We're Here!

We've made it! -- At least the in the physical sense.  

This is what moving 3 months of stuff with 2 toddlers looks like 

This is the size vehicle required to do so

Indi is now in Helaina's car seat and she is
thrilled about seeing the world

Helaina now sits in her new more portable, US approved
car seat and feels like a big girl.

The girls did exceptional on the big travel day.  Helaina watched half of her 1st movie ever, Cars.  Indi watched her first tv show ever (sesame street) and played 1 game on the ipad.  They were quite entertained just by being on the airplane.  Getting them to sleep when they were exhausted was not easy but they eventually got there for a bit.
 

I don't speak Chinese but I could bet these nice Shanghinese folks helping us
probably threw out a "Are you kidding me?" in their native tongue

The girls have been very pliable to time changes (meaning we have now started sleeping in until 5:15AM) as well as the busyness of moving and organizing.  They are loving our new place and so are we.  That helps tremendously since we have been indoors a lot since we have been here.  It is hot here.  And I don't mean oh it's very hot.  I grew up in Florida where we know hot but not like this:

That is right.  FEELS LIKE 123!!!  Ugh is right! 

This is what H looks like in this weather -
By the way this is at 9:30 AM.

 One of their favorite activities in our place have been running in circles.  Seriously.  Our place is arranged with a hall going all the way around so they literally chase each other around the halls.  They also can't get enough of the kitchen set we had set up before they got here!  It goes nicely in their playroom which I can't wait to get totally set up.  The past year's smaller space we were in made me grateful to be able to have such a room for them.

They also enjoy staring out the window.  (wow I sound like a great parent).  But seriously, I like to join them in this game too.  

I can't wait for the heat to break so we can actually enjoy this park

And the other activity they have now come to enjoy is having a dance party in their window.  Watch the comments - these are our daughters.  

Why yes that does look like the running man

While the girls have successfully found ways to be entertained, Chris and I have done the same.  And by entertain, I mean trying to get the basics down to function in a foreign country and keeping a bit of humor while doing so.  

These are the instructions to our washer.  Help please

There appear to be some quirks with our apartment which I understand are not at all uncommon in China in general.  We can not plug in the washer and the dryer at the same time as there is only one plug.  We also can not run our oven at the same time as the microwave.  Our landlord actually had the oven put in special for us as it's uncommon to have more than a toaster oven here.  So I guess I'm grateful that I can have an oven at all.  I hope I don't forget and blow a circuit. 

Speaking of quirks, Chris and I had to open two separate bank accounts as their are no joint accounts.  I hope I figure out how to transfer or mama needs to get a job.   I now have a Chinese cell phone.  It works like a prepaid phone and to get more money on it, I need to go to any convenience store to add money to my account.  We also get text solicitations on our cell phones but I obviously have no idea what they say.  Our home phone is fun to answer when telemarketers call.  "No Chinese, only English" -- followed promptly by a few more words I don't understand and then a click and dial tone.  Luckily we have only had a few of these.  

I think some of the driving shock wore off the last time two times we were here.  Chris and I did get a giggle when the driver of our car sped right past a cop with it's lights on - along with a bunch of other cars.  

I had my first solo outing yesterday and thankfully all went well.  I went all the way to IKEA by taxi, made some purchases and made it home safely.  Some preparation and lots of prayer worked wonders.

We are certainly not in California, Hawaii, Florida or anywhere else I have ever lived before anymore Dorothy.  However, we have so far enjoyed the ride and we are looking forward to our "new life"

Right now we need to get back after it and in the words of Helaina today "I think we need to learn some more Chinese words mommy"  So wise for 3 and a half.