Pinewood Derby

And just like that, March is almost gone. It has been a month of busyness and settling into our new routines.

One of the highlights for Josh was the Pinewood Derby. Can you believe it? Even here in China, a key part of the Boy Scout experience is building and participating in the Pinewood Derby!

Andy and Josh worked hard together to build the car.

Of course, J choose to paint it green, his favorite color. As we lack a garage or any other space to work on this inside, they went outside to spray paint it. In fact, if you walk through our neighborhood you can see a faint outline of where the paint went off the paper.

After a couple of weeks of working on it, finally it was. . .

RACE DAY!

J's is the all green one. The very plain green one.

He is standing with his friend, Jakob, anxiously watching the results.

But race after race, he either won or was second in all four of the heats. He was close to going on to the Regionals with the Shanghai winners. Apparently what we lacked in style we made up for in speed.

[As a side note, the Pinewood Derby was held in Shanghai, the Shanghai pack raced in the morning, our Suzhou pack raced in the afternoon, then after our races the top 4 from each of the two pack raced to determine the Regional Winner]

But he did win 1st in his den! Well done, J!

As this was our first Pinewood Derby, we were just hoping not to finish last. A friend of ours [Dave] who has helped his sons through multiple years of Derbies gave Andy some pointers to help out. Much to our surprise, our car did really well. Unfortunately, Dave's sons didn't fare as well. And I have a feeling that we won't get any help from Dave next year!

Sunday Snapshot: Friendly Football

football - unlike in the U.S., in most of the world football implies soccer so this has become part of our vocabulary as well ;-)

Yesterday Becca and Josh participated in a Friendly Football Match where several International Schools competed against one another. The day was hosted by Dulwich, another school here in Suzhou. Eton House (our kids' school) sent 4 teams: 3 boys and a girls team. 

The girls team posing after one of their games. And just in case you are wondering, the girls are each wearing an E and H for, you guessed it, Eton House.

Josh moves in to steal the ball. Can you see his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth?

Closing in on the goal.

And celebrating after the goal. Yeah, buddy!

Getting ready to pass off to his teammate.

Back to the girls playing in the final for their division. The girls fought hard, but ended up with second overall.

These 2 girls from the opposing team were small and tough. As we saw them closing in on Becca, we held our breath. But our girlie stopped them and prevented the goal.

Josh has really gotten a lot tougher this last year. Check out the elbow. A year ago, he would have just yielded. So should I rejoice that he is throwing an elbow? I'm going with a yes on that one.

I love, love the determination on his face here.

 The girls getting their 2nd place metals. Josh was disappointed because even though his team did really well, they didn't place in the top 2. So therefore didn't get a metal. And Becca who would have been fine either way got a metal. Let's just say there were tears involved and leave it at that. I thought this was supposed to be a friendly football tournament.

Josh with his team. Can you see him still battling the tears?

But considering that the match ended after 1, I think that hunger played a factor. Food helped put him on the right track.

Well, food and a really BIG piece of chocolate cake. There are few things that chocolate cake can't cure.

He is worried that his cake is going to fall over. The happy cake feelings were almost ruined by cake stress. But don't worry, the happiness of chocolate cake prevailed in the end.

Chocolate cake happiness all around.

We had such a great day. Even with Josh's disappointment, the kids will talk about this day for weeks to come.

normalcy

This week was so very normal. At least a typical summer week in the U.S. Filled with things like swimming lessons, camps for the older two, trips to the pool and LOTS of ice cream. So far, we have been pretty consistent and have had ice cream almost every day since landing in the States. It's hard work fitting a year of ice cream into just 7 weeks.

Josh with his swim teacher Nate. Loved the individual pairing of experienced swimmers with those still learning. 

Working on freestyle.

At the beginning of the week, Tori was using floaties and didn't like putting her face in the water. By the end of the week, she was swimming underwater, had learned to do both front and back floats, and passed the intermediate swim test at the YMCA. She is so determined that when she puts her mind to something, there is no stopping her!

People upon finding out that we live in China, make comments like: "Wow, you are so lucky." "It must be quite an experience for you and your children." "What a valuable childhood for them." And while each of these are true, sometimes I just miss the normalcy of life in the States. As you read this (Mom), don't get too excited. I don't miss it enough to move back. At least not yet. But our time here in the summer provides us with those snippets of American life.

