tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87004330140498500022024-03-13T12:11:33.837-07:00Chris and KristenChris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-19388470151616371532012-07-24T09:56:00.001-07:002012-07-24T09:56:51.805-07:00Our Year in San DiegoAfter a several month hiatus, I am back with a blog post. Although I cannot be sure when my next update will be :)<div>
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In three short weeks we are moving to Chicago! This past year has flown by and it was been a really great year. I finished cosmetology school and got licensed, yay. I am two classes away from completing my undergraduate degree and will be finished by October 4th. Chris had a great experience working with Ranch Capital and is excited for school to start. </div>
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Some highlights:</div>
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Back in December we went on a really fun cruise to the Mexican Riviera with David and Bonnie</div>
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Chris turned 30 in January, can you believe it? I turned 26 in July, but I still feel like I am 21.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We participated in a little 5k mud run in March.</div>
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<li>In June my parents' house was broken into and they stole my laptop, Chris's new laptop he had just bought for school, my dad's laptop, and my favorite necklaces. The necklaces were hardly worth anything but for some reason it made me so mad that they would steal that. </li>
<li>We have enjoyed loads of time with family</li>
<li>Sadly, Chris's aunt, Monica passed away in June of cancer. The memorial was beautiful. It still doesn't feel real that she is gone. </li>
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There are things I am forgetting, I know because I have been cursed with a horrible memory. We are grateful for the friends we have made in San Diego and excited for the next chapter. Bring it on Chicago. </div>
</div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883919821037539794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-80289690066263777462012-03-06T21:06:00.002-08:002012-03-06T21:12:54.915-08:00Another Brief UpdateJust to let you know we are alive and well. Chris is still working at the Private Equity firm in Del Mar and I am still in cosmetology school. I hit over 1,000 hours today which means I have less than 600 hours to go. My expected grad-date is June 20th. <div><br /></div><div>We are basically busy with school and work. We never take pictures so I have nothing to show you BUT we are happy and enjoying our time in San Diego. To all my friends: if you ever want to come stay in San Diego you are welcome to stay with us. We would love to see you!</div><div><br /></div><div>We are getting more and more excited for Chicago, I think the only thing that I am nervous about/not looking forward to is the housing situation but it is what it is and it's only 2 years. We have been stocking up on our winter gear. I have done some serious research about what we should wear during a Chicago winter because I do not want to hate this experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for checking in :)</div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-50970783646849305782011-09-13T20:55:00.001-07:002011-09-19T11:16:38.169-07:00Brief Update<div>I apologize for not having pictures, I rarely read blogs that don't include pictures so if you won't read this, it's cool. Apparently I am similar to a six year old in my need to read things with pictures included. </div><div><br /></div>I am averaging one blog post per month so this may just be it for September. I just wanted to write a few things we have done recently since they will inevitably be forgotten by me and my terrible memory.<div><br /></div><div>The main thing that has changed for me is that <b>I started hair school</b>, or cosmetology to be exact. I have wanted to do this for a couple years but we haven't lived in the same place long enough for me to start. It is about a ten-month program if I go full time and since we are here for a year it works out great. I have a picture of me on my first day of school on my phone but since I don't have internet on my phone I don't know how to get it onto the computer. That will have to be a task for another day. School is from 8-4:30 Tuesday through Saturday and it has been quite the change since I spent the last 2 years basically just hanging out while Chris brought home the bacon. I have really enjoyed it so far. </div><div><br /></div><div>We were able to spend some time with some of <b>Chris's family up in Santa Barbara</b>. The agenda was jammed packed with activities like going to the beach, the zoo, visiting Lanshe friends from Santa Maria, a beach BBQ, games, and Fiesta. It never seems like we have enough time with Chris's side. You Lanshes should just relocate to one place, preferably in the states, so we can get more face time with everyone. </div><div><br /></div><div>We started <b>attending the Olivenhain Ward</b>, the ward I grew up in. Which is great and weird at the same time. Great in that I know quite a few people already, but weird that I am now interacting with these people as a married adult instead of as an angsty teenager. I wish i could say that people remember me as a happy and friendly child and teenager, unfortunately I was in a pretty grumpy mood for my four years of high school. When I was growing up in this ward I can't ever remember there being young married couples, however, there are now several couples close to our ages and we have already made friends with a few. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ummmmm, if I think of anything else I will edit this post but that is all I can think of right now. </div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-603418939395161502011-08-01T11:09:00.000-07:002011-08-01T11:16:50.263-07:00PSYCH! (Not the TV Show)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Tn7hAnR6pU/TjbskSkXnbI/AAAAAAAACh0/7SFGaZsjNog/s1600/encinitas-01Sep2008012527927749.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 167px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Tn7hAnR6pU/TjbskSkXnbI/AAAAAAAACh0/7SFGaZsjNog/s320/encinitas-01Sep2008012527927749.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635952091904581042" /></a><br /><div><p class="MsoNormal">So remember how three weeks ago we thought we would be spending the next two years in Berkeley for business school? And remember how two weeks ago we thought we would be spending the next two years in Chicago for business school? Well, plans have changed again my friends. We are now going to spend the next year in San Diego and go to Chicago next fall. That is right. Let me tell you how our plans changed so dramatically in such a short time.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We moved in with my parents in June so Chris could start an internship with a private equity firm down here. He planned on just staying for the summer and hoped the few months of experience would be a good addition to his resume (any experience you can get in PE before business school is very helpful). All the while, we were making plans to move to Berkeley in August but Chris was still hoping to be accepted to Wharton or Booth. Two Mondays ago he was rejected from Wharton but the very next day he got in at Booth. