Michigan

Alright,  I'm finally catching up.

As we left Minnesota, we had several days left in our apartment without our stuff.  And this is how we entertained Ira.  Family Dance parties are the best!

We had a about a week to unpack before the August craziness started.  I think we had boxes gone and pictures hung in a record day and a half.  Exhausting, but not as exhausting as living out of boxes.  I rather just get it over with quickly.  After the unpacking Anthony was off to New York for a training.  We were then able to see each other for about 24 hours before I was off to Hawaii and he was off to China.  It was about 5 weeks apart all together, and we NEVER want to do that again.  I made it back from Utah before Ant, and found flowers at the door, and this cool tape art waiting for me!  Ira kept running up to it to say "Das!"  Ira lingo for 'dad.'

Michigan has been treating us pretty well.  Anthony already has a calling: Elder's quorum teacher...which must be inspired since that calling has followed him 3 out of 4 of our last moves.  I don't have a calling yet, but was asked to share my testimony of missionary work in Primary the week that the 2nd councilor from the General Primary presidency (Sister Esplin) was visiting.  I know, crazy.   

 We went berry picking on Labor Day and are plowing through my first batch of jam ever.  Ant just suggested we go back before the winter comes.

GE had a family day at the zoo, which Ira was really excited about.  He loved the fake animals almost as much as the real ones.  

We've also made it to Ann Arbor a couple of times, including for my birthday.  We ate at possibly the coolest deli ever.  Zingerman's, we'll take you there if you come visit us!  Not that that's a bribe or anything. 

So, I'm starting to feel pretty pregnant.  I stepped on the scale this morning and found my weight 5 lbs more than yesterday morning.  Is that even possible?  Normal clothes are starting to look a little weird on me, so I'm easing myself into my maternity wardrobe, and tomorrow is my first appointment with my midwife.  I hope  she's amazing in every way, since we all know how picky I am with things like this.  

Ant's job seems to be going pretty well.  It's keeping him busy, and there's a cool lake for him to walk around when he needs a brain break.  He bike's to work almost every day.

That's about all that's going on right now.  I'm still playing the ukulele, and Ant just made an awesome batch of neufchatel, which everyone loves including Ira.  Speaking of which we need an Ira update:

He is trying all sorts of new foods!  I'm loving it!  Fresh tomato, lentil enchilada, pureed cauliflower, you name it.  We'll see how long we can get that to last!  He's slowly recovering from the potty set back of August travel, but pooped on the potty yesterday!  I know, so graphic.  But I was really excited!  Ah motherhood.  Anyway, he's been learning a new word here and there, and especially likes to count to three...not including one.  Actually it goes something like "two three two."  He's learning the difference between "choo choo" and "beep beep," and other important life lessons, like how to do summer-sults (video pending.)  

So, that's our life.  We're looking forward to conference this weekend!  Alright, love you guys.

Sharon

Shanghai Adventures

Life is finally starting to settle back down after our move to Michigan and our end of summer adventures. While Sharon was basking on the sunny beaches of Hawaii and enjoying being with the family and friends, I was hard at work in Shanghai...kind of. I was in a three week training for work, which besides teaching some practical work skills also gave us a great cultural experience. We were in classes 8-5, Monday -Friday, but had the evenings and weekends to get out and explore Shanghai and the surrounding areas. I ended up spending all my time in Shanghai and learned about pearls, bartered and bought, acquired some nice tailor made clothes, ate some interesting food, and enjoyed strolling along 'The Bund' (the river front). I've included some of the pictures from getting out.

 We had a subway not far from the hotel we were in so I got out a lot. I was surprised at how easy it was to navigate. It was also pretty clean and safe.

 I could never figure out why they had these 'Look Out' signs on ceiling that were not really that low.

 I loved running into these kids playing a pokemon type of game in the stairwell of the subway. I had never seen little boys so into a card game, they were yelling and jumping around, I think mimicking the actions of the characters they were playing.

