Shanghai has two seasons…. winter and summer.  Spring and autumn are only a few weeks long each so have to adjust quickly!!  It’s starting to get HOT and humid outside so the best thing to do is turn on the sprinkler in the backyard, get the kids and dog running around and call it good!  We actually did try to dip our feet in the pool but it was still to cold for my taste.  The backyard provided tons of fun while the golfers chuckled their way through the 15th green – I guess we were quite the site!!

Chasing Sisters

Making a Swimming Pool

Ladybugs

Maddie and her class braved the elements this year for Field Day 2009.  In spite of the oceanside wind and small rain delay, they giggled and laughed their way through the day!  Their energy was HIGH in the beginning and by the end, they were all zapped!  The PK – 1 field day is only a half of a day compared to a full day for the older kids… I completely understand why!!!!!!!!

Sophia and Maddie have been in the same class now for three years.  They have always gotten along… when they see each other first thing in the morning, they run to each other and quickly catch up with everything since they last saw each other.  They kind of keep each other real!  Sophia’s mom gave the kids a great end-of-year party and both girls had a great time!  It’s hard to believe that this school year is wrapping up so fast.  Where did the time go?

Running to the Bouncy Castle!

Amelia Loves to Jump!

Maddie and Sophia

Amelia Enjoys the Dollhouse

Sophia and Maddie

Summer is coming and that means ice cream!  Thank goodness both girls don’t mind sharing….

Family Photo!

I love it when some holidays are celebrated over a series of days!  Mom’s Day started on Friday at school and continues through today.  We decided to head out for Mom’s Day Brunch at the Ritz Carlton in Shanghai… sometimes, you just gotta do these things!

Cooper, Bauer, Amelia and Maddie....

Amelia enjoys here dessert!

Maddie Made Mom a Cake!

Friday was the most perfect day at school.  Maddie’s class decided to hold a special Mother’s Day picnic for us moms  The kids made their own banana bread and then surprised us with a special book they had made about what they love about moms.  Maddie was so proud to show me the book she made… she took such great care with her writing too!  Now, she wanted to read the book to me WHILE she was swinging  – I thought for sure she would crash but apparently, she’s a great multi-tasker!!!

Thanks Maddie Anna for the special Mom’s Day book and picture – I love ya Sweetie Pie!

Amelia has other plans for Maddie

The annual SAS Golf Classic was today so the girls and I hung out in the backyard waiting for Andy’s group to come by the backyard.  Sure enough, we looked across the lake to Hole 13 and we saw daddy!  Knowing that it would take about 25 minutes for him to get to us at Hole 15 we decided to fly a kite to pass the time.  While Maddie was

Liftoff - in spite of Meelie!

keen to fly the kite, Meelie was keen to sit on the kite.  Maddie was not happy with her sister!  Even when Maddie started to run to fly the kite, Amelia chased after her!

I just love days like this… warm, happy, warm, happy…. ah……

Jeff and Daneah

So here’s the deal:

People come in and out of your life and those people always serve a purpose for that particular moment in your life.  However, some people come into your life and are just always…. there.  Even if you don’t physically see each other for awhile and even if you live far apart, you always crave that friendship and KNOW that your friends will be there for you no matter what.  Those types of friendships are rare but they are strong and will endure…

Daneah Pretends to Love Amelia

Jeff and Daneah came to Shanghai this weekend for a brief visit and we were able to connect a few times.  Maddie is turning six and was trying desperately to be non-challant about the visit.  In the end, she just couldn’t help herself.  The wonderful memories came rushing back and Maddie was smitten as a kitten the entire time.

Maddie Runs to Jeff

We all had dinner together Thursday night and then Jeff came out for the annual SAS Golf Classic.  Great timing, eh?  In years past, Maddie would run down the fairway to Andy, but this year she ran down towards Jeff!

Maddie and Jeff on the Golf Course

Thanks friends for the visit!  We love you…. and as Maddie says, “from the moon, to the stars, around the world, and back again.”

We love getting home right after school these days.  The sky is so blue – the grass is so green – the air is so warm.  Hopskotch, slides, running around with the dogs in the sand…

We just play!  A hard play after school is exactly what the doc ordered!