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I spent a couple hours mourning over the things I was looking forward to in Berkeley: friends, warm weather, a nice town, San Francisco, and being closer to family. However, it quickly became clear that Chicago was the better choice for Chris so we accepted their invitation. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While this was happening, the bosses at Chris’s internship asked him if he would consider deferring school for a year to continue working for them as a full-time employee. It seemed easy and harmless to fantasize about staying here for a year because the chances of getting a deferral are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">very slim</i>. Shockingly, Booth agreed to allow the deferral! Before, when I thought there was no way we would actually stay it seemed so perfect, but once they agreed we actually had to really consider if this was a good decision. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You would think since I am the one from San Diego and I am the one with family here I would be the one that was really pushing to stay. Au contraire. My mind was spinning! Mainly, I just wanted to be sure that Chris would be happy at this company for a year and he would not regret putting school off another year. Chris seemed cool as a cucumber through this process and assured me that both options were good, it is not as if we were choosing between bad and good here. In my opinion, the fact that both decisions are good made it that much harder. After Chris reassured me many times that he thought staying here would be beneficial and he would be just as happy going to school next year, my mind was at ease, mostly. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I know some of you might think this decision is crazy since Chris has worked so hard to get into school for two years now, but we have been very prayerful about it and feel this door was opened to us for a reason. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So I will be spending the next year stocking up on my winter gear and enjoying this wonderful weather and time with my family before we head to Chicago next year. If only we could convince my little sister and her husband to live here for a year too!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At the beginning of the year I told Chris my motto for 2011 was going to be, “good things come to those who wait,” and I feel like that has definitely be true in our lives. I also feel like this sudden and extreme change of plans might be a foreshadowing of the rest of our lives. Yikes.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-23619141251898582832011-07-18T11:01:00.000-07:002011-07-18T11:17:47.325-07:00Birthday Time<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Holla! I am 25 now. I had a great birthday this year, especially compared to last year when we had been in Shanghai for about 8 days and...I'll just leave it at that. This time I got to celebrate a few days early with my family, and my bff Shelly, in a combined party with my brother (he turned 29). Chris surprised me with a Kindle! I have been reading books using the Kindle app on my ipod for a while, which has been fine, it just means turning the page much more often so the Kindle has been a great improvement.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >On my actual birthday Chris treated me to a fine Italian dinner in downtown Encinitas. After dinner we walked a few blocks to the beach to watch the gorgeous sunset. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kOvw0XUhBc/TiR1XrhYgjI/AAAAAAAAChk/4JT0WJa5WUo/s320/IMG_5123.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630754483800146482" /><br /><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk62LtsLITA/TiR1YtbsX2I/AAAAAAAAChs/Ee_-keDPrGs/s320/IMG_5129.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630754501493022562" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >This summer has been wonderful. I don't think I'll ever get the chance to spend the summer with my family (unemployed and without kids of my own) again. The days have been filled with swimming, games, food, a little golf, and lots of fun, and there are only a few weeks left before we head off to business school. I don't ever want to leave. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-52370968292341984872011-06-06T16:40:00.000-07:002011-06-06T16:59:04.024-07:00We're Moving! Again.<span class="Apple-style-span" >In our three and a half years of marriage we have moved four times and in the next few months we will add two more moves to the list. We will move to Encinitas for the summer and move again in the fall for business school. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Details:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Chris's last day at LEK is this Friday. Holla! He just landed a summer internship at a private equity firm in San Diego so we will be living with my parents for two months. Chris got accepted to Haas (Berkeley) for his MBA and is wait-listed at Booth (Chicago) and Wharton (Philadelphia). We are pretty sure we'll be headed to Berkeley for the next two years and I am really excited. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The summer internship starts on Monday, one week. The move will be a gradual one since we are still paying for this apartment and one week is not enough time for me to pack everything.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >After our experience in China I have learned to like LA a lot more and I will really miss the friends we have made here. But starting in the fall, if you ever need a place to stay in the San Francisco area give us a call. </span> </div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-56562147932860041402011-04-30T16:29:00.000-07:002011-04-30T16:59:09.306-07:00Can You Tell?<div><span class="Apple-style-span" >That I have lost my enthusiasm for blogging? Truthfully, I just don't feel like I have anything worth putting up here. No kids, I am not doing anything crafty, and I think I have taken a total of 5 pictures since we have been back in the states.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >We do have some good news though. Chris got accepted to Berkeley for his MBA! After being wait-listed at Chicago and Wharton we were beginning to think that business school was not meant for us. The idea of not being two hundred thousand dollars in debt starting to become very appealing though.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Even though I haven't been taking pictures we have been doing fun things.</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Back in <b>February</b>:</span></div><div><ul><li>We went to a murder mystery party. It was my first one and I had a great time. Both Chris and I were guilty in the murder. I actually did takes a couple pictures there!</li><li>I got called to be the head of the Enrichment committee and Chris is the Ward Speech Festival Specialist. He thought they made up the calling just for him because he likes giving talks so much.</li></ul></div></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-djo75e63jos/TbygdNe9s9I/AAAAAAAACfw/gpPipKzju9I/s1600/IMG_5099.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-djo75e63jos/TbygdNe9s9I/AAAAAAAACfw/gpPipKzju9I/s320/IMG_5099.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601528460238238674" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xk_q35amYcc/Tbygc3FTfyI/AAAAAAAACfo/hlzpbGvfCqA/s1600/IMG_5097.