Seeing the Sites: Day 2

Day 2: The Temple Of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is much bigger than the Forbidden City and smaller than the Summer Palace with an area of about 2,700,000 square meters. The Temple was built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven. As Chinese emperors called themselves 'The Son of Heaven' ,they dared not to build their own dwelling,'Forbidden City' bigger than a dwelling for Heaven. For more info click here and here. (The second 'here' tell about the purpose for the Temple)

This place is HUGE!!! I really have a pathetic amount of pictures to represent this site. I think I was overwhelmed...We didn't even see half of the buildings.


This is a walk way building that takes you to more buildings. Each structure has a special purpose. There is even a building that was built specifically for the Emperor to change his clothes.
This is Echo Wall. The wall encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven.

At The Temple of Heaven there is a Celestial orchestra that performs daily.

We walked for what seemed forever to a remote building that housed the orchestra which was surrounded by some museum like rooms housing antique instruments their history. Matt LOVED this part of the tour.




Two posts in one day I'm doing good!!! Next on the List: The GREAT WALL!!!!

Seeing the Sites: Day 1

Day 1: The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City, situated in the very heart of Beijing, was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The construction of the grand palace started in the fourth year of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (1406), and ended in 1420. In ancient times, the emperor claimed to be the son of Heaven, and therefore Heaven’s supreme power was bestowed upon him. The emperors’ residence on earth was built as a replica of the Purple Palace where God was thought to live in Heaven. Such a divine place was certainly forbidden to ordinary people and that is why the Forbidden City is so named. For more info Click here (I copied and pasted...got to love short cuts!)
Four Coleman boys, their wives...and Celine out side the city.
Nine is a special number to the Chinese, being the greatest of single-digit numbers, was historically associated with the Emperor of China. So on this door there are 9 knobs by 9 knobs.
Lots of lions everywhere...they are suppose to look ferocious...but I kind of think they are cute...not to say I'd like to put one on my night stand...but you know. This one had spiky hair...it reminded me of Matt's hair in the morning.
Almost all of the main buildings had 3 door ways and walkways to get to them. The middle walkway was always ornately decorated for this was the one the only the Emperor was to walk on.
So get this...one of the Empresses had all of this porous rock imported from somewhere so she could build a building on it...you have to climb a very steep walkway to get up there.
This is a view of one of the court yards.
Beautiful architecture. When they found out that China was going to host the Olympics they started to restore many of the historical sites...this one included. But the place is so big that they are STILL in the process of it. These people do not take many short cuts....mostly everything is done by hand.

The entire day was hot and we spent the majority of it walking all over the city. We cooled off by enjoying some mystery Popsicles....they are mysterious because they kind of taste like bananas...but not quite...China definitely challenged our taste buds...sometimes we just needed to appreciate that the food tasted good...and not necessarily try to pin point what it tasted like...especially their Popsicles...which random people sold EVERYWHERE ...prices ranging from 1 RMB to 5 RMB (7 RMB is equivalent to 1 American dollar)...but I'll get into this more in a later post.

After a very hot and jet lagged day of walking we went and ate dinner...then geared up for more. Dad Coleman guided us to this amazing look out point. 200 and something stairs later (Celine would know exactly she counted them all) we were all awestruck by the amazing view.

I had made it all the way up with my boot...but I hadn't figured out yet how to get down so.....

I hitched a ride with Dave. I didn't know until we were half way down that He has bad knees...I felt bad...but what a gentleman!! The ride was greatly appreciated.


Okay that's it for now....You'll probably all be sick of these posts after a while....but I'm going to keep them coming!!!

Ni hao! We're back!

I'm too jet lagged to post something anything good...but here a few things until my brain starts working again...I hope my brain kicks in soon because I need to journal all of this before I forget! Here are the categories....

Part 1: The sites

Part 2: The Culture

Part 3: Chinglish

Maybe there will be a part 4....I just can't think hard enough to know what it will be....

Here We Go!!!

We are off for our adventure and I'm sure I'm forgetting something...hopefully it's not important! I can't believe it's already time! We are so excited!!! I'm getting a little nervous thinking of leaving Emmie behind (although I'm completely confident that she will not only be fine - she will have the time of her life being spoiled rotten by her family ....plus have you met my dad???) I'll have a lot to blog about when we get back. Have a wonderful 10 days everyone!!!


