mr. baby tree/days gone by

This last week has been great. More than great because my brothers and friend are here. Music, games, laughing, more music, eating and everything in between have filled up our days and I'm quite happy with that. 

A couple of days ago several of the boys headed to Shanghai for a visit. The remaining few of us went shopping... I found an adorable sweater that I will take pictures of soon to show all of you lovely people how cute it is. Hehe.

I can't believe Christmas is in 8 days. That's all.

Yesterday our big group (meaning the eight of us plus Malachi,) and the Wirgaus met up at a karaoke place... it was amazing!!!

Isn't it cute? Thanks Mikayla. 

Have a favorite? 

So to wrap up this "somewhat-of-a-longer" post I'll just say "I'm happy" because I simply am.

Love, a

p.s. Bethy gave me the idea for the pictures of the tree. And the trees are about 1 to 2 inches high. :)

Hey friends

Okay here's the deal. The boys are here. Yes, they are!! We are having a blast and enjoying having them so much.

I'll be posting soon with some pictures over the past week, sound good? 

Love you all

Love, a

Thankfulness in advance

I have so much to be thankful for... and so much to look forward to. These next six weeks are occupied, filled up to the brim. "It's the most wonderful time of the year..."

Here's what I'm thankful for and what the end of November/December brings.

>> Tonight my cousin Hannah is arriving in Shanghai! We're going to see her on Thursday when we head down to Shanghai for Thanksgiving. I can't wait! <<

>> Going to Shanghai to spend Thanksgiving with my family and staying there for a couple of days. <<

>> Hannah is bringing some new clothes I ordered from the U.S. <<

>> Thanksgiving dinner and turkey ... the turkey is really expensive here so we might not have had one if we were staying in Suzhou for thanksgiving, but we are going to Shanghai so we're covered. And I haven't really had much Turkey for the last year. <<

>> December 8th, Matt, William and Malachi arrive and won't leave until the end of December! Yes we are very, very blessed. <<

>> December in general. Christmas season! I've already told you how much I love Christmas. <<

>> December 18th Ben arrives! <<

>> Chocolate and Coldplay while I write. <<

*And lots more squished in between*

Cold, wet day. One of the pictures from the photo shoot I did with Bethy a couple of days ago.

      Love, a

p.s. This video really blessed me!

lock in + new shoes + nails done

Listening to: Up In Flames by Coldplay (New, AMAZING CD called Mylo Xyloto)

Don't you want to read this post? I mean look at the title, looks kind of interesting doesn't it? So yes, I would love you to keep reading... :D

On Friday we went to Shanghai again. This time we were going to celebrate my aunts birthday and such.
When we got there two of my boy cousins were going to go to this school/youth group "Lock In" thing and they invited my sister Becca and I to go along. It was going to be all night and there was going to be a ton of fun things to do, so we decided to go. I'm so happy we did, because it was SO much fun.

There were probably about 120 high school and middle school kids there and of course grown-ups. They split everybody into four different teams, Green for Spring birthdays, red for Summer, Blue for Autumn, and Black for Winter. I was Green.

We played dodge ball, then capture the flag in the dark, in a huge soccer field, and did some worship. At about 1:30 am we did a big scavenger hunt, looking for clues, to solve a mystery thing. At about 2:30 am everybody got out their sleeping bags, so then the whole entire gym was covered (which looked pretty crazy) in beds. They started a movie and a lot of people fell asleep but I stayed awake all night... through all three movies... so the next day I was naturally super tired.

It was just a great time to meet some other high schoolers and hang out and have a blast. And to be with my two, awesome boy cousins!

While I was there my aunt gave me some shoes that I had commented on. So scroll down to see my new "darlings".

Recently my Dad, Becca and I went to Auchan to get food and for Becca and I to have some fun. :)
So Becca and I got our nails done. It was great and (you'll be jealous) was only 10 kuai! (That is about $1.50 usd.) I got my nails painted with a shiny, coral pink color. It's really pretty but I couldn't get a good picture of it.

Hey, there's me!

Don't worry, the shoes are black and white, so that's basically the real color :)

                                                                  

                                                                             Love happy, a

Excitement

Last week we went on a little field trip with the Wirgaus (little might be an understatement.) We went to a place called Shantong Street to go on a boat tour through a canal. Exciting! Especially with the Wirgaus.

First of all we shopped... chicken feet keychains, glass goat bracelets and elaborate masks were such things bought that day.

We got on a small boat that had about 25 seats and back and front platforms, (quote from Beth after we were arguing over sitting next to the Wirgau girls "I'm going in the back, are you guys kidding me!!") Most of the time we were on the back or the front looking around and taking pictures and then we went sort of crazy. Crazy fun that is.

When another boat would pass we would try to get them to pump their fists, so us five girls and two boys were pumping theirs fists and yelling. We got a bunch of people excited.

Then we got to a place where we went under a bridge and there were people lining the whole entire bridge and more people on the side of it and someone on another boat asked us, "where are you from?" and we started yelling "America" and then I said "Long live the King!!!" (Yes I'm weird!) And everybody was kinda waving and we were all laughing and... yeah it was crazy.

Right when we got off the boat, three of the men that were watching us came running over and so then I got pictures with all of them (I was the one who said to all of them "Long live the King" :D.)

After all that hoopla, Lydia, Leah and us three girls were getting a bunch of pictures with random people along the way. :)

Then two girls and a guy started taking pictures with us. They loved my little sister Beth and one of the girls even kissed her. I think they have about a hundred pictures of all of us on theirs phones now. I got (okay I wanted) a picture with the guy and he put his arm around me and kinda squeezed me, so that's why I look the way I look. :D

This happens quite often with Foreigners here in China and I just wanted to try and explain what it is like.

I still don't think I can quite explain it all. Sometimes you just have to be there to understand what I'm talking about. I hope I gave you somewhat of an understanding though.

That night we ate at a dumpling place and continued to enjoy each others company. We found a Coco where we could get Pearl milk teas and shopped a little more. I found this really cute, yellow winter hat but I didn't buy it. :(

We were walking back to meet everybody when this guy with a monkey on a leash walked up. It was kind of a shock to see a monkey walk up (when the only place I've ever seen one is in the Zoo) and then it jumped on Leah. I got some pictures of it on her arm. We laughed a lot about that too.

Cameras everywhere!

Picture by my sister Rebecca @becca-jones.blogspot.com (Becca I'm so sorry I forgot to do that the first time.)

 The day was filled with laughter, friends, Chinese people, boats, pictures, lots of walking and senses being stimulated. Excitement might sum it up.

                                                                  I enjoyed it all throughly.
                                                                              Love, a