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xk_q35amYcc/Tbygc3FTfyI/AAAAAAAACfo/hlzpbGvfCqA/s320/IMG_5097.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601528454225035042" /></a><br /></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>March</b>:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >I went to a couple baby showers and we also attended a concert of classical music with my parents.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >Our only friends with a house hosted a great barbecue and game night. Thanks Smiths!</span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>April</b>:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >I went to some more baby showers</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >We drove up to Berkeley for Chris's interview and spent the weekend there</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >Saw the new Jane Eyre movie</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >Another great barbecue</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >And we spent Easter weekend with my family. It was the first time everyone was together since we've been back from China and it was fantastic.</span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >We've also had friends over to play Just Dance 2, enjoyed dinner with friends, family has come up to spend time with us, and we've done other things I didn't write down in my calendar. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am so glad we are back in the states! </span></b></div><div><br /></div></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-68112133014762608922011-01-23T21:17:00.001-08:002011-02-04T17:18:26.635-08:00Back in the USA and Vietnam in Pictures<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am really happy to be back! Not that I hated China but we had a layover in Vancouver and when I heard people speaking English in the airport I realized how much I missed home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >We are pretty much unpacked in our new place, though I am not unpacking any of our picture frames or other decorations because I am hoping that this is our year for an MBA and that means we will only be here for 6 months. If Chris gets into school I will be sad to leave here since we have family so close and we have made wonderful friends but I will not miss LEK and I am really looking forward to seeing Chris more often. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This post is actually about our Christmas and New Year's trip to Vietnam with Chris's family. so here it goes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUYMM_mwE7I/AAAAAAAACec/dnK0TagDMjo/s320/IMG_7730.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568151406662128562" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Here we are in the Ho Chi Minh airport just minutes past midnight on Christmas day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUYMNSpsM9I/AAAAAAAACek/v-1KGN1ZD6Y/s320/IMG_7743.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568151411774731218" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >After a few hours of sleep we piled back into the van to drive to the Cu Chi tunnels (Vietnam War site). Thanks Julie for making it feel at least a little bit like Christmas!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TT0M6mSzIyI/AAAAAAAACd8/W3DuAHnEtiQ/s320/Vietnam%2BKristen%2BCam.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565618915351143202" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >If you don't know about the Cu Chi Tunnels (I had no idea what they were) you should look it up. You will find some pretty wild tunnel pictures and learn the history. We all took turns getting into one of the old entrances to the tunnels...Chris decided he needed to mix things up and go in headfirst.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUYMNkTNiKI/AAAAAAAACes/js0oIHC1IMY/s320/IMG_7812.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568151416512284834" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >The kids in another old tunnel entrance.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUyZGLF-LeI/AAAAAAAACe4/NsfXxF7VaSs/s320/IMG_7865.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569995170486562274" /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUyZ17_Ku8I/AAAAAAAACfA/_ofS-3uQeXg/s320/IMG_7887.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569995991065213890" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >After the tunnels we drove to Cat Tien National Park where we spent two nights. On one of the days we took a really lovely walk through the forest, complete with leech socks. The surroundings in Cat Tien were beautiful but when you find spiders the size or your hand, lizards, snakes, and scorpions in your room I feel like we invaded Nature's space a little.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Also in Cat Tien we visited a primate rehabilitation center and a bear rehabilitation center. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUybFxl7_FI/AAAAAAAACfI/RdNibXy0lJE/s320/IMG_7985.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569997362664569938" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >After Cat Tien we headed to Dalat, this was my favorite place. The city is in the hills and was built up by the French years ago so you get this unique France meets Vietnam environment.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUycLMEUXJI/AAAAAAAACfY/8Vku-iRthUk/s320/IMG_8025.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569998555182292114" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUybGd0CovI/AAAAAAAACfQ/X5vpbClJx4c/s320/IMG_8008.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569997374534886130" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >What a hunk! Yes, a hunk. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >One of the themes of this trip seemed to be the tour guide telling us how easy our next activity was going to be and then 15k through the mountains later you're thinking I really should have worn something different. We did a bike ride, river rafting, and hiking and all three were significantly more difficult then we were led to believe. BTW, that trip was my first and LAST time river rafting.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUyhlNNDhqI/AAAAAAAACfg/Rgy__y5PTLI/s320/IMG_6906-1.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570004499722110626" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >On our way from Dalat to Nha Trang we did a downhill bike ride which was <i>amazing! </i>I wish we had time to do a few more of those kind of rides.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUYMMqnjYTI/AAAAAAAACeU/Vqf8xXYT-Gs/s320/IMG_4942.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568151401028346162" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUYMMfsJQJI/AAAAAAAACeM/o2CweamDNlk/s1600/IMG_4908.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TUYMMfsJQJI/AAAAAAAACeM/o2CweamDNlk/s320/IMG_4908.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568151398094815378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TT0M7JYy4SI/AAAAAAAACeE/QOhpR6GRzlc/s1600/Vietnam%2BKristen%2BCam1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TT0M7JYy4SI/AAAAAAAACeE/QOhpR6GRzlc/s320/Vietnam%2BKristen%2BCam1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565618924771533090" /></a></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Our last city was Nha Trang. Our guide told us they had some of the most beautiful beaches in the world...I think the beaches in southern California are prettier than what we saw, but it was still a good time. We got biked around town, Chris and Josh did Zorbing (one of the funniest things to watch), celebrated New Years by playing board games, and went to Monkey Island. Those monkeys can be terrifying but we befriended this one fellow and he would do some fun tricks for some treats. