May Holiday Rocks!

TV Turn Off Week was not too bad - Maddie spent most of her time running around instead of watching her favorite cartoons. This usually meant that she was EXHAUSTED in the evenings when it was time for bed. She was even EXHAUSTED when the May Holiday started on Saturday! Pics like this don't happen that often anymore because Maddie is always on the go!

Jeff and Daneah were coming over for brunch so Maddie and I prepared by making sugar cookies! When Maddie is at school, every Friday is "Cooking Day" so when I told her that we were going to cook, she told me that it must be Friday! There was flour from floor to ceiling, but we had lots of fun and Maddie is quite the little mixer. We didn't quite finish when Jeff and Daneah showed up so we'll have to save the frosting and sprinkles session for later.

It was GREAT to have Jeff and Daneah over as Maddie always shows off for Jeff. She used to just run around and neigh like a horse, but now that her vocab is increasing, she goes to get things and shows him all of her worldly possessions!

May Holiday has been really relaxing so far. We've gone on shopping trips to scope out what's in babyland in China. Andy has rearranged most of the furniture in our house - with Maddie's approval of course. We baked cookies, enjoyed Jeff and Daneah's company... now it's back to school here within the next couple of days. Something tells me that Maddie is REALLY going to be ready!

TV Turn Off Week - Day 1

I thought for sure there would be no way this would fly! Maddie without her cartoons? Me without my American Idol? Then the strangest thing happened when Andy and I got home from school today around 5:00. Maddie was upstairs playing with Ms. Zhou and when she heard us come in, she galloped down the stairs, screaming "NO TV MOMMY - NO TV DADDY - I SAID, NO TV!"

This week marks TV Turn Off Week or for the really hardcore folks out there, it's a screen free week, including computers. Hmf! I'm not that hardcore! Maddie grabbed my hand and told me that SHE wanted to read a book to ME. She read me a quick story about butterflies and took both Andy and I outside for some serious chalk writing on the back porch. While taking a break from the chalk writing, she ran around the yard through plants and managed to scare all of the little creatures out of their wits. She did find a frog which kept her entertained for quite sometime. She would make it hop and then run over to tell us about how it was once a tadpole. She's three and I'm amazed that she can remember this!

After some frog chasing, we all came inside to make cookies. Maddie LOVES to cook and measure things. She usually doesn't like peanut butter, but today was the day! She and daddy mixed the ingredients and then she helped me grease the pan with Crisco. She was an absolute star at rolling dough into round balls and then flattening them in a grid pattern with a fork! I suspected that she may be one of those kids that likes batter better than the cookie itself by the way she was devouring the uncooked dough - weren't we all like that at some point?! Sure enough, the end product came out of the oven and she dropped the bombshell - "I DON'T LIKE IT" she said with every "T" hit hard. Life is about the journey, life is about the journey, life is about the journey - now what I am going to do with all of these cookies?!

We then went into the den off the kitchen and listened to music while she danced for us. Before you knew it, it was time for books and bed! I thought for sure Andy and I would succumb to the TV's whispers of "Prison Break", but we went back into the den where he took the time to update his great blog, Sentiments of Common Sense, and I graded math papers. We're still listening to music and now Lester is dancing and rolling right in the middle of us.

Happy TV Turn Off Week! Even if you aren't participating - don't forget to take the time to do the things you think you don't have time to do!

Maddie's FIRST Golf Tourny!

I gotta say this... Maddie's daddy deserves A LOT of credit. When a major golf tournament comes to town, I'm guessing that most men think, "wahoo - guys day out!" Did I mention that he had VIP tickets which were donated by the Sr. VP of HSBC? Well, daddy decided to take Maddie and mommy to a day of golf... with Ernie Els, Paul Casey, and Retief Goosen to name a few.

