March 2018

Tyler still gets up every school morning at 5:25 so he can be practicing by 5:30 am.  He practices 45 minutes before school and then usually 15-30 minutes later.  He also tries to practice the Organ most days for 30 minutes. 

Abby is in an amazing preschool.  We love it.  I get to teach there as a reading specialist so she gets free tuition.  They made a flag for Betsy Ross.  She got in the 100 club for counting to 100.  

Ella and Tyler finished up the ski season.  Ella was super proud to get some good air in the terrain park.  Also loving some Daddy sandwiches.  For our Anniversary we went hiking to the Living Room downtown.  It was muddy and cold. but we went!  Then got some Pho at Pho Thin.  It was good.  Then next door they had cookie dough.  It was lovely too!  16 years of marriage.  wowser!

Ella writes loves notes.  We all love them.  She wrote to Tyler about how talented he is.  And how she loves to hear his music at church and home.  Ella also got all perfect grades for the first time ever.  The tension and stress that is gone now because we are done with Spanish is real!  Tyler went to the BYU Pow wow with his cousins.  He got 3 merit badges in two weekends so we are happy!!!  Also fun to see Abby learning.  The other day I couldn't find her and she was upstairs writing in her book.  She loves to read and sound things out.  And the last pictures.  Happy to be home from China.  The kids loved the gifts and loved having us home!

Birthdays! Abby 5 - Ella 10

What a birthday these girls had.  It was all spread out and a bit crazy.  

1. Abby on the day before her birthday having a cookie at Nolan and Corie's house.  We were in China

2-5. A week before her birthday she had 2 friends go to the park with her and play and have a picnic.  

6.  home from China. cousin swim party on Ella's birthday to celebrate both girls. 

7-8. Ella had a few friends over for a birthday party... again... swimming.  

The goal of a birthday is to feel loved and special on your day.  I think we got it!

Abby Mad Hatter Tea Party

At the end of March Abbys preschool did the Mad Hatter Tea Party to learn more about good manners. The kids dressed up.  Great time.  

Jacob K, Abby, Charlie E, Cousin Spencer R. 

China- Huangshan Day 8

Darren, Kevin and I woke at 5:00 to go see the sunrise.  It was beautiful.  There were people every where.  We hiked to a famous bride called the Fairy Bridge.  Its an amazing structure built to connect to huge spans.  

We were so glad we had enjoyed the Friday in relative peace.  Because Saturday morning was insane.  You couldn't move between the crowds of people.  We made it down. We were all so sore and tired.  It was another 8-10 miles of stairs depending on if you went to see the sunrise or not.  It was lovely to see 2-3 blossoms coming out on the tress.  I am sure a few days after we left the sights were spectacular.  We ate a good dinner at our hotel.  Played games at Andys until our taxi took us to the airport, to land in Beijing. We stayed a cheap night in a green tree hotel.  Kevin temporarily lost his new nice phone but thank goodness it was found.  We slept, headed to the airport the next morning.  We flew a long flight to Seattle which we slept a ton of.  My legs were cramping the whole time because you cant go walk stairs... walk miles and miles... and then sit on a plane.  (it took about a week at home to get my legs feeling normal again)

Depart next morning at 11:45 AM, home to SLC at 2:30 PM.

Total trip between 3500 and 4000$

China- Huangshan, Yellow Mnts Day 7

Most people take the cable care to the top of the Yellow Mnts.  Its a beast to get up there. I didn't' realize it was 4 miles of stair stepping up. ... and then miles and miles more to get anywhere.  That four miles only got us to the bottom of the top of the mnt.  From there we had to find our hotel which was another long way with stairs. and then since your on top of a bunch of mnts- if you want to go anywhere you keep doing stairs.  We spent the night at a nice hotel.  Huangshan Xihai Hotel- 200$ plus a night.  It was the only hotel that we got on the whole trip that was over 35$ a night.  We didn't even eat at a restaurant on the top of the mnt because it is so pricey.   We all carried light day packs ... thats it.  We had food, water, and clothes in our pack.  The first day we did 432 flights of stairs. It was over 15 miles of stairs.  The little yellow chair looked really nice for them to carry you up, if you had money.

Everything on the mountain had to be carried up somehow.  These guys are carrying rebar and pipes. We saw others carrying our potential breakfast at our hotel.  One man was carrying rice, another one- gasoline.  30$ a day to carry it up 4-5 miles of stairs.

The trails are amazing.  steps carved into the rocks. Tunnels through rock.  stairs hanging off the rock.  They have done an amazing job trying to keep the scenery.  There are trees in the middle of paths or jutting out the sides.

The only reason people stay on the top of the Yellow Mountains is to see the sunset and sunrise.  There are only about 50 days of the year that aren't cloudy in there. So imagine the mountain peaks peaking out of the clouds.  We had perfect clear weather.  Which was nice, but it would have been amazing to see the clouds and mist also.