CRAFT NIGHT! COME JOIN US!!!

After a nice potluck do you ever think to yourself "oh crud...why didn't I label my pan?" Well, problem solved - Come join us on Tuesday as we etch all of our glass ware! What we're doing is way better than masking tape and a sharpie!
Tuesday June 16 at 6:00pm
more people = cheaper...so don't be shy! We'd love to have you!
RSVP by leaving a comment if you'd like to come so we can have enough supplies ready! Also leave your email and I'll send you my address and phone number.

I came home from work yesterday and found...

...my girl all dolled up. Matt and Emmie had been playing beauty shop earlier with some Mary Kay samples I had on my table. She loved it. A true girl through and through.

"Those" Parents...

Today we became one of "those parents". We took our toddler to the movies and I have to say, Emmie did wonderful! She LOVED it! I didn't know what to expect. How I saw it, the outing could have gone 2 ways... either she would watch for a few minutes, get restless/cranky, and we would get those looks from people (you know, the looks that say "I cannot believe you brought a toddler to the movie theater....what kind of a parent are you?") and then quickly excuse ourselves, spending the majority of the time in the lobby, or... she would love it and be a perfect angel. Fortunately it was the second one. She was so cute sitting on Matt's lap one hand in the pop corn and an expression on her face like 'wow...this is the biggest TV ever!' She also had some cute commentary throughout the show. It was such a success that I think we may try it again sometime!

Oh, and just a plug for the Movie....Up was as good as the critics say! I laughed, I cried, I loved it! Go. See. Enjoy.

p.s. Please excuse the horrible picture. A nice combo of phone camera and Arizona sun equals bad picture!

p.p.s. Sorry about the lack of China posts...My brother-in-law is sending us a CD with all the China pictures on it because I'm too computer illiterate to figure out how to format them the right way from the group picture site....agh...it will be worth the wait!

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!!!!!