Rachel and Jessie have been gone for a week to YangShuo, China with our visitors from America. So Maddie and I got busy in the kitchen today making some favorites for the 4th of July. The girls should return home by dinner time today as long as their flight is on time. We are blessed this year to have many yummy ingredients from America brought by our guests! Buffalo Hot Wings
Sun-dried tomato and feta cheese pasta salad
Veggies and Dip
Cherry Crumble Pie
Puppy Chow chocolate peanut butter snack mix

Rachel and Jessie have been gone for a week to YangShuo, China with our visitors from America. So Maddie and I got busy in the kitchen today making some favorites for the 4th of July. The girls should return home by dinner time today as long as their flight is on time. We are blessed this year to have many yummy ingredients from America brought by our guests! Buffalo Hot Wings
Sun-dried tomato and feta cheese pasta salad
Veggies and Dip
Cherry Crumble Pie
Puppy Chow chocolate peanut butter snack mix

And for a special treat…Red, White and Blue candies, a mixture of York Pieces and M&M’s

Last night we took my in-laws and niece out for Chinese Hot Pot and our means of transportation to the restaurant…bikes! This was our second outing on bikes and everyone had a great time. Hot Pot is a fun dining experience. Each person has their own small soup pot which they will cook their meat, veggies and noodles in. Customers will also take a trip to the sauce bar where a variety of sauces awaits, including sesame, peanut, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar and hot chili pepper for dipping and adding to flavor one’s meats and vegetables. Garnish of green onions, cilantro, ground peanuts, and tiny dried shrimp are also available at the sauce bar.

Megan was so excited to have her grandma and grandpa (and cousin) from South Dakota come to visit her at her pre-school. We arrived just as she was in Chinese class having popcorn and watching a movie for the last day festivities. Then we had a tour of her classroom and the playground. Special times!

The last week of school began for Michael with an Open House Celebration on Sunday in our apartment, with special visitors (grandma and grandpa from South Dakota and Michael’s first cousin, Jenna). He wanted to set things up like an art gallery, to display some of his favorite pieces. Many friends came to celebrate with us. Michael only has two final exams during the week, which frees him up to spend time showing our guests around Tianjin.

Michael’s artwork displayed

The last week of school began for Michael with an Open House Celebration on Sunday in our apartment, with special visitors (grandma and grandpa from South Dakota and Michael’s first cousin, Jenna). He wanted to set things up like an art gallery, to display some of his favorite pieces. Many friends came to celebrate with us. Michael only has two final exams during the week, which frees him up to spend time showing our guests around Tianjin.

Michael’s artwork displayed

The night before leaving for their spring trip to Yunnan Province, China, Michael and his friend Seung Won hosted a Senior party. They wanted to have a bar-b-que outdoors. The gathering turned out to be pretty fun, as you can tell from the picture. After eating the windy weather drove them into our apartment where they hung out and watched movies. What a great group of kid! In case you are wondering, where are all the girls??…their class has only 5 girls and 18 guys!

The night before leaving for their spring trip to Yunnan Province, China, Michael and his friend Seung Won hosted a Senior party. They wanted to have a bar-b-que outdoors. The gathering turned out to be pretty fun, as you can tell from the picture. After eating the windy weather drove them into our apartment where they hung out and watched movies. What a great group of kid! In case you are wondering, where are all the girls??…their class has only 5 girls and 18 guys!

This is not an uncommon sight around our city. Workers do calisthenics on sidewalks in front of their respective shops. Mostly I see restaurant attendants and hair salon workers. Here the men are doing push-ups while the girls look on.

What happens when you are stuck in an airport in a strange city and your cell phone runs out of battery? While traveling through our Tianjin airport this year, I found this little kiosk very interesting. And the best part, it’s FREE!