A Few Pictures of the Girls (Sorry, Dan-Fans)

I am sorry that there have not been many pictures or postings up here lately, but the weather has still been pretty bad. Today was the first day in about two weeks that it was not raining. It was still cold though. As a result, we have not been doing too many things that are picturesque. Here are a few shots that we have taken though. The other day Jane went to a ladies luncheon with about 15 or so women that are in her group of friends. Here is a picture of that, with women from France, Spain, China and Turkey. They ate at a Thai restaurant that we like, where, as you can see, you are served family style.


Here is the Transformer Bumblebee, dressed for a nice Sunday stroll.

Here are Evelyn and Etain playing with the fish bowl that they received from Grandma. It is one of Etain's favorite things.

Here is Etain enjoying her chocolate cracker sandwich snack.

Evelyn wearing one of her get-ups that she picked out.

Here is Etain showing off her big eyes, which are quite rare here in China. I think this is her "It surely wasn't me!" look.

Again, here is Evelyn showing off her fashion sense. She is wearing sunglasses which we received in a packet from Gakie today. (Colleen, Dan also received your birthday card on 3/3/09. He loved it. Thanks.)

Things are going well; we feel quite busy lately. I have agreed to teach extra classes during the day so that I can get a bit of overtime. I now teach chemistry, biology, math and reading. I also sit in on an entry-level Chinese class each day, which I am really enjoying. I can not speak or listen very well, but I like trying to understand the characters, so my reading and writing is (slowly) coming along. Jane has taken up some classes at Dan's school, teaching one or two hours per week. It pays pretty well, and it is nice for her to teach Dan, but I think it is a lot of work, both in class and in preparing for class (I could never teach little kids). She also gets called every once in a while to give seminars, which she is giving this Sunday on women's issues. On top of that, she is helping out a club nearby that is trying to cater to foreigners, she is talking with a company about doing some work in Shanghai, and she is working on making goods for a small business that she and I are starting (I also failed to mention that she is trying to organize a soccer league for foreign kids). It sounds like a lot, but that is the way she operates.

I am hoping (and for some reason personally expecting) that the weather will change next week. Once it does, we will be out and about a lot more, which will mean more pictures.

Until then, we wish you shenti hao (good health).