Winter time in China

Well it is winter for sure here in China, I am walking around town, and mostly driving around town in my heated vehicle seeing all the different types of jackets China has to offer from parkas to petticoats you see them all here!  Some of the windows of the shops downtown have beautiful coats on display, they are in so many colors, I can only imagine if i had to dress up for work in a climate like this I would have a coat in every color instead of flip flops in every color as I do from living in AZ all my life.  There are coats that only go to the elbow, I find these strange here because they require the individual wearing the coat to cover up the rest of their arm, you have heard of leg warmers, well i have seem arm warmers here!  They go from the elbow to the wrist and are in all sorts of strangely fashionable patterns....lol  Also, when riding a scooter it is now imperative to either wear your jacket backwards so that it helps cover you from the wind in front of you and on your arms, or you have a large cover on your scooter for the front of you, then the previously seen oven mitts for your hands to stay warm!  Winter is entertaining.  How I do miss it being cold and having snow, living in Flagstaff for 4 years I have come to expect that cold-snow and in China that ins't the case.....cold=freezing here with no snow!

A story I forgot to tell last week.....while Blake was sick, he had been vomiting (no fever) and still eating after each time he vomited because he was hungry ( he has Schumer blood in him).  So Brian took him to the doctor while I stayed home with Grace to keep them separated (thank goodness she didn't get it after him!). Brian was sure to pack a towel to clean up the car if Blake vomited, and spare clothes and wipes, little did he know he packed spare clothes for the wrong person! On the way to the dr. about 45 minute car ride to the next city Blake was fine in the car, watching shows on the iPad and hanging in there, they get to the doctors office and Brian was filling out paperwork, Blake was talking to our Driver next to him.  Blake decided he wanted to come sit on dad's lap and then there you have it, he vomited again, this time all over Brian, barely a drop on Blake.  So mind you, its still very cold outside, Brian has on jeans, a shirt and jacket, all of which are covered for the most part in vomit in the middle of the waiting room!  Brian goes to the restroom to clean up and ends up deciding its not worth it trying to clean everything and sits back down in the waiting room in only his jacket and boxers (as he is telling me this I am dying laughing)!  He said there was an Italian woman and her older daughter trying to talk to them and calm Blake a bit, and some Chinese families, I can only imagine what was going through their heads when they saw him!  And they tell me my son has too little clothes on in this weather, ha! I would have been mortified if I was sitting there and Brian was next to me in a jacket and boxers!  Instead I get to hear the story and laugh about it at home. Blake has a knack for throwing up on Brian, he did it on the 1.5 hour taxi ride we took to the zoo in Shanghai, nothing on me, Blake had a spare shirt, and on Brian.....then on the last trip to Shanghai Blake vomited in the car on Brian from the train station to the hotel......luckily that time we were going to the hotel where he could shower and change.  The life of a dad :)

Along with winter also comes the New Year!  Happy 2015....well not yet in China, the Chinese calendar is 13 months so this year they actually celebrate the New Year on February 19th!  This is also known as Spring Festival and lasts for more than just one day.  It is a time for families to be together.  It is typically when they would receive their yearly bonus at work and gifts are given to one another.  2015 is the year of the Goat.  In all the stores you see red everything from signs, to stuffed animals and more!  Our kids are the year of the Dragon and the Horse which i hear is very good, hopefully that means we don't have any trouble makers on our hands! This time of year is also known for lots of travelers, since China has so many people you can image what the planes, trains and automobiles will be busy doing this time of year!  We planned our trip home before and after the holiday to avoid delayed flights and hectic roads and airports.  Back in the US its business as usual, Valentine's Day and President's Day will be on the calendar when we arrive, and might I also mention my brother Jayme's 30th Birthday!!!

This website had interesting information if you want to learn more: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/special-report/chinese-new-year/

At my grocery store there were a lot of interesting things this week with all the packages in red boxes of wine, chocolate, imported items to give as gifts.  I did find this oddly packaged "fish" that I had to share.  Let me know if you want me to bring one back with me for you!

Another great thing about the winter in China is the strawberries!  They have green houses so they are able to grow them in the winter.  If you remember me talking about the delicious strawberries we had in the summer, they are fragrant and taste delicious!  I even made strawberry cobbler out of some yesterday!

Since my post was pretty negative last week I thought i would share some of the things we do like.  Did I mention I have an Ayi that cleans my house and does laundry for me too?  Grateful for her!!!  :)