The Great Retreat

Happy Chinese New Year! We went on a mini family retreat this past week. Two days in a hotel on the outskirts of Shanghai. The reason was two fold: one to get some R & R and two to get away from the fireworks. Fireworks are a big BIG deal here! You can buy July 4th size fireworks on the street! Fireworks happen year round here but even more over the week of Chinese New Year.

The above picture was taken twelve hours after the fireworks started! The embers of the huge fireworks were still burning! The eve of Chinese New Year the fireworks were pretty amazingly loud- like nothing I have never heard before. Like rolling thunder and guns being shot off at the same time from midnight until one in the morning. Thankfully my kids (and Joab) slept like babies through it.



Close to our hotel was the Yangtze Delta. This is where the river empties into the East China Sea. It was amazing to see all the huge ships going out to sea. This is how you get all the stuff you buy at Wal Mart.

Asa and Daddy by the sea.

At the park right by the river was a place you could rent bikes and ride. They had the perfect bikes for us! A place for the parents to bike and the kids to rest in the front. Miriam loved to point at which direction she wanted us to go.

In the hotel. Miriam later told us this moment was her favorite part of our whole time away! We are watching "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" on cable. The kids liked it but were plastered next to me during all the scary scenes. Somehow Miriam loved this! Next to us is the "golden duck" which Miriam picked out. It dances around and they lays eggs- very funny. It kept them entertained for hours!

Dinner- Pizza Hut delivered to the hotel! Tasted just like home! And Joab with some yummy room service.

We had a great time. We are home now and as I write this looking at all the firework displays outside my window. It is amazing to see them!