Sleeping Beauty and her bestest Beast!

Is there anything sweeter than this?  They were both "tuckered" out and took a big ole nap together!  MY LITTLE LOVES!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Beijing Style

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we got together with our "Beijing family" for a proper Thanksgiving feast.  We split the menu and did a progressive dinner that started with cocktails, appetizers and a few rounds of Just Dance on the Wii at one of my friends house. ( I totally crushed my friend Hilary at dancing to Chris Cross' "Jump Jump".....just sayin!)
From there we moved on to another friends home for the main meal.  It was an amazing meal complete with a huge turkey (that one of the guys smuggled back in his luggage from the US) and all of the fix in's.  Desserts were at yet another house in our neighborhood. Thank goodness we got to walk a little between meals to different homes so that we could burn off a few of the calories that we consumed.
We had such an incredibly fun night of drinking, eating and laughing with our friends.  It can be tough here around the holiday's because everyone is missing their families back home, but I couldn't have been more lucky than to find some of the most amazing friends and get to celebrate with them.  We really are a family here for each other, thrown into this crazy experience.  For this I am truly thankful!

Ella and Jane

My friend Catherine made this.  Amazing!

Turkey fruit tray.

Catherine and her Ayi's that helped.

Some of the men carving the bird. (George and Gene)

Chad Biggs and his sweet little Janie!

Some of us ladies making sure things get done right!

Sam holding the trophy for the "Who knows the most about Thanksgiving" game......We did not win!




Me and Michelle

The guys carving the beast and drinking beer.  (Couple of photo bombers in the back)

Little kids table.



Big kids table.



Biggest kids table.

Ella, Sophia and Jane

We finished off the night with a "who can hold a headstand longest after several drinks".  I won! LOL

ISB's Middle School production of "A Mid Summers Night Dream or The Night They Missed the Forest for the Trees

On Thanksgiving night (which was just a regular day here) Julia performed in her first ever theater production.  It was an adaptation of Shakespeare's, A Mid Summers Night Dream, put into a "teenage" format that drew inspiration and mashed up characters from Glee, The Big Bang Theory, Wicked and Clueless. (Don't feel bad if that doesn't make sense. I'm still trying to explain the whole thing to Kelly too.)  It was really well put together and everyone was amazed at how it turned out.  ISB has a lot of resources so there were beautiful sets and cool costumes. I was even recruited to help with hair and makeup (which was right up my ally).
Julia played the parts of a "cheerleader" and a "fairy".  It was a non speaking role but involved a lot of dancing (which is right up her ally).  We were shocked that she even signed up to do this because the stage is not her comfort zone.  She is more at ease on a pitch (soccer field) or court.
The play ran Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  It was a nice distraction from the fact we were missing dinner with our family.  Bravo Julia!  We are so proud of you!

Julia in fairy attire.....far right with blue hair.

At dress rehearsal getting last minute suggestions from the Director, Mrs. Northcott.



The fairies (Julia is top row far right with the blue wig.)

The Cheerios..............

All of the cast wore different color Converse tennis.

Julia making me cringe with her flexibility.

Ella Claire's Club Football team "the Pumas"

The girls continue to play on the China Club Football boys teams.  Ella played for the Puma's again and Julia with the Corinthians.  I think that this year they are more at ease and accepting of being the only females on the team.  They have even started having (dare I say) fun.  Largely in part because of the really nice boys that make them feel every bit a part of the team, and a great coach.
We really miss our Moline United teams, friends and families but we are still enjoying the beautiful game!

The Puma's
(Ella is in bottom row, last one (by coach Rob)

Ella Claire