Maddie decided to wear her pinkest dress possible for the 2007 BMW Asian Golf Classic here in Shanghai. We arrived at 8:00am with our VIP tickets and parking pass in hand and made our way to the Fairway Club where we showed the nice people are VIP tickets so that we could enter. We enjoyed a leisurely champagne brunch while looking over the 18th green before we decided to actually watch some golf! We watched a few people tee off before heading over to see Paul Casey make birdie on the 6th hole. I've never seen so many news cameras and photographers with such big lens' before and what's funny is that they all turned their attention to the little girl in the pink dress telling her mommy "shhh" while Paul Casey set up his shot. I wander if she'll appear in some magazine or on a sports channel somewhere in this world!

Maddie was a trooper and walked 9 holes with us. Actually, daddy was a trooper because he carried Maddie on his shoulders most of the way. One of my favorite shots was when we were sitting on the back of the 2nd green watching a French golfer trying to make eagle and she was more interested in the grass and the holes in leaves! At least she was quiet... well, she was quiet most of the time! She finally feel asleep around 12:30 so we parked at the 5th hole for awhile to watch a few pairs play through before heading back to the VIP Fairway Club for the rest of the afternoon. Why watch golf in the sun, humidity and heat when you can sit in the comfort of A/C? HA!

We enjoyed another great buffet lunch and headed downstairs where we sat and watched golfers for about 4 hours. Andy was trying to convince me that it really wasn't normal to be sitting on white leather couches in the A/C, 4 feet from the 18th green, having servers in tuxedos bringing drinks on a whim. Well, I just can't believe that and that standard has been set! ;) In actuality, Maddie slept the entire afternoon, but we watched all of the leaders finish on the 18th green and chatted and dreamed about things to come while waiting for the next pair of golfers to come through - it really was a perfectly relaxing day - finally.

Thanks Andy for being such a great husband, a great daddy, and for including us girls in your golfing fun! WE LOVE YOU!

Why, yes.... that is Ernie Els!

April 16-20 Week in Review!

It was so nice to get home from Jingdezhen as I sure missed my hubby and my Maddie! I'm glad that I left though because I've decided that Andy MUST be a guest writer on this blog more often than not. I love to "hear" his voice on the blog and I hope that Maddie can "hear" that same voice when she reads this blog when she is 18!

Maddie is studying life cycles at school. I mentioned a few weeks ago how Malin's mommy brought in tadpoles and the children have been watching them turn into frogs right in front of their eyes. Now they are reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" to study how caterpillars turn into butterflies. This is all so good for Maddie and she understands that there is a life inside of me that is changing and becoming stronger to be introduced as a new brother or sister come September. Since they have been studying butterflies, I thought it was appropriate to get her a vase from Jingdezhen that had beautiful butterflies all over it! The vase has been added to room that has pieces from all the places she has been. She has the Barbie in an abaya from Saudi, the lion clock from Prague, the green lanterns from India, the elephant tapestry from Thailand, the snow globes from France... just to name a few.

Maddie had her first show and tell at school which was a big lesson for her. She had her M day back in February and didn't mind sharing her M things, but this time she brought somethings she really, really cared about. She brought her stuffed pink "horsey" that she received from Astrid's daughter in Saudi Arabia two years ago, her daddy horsey which is a Bryer horse Andy and I bought her in Vegas and a small purple horse that Ms. Zhou gave Maddie for Christmas. She absolutely-positively did not want to share them with anybody. The day started off with an argument between she and Roqueya, but I left the disagreement in Ms. Preeti's very capable hands and went to start my assembly with my 8th graders. I love Preeti so much for sending me the following email just an hour later as my insides were churning at leaving Maddie when she was being so stubborn and "unlady-like"!

"Hi there,

Just wanted to share. The "problem" was resolved this morning. Maddie hadn't wanted to give her purple pony to Rouqueya since she was playing with it. But we discussed what "Show and Tell" was aboout- bringing in something from home that you were willing to share with your classmates. AND taking turns. AND sharing with friends. The pics were taken a few minutes after you left...

Have a good day!"

