Our Tongan Kids

Our friend Luseane has lent us her two oldest kids for a couple of weeks so we could take them to Boise for some hard work and adventure. We have had a lot of fun.


They survived the long car ride with good spirits.








They have been kept busy on the farm here milking cows, picking apricots and making fruit leather, weed eating (Eli helped our nephew Aaron), and tending the garden, but we have had some play time too.

We buried Eli in the sand at Eagle Island State Park








Chelsea and Eli also loved the park at Eagle River

















Chelsea and Eli camped out one night on the Boise river with some of Scottie's cousins and we spent some time swimming, fishing, and playing on the rope swing. They have been a lot of fun to have around!

Congratulations Matty!

We got to attend the wedding of a very good friend Matt Beecher. Not only was it a spiritual feast, but it was a whole lot of fun. He even provided Creamies for all of us to eat while they were getting pictures. They were good because it was Hot!











Matt and his beautiful bride, Summer.











We got to see a bunch of old friends from our time in Boston. How fun. Here is a goofy picture of Melyn and her fiance Kyler.













Hubba Hubba! Congratulations Matt!

Back Home

When we got home from Shanghai, we only got to stay in Seattle for a week but we made the most of our time there. Hyrum says that he doesn't feel like he really knows the area yet so we decided to take a hike up Mt. Pilchuck so he could get one of the best 360 degree views. It was snowy most of the way up which tried our littlest hikers a lot. Jimmy and Hyrum were very brave carrying Cade and Scottie the whole way. Scottie and Cade were very brave on the scary snowy slide on the way down.



Back Row: Shannon, Jimmy, Karissa, Nicole, Dad, Front Row: Cade, Scottie, Hyrum.


We had an awesome time!












We went to Lake Roesiger with the family and the Schmidts. Hyrum, Dad, and Andy floated down the river and then joined us at the lake.

Here is Anza cooling Scottie down.












Eric, Analee, and Eli checking out the view from the tree.












Karissa also got some accordion lessons from Hyrum. She is a natural!

Random Pics from Beijing

Nicole and Scottie at the moat on the northwest corner of the Forbidden City. We paused here during a great bicycle ride through the North Capitol.
Scott gets silly with a magnifying gadget while dad is trying to strike a deal at the Pearl Market in Beijing.
Take a close look at her shirt. It says "Falling in love with my boyfriend". Hyrum claims he was sitting there first.
Scottie makes a friend on Tiananmen Square.
How many people can cram under an umbrella?

Another "Spectacular Scottie the Blond Baby" show in Tiananmen Square. I think Nicole is about to say, "This reminds me of that 'The Office' episode..."

The Great Wall at Simatai

Hyrum was a bit skeptical of the Great Wall since it's *the* tourist attraction in China; we're more into discovery than tours. But we LOVED the Great Wall at Simatai. A little further out than the most visited locations, a truly spectacular setting...a mix of history tour and hiking with spectacular views.

After some really uncomfortable heat the day before, we were pleased with some cool weather for our trip to the Great Wall. It started out as misty and foggy, then turned to a light drizzle--perfect weather for a rather steep climb. Scottie made the trip from Tower #1 to Tower #12 (and back) on Dad's back; and even fell asleep for some of the hike.

We're usually a non-umbrella family...too much hassle; we'd rather get drenched. However, on the way back, we stopped for some noodles about halfway down, and were invited our of the rain into the little tin shack of the woman selling us food to get out of the rain for a spell.

The Forbidden City

Construction began on the palace complex in the early 15th century...85 years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Unfortunately, today was extremely hot and muggy, and we only spent a few hours at a site that really deserves a day. Scottie didn't spend so much time relishing the history...but was fascinated by apparently ancient pebbles and brick pieces among the old tiles of the gigantic brick paved square.

You might not notice at first glance, but the third picture (with Hyrum and Scottie) features two trees that have grown together as one. Two individual trunks with one branch system. A perfect marriage...

Choo Choo!

