Today, Mr. Nie had his first car accident in the almost five years he has been driving for us. This is a very good record for the way Chinese drive. Mr. Nie is a very safe driver. Most companies do NOT allow their Western employees to drive – for a reason. Driving is a forward approach. Therefore, making a u-turn in the middle of the street with an oncoming car is common practice. The oncoming car will wait until the u-turning car is out of the way. Mr. Nie does this often as he would not allow us to cross the street. Always looking out for our safety, he u-turns to put us on the right side of the street. This is actually very nice and some of my friends have comment their driver drops them on the wrong side of the street all the time. Crossing the street is dangerous in Shanghai!

Mr Nie was pulling out onto a one-way busy street. He hit a man on a motocycle in the bike lane coming from the other direction. In typical China fashion, the police were called. Mr. Nie left his car in the spot of the accident. When the police arrived, there was much conversation before it was all decided. I had no idea.

When Jim got home, he told me the story he got from Mr. Nie. Mr. Nie had to pay the motorcycle man 100rmb ($15). The motorcycle was driving the wrong way in the bike lane, therefore, was at fault. The 100rmb was decided because the man had no money. My first reactions was REALLY! The important part of this story is traffic in the bike lane was going both directions the entire 40 minutes we sat there. I had no idea it was a “one-way” bike lane. This is a very large road with 8 lanes of traffic. The lanes are divided into four different sections with bush barriers in between. In addition, the middles lanes are divided by a large overpass. It would impossible for the motorcycle to be 8 lanes over in the “right” bike lane going with the traffic. I actually felt sorry for the motorcyle man as he has a broken bike with no means to fix it.

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Eleri’s teacher, Ms Shepard, has a “Papas and Popcorn” fun activity. Each month a Papa comes to the class to read a book to the children. He brings in two bags of popcorn for the children to enjoy while the Dad reads the story. The elementary school has three microwaves in the commons. Jim took his two bags of popcorn, cups for the popcorn, his book Eleri picked out, “When you take a Mouse to the Movies – Christmas Edition” and his silly hat – it is Wacky Day.

Elle’s Papa reading to the class

Elle’s Wacky Day Class

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When we first arrived in Shanghai four years ago, we discovered there was no pancake mix in the stores. Nancy gave Jim a simple recipe and he has been making pancakes from scratch ever since. This year, the breakfast chef has moved onto crepes. On this last trip back to America, Jim came back with a flat skillet and his push spoon to make rounder crepes.

Emmy eats her crepe with Nutella and powder sugar. Elle likes just powder sugar. Sure beats the expensive crepes sold at the Los Gatos farmers’ market on Sunday mornings.

Jim has now begun making homemade bread without a bread machine and yogurt. Again, yogurt is so expensive in the store. We sure are getting spoiled in this house!

Little Chef is Eleri. She loves to be in the kitchen helping. I am trying to bake more so the girls have homemade treats in their lunches. If I have an open Saturday morning, Eleri and I will bake cookies, cake or brownies. Eleri and I made homemade brownies on this day.

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Our friends, the Jenkins, were stopping over in San Francisco on their way back to Shanghai. We had arranged a dinner and theater night with them. Shrek, the Musical was playing and perfect for the kids. Of course, we don’t travel in small numbers. Our dinner and musical in the City consist of the Jenkin four, the Lyon four, Grandma & Grandpa, Terri & Andy, Mimi & Papa and Ray for a total of fifteen. We decided a pizza place would be best with this many people. Terri found us a new pizza place which was excellent. Of course, it was pouring rain on our night out, but we still had fun!

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On a rainy Monday afternoon, we drove to Napa Valley to enjoy a little wine tasting. Andy’s Dad, Ray, had not been to Napa so it was a nice treat for him. The girls and Jim stayed home – a nice treat for me to enjoy Napa without my lovely girls.

We visited a few new wineries for sampling. I picked up a some bottles to bring back to Shanghai as wine is very expensive in China. We pay big bucks to drink not so great wines!

Brenda, Terri, Ray, Grandma & Grandpa

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Every family has their own Martha Stewart – our is Aunt Nancy. Emersyn has made American Girl doll clothes with Aunt Nancy along with a pair of pants she wears to bed. Nancy came over to help Emmy get started with her Christmas present. They made a bag for Eleri to put her nurf bullets.

Mimi found this beautiful, antique sewing table for Emersyn. Papa did his magic touch of making it look new. Too bad we can’t take it with us to Shanghai.

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Dad and Emersyn against Terri and Andy – game on! Our house is perfect for this kind of fun. The front hall way and parlor circle around to the dinning room, then the family room and kitchen circle back around to the dinning room to form a nice figure 8. It is perfect for sneaking around corners.