 The TV tower.

 On Sundays in the People's Square parents gather with little ads for their single children (the pieces of paper you see hanging behind them) Then walk around and try to workout dating and/or marriage arrangements for their busy children.

 A presentation given to us on the many diverse cultures and races in China and their diverse clothing, language, and rituals.

 The Jade Buddha Temple.

Giant Replica of the reclining Buddha (One of the two Jade Buddha statues here)

The Goldfish were very beautiful. I know Ira would have loved seeing them.

Shanghai

 Downtown lights up at night, until about 11:00 or 12:00 then they start shutting all the lights off.

The old colonial building line one side of the river, this is what they call the Bund.

The newer development line the other side of the river. 

 Shanghai has been growing incredibly fast. Many of the skyscrapers and buildings are beautiful, modern looking buildings finished in the last 10-15 years.

 I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the traditional against the modern China.

 The following pictures are from the Yu Garden.

 This was a bustling tourist location in the day time. I went out a few times in the evening just as the shops were closing and got to see it practically empty with all the lights on. It was pretty cool.

 I liked the artful rock architecture.

 I like the round doors. I don't know if it is just that it reminds me of hobbits and Lord of The Rings or just the concept being so opposite our square doors.

 In many respects you don't get the feeling that his is a communist country. You see many many signs of capitalism including familiar franchise names.

 Water Village Photos

We went just outside Shanghai one day to a 'Water Village'. I guess they call it the 'Venice' of China. We got rides in these boats then shopped along the canal. It was authentic enough, but as I left and walked out onto the street I got the feeling the experience was more commercialized and tourist focused than I cared to admit while experiencing it. That became a theme on several of the planned 'tour' destinations. Really gave me a new appreciation for the 'Exit through the Gift Shop' mentality that tourist destinations have; a silk mill full of old equipment and few workers that didn't appear like it really produced anything, at least there was no way it produced the goods found in the immaculate shop as we came out the other end. The pearl and tea shops we stopped at were similar experiences.

Busy in the Beehive State

After Hawaii, I spent a couple weeks in Utah with the Quinns and was able to visit some of my favorite people.

 Ira and I met Rebecca (Erekson) Hansen in Provo for Thai.  

She's amazing as usual, a newlywed and finishing up law-school.

 Second cousins born a week apart.  They had a blast...probably because they were both up past bed time.

 Diane, Jonny and Dorothy!

 Uncle Robert

 Mary and Barney :)

I'm just a couple months along, but Mary was about to deliver.  Her new baby girl shares my b-day!

Don and Joan Wallace!  Ira didn't want to leave their place.

 The Proulxs: So good to catch up. We had a little Marietta reunion with scrapple and woopie pies. 

 Ira disco skinny dipping in the mountains.

 Ira wanted to do every thing his cousin Truman did.  

 Hehe.

 Mackay and the boys hanging out in the hammock. 

 We hiked Bald Mountain, which is only 2 miles, but gains about 1250 ft.  I thought I'd have permanent indents in my shoulders from the old backpack I used to haul Ira up and back.

 I think Ira has the music bug.  He not only loves the ukulele and the piano but was completely mesmerized by Dallin's trumpet playing. 

 Camping in the Uintas was really fun.  It made me want to camp more since Ira seemed to be in heaven and slept decently. 

 I love the head-wear, especially the pink pants on Jean's head to keep mosquitoes off. 

 Yum! 

 This is out of focus, but it kind of captures the moment.  Ira could not stop kissing his little cousins!  Hopefully he'll like baby's just as much in 6-ish months.

This would be a fun Ellsworth Family reunion activity.  We stayed up ridiculously late doing double.  

 exposures.  

Utah was happy, way more fun then hanging out in our new apartment all by myself + Ira for a month.  I think Ira went through withdrawals when we left, of course until Anthony got home from China. :)  We'll be back soon for Thanksgiving!