On that note, Maddie had a great week. We ended it with sending Ms. Zhou home on Friday night so that mom and Maddie could have a girls night. The girls night turned into all the Links kids from ages 2-14 riding their bicycles in the streets, stopping to play duck-duck-goose on the front lawns as the parents chatted away on a warm Spring evening. it reminded me of Leave It To Beaver. Living in China is just so cool sometimes!

Have a good day!

90 Minute baths, Naps on the Way to Lunch and a Weekend with Father

Madeline' s mother took a measured risk this weekend and left Madeline with me, her father. Not that can't cook or clean, as I am certainly capable of that and I think Amanda would publically admit that I do most, if not all the cooking. This is part of a verbal "contract" we agreed to before we got married. More on that one later, as I think we may be headed to some mediation on that topic.

Anyway.... Madeline has had a pretty good weekend for a three years old. I have probably earned Father of the year.

Yesterday (Saturday) she and I headed over to school which is about 3 blocks away. This, after some quality french toast made just for her on the stove. They were delivered to her hot, and with copious amounts of Aunt Jemima syrup coating each and every piece of the toast which was cut in bite sized pieces. I tasted one (not on my diet) and it was unbelievably delicious. She has since had 5 servings of these "pancakes" and we are now out of bread. I think I am going to have to go to the store and get more.

After some cartoons and me catching up on some work and blogs, I announced that we would go to school. There is never much discussion about this as Madeline loves school. I didn't mention there were no kids there, as this would have caused enough debate for the US Senate and I was not up to it after a week of debate and arguments at work. Frankly speaking the 3 year old is much better at debating than many of my more "mature" colleagues. If any of my colleagues actually read this entry all I can say is, "if the shoe fits, wear it!".

So.... Madeline decided that since she was suppose to go to school she would wear her dress. The pink gingham one that her Aunt Sissy brought for her. She also chose white tights, those special Barbie Doll underwear AND high top hot pink Jack Purcell Converse tennis shoes. She also combed her own hair, brushed her own teeth and refused to take a bath. Speaking kindly here of my own daughter, I must admit I felt as if I was taking out a mussy haired, smelly circus clown like child. She was pretty cute though, and I didn't give a rip and enjoyed with her the independence she was trying out.

We went to school and I cleaned up one of my two offices, answer about 15 emails and got a bit more organized. We saw a lot of people who commented on Madeline's clothes and she got great joy in knowing she chose it all herself. We then went to lunch at one of the local American diner type places. She fell asleep on the way and got a good quality 35 minute power nap in right there! Perfect! We ate hamburgers and hotdogs (also not on my diet, but by this time I didn't give even a little bit of a rip), had Haagen Daaz Ice Cream and then went to the grocery store for soda, a bottle of red wine, milk, a jar of spagetti sauce and some spagetti. Again.... NONE of this stuff is on my diet, but the "give-a-rip" factor was at an all time low and decending quickly. We also went to the local video shop and Madeline happily chose 3 movies, paid for them herself and didn't even have to bargain for the discount.

*Note: Sorry but there are no photos of any of this as I discovered that the cameras I have at home are all battery deprived and the charger can only work so fast. I think the mental images work better here anyway.

About 3:30 we headed home, arrived at 4:15 and we were watching one of these movies when our friend Todd called (his wife abandoned him too and his "give-a-rip" factor was very low as well) to invite me and Maddie over for buffalo wings he had concocted himself. Maddie at that moment was in the middle of a bowl of soup and some veggies and I was starting to eye the spagetti, but alas..... WINGS were calling.

Madeline and I hopped in the car and were over to the house in no time and we were really enjoying our time. Maddie and Cooper played and giggled and raced with a minimal amount of crying, or injury. At about 6:45 both phones rang and Todd and I had to answer to the women folk off in some town I can't pronounce or even spell! We did the phone call, nodded our heads a lot and Madeline told her mother everything we had done that day. Luckily Amanda couldn't understand her.