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" >PS - I don't know why most of the pictures won't allow you to open and enlarge them, sorry!</span></div></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-69350053679299358842011-01-16T08:15:00.000-08:002011-01-16T08:20:54.894-08:00Homeward Bound<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">We leave for the US in less than 24 hours. Picture us singing "The Final Countdown" from the <span style="font-style: italic;">Rocky </span>soundtrack.<br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-28452005771880347722011-01-02T22:28:00.000-08:002011-01-02T22:34:14.701-08:00Belated Holiday Greetings<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">We spent the holidays with Chris's family in Vietnam. It was a great trip and I'll post more about it soon.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TSFtiMPhGcI/AAAAAAAACd0/wxZP3ErWQ_A/s1600/IMG_7736%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TSFtiMPhGcI/AAAAAAAACd0/wxZP3ErWQ_A/s320/IMG_7736%255B1%255D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557843849321191874" border="0" /></a>This is us on Christmas day opening our stockings on our van driving from Ho Chi Minh to the Cu Chi Tunnels.<br /><br />Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! We are excited to go home in just a few short weeks.<br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-26421266312120013192010-12-15T00:47:00.001-08:002010-12-15T00:51:44.225-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; ">Thank you for commenting! That post was my second most commented-on post, sweet. It's always nice to see that friends are still reading my blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >As I said, if I decide to do this haircut it will wait until we are home (January 17) but I'm feeling like chickening out again! We'll just have to see. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >On an unrelated note, I can't believe Christmas is next week and I will be in Vietnam for it. Wild! It hasn't felt much like Christmas but then it decided to snow today in Shanghai and I am suddenly in the mood for hot chocolate. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Years! </span></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-39852435020246190132010-12-07T02:53:00.000-08:002010-12-07T03:16:14.031-08:00For Your Consideration<div><span class="Apple-style-span" >A couple months ago I got the itch to cut my hair real short but I chickened out. This was largely due to the fact that I do not trust anyone here to do this cut but also just because I am nervous about it. I am getting the itch again. If I decide to go through with this it will have to wait until I am home which will give me ample time to chicken out again. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am considering something like this. Not the color, just the cut. Could I pull off a do like this? I will take your silence as a "no."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TP4Sg-G19SI/AAAAAAAACdo/vIZAsRIwS08/s1600/hair.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TP4Sg-G19SI/AAAAAAAACdo/vIZAsRIwS08/s320/hair.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547892148603843874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TP4Sgr1G6LI/AAAAAAAACdg/-73Cfetr2Mg/s1600/082310-michelle-williams-400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TP4Sgr1G6LI/AAAAAAAACdg/-73Cfetr2Mg/s320/082310-michelle-williams-400.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547892143697619122" /></a></span>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-78679753486080667622010-11-24T05:55:00.000-08:002010-11-24T05:59:42.151-08:00Here's to Three Years<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">It has been three blissful years since I married Chris. I often say, "marrying Chris was the easiest decision I ever made," and it was also the best. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TO0ZemHJU-I/AAAAAAAACdA/aUmo0Edq648/s1600/IMG_4226.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TO0ZemHJU-I/AAAAAAAACdA/aUmo0Edq648/s320/IMG_4226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543114729780237282" border="0" /></a>Happy anniversary babe, and if you ever wonder how much I love you just remember that I moved to China for you and you'll know it's a lot.<br /><br />You are THE BEST!<br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-36830741858324623972010-11-23T04:15:00.000-08:002010-11-23T04:51:17.882-08:00The Philippines, Finally<div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Philippines were wonderful and I am finally making time to document just how wonderful. For your viewing pleasure I have created some picture collages to illustrate to fabulousness that is the Philippines. </span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">In Transit:</span></b></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Plane to Manila (a dump of a place) and spent a day there</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Went to see <i>Legend of the Guardians in </i>3D</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Took a tiny plane to a tiny airport in Palawan</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Took a tiny boat to our resort: Club Paradise</span></div><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TOu4Fa-cfUI/AAAAAAAACc4/iwS61rTL41s/s1600/In%2Btransit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TOu4Fa-cfUI/AAAAAAAACc4/iwS61rTL41s/s320/In%2Btransit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542726169689619778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Club Paradise</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"> (4 days):</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-I got certified for diving</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Island hopping</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Lots of relaxing, snorkeling, and diving</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-We were also serenaded every night at dinner by the resort band</span></div><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TOu4FLZh3vI/AAAAAAAACcw/y21Ubt_K6aw/s1600/Club%2BParadise.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TOu4FLZh3vI/AAAAAAAACcw/y21Ubt_K6aw/s320/Club%2BParadise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542726165508251378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Scuba Diving</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span">:</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Coolest thing = Cuttlefish (look them up)</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Sea turtles</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Amazing tropical fish</span></div><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TOu4D9fltsI/AAAAAAAACco/sAb67--xijo/s1600/Desktop9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TOu4D9fltsI/AAAAAAAACco/sAb67--xijo/s320/Desktop9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542726144595703490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">El Rio Y Mar</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"> (3 days):</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-More amazing island hopping, snorkeling, and diving</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Some seriously huge geckos in our room</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TOu4DIM74LI/AAAAAAAACcg/phpGICUuq8k/s1600/El%2BRio%2BY%2BMar.