mutianyu

Jupiter just wanted to hang out in the shade.

We were all getting a bit tired of taking pictures.



I always used to make fun of people who treat their dumb dogs like babies! 
Now WE ARE THEM!
Yes, apparently dogs are allowed on the toboggan!


He liked it, we think!

One of the things I will really miss about Beijing is the fact that people really don't care what other people think. There is not the competitive desire to look or be perfect. So refreshing! For example, this woman below with an array of loud prints and all complete with platform tennies.

Rumor has it that jay walking is being enforced now. Not quite sure what missy below is going to do with her "Britney Spears headset". 

Watching for jay walkers.
Too bad these blooms only lasted a week. 
That is our apartment building in the background.

Cute kid!

Less than seven weeks until we come home...
Starting to miss Beijing already!