At about 7:30 we headed home, Maddie and I read a couple of books together after she refused a bath again. I took the smelly, dirty and recalcitrant three year old to bed where she slept till 7:45 when she came in and pounced on me explained in no uncertain terms she needed french toast and to get up. She helped me make coffee and I scrounged two pieces of stale bread for the toast. She ate it and I then dropped her in the bathtub. While she was soaking I showered, dressed, did about 25 emails and kept check on her. She just wanted to stay in the tub and stay she did for about an hour and a half.

The rest of the day has been spent relaxing, drawing, playing in the playground across the street, making jello (should be ready in a couple of hours) and eating soup, French toast and later spaghetti.

Madeline's mother gets home at about midnight tonight and she will be exhausted and we have yet another week of work ahead of us. This is the tough part of the school year for me working overseas. This is the time of the year when I get extra home country sick. I long for baseball, the smell of grass growing, those early spring golf rounds where you score so well you think you should quit your job and go pro, and then you remember that your really stink and start playing like your normally do. Work is a week in and week out activity for about 4 more weeks and then we really ramp up to the end of the year and I am too busy to think about my homesickness. June arrives, we rush around to get stuff done that needs to be done and we get those big summer checks and guess what... I REMEMBER what is great about working overseas besides the wonder school, the great kids, supportive parents, the wonderful travel, and the amazing benefits. Yes folks, we also get pretty good pay for living in one of the most dynamic cities in the world.

So, this weekend has been a nice change and Madeline is no worse for wear and loves to have fun with me as well as anybody else who happens to be able to giggle and laugh with her. Life is good.

Happy Easter 2007!

This year Easter has been the holiday that just keeps going and going and going... it's been great, but it has been more life Easter week instead of Easter day with the numerous celebrations! First we celebrated Easter and school (twice), then we received an Easter basket from Grandma Dotty on Wednesday, then the Links had an Easter egg hunt Friday night, then we colored Easter eggs over the weekend at home for an Easter egg hunt at home and then we went to Sunday Brunch for yet another Easter egg hunt. That's this entry in an "egg"shell so unless you want more details, stop reading now! ;)

We actually boiled the eggs on Saturday but ran out of time for coloring because of the Annie musical. So when we woke up on Sunday, we got the colors and apple cider vinegar out for some serious egg coloring! Daddy wowed us with multiple colors on one egg and we all had our share of multicolored fingers! Maddie just laughed with glee yet took the task very seriously. Anything to do with art, she just plain focuses! After we colored eggs, we dressed in our new Easter dress that Tailor Zhu had made for Maddie and invited Cooper over for an old fashioned hunt.

Cooper being almost three years older than Maddie quickly found most of the two dozen eggs I had hidden in the back yard, but he slowed down a bit and started directing Maddie towards some eggs of her own. It was just a Spring morning with Easter dresses and birds singing... I really do think they came out to watch!

After the Easter egg hunt, we went down to the German Centre for Sunday brunch at Sysery...I'll never be able to pronounce that name! We met two other couples there and sat as a group so the kids were able to play together. Maddie ate A LOT of food and then prepared for the final Easter egg hunt of 2007. As expected all of the older kids found the eggs filled with candy first which left almost nothing for the younger ones. Please know that I'm not complaining here - it's just the way things go - Maddie will do the same when she gets older. But then the coolest thing happened. If you read yesterday's blog then you'll know what I mean. Hannah, the little girl who played Annie in the SAS musical, came up to Maddie and said, "here Maddie let me share my Easter eggs and candy with you." She proceeded to fill Maddie's bag and then skipped off. Maddie turned to me and said, "I like that Annie."

Annie the Musical or Annie the Horse?

When we woke up this morning, we called Grandma Dotty in Tucson and chatted with her a bit. Of course, every time Maddie talks to Grandma Dotty she asks about her horse, Annie. Maddie loves horses as most children do. She always acts like a horse, galloping and neighing about, and her favorite movie is Spirit (aka: The Horsey Movie). She even enters her classroom every morning in a full gallop and gives our a big neigh to her teacher!

