School Day Rule Day

Ellen and Zoe started school this past week. It's hard to believe they are going on their third year of international school here in Hong Kong. I have attached a picture of each of their schools below, with the first being Ellen's, West Island School. It's not the best picture, because it's taken so far away, but it is a very large school sitting on the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Zoe's school, Discovery College, here in Discovery Bay, is brand-new and the kids are really excited to finally be in this state-of-the-art facility they have been watching being built for the last year and a half. By the way, our church, Discovey Bay International Community Church, will be moving into the theatre area in Discovery College in November.

As part of Ellen's curriculum, she is required to take extra-curricular activities, choosing from categories such as creative, action and service. Ellen's "creative" choice is cooking class once again, as she took this last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Her choice for "service" is one near and dear to all our hearts, maybe Ellen's the most, and that is helping at an orphanage across the border in China near Guangzhou a few times per semester. I have attached the link to their website below. I'm hoping that maybe I can get in on these visits as well!

In November Ellen will be going to Thailand to work at a school in a needy community. This is also a service-oriented trip that the school has been making for at least a few years, building relationships with this school and community in Thailand. We are so glad that West Island places an emphasis on service, encouraging and giving opportunities for the students to know what it's like to give back.

http://www.truechildrenshome.org/children.htm

Good morning Hong Kong

I suppose one of the positive aspects of jet lag is that you are up to see the sun coming up, as we did our first morning back in Hong Kong when I snapped this picture that captured the pre-drawn colors. Thankfully after a few nights back we are not rising before the sun, however.
It's hard to believe we were gone nearly two months, it went by way too fast.

We had a fabulous time in America, having loads of fun with family and friends. We laughed a lot, ate a lot, shopped a lot, I got to drive a lot (yippee) and just all around enjoyed being together. Below are a few pictures that evidence our crazy and wonderful family!!

My three neices, Amy and Lisa and Lisa's daugther Jordan, who is my "great" neice, and that she is!
Cooling off in Lake Michigan with cousins Jessica and Chloe
My sistas!
When Brad's dad catches animals in his trap he drives them to a remote location and lets them go. When my dad catches animals in his trap, he . . . I think the word he actually uses is "dispatches" them.
Our good friends that live in Denver, the Landers, who we met in the newlywed class at the church we attended after we married and moved to Denver way back in 1987 - yikes, how time flies. They also grew up in Michigan and also went to U of M, as did Brad. GO BLUE!!

Ellen and Zoe on Uncle Jeff and Aunt Anne's front porch in K-zoo, Michigan.
Unc Tim and Zoe - Ellen and Zoe have been blessed with some of the best uncles ever!
Zoe, Jordy and Ellen enjoying the fruits of their labor - smores - yummo!
Aunt Tish in Aunt Nancy's garden, doing her best to look angelic - didn't last long, though, as she couldn't resist causing trouble. . .
The tables were soon turned as Doug (her hubby) managed to take the hose and go after her!

On our way back to Hong Kong we had a 24-hour layover in Los Angeles where our friends Karen, Doug and their new baby, Becky, so graciously put us up overnight and took us to a fun day at Disney's California Adventure! This is Ellen, Brad and Karen (in the row in front of Brad and Ellen) on the California Screaming roller coaster. Zoe and I volunteered to watch Becky and snap pictures.
Ellen, Zoe, Becky and Karen are standing in front of the "I"
Ellen and Zoe spent many fun hours with papa and grandma in the pool.
Papa and grandma had fun with Ellen and Zoe too, when they weren't being pushed to the corner of the pool and having heavy wet balls thrown at them. Poor papa and grandma. . .