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TOu4DIM74LI/AAAAAAAACcg/phpGICUuq8k/s320/El%2BRio%2BY%2BMar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542726130290385074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="Apple-style-span">Both resorts we stayed at were on very small islands and the resort was the only thing on them. It was an incredible trip filled with sun, swimming, relaxing, and family. </span><br /></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-83549847330334089602010-11-09T07:01:00.000-08:002010-11-09T07:26:38.099-08:00Karaoke in the Park<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">When my parents were here we took a walk in one of the parks here and were lucky enough to hear the local talent belting out some tunes. My favorite part is the guy's friend in the background trying to help him keep time.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzMz3SzKnrdLPMcHdOAqsN30XJzj98wy_ZxnVyV8B6_GNyPa5V9wOL-58YT2Z1u-dtMKr67OffXz9K2HfS_kA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />This is just a short clip of what lasted several minutes.<br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-62941906603371994712010-11-03T01:58:00.000-07:002010-11-03T02:08:00.840-07:00My Mom is a Winner<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Here in Shanghai when you buy something you can ask for the official receipt, it's called the fapiao. On this fapiao there is a little area you can scratch off and potentially win some cash-money. I get really excited to scratch off the silver coating but I have never won anything but my mom has the magic touch! We went out to dinner and she won 20 RMB off the receipt. The owner of the place said he had never seen anyone win in his four years of owning the place. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TNEkjBiq3JI/AAAAAAAACbA/3NfVgxoMB4U/s1600/IMG_4650+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TNEkjBiq3JI/AAAAAAAACbA/3NfVgxoMB4U/s320/IMG_4650+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535245601142922386" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TNEkjWj8V3I/AAAAAAAACbI/32GBJMdwKjw/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 118px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TNEkjWj8V3I/AAAAAAAACbI/32GBJMdwKjw/s320/IMG_4654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535245606785406834" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Way to go mom!<br /><br />20 RMB = $2.99 USD<br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-18698836046367687732010-11-01T01:08:00.000-07:002010-11-01T01:13:25.235-07:00Picture of the Day<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">My mom snagged this picture while we were at one of the markets in Shanghai. I was bargaining with the shop owner and this was my dad's response to his asking price. </span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TM52CHlf7gI/AAAAAAAACa4/88XscVRKcOs/s1600/bargaining.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TM52CHlf7gI/AAAAAAAACa4/88XscVRKcOs/s320/bargaining.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534490770853064194" border="0" /></a>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-48222661589926948752010-10-25T02:02:00.000-07:002010-10-25T06:50:10.827-07:00Philippines Teaser<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">I realize we have been home from the Philippines for several weeks now and I haven't blogged about it. I am in the process of getting all the pictures together but just to get you excited here is a little taste of what to expect.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TMVISOYS_5I/AAAAAAAACaw/l-NGJ2Dl7iQ/s1600/IMG_4537.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TMVISOYS_5I/AAAAAAAACaw/l-NGJ2Dl7iQ/s320/IMG_4537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531907195229372306" border="0" /></a><br />This is my lovely husband trying out a special snorkel mask with ear cups to keep the water out of his poor infected ears.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">He is irresistible.</span></span><br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-51380190313530262882010-09-28T00:30:00.000-07:002010-09-28T00:51:07.872-07:00Wish List<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Every few months I get a bad case of the "I hate everything I own" blues. I can't shop to my heart's content and remedy the situation so I just have to wait it out until the storm passes. I typically end up surfing the web and making wish lists of things I like; this may just fuel the fire but I also feel a little better afterward.<br /><br />I've adopted the belief that my wardrobe can be way more interesting if I just invest in accessories instead of entirely new ensembles IE jewelry, scarves, belts, and hats. So here are some things I've been wishing for.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TKGaak_SniI/AAAAAAAACao/ZYdhTbB0VmM/s1600/Desktop4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TKGaak_SniI/AAAAAAAACao/ZYdhTbB0VmM/s320/Desktop4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521864399529352738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TKGaaV76TrI/AAAAAAAACag/M52hbmCjVYQ/s1600/Desktop3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TKGaaV76TrI/AAAAAAAACag/M52hbmCjVYQ/s320/Desktop3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521864395488644786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TKGaZ5AsypI/AAAAAAAACaQ/wPW-2UWbK7Y/s1600/Desktop1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TKGaZ5AsypI/AAAAAAAACaQ/wPW-2UWbK7Y/s320/Desktop1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521864387724102290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These next two aren't really accessories but I am still wishing I had some.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TKGaZumdK0I/AAAAAAAACaI/GpGvusmGy1A/s1600/Desktop.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TKGaZumdK0I/AAAAAAAACaI/GpGvusmGy1A/s320/Desktop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521864384929672002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TKGaaHYyv9I/AAAAAAAACaY/kfH134FUBHA/s1600/Desktop2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TKGaaHYyv9I/AAAAAAAACaY/kfH134FUBHA/s320/Desktop2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521864391583252434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I know this has nothing to do with Shanghai but I promise I will have something interesting to post soon as we are going to the Philippines with some of Chris's family in a couple days!<br /><br /><br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-73480115760827648382010-09-06T23:55:00.000-07:002010-09-07T01:33:00.446-07:00Callings and The Bund<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Quickly, I just want to say that Chris and I both got callings in our branch here and guess what? They are the exact same callings we had in our LA ward. I am teaching Sunbeams and Chris is teaching the Young Men and we are really happy about it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A couple weekends ago we went to The Bund. FYI: Shanghai is split in two parts by the Yellow River and The Bund is the street that faces the river on our side of town. It's a fun place to walk around for the cool colonial architecture and fabulous view across the river (Pudong).