When we got off the phone with Grandma, we told Maddie that we were going to see the SAS Middle School musical at school that night. You should've seen the excitement in her eyes when we told her it was "Annie". As soon as I said Annie, I knew what she was thinking. We tried to explain all day long that we were getting on a plane to go to Tucson to see Grandma and Annie the horsey, but she thought we were just being silly. Even after we arrived at school and started watching the musical, she turned to me and said, "can we go to the airport now?" It was quite funny and quite sad all at the same time. It just goes to show the lasting impressions that family makes on our young ones throughout their lives!

All in all, she made it through the show, but and the end of it she declared that she "did not like this Annie." It was a good show though as I had a lot of my students in it. I was impressed at least! So, at least we know which Annie Maddie prefers!!

April 2 - 6 Week in Review

When Maddie's teacher first saw the last week in review she made a very good point to me. At this age, our children's lives completely focus around school. It makes sense too. Maddie comes home at 3:00 and sleeps until 5:00 when Andy and I get home. We talk about the day and play for an hour before dinner at 6:00 and then take a bath at 6:30 for bed. We follow up with Maddie's favorite "doctor show" (Grey's Anatomy - this is another blog entry) and few books before heading to sleep at 7:30. Then we do the same thing all over again the next day!

Maddie's teacher had a tank full of goldfish in the classroom. First there were 12 goldfish and now we are down to one. When I ask her where all the goldfish have gone, she tells me they went to their Grandma and Grandpa's house! Malin's mom brought in tadpoles this week I think as a way to try to get the focus off the goldfish. It has been fun watching them turn into frogs - I have to admit that I've never really "seen" it happen before as I've only read about it in books!

Below is an exerpt from the Weekly Newsletter that Preeti sends out!

It was nice to see the children’s happy and tanned faces after Spring Break. It has been such a busy week back and with the two half days because of Parent Conferences, it seems to have gone in a blink!

Children had fun at the Easter Egg Hunt and party on Tuesday. They especially enjoyed making their own Easter baskets, coloring and decorating the eggs that the moms had prepared. Thanks once again to all the parents who participated and helped organize this fun event.

Talking about Easter eggs led to a discussion about which animals lay eggs. Children
brainstormed a list of animals they thought came from eggs and we are in the process of
researching these animals: chickens, ducks, elephants, snakes, frogs, turtles

We have new animals in our classroom! Malin brought in some tadpoles that she fished from a pond near hr home. A couple of them have developed front and back legs and children are observing the metamorphosis from tadpole to frog (hopefully!) first hand...

Spring has Sprung!

Here come Peter Cottontail! All of these songs that I've long forgotten keep popping into my head all over again! Maddie had an Easter party at school today. Ah, yes, there's that word that probably get one in trouble if they mentioned it in a public stateside school. Maddie celebrated EASTER at SCHOOL today! I'm being a bit obnoxious here, but I'm treasuring everything about life these days!

She made bunny ears, colored eggs, went on an Easter egg hunt, ate chocolate, ate even more chocolate.... did I mention she ate chocolate? It was such a special day for her because this really the first time she's ever gotten it. Maddie loved it that both Andy and I showed up to share the time with her. We showed up just in time to have some chocolate cake for Narumi's birthday part!!

After school, Maddie came to my classroom for an hour while my math students studied away around her. She simply sits at a student desk and works on her "homework" just like the other kids. It's simple - I give her extra math worksheets and she traces the numbers. She loves it and she fits right in. All of my kids know Maddie well and she feels that she is one of them. Truly, she is 3 going on 13!

After school we came home to a beautiful afternoon. For the first time, we turned the water on let her play outside. I pulled weeds while Maddie played in the water and used her chalk to write all over the back patio.

The air is warm, the kids are laughing while riding their bikes, the birds are singing... Spring has truly Sprung and I hope we get to have more weekdays just like this one!