Firing

Emersyn has become a very good hopper. However, I always have to be the Mom to tell her to slow down! I really don’t want to have to explain to the doctor she got hurt have a nerf gun fight in the house – I am sure I would get the bad Mom look!

Attacking

Grandpa joined in on “reload” duty for Emersyn.

Reloading

Elle was put on “find & retrieve” duty for Emersyn. She was gathering the bullets to give to Grandpa. As you are beginning to see, Terri and Andy were out numbered!

Retrieving

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Christmas morning is always the joy of the year for children. Emersyn woke up at 6:30am, but waited until 7am to wake up Eleri. She knew Eleri was tired.

My favorite part of the day is seeing the girls running (or this year hop) down the stairs to see what Santa delivered in the night.

The tree and stockings were waiting for a couple excited girls.

Our tradition is to start with the stockings. Tradition for the Lyon family is there is always an orange at the bottom. Santa ALWAYS brings new undies and socks as he must know they are needed. There were a few extras, of course. Both girls got a reading light you attached to a book. Emmy was more excited than Eleri since she reads in bed with a flashlight after Eleri is asleep. The girls found some books Santa left along with some new clothes. They found little speakers for their ipod in their stockings. Santa must of known I prefer they listen without the headphones to save on their hearing!

Santa was kind to the girls – they must have been good all year long. They both received new ipod nanos – a blue one for Emersyn and a red one for Eleri – their favorite colors. Eleri had wanted one for her music and Santa upgraded Emmy to the latest version since her nano was about four years old. Emersyn received the sewing machine she had on her wish list. Eleri found a “slightly used” battleship game under the tree from Santa.

The last gift open was the gifts from Grandma & Grandpa. Grandpa & Grandma had no idea what to get the girls. As we walked around Target, I thought maybe a nerf gun as Emmy enjoys playing nerf guns with Sean. I picked up a couple of small $7 guns. Grandpa said, “oh, no that will not do – it must be bigger”. He got them the $25 gun with refill nurf bullets. He also bought one for Jim & Andy. Four guns for double the fun!

Jim and Eleri enjoyed a game of Battleship after breakfast.

Emmy was reading one of her new books. I think she got three new books. I am sure she will be reading all three at the same time!

Christmas brunch is always at Nancy’s at 11am. The girls wore some of their new Christmas clothes to brunch. The days of wearing a Christmas dress are gone! We did a few quick photos as Christmas dinner was at our house tonight. We will be busy entertaining and the photos are forgotten – I need to work on that.

After brunch, we enjoyed a quiet late afternoon watching the American Girl movie that was left by Santa. It was a nice way to enjoy some downtime before the next meal. We were hosting Christmas Day dinner, also. The guest count would be 16, therefore, we would need to set up the dinning room table and the kitchen table. Dinner was a beautiful prime rib Mimi found at the butcher with all fixings. Good thing Jim is a good cook as he took care of it all. Terri, Andy and I get the dishes!

After dinner, we have our Christmas exchange. For many years, the Lyon family has done a Christmas exchange so everyone only buys one nice gift. Nicole had me this year and she got me the most lovely Swatch watch. It is red and beautiful! Jim got a “manbag” from Nancy on her trip to Italy. It is perfect for his ipad.

It was another wonderful Christmas spent with family!

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Christmas eve begins with church at 4pm. Andy, Ray and Eleri went to church with Kathy, Mimi and Papa. Mimi had arrange for a front row pew for the crew.

The church crew – Ray, Andy & Elle

We have new neighbors renting Joe and Lynn’s house since they moved to Australia for Joe’s job. He plays for the San Jose Sharks. They are Swedish with three children. They needed a Santa to deliver presents on Christmas Eve to keep with their Swedish tradition. Jim was perfect as they have not seen him around the neighborhood.

Elle was taking a bit of a nap after church before dinner.

We were preparing Christmas Eve dinner at our house for twelve. It is a good number as we can all fit in the dinning room. Our Chirstmas Eve guest were the Lyon 4, Grandma & Grandpa, Mimi & Papa, Terri & Andy, Ray and Kathy. We kept the menu simple with various appetizers, two different pastas, salad and an ice cream sunday bar.

After all the dinner guest had left, Elle put her sign, cookies and carrots out for Santa.

Eleri made a card for Santa. It reads,
to: S.C
from: Eleri Lyon

Dera S.C
I hope you like my home made cookies

Love: Eleri
Santa Claus

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Every year the girls go to Aunt Nancy’s to help with Christmas cookies. I do think “help” is the strong term. The term would be “to have fun” and “make a mess” at Aunt Nancy’s. They make about four different kinds of cookies – sugar cookies, peanut butter kisses, chocolate chip and my favorite, snicker doodles.