</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TIXi6vf55PI/AAAAAAAACZY/befeTYQcBJA/s1600/IMG_4230.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TIXi6vf55PI/AAAAAAAACZY/befeTYQcBJA/s320/IMG_4230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514062817595614450" border="0" /></a><br />Pudong<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TIXi6Q4Mw4I/AAAAAAAACZQ/QSSl5bowEZ0/s1600/IMG_4220.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TIXi6Q4Mw4I/AAAAAAAACZQ/QSSl5bowEZ0/s320/IMG_4220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514062809376015234" border="0" /></a><br />The Bund<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Did you know there are A LOT of people in China? Yeah, well there are and it is really fun when you get to walk in a river of Chinese people (see below). The roads to get back to the subway were packed with people and, to make it even more exciting, there were buses and cars trying to drive on the same road. It's also really hot and humid, yummy.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TIXi79mIlXI/AAAAAAAACZo/0KXedFTopzs/s1600/IMG_4233.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TIXi79mIlXI/AAAAAAAACZo/0KXedFTopzs/s320/IMG_4233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514062838559708530" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here is a picture of me just in case you miss my face.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TIXi7F6mDZI/AAAAAAAACZg/O7VHn9kwb8M/s1600/IMG_4222.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TIXi7F6mDZI/AAAAAAAACZg/O7VHn9kwb8M/s320/IMG_4222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514062823613140370" border="0" /></a><br />I've adopted the Chinese ways and like to throw up a peace sign for pictures.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And here is a picture of Chris just because he is cute.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TIXi54VcHjI/AAAAAAAACZI/r8I2XZbzMhU/s1600/IMG_4204.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TIXi54VcHjI/AAAAAAAACZI/r8I2XZbzMhU/s320/IMG_4204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514062802787769906" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br />PS - Can everyone see my blog header ok?<br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-64346562067058035922010-08-19T19:14:00.000-07:002010-08-19T21:26:37.435-07:00Sanya, Hainan Company Retreat<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: left;">I'm sure some of you are disappointed that I haven't been blogging more regularly seeing as we are in China and probably doing some cool things. But, the truth is that most of the time life is just normal and we are saving all the "cool things" for when we have visitors. We did take a great trip last weekend to Hainan so I thought I would blog about it.<br /><br />The LEK office in Shanghai does a <span style="font-style: italic;">mandatory </span>retreat every year and we happened to be here for it and I am so glad because it was awesome! Way better than any party the LA office throws (sorry LA LEKers). Everyone from the office took a weekend trip to Hainan, which is a little island south of Hong Kong and similar to Hawaii. The hotel was gorgeous and so was the scenery.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG3mNAv2nNI/AAAAAAAACYQ/D7vV0YReRB8/s1600/IMG_4119.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG3mNAv2nNI/AAAAAAAACYQ/D7vV0YReRB8/s320/IMG_4119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507311030557383890" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Here we are riding the shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Riding through the towns you could tell they are very rundown but the hotel had everything we needed so there wasn't really a reason to venture out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG3mOEJnboI/AAAAAAAACYg/fr1KAkyUE_c/s1600/IMG_4129.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG3mOEJnboI/AAAAAAAACYg/fr1KAkyUE_c/s320/IMG_4129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507311048650616450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG3mNhE4DfI/AAAAAAAACYY/W4-pjn1PKGY/s1600/IMG_4123.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG3mNhE4DfI/AAAAAAAACYY/W4-pjn1PKGY/s320/IMG_4123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507311039235493362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There were some seriously heavy rains while we were there but the weather was still warm and we didn't mind it so much.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG38hnG3PpI/AAAAAAAACY4/-4l1P036NUA/s1600/IMG_4159.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG38hnG3PpI/AAAAAAAACY4/-4l1P036NUA/s320/IMG_4159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507335573707636370" border="0" /> </a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG3mOQOGAuI/AAAAAAAACYo/YjUHqCoBWZ4/s1600/IMG_4131.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG3mOQOGAuI/AAAAAAAACYo/YjUHqCoBWZ4/s320/IMG_4131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507311051890623202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />AND, we took a little trip to the local hospital while we were there. Our first night there Chris woke me up at 4am saying he had been having some serious stomach pains for the last few hours. He decided to see if the pain would subside on its own but in the morning he wasn't feeling any better. We found out there was a nurse on staff at the hotel so she came along with a translator to check him out. We thought it was his appendix and our biggest fear was that it would burst but after some poking and prodding the nurse said it wasn't the appendix and probably not serious but suggested we still go to the hospital.<br /><br />The hotel generously provided another employee to come with us to the hospital and we're so glad they did because there is no way we could have figured this place out on our own. It's hard to tell in this picture but the hospital was ummmm, not clean, I'll just say that. And not private either; in this room where Chris was examined there were at least 5 other people just waiting their turn.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG3mO-80scI/AAAAAAAACYw/IT2EogtYo2E/s1600/IMG_4148.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG3mO-80scI/AAAAAAAACYw/IT2EogtYo2E/s320/IMG_4148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507311064434651586" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />This doctor also agreed that it wasn't his appendix but rather his intestine was inflamed and he suggested an infusion. They LOVE infusions at this place! When we walked upstairs there were rooms full of people hooked up to IV's just hanging out getting medicated. We weren't comfortable with this suggestion and we requested pills instead. Chris was feeling much better by the time we left the hospital but the real magic happened when we got back to the hotel and Chris saw a soccer ball. He started playing soccer as if he hadn't been in any sort of pain for the last 12 hours...strange how that happened.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Thankfully, we got to enjoy the rest of our trip without anymore hiccups. It was fabulous and I'm ready for another vacation like that.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG38iHVbI9I/AAAAAAAACZA/oY_r1FV49pY/s1600/IMG_4189.