P.S. Emmalee and Adelyn (I know I'm spelling one of your names wrong and I'm very sorry!)...rumor has it that you love to craft - start working on your mom to get up here for a crafting day this summer!!!!!

What are the chances...

...that my mom and I would have a stress fracture on the exact same foot at the exact same time? I'm so mad about this. Not only do we leave for China in 2 days but I don't even have a good story to tell. I have no idea how it happened. I had the most uneventful day on Tuesday and that night my foot started to hurt while I was folding laundry...how lame! I iced, I elevated in hopes that I would wake up and it would magically be gone...but when I woke up around 2 am and it still hurt I knew I was in for it. This will make walking the Great Wall a little more interesting right? I refuse to let this thing ruin my trip...oh and did they have to give me the extra tall one??? what the heck? oh and did it have to happen on my anniversary??? Not cool.

3 Years Ago Today...

I married the love of my life!

The Latest

In celebration of the hot weather we have officially kicked off swimming season....too bad I forgot my camera at the pool. So this is Dana a Emmie having a little jacuzzi time in the bath to warm up afterwords.Next is my copy cat...Ceri recently posted her little blue elephant on her blog and now I'm posting my gray one. It's so cute...I almost didn't give it away....


This is Emmie right before the baby shower that I was giving the elephant away. Note to self: never give little girl a muffin top before a baby shower. I love the blueberry mustache. Good thing I had packed a spare dress!

So I was a week off on my countdown...oops! We leave for China on Saturday! We can't wait!

What was I thinking???

A few weeks ago Ceri and I had some receptions to go to so we got ambitious and decided to try out this "quick" and "easy" quilting project that we had read about on a blog. We had 4 hours to purchase materials and put it together before we needed to go. Well the project would have been quick and easy if we had done it before and had a clue what we were doing. Needless to say after 4 stressful hours this was my end project. Ceri's turned out better and she actually gave hers away (my binding turned out really good...but it didn't redeem the rest of it) So we've deemed this quilt the Popsicle quilt. (When I was growing up my grandma Tenney always put the same quilt under us as we played we called it the Popsicle quilt...because it was the only quilt we could eat and drip on). Anyways...I'm sure next time around...with more time and thought it will turn out really cute!

Ceri and I working away

The Popsicle quilt

Definately better looking with a cute little girl sitting on it!

A shout out and some House Cleaning

I'm embarrassed to say that this is almost a month late...

Happy Birthday Dana!!! May this year bring you lots of happiness and lots of dates!!!! yee-ha!

ATTENTION CRAFTERS: NEXT CRAFT NIGHT HOW ABOUT BIRTHDAY BANNERS?? I KNOW I WANT ONE!

now for the house cleaning part
Yesterday I asked Matt to do Emmie's hair for Church....this is what I come back to find

Yikes!
And yes - another Pleated Tote
I love these fabrics!
I've really been letting the ball drop on taking videos and pictures of Emmie...My little baby has been talking for months and I finally have video of it! These are some of her favorite words to say...her absolute favorite is the first one you hear...and that one is never prompted by us! ha! Life is never dull around here that's for sure! oh...and usually when we ask "can you say 'Ceri'" she says "no"... so we've moved on to "auntie" instead of "Ceri" for a while : ) Also "Dadoo" is the title she has given my Dad, which works out perfect because he could never figure out what he wanted his grandkids to call him...so Emmie steped in and took over that one...good thing he doesn't mind!

The Little Red Hen

Yesterday was our Annual Operetta! I had three Kindergarten Graduates this year (I teach a Montessori multi-age 3-6 year old class). The kindergartners are usually the main parts. My Students played the Little Red Hen, the Wheat, and the Sack of Flour. They did an amazing job! They worked so hard and I was so pleased with their performance! I will miss these three next year...especially the Little Red Hen. I've been her teacher since she was 2 1/2! Now look at her...I get all misty just thinking about it!

Move over Dadoo (grandpa) Emmie's taking over your job as pianist!

As tradition...we finish the long day of setting up and taking down the operetta with a well deserved Casa Reynoso feast!

Emmie's new buddies....Calvin and Colton...she finally warmed up to them! yeah!