Closing ceremonies of camp. B had such a great week. She looks forward to this week all year long. And this year didn't disappoint. Josh went for an overnight and will tackle the week-long-deal next year.

We miss things like meeting friends at the park. The convenience of driving. Ah, don't get me started on how much easier transportation is here. . . But our life is rich and full in China as well. How could I give up my favorite Sichuan restaurant? The diversity of our neighborhood? Each day is an adventure. The summer here provides the balance we need of comfort in contrast to the adventures of our daily life there.

T loves the garden and never misses an opportunity to help pick veggies.

So excited to be holding a hot pepper (that she only enjoys picking NOT eating).

And this summer is living up to expectations and providing all the comfort and calm that we could hope for. Though, I am seriously missing Andy. He left Monday and we are now down to 21 days until we see him again. Also must confess that I am getting a little tired of the 1 pair of shorts, 3 skirts, 10 t-shirts, and 4 tanks I packed. The downside to packing light. Maybe some shopping is in order?

The library. I cannot tell you how much we love the library. I think the library is one of Josh's favorite places in the world.

I love the pile of books sitting off to the side, just waiting to be read.

Hope that you enjoy your weekend!

Sweetness

While making dinner, I heard Josh ask Tori, "Do you want me to read you a book?" I came into the room to find:

This just melts my heart into a puddle. I love that boy of ours.

Mud football

After a week of rain almost everyday, the weekly Saturday morning football match was destined to be an interesting one. Or should I say soccer -- we have gotten so used to calling it football after playing with so many Europeans. At the beginning of the game, there was a small patch of mud in the middle of the field. But before long, it grew.

People fell. And slid all over. And that little patch of mud became bigger.

That would be my husband on the ground.

Yes, there he is again. Slide tackles became common but with the potential for a spill.

And yet the game forged on.

But as the spot of mud grew and turned into a mud pond, some of the boys (our son included) were drawn away from the game by the allure of wallowing in the mud.

Starting with the little boys.

Even the bigger boys had to have a turn in the mud.

And still, even amongst wallowing boys, the game continued on.

Even penalties were carried out in the mud. It is tradition that if you have a handball, the required penalty is push ups. Today's were done in the mud.

Midway through the game, my boy was still fairly clean.

But the mud was too difficult to resist!

End of the game shot.

Sunday Snapshot: The Pool Party

After much waiting we celebrated Josh's birthday party this weekend in grand style. We had scheduled a pool party the weekend before his birthday (30 May) but the weather did not cooperate -- rain and a high of only 20°C (68°F). And the pool was freezing! Very unexpected weather for us in Suzhou in late May. So we decided to move it back a couple weeks due to availability. All last week, I anxiously watched the weather as it rained most of the week.

Then for the actual day of the party the forecast according the Chinese weather site: high of 30°C and cloudy. The English site: high of 27°C and rain. Actual weather: high of 29°C with sun that came out in the afternoon. I think next time I will believe the Chinese site!

We had such a great party. We swam for several hours, and after we were all too cold changed and enjoyed a BBQ.

Look at my three beautiful fish.

Becca and Andy played so hard in the pool that Andy had scratches on his back! Each time she would stand on his shoulders, she would scream when he first stood up.

The love of my life. He works so hard at his job that we often see the serious side to him. But at the party I also saw the crazy and ridiculous side that I  fell in love with. As he would jump into the pool countless times showing off belly and back flops, and played for hours with the kids, my heart sighed. I truly love this man.

Josh with his best buddy Matteo. We are going to be so sad when they move in a month. In fact, I am currently in a state of denial that it is happening.

Showing off their zaniest faces.

Are you taking my picture? AGAIN?
How is it that a look can say so much?

As I approached with the cake, Josh was really concerned that the wind had blown out one of the candles.
I am asking him: "Josh, please move the cups so I can put this down?"
"Mom, the candle. . . "
"Josh, do you see the cups? Can you move them?"
"Mom, that one isn't lit."
I could tell that I was fighting a losing battle and moved the cups myself.

He huffed and puffed and blew all the candles out.

At the beginning of opening the presents, the kids were spread out watching. But soon, . . .

they were drawn in like magnets. I think that China has helped us to get rid of any spacial boundaries that we have, don't you?

And through it all, my sweet boy was celebrated. Happy (delayed) birthday, Josh!