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TG38iHVbI9I/AAAAAAAACZA/oY_r1FV49pY/s320/IMG_4189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507335582358643666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So here is a weird China thing. We tried to watch some TV while it was raining and discovered that the government had canceled entertainment for the day in memory of those killed by the mudslide. The mudslide was a tragic event but it was still strange to us that the government had the power to cancel TV.<br /></div></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-38143972260052304232010-07-29T01:24:00.000-07:002010-07-29T01:45:19.124-07:00Say Hello To My Little Friend<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Gus, our tiny new addition. Getting a cat was not part of our China plan so let me explain how this tiny guy came into our lives.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TFE7twXP3kI/AAAAAAAACYI/ivjXEiaQL70/s1600/IMG_7371.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TFE7twXP3kI/AAAAAAAACYI/ivjXEiaQL70/s400/IMG_7371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499242277258649154" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">On Tuesday night Chris and I were walking home from dinner when we saw this tiny kitty run from one bush to another. I have a MAJOR soft-spot for animals so I immediately tried to catch him but to no avail. My heart ached as we walked away and I could hear his tiny cries. Wednesday night when I was walking to meet Chris for dinner I heard a kitty meowing right in the same area as the night before. I thought this must be fate and set out to rescue him. </span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">He was hiding in a long stretch of bushes along a busy street and I began crawling around in the dark trying to find him. I spotted him several times but couldn't catch him and people were staring but I didn't care. I soon had a group of people helping me catch him and we finally succeeded! I think most of them were so helpful because they thought it was my own cat I had lost instead of a stray. Anyways, he was terrified and clawed/bit my hand pretty good until I put him in my purse and carried him to the pet shop around the corner. Seriously, it is right around the corner from where I found him <span style="font-style: italic;">and </span>from where we live, how fortuitous! Chris left work to help me at the pet shop and after a flea bath and buying a few essentials we took the kitty home. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TFE7tfgr5hI/AAAAAAAACYA/--oQR4Hz3Ks/s1600/IMG_7361+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TFE7tfgr5hI/AAAAAAAACYA/--oQR4Hz3Ks/s400/IMG_7361+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499242272734832146" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TFE7s9s1m_I/AAAAAAAACX4/Gyv5L3JwKnM/s1600/IMG_7360.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TFE7s9s1m_I/AAAAAAAACX4/Gyv5L3JwKnM/s400/IMG_7360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499242263658994674" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">He is a major scaredy cat but we are warming him up to us slowly. The petshop people said he can't be more than 2 months old but there is no way to know for sure. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">I'm glad to have a little friend with me in China.<br />Welcome to the family little Gus.<br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-67636931119531424992010-07-27T01:47:00.001-07:002010-07-27T02:33:53.921-07:00A Stroll Through the Park<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Last Saturday we went to Century Park with Deborah and Stephen Skokos and Jodi and Taylor Sparks. It is a lovely park and rather large! It made me feel like I wasn't in Shanghai and I am great with that. We rented bikes and separated into groups to ride around and see the sites.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6eGbJfe2I/AAAAAAAACXI/RPHKM-7rWEI/s1600/day+at+the+park+005.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 221px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6eGbJfe2I/AAAAAAAACXI/RPHKM-7rWEI/s400/day+at+the+park+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498506028269927266" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6ew0ki45I/AAAAAAAACXQ/79oBek5gmSo/s1600/day+at+the+park+011.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 222px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6ew0ki45I/AAAAAAAACXQ/79oBek5gmSo/s400/day+at+the+park+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498506756648788882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The girl bike was significantly slower so the boys quickly pulled ahead but about 10 minutes into the ride we caught up due to a flat tire on the boy's bike. They claim it happened while riding on the designated road but I have my suspicions since we saw them riding on some landscaping a few minutes prior.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6ex37TCVI/AAAAAAAACXg/AcIwaiLusWo/s1600/IMG_4062.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6ex37TCVI/AAAAAAAACXg/AcIwaiLusWo/s400/IMG_4062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498506774729394514" border="0" /> </a><br /><br />Since it was a hot day and walking the bike back to the rental place seemed like an insurmountable task we lent our bike to the boys so they could bring it back like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6exQuMZ3I/AAAAAAAACXY/dgnKXx2AJHE/s1600/day+at+the+park+015.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6exQuMZ3I/AAAAAAAACXY/dgnKXx2AJHE/s400/day+at+the+park+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498506764205451122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once they exchanged the bike the ladies wanted to have a try on the three-seater and we took off without looking back. The three-seater was way better than the side-by-side one! Sorry fellas for leaving you in the dust.<br /><br />Part of the park had a water fountain you could run around in and it wasn't a surprise that the boys wanted to have a go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6eyS0lKiI/AAAAAAAACXo/_fDk4QxJ7kg/s1600/IMG_4087.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6eyS0lKiI/AAAAAAAACXo/_fDk4QxJ7kg/s400/IMG_4087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498506781948979746" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately the fun had to end in bloodshed after Taylor did a nosedive and sliced his chin open. The split chin resulted in a several hour adventure trying to use superglue to fix it. We have some pretty graphic pictures but I refrained from posting them except this one. This was taken mid-fiasco when superglue and paper towel made contact. And here is a link to Taylor and Jodi's blog in case you want to take a closer look at the wound.<br /><a href="http://ask-a-scientist.blogspot.com/2010/07/very-bad-day-for-my-face.html">http://ask-a-scientist.blogspot.com/2010/07/very-bad-day-for-my-face.html</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6fYmcy2uI/AAAAAAAACXw/pdo3vTW4240/s1600/IMG_4102.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TE6fYmcy2uI/AAAAAAAACXw/pdo3vTW4240/s400/IMG_4102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498507440052951778" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;">The superglue actually worked in the end and we all had a great time at the park!