What an adventure! We just got back from the overnight train from Beijing to Shanghai. How exciting for Scottie to not only ride on his favorite "choo choo" but to sleep on one too! What fun.

Casualties of China

We have had an amazing time in China! We will come home tomorrow. Sadly, some of our stuff will not make the journey home with us.

Missing:
- 2 binkies (we now have replaced them with one Koala Bear Chinese Bink)
- 1 leather sandal (Scottie somehow managed to kick one off in a cab in Shanghai which led Mommy on a wild goose chase for new shoes at 9pm so that Scottie wouldn't brave the bamboo forest barefoot)
- 1 cell phone (lost or stolen? on the Shanghai metro/bus system)
- 1 USB cable
- 1 pair pajama bottoms

Now for the saddest of them all, Hyrum will mourn the loss of these beauties:
Purchased in Boston in 2003 for $12 at the New Balance outlet, they have served him well. Goodbye dear friends.

Come to Hangzhou

Hangzhou is the best advertised tourist destination on English-speaking Chinese TV, complete with catchy tune that ends up being in your head all day. Marco Polo visited and called it the most delightful city in the world. We think it's a pretty place, too. West Lake is truly magnificent, surrounded by mountains, but actually a bit smaller than we had imagined. We rented some sweet little Chinese bikes and biked around the west and north shores of the lake, and along a causeway that cuts through the mid-west section of the lake. Beautiful.

We also took a hike into the mountains, in search of a Taoist compound. The great thing about these old trails...the ancient ones didn't believe in switchbacks...it was steep staircase all the way to the top. Near the top, secluded among the trees, we found the Taoist compound. There were a lot of locals (maybe believers) relaxing and enjoying the view of the lake below. Dozens of caged birds hung in the trees throughout the compound.

Having visited a Taoist compound, we've now visited what we'd consider the three major Eastern religions in China: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Once again, we were surprised by the external similarities between Taoism and the others. Take away the yin-yang symbols, and replace the giant golden statues with giant golden Buddhas, and we--with our very limited insight into these religions--might be hard pressed to tell them apart just by looking at a temple. Lots of incense and statues. Obviously, the doctrines and philosophy of "the way" are unique, and are fascinating.

Crouching Hyrum, Hidden Nicole

A friend from Shanghai (James) told Hyrum about Anji, a county in a neighboring province that's known for China's largest sea of bamboo, covering the mountains. It sees very few westerners. (Sssh, let's keep it a secret.) Despite the adventure getting there--we don't speak Mandarin, and there's no direct route from Shanghai->Anji, but we made it, thanks to the kindness of strangers--and despite the bajillion degree weather--the province is known for being among the hottest in China--Anji is our new favorite place in China.

First, there are mountains. Shanghai is famously flat. Anji is situated among smooth rolling mountains, covered in bamboo. Second, there is bamboo. LOTS of bamboo. The neat thing about a bamboo forest (at least the bamboo forests here), is that there are no brambles or thickets. Bamboo is the only thing growing in the forest, so you can walk for miles in any direction without a trail.

The bamboo forest we visited is the sight where many famous Chinese movies were filmed...most famous is "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"...the fighting scene atop bamboo trees. Our kung-fu isn't good enough to dance atop trees yet, but we can climb them!

The journey to the top of the mountain was also delightful. Despite our resolute refusals, the locals demanded that they carry us atop the mountain in bamboo thrones. It's their livelihood, so we decided to make a donation to the locals, and let them carry us to the top.

Coming down was even funner: a zip-line that went from one peak to another. They almost let Scottie go with Daddy...but wised up at the last minute. =( But it was a thrilling adventure for Mommy and Daddy to go...even better when you're above a sea of light green bamboo, a great view of the valley below.

We've found the Chinese people in Shanghai to be very nice and polite, and some, sophisticated. The people in Anji were delightful and simple, and among the kindest we've met in China.

What a great adventure for our family. As Bennett would say, "Epic."