The Stucki's: October 2011

Halloween ... Oct 31, 2011

The kids went with the Super-hero theme (different from the Branch activity). Katie, Wonder Woman, Ashley Spider-girl, and Ryan Captain America. Heather was Kate Perry and I was Eminem recycled from a "musician" themed Halloween party earlier in the week that we attended. The Nichols and Gustafsons came over for an early dinner prior to heading out to our neighborhood for trick or treating. It is very nice to live in an expat compound where Trick or Treating is encouraged. In Budapest, obviously this option did not exist, so we only had the school "trunk or treat" as a venue for the kids. Shanghai has so many Americans that Halloween can be celebrated the traditional way.

Painting the Pumpkin ... Oct 30, 2011

Ryan really enjoyed this year's method of "carving" the pumpkins for Halloween.

Ryan's new method ... Oct 30, 2011

Branch Halloween Party ... Oct 29, 2011

Katie, the witch. Ashley, Spider-girl. Ryan, the Pirate. Sophie, the Giraffe.

UN Day at Dulwich ... Oct 24, 2011

At Ashley and Ryan's school they celebrated the diversity of the nationalities through a UN day festival. Ashley's Mulan choir sang and even Sophie joined in on the celebration.

The Bund (at night), Shanghai ... Oct 22, 2011

These cell phone pictures are not great, but this is after dinner with Don on the Bund with the colorful backdrop. Shanghai boasts vibrant colors throughout the city and most buildings are lit up, and usually with neon.

The Fabric Market, Shanghai ... Oct 22, 2011

One of Heather's favorite places in Shanghai is the fabric market, where they can make ANYTHING you ask for. I think she might visit this place a couple of times a week even and meets her friends there. It is the "Szamos" of Shanghai!

UN Day (the first one) ... Oct 21, 2011

Improvising ... Oct 20, 2011

We have access to basically anything in Shanghai (it always just depends on how much you want to pay for it), however, a rolling pin we could NOT find. Heather finally made some use of all of these Louisville Slugger Bat Museum bats that we have to make some cookies. (it certainly makes better use of this bat than Ryan did when he used it to beat the 52" TV)

Heather's Dad's Visit ... Oct 19, 2011

Heather's dad came to Shanghai for a week long visit. He visited Din Tai Fung (The BEST dumplings in the WORLD) and perhaps our favorite restaurant in Shanghai (especially taking into account that our kids LOVE it), the Oriental Pearl Tower (completed in 1994) and Yuyuan Gardens. It was great to have him for a bit.

Ryan's Sports Day ... Oct 19, 2011

Ashley's Sports Day ... Oct 17, 2011

Suzhou, China ... Oct 15, 2011

After Katie's soccer tournament, we visited the water town of Suzhou. This is a typical Chinese "water village", although people say that it has become too touristy and that others are better (I guess I have to find out which those might be). Suzhou is called the "Venice of the East' because of its many canals. We took a canal ride, hiked to the top of Tiger Hill and saw the "sword-testing rock", a rock supposedly cut cleanly by a legendary sharp sword (where this sword is, or which sword this was, no idea).

Quotes to Remember

We were in Munich and just checking into our Hotel and both the girls needed to go to the bathroom. We all ran upstairs to our rooms and they both bolted into the bathroom. They began to fight over which one was going to use the toilet first. They argue for a few seconds when Katie shouts, "Mom, which one of us do you want to pee their pants?!" (May, 2009)
We were driving home from church last week and I said something like, "We are going to buy a Toyota Sequoia". Suddenly from the back we hear our 4 year old, Ashley, pipe up ... "You killed my Father...Prepare to Die!"...somehow she confused "Toyota Sequoia" with "Inigo Montoya" from the Princess Bride! (May, 2009)
Ashley and I were playing a card game when she says to me, "pause the game, I have to go to the bathroom". This is when I realized the technology gap between my childhood and hers.
I asked Ashley what country she was born in (she was born in Canada). She told me that she couldn't remember, so I tried to give her a hint. I said, "you were born in Cannnn...". To which she immediately exclaimed in triumph..."CANDYLAND!!"
Katie woke us up this morning telling us we needed to get up. Heather told her that her head hurt and she wasn't going to get up yet. Katie responds, "But you don't WALK on your head, so get up!"