<br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-78917360052940515592010-07-18T03:47:00.000-07:002010-07-18T04:27:20.814-07:00Yuyuan, Lotus Garden, Acrobats, and Game Night<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: left;">We have actually done a few fun things! Last weekend we walked around Yuyuan which has a bunch of shops and a garden. Since it was night we skipped the garden but we walked around the shops and took some pictures with Haibao. He is the character created for The World Expo and he is <span style="font-style: italic;">everywhere </span>here!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfF_z7h1I/AAAAAAAACV4/2niH2CCu2XY/s1600/IMG_4005.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfF_z7h1I/AAAAAAAACV4/2niH2CCu2XY/s400/IMG_4005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495199789467010898" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfG_reswI/AAAAAAAACWI/z9N5kML2d00/s1600/IMG_4007.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 237px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfG_reswI/AAAAAAAACWI/z9N5kML2d00/s400/IMG_4007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495199806611436290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfGatgIDI/AAAAAAAACWA/FYE5R_z191k/s1600/IMG_4006.JPG"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfGatgIDI/AAAAAAAACWA/FYE5R_z191k/s1600/IMG_4006.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 237px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfGatgIDI/AAAAAAAACWA/FYE5R_z191k/s400/IMG_4006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495199796687806514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I am so grateful there are actually a few ladies here that I have become friends with and we have done several lunch dates. On Thursday a couple of us had lunch and attempted to see the Shanghai Contemporary Art Museum but it's closed for a few weeks. Whoops. But it was in a nice area with a lotus garden so we took a few pictures.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfH2S5o6I/AAAAAAAACWY/zi04dxMYHl8/s1600/IMG_4012.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 326px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfH2S5o6I/AAAAAAAACWY/zi04dxMYHl8/s400/IMG_4012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495199821272294306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfHe9GfoI/AAAAAAAACWQ/Vr713SvgLvo/s1600/IMG_4009.JPG"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 328px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELfHe9GfoI/AAAAAAAACWQ/Vr713SvgLvo/s400/IMG_4009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495199815006846594" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">On Friday we went to see the Shanghai Acrobats with Jeremy and Mallory and it was pretty sweet! It was a little like Cirque but shorter and the acrobatics were more impressive. Fun!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELdP8p97mI/AAAAAAAACVY/MEb9_9kVFl0/s1600/IMG_4015.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELdP8p97mI/AAAAAAAACVY/MEb9_9kVFl0/s400/IMG_4015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495197761395355234" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELdPXgzEbI/AAAAAAAACVQ/_LveuDLuSwI/s1600/IMG_4017.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELdPXgzEbI/AAAAAAAACVQ/_LveuDLuSwI/s400/IMG_4017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495197751424782770" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Saturday night we hosted a little game night. I know, we love our games. We had a blast with everyone and I will be so sad when these people head back to the states. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELdREsukUI/AAAAAAAACVw/SBkd9VGm8j8/s1600/IMG_4029.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELdREsukUI/AAAAAAAACVw/SBkd9VGm8j8/s400/IMG_4029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495197780734284098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELdQ5ORLWI/AAAAAAAACVo/NPWirNJV0lY/s1600/IMG_4028.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELdQ5ORLWI/AAAAAAAACVo/NPWirNJV0lY/s400/IMG_4028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495197777653738850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELdQZPMcRI/AAAAAAAACVg/E2HqGQmG3ps/s1600/IMG_4027.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TELdQZPMcRI/AAAAAAAACVg/E2HqGQmG3ps/s400/IMG_4027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495197769067688210" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700433014049850002.post-91572396414005642942010-07-07T02:43:00.000-07:002010-07-07T03:10:41.312-07:00Optimus Prime<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: left;">Those of you that are familiar with <span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers </span>may be wondering why I would be blogging about such a thing. But just look at the similarities in these two pictures..<br /><br /></div>Optimus Prime Me<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TDRNkye-gxI/AAAAAAAACVE/mmIVAKRUNYA/s1600/OptimusPrime_2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 351px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TDRNkye-gxI/AAAAAAAACVE/mmIVAKRUNYA/s400/OptimusPrime_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491099140093805330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TDRNkXGtn3I/AAAAAAAACU8/NZEtKk43x9E/s1600/IMG_3995.JPG"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 352px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TDRNkXGtn3I/AAAAAAAACU8/NZEtKk43x9E/s400/IMG_3995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491099132744277874" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Do you see it?<br />Take a closer look at what my new swim cap has written on the side.<br /><br /></div><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TDRM26pldCI/AAAAAAAACU0/oYSSsU96T0M/s1600/IMG_3999.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TDRM26pldCI/AAAAAAAACU0/oYSSsU96T0M/s400/IMG_3999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491098352011801634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Now you <span style="font-style: italic;">must </span>see it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our apartment complex here has a pretty sweet clubhouse including karaoke rooms, a gym, squash courts, billiards, ping-pong, and a <span style="font-weight: bold;">giant lap pool</span>. Swimming sounds like a dream in the hot and humid weather here so I have decided to add it to my workout regimen. The rules for pool usage are written in Chinese but they have kindly included pictures for us foreigners and I can at least gather that a swim cap is required; hence the new Optimus Prime swim cap.<br /><br />I was at the supermarket today and I thought I should at least check what they had in the swimming department and it was slim-pickins' as far as caps go. But I have no idea where a sporting goods store is and I don't want to spend a lot of money so I grabbed myself this little Optimus Prime beauty of a cap. I'm pretty pleased with my purchase.<br /><br />PS - I know the picture of me is pretty great with just the swim cap and goggles but for some reason the gold chain I am sporting makes it ten times cooler.<br /></div></div><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TDRM2fLtwcI/AAAAAAAACUs/f8rKHsgEz_Q/s1600/IMG_3995.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c1cSGYtOILs/TDRM1rOs9kI/AAAAAAAACUk/DWEQ4XVpG7E/s1600/OptimusPrime_2.jpg"><br /></a>Chris & Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317380208176879006noreply@blogger.com6