When you're trying to do 50 things at once

This is just today

• You forget it's your week to work on the Handbook
• You forget to leave 100 DHS in the bank account for a particular fee, then have to wait in line forever to deposit the money so the bank can charge you and close your account.
• You forget to turn in school picture money, 2 days in a row
• Briefly freak out because the movers HAVE SHOWN UP 10 DAYS EARLY and you think you have to move now! (Nope, they realized the moving date was the 19th, not the 9th, and they didn't make you pack up early.)
• When you do remember to turn in the picture money and the new field trip permission slip and money, you actually turn in your bank account closing paper work that you were supposed to give to the secretary.
• You go back that afternoon to turn in money, order forms, and permission slips and get your paperwork back.
• Turn in your bank paperwork only to find out that once again you've forgotten to turn in the forwarding address forms.
• Go home, put the kids to bed, have a glass of wine.

Summer flights!

After much arguing with Expedia (will NEVER use them again) we finally have everything figured out. Woohoo!

See the whole break down under Tour Dates. 

The Move and gifts for the kids

Due to taxes and the extended time it holds up a shipment, we will not be shipping any kind of electronics to China. This means anything we want to keep (toys, curling iron, iPod) must be carried with us and packed in our luggage. We can't even ship battery operated toys, we will be taxed on what the customs officials believe the original purchase price of the item was. Granted toys won't incur a hefty tax, but it will hold up our shipment for a few additional weeks. Since we're shipping the bulk of our clothing and household items, we don't want to wait any longer than necessary for our shipment. Therefore our luggage is going to be fairly full on our way back to the States. While we plan to pick up a new suitcase or two, we would ask that you not get any large or bulky gifts for the kids.

Clothing:
Clothes will be fine, no limits since we will have 4 seasons for the first time in 10 years!! Emma is wearing a 3T now, so consider getting 3T or 4T clothes. Aidan wears a 6T in pants and shirts, but 7T shirts will also work. Aidan still has a tiny waist, so elastic waist bands on pants are great, but not a must.

Toys:
Toys are fine, especially since we're getting rid of a lot of them before moving. Something that would be easy to pack and doesn't have a lot of pieces would be great. Emma really likes the Aquadoodle and Crayola Wonder markers and pads. These can generally be found at toy stores, on Amazon, and Crayola Wonder can be found at Target as well. Emma has started getting into dress up play, but if you're considering getting her something like that, second hand or inexpensive items are probably best. She's still pretty rough with her things. Aidan still likes the usual, but is branching out into Play Dough sets, Legos, construction toys, submarines, and action figures. He LOVES Ben 10 and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Aidan has started to enjoy coloring more, so a coloring book and crayons/markers would also go over well.

Both kids enjoy books, board books are best for Emma - they'll last longer.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo with Grandma

Dubai celebrated Jackie's arrival with a sandstorm.

View from the living room

Since it was gross out we decided to go to the Dubai Mall and visit the aquarium.  Everyone else in Dubai had the same idea. It was really, really crowded. The kids had a good time even though they couldn't run free or see all of the exhibits.

Aidan points out interesting things to Puppy

She really wants to explore on her own

Nice way to come home

We came home to this today:

Menaca said that Em insisted on sitting in the toy stroller and would walk herself around the room.

Return of the cookie monster

You've got to keep an eye on Emma, she'll steal all of your cookies.

We made black forest thumbprint cookies and she couldn't even wait for the cookies to be filled.

Shanghai bound!

Patrick and I signed contracts with Shanghai Community International School, we will be working at their Hongqiao Campus. We are so excited and can't wait to start our family's next adventure.

We don't have our final dates yet, but we know this will be a tight summer. DAA doesn't get out until June 25th, and we expect to fly out some time that night or the next morning. (Normally Patrick would be required to work a few extra days because of his position, but since the school is buying our tickets home he doesn't think he'll be expected to stay longer.) We anticipate having to report to work in Shanghai the last week in July, but might be flown out a week earlier to get the kids settled and hire a nanny. Again, not sure, but that's what they've done with other families in the past.

China considers electronics and furniture luxury items and heavily taxed if shipped in. We will be selling all of our furniture and electronics here and carrying in some of our smaller devices and external hard drives. Our carry on and checked luggage are limited so please do not get the kids any toys that can't be packed in a suitcase.

China has seasons! Yeah!!! The kids have one pair of pants each, boo... Instead of toys, even though those are the fun things to shop for, we would prefer winter and fall clothes. Things are going on sale now and I've been taking advantage of that myself.

Emma

SIZES - good Lord, this kid is tall and built like a bowling ball. She is 2 years and 4 months and wearing 3T clothes! I've been picking up 4T stuff for next fall/winter. Please don't get her any shoes, she has really wide and round feet, she must try everything on before we buy it.

TOYS - She loves huggable stuffed animals or rag dolls. She's been really interested in cooking  or dish toys, so a small tea set might be nice.

Aidan

SIZES - This child is so skinny. I paid extra money for adjustable waist jeans and got them in the skinny style (which I really don't care for) in hopes that they would stay on. I've set the waist as small as it will go and the still slip off. Luckily skinny jeans are tight so they don't slip past his thighs. 6T-7T is a safe bet for shirts but 6T is probably best for pants.

TOYS - Not much has changed, planes and cars are still really popular. He does like Ben 10 a lot and dinosaur or spaceship toys and books also go over well.