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Permalink Leaving Shanghai early has one advantage…we didn’t fly on my birthday. Jim’s sister, Nancy, had a lovely dinner for me at her house. Martha Stuart has nothing on Aunt Nancy. She always makes the best meals!! I have no photos of the event because all my pictures were very blurry.
Mimi and Papa were taking the girls to Peter Pan in San Francisco on June 19, therefore, Terri, Andy and I decided to go on the weekend for my birthday. We enjoyed a lovely dinner in the City at a new place Andy’s cousin Dave introduced to them. We enjoyed a drink on the roof overlooking the City before dinner.
Peter Pan in San Francisco is performed by The threesixty° Theater. The show is performed “in the round†in a 1350 seat theater-tent, which stood in Ferry Park on the Embarcadero opposite The Ferry Building. San Francisco was the world premiere location of this production after a successful summer in London’s Kensington Gardens last summer.
The production was set up with various tents to create a magical feel with lights and walkways. There was not a bad seat in the tent with the production in the round. It was a beautiful night in San Francisco to enjoy Peter Pan.
The girls went to Peter Pan a week later for an afternoon performance. Aunt Nancy joined them for a fun day in the City. They enjoyed gourmet hamburgers at Gotts in the Ferry Building before the performance. Aunt Nancy bought Emersyn Peter Pan buttons and Elle picked out fairy dust and a special compass. The girls came home with the perfect t-shirts from Mimi.
Elle’s t-shirt was a summer statement. She came home with the bright pink Tinker Bell t-shirt, “It’s all about ME”. We joked all summer about the “all about me” t-shirt.
 Eleri’s “It’s all about me” shirt
 Emersyn’s t-shirt”
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Permalink The beginning of June is always busy with the end of school and packing the bags for the summer. I always think how it would be nice to just have the end of school year craziness without adding the packing. You would think after 8 years of this, I would be a better packer!!
Since the girls and I are leaving before school was out, I had to follow-up on all the details. Emersyn will be a middle school student and Elle is moving schools. After many long discussions, we decided to move Elle to Concordia for first grade. We left June 6 with Emmy’s school finishing June 10. Elle’s school finishes late June which is one of the main reason to move her as she misses so much school.
United Airlines has changed the planes and policy for upgrades with miles. We may never see business class again! However, the Christmas gift of iTouches make all the difference. As we were landing in San Francisco, Elle asked if Mimi was bring balloons. What? She remembered one time when Mimi and Grandma came with balloons to the airport – she remembers the funniest things. I told her no I don’t think anyone is bringing balloons. Mimi did bring them some flowers…whew, that gave her a big smile.
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Permalink It is Eleri’s last day at Dulwich British International School. She has had three fun years at DUCKS, the name for the younger years campus. However, it is time to get the girls in the same school and the same schedules.
Good-bye to the little red school building.
Good-bye to her little red school bus and her British formal uniform (for special days at this age).
Good-bye to the library and her classroom.
Good-bye to Ms Horsey.
The class was created a “paper” jungle in the hallway outside the classroom. School continues at DUCKS until June 25. As with all schools, somethings are done better at Dulwich and other things are done better at Concordia. Dulwich does a great job with themes and decorating the common areas in that theme, making it big fun for the kids. Last year, they had the fun rockets in the common area space for Reception.
Elle was a member of the Wing House this year. This was the first year and it took me all year to realize which house she belonged. Her sports uniform (above with Ms Horsey) was blue for the Wing House. This is a very British school thing as the students are divided into 4 different houses (check your Harry Potter). The houses earn points for various activities. At this age, the houses earn points, but no value is put on it.
I made cupcakes to share with Eleri’s classmates on the last day. She has 20 children in her class, mostly boys. All the girls, except for Eleri’s best friend Lili, are returning home at the end of the school year. This is the expat life-cycle of friends.
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Permalink Today is Eleri’s performance day at school (Year 1 and 2 combined). While there are no special costumes, the kids need to where their “best dress” uniform. We have not used it much over the year, so I guess this is a way to have all the parents feel good about paying for it. This is also Eleri’s last performance at Dulwich, as she will be changing schools next year.
The morning starts out with getting ready. I feel like my dad tying a tie – I have never been able to do it backwards, thus the mirror.
 Looking Sharp!
On the bus ready to go…when Eleri started at Dulwich, you could barely see the top of her head in the window – amazing what three years does!
Unfortunately, Eleri was on the far side of the stage for her class’ performance. No really good pictures. Each class did a song that tied to the overall theme, so there was lots of shuffling. After her class performed, they had to sit at the foot of the stage, where they could not see the show. It was amazing to see how well the kids sat quietly while staring at the stage. Tomorrow is the last day of school for Eleri prior to her summer vacation.
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Permalink For Emersyn’s birthday, I took in the family chocolate cake. I usually take in cupcakes, but cupcakes take longer and I am a little “baked-out” of making the chocolate cake. I made a cake for Elle’s party on May 15. I made three cakes for Emmy’s party on May 29 (an extra due to one flopped). And, I am making cupcake one more time for Elle’s last day at Dulwich…whew, I think I get a good Mom award!!
Emersyn wore Mr. Gerlach’s birthday hat…only for my photo!
Emmy has a few strange kids in her class…three of her classmates do not like chocolate! However, Colin, tried my chocolate cake and loved it. He commented he should have had a piece at the party!
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Permalink After a late night, everyone slept-in. The three girls enjoyed movies in our bedroom during our deck party. Elle fell asleep, but the Emmy and Mimi stayed up past midnight. We had slow Sunday of the girls playing while Jim and I picked up from the party.
It was another beautiful day in Shanghai. We sat on the deck to enjoy hamburgers and the view.
Emersyn wished Mimi could stay longer, but she and her family needed to get back to Hong Kong for a busy Monday.
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Permalink 
The invitation says it all – a Party, Just Because. It is a fun party to enjoy with friends before everyone leaves for the summer. We had a beautiful night after a raining, cold day on Friday.
Everyone brings an appetizer so we have a table full of amazing food to enjoy all night. The last guests left late, but we enjoyed the time to visit with everyone.
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Permalink 
Emersyn is turning double digits! She hasn’t had a big party since we moved to Shanghai, therefore, the big 10 was a good time to celebrate. She invited her class plus Kelly to a laser tag birthday party – 18 kids in total.
 Double Digit Girl
Emersyn got an extra special surprise when Mimi came from Hong Kong to celebrate her birthday.
 Mimi, Emmy & Elle posing for laser tag or Bond Girls
The laser tag is at Planet Laser on the 4th floor of the Hangkou Football Stadium with a nice view of the football/soccer stadium. Laser Tag is paid by the person. The package comes with twelve people. We purchased an extra five people to cover the party – additional 55rmb ($8) per person. The total cost for the Laser Tag was 4, 060rmb ($600) Emersyn hasn’t had an expensive party since we left Hong Kong.
The fun began at 10am. As the kids began to arrive, they were all having fun chasing each other – and they were loud. It was good to suit them up in the gear to run in the play arena. The party included 4 games with a 10-minute break in between for drinks and a snack. Each games is for 12 minutes. In total, we had 18 players including Elle. Since they had a smaller vest, she able to play. We weren’t sure if she would enjoy it as the play arena is dark and some of the 10-year old kids are big. She loved it and played all four games. She became the red team’s secret weapon. She would sneak up on the other team and shoot them. In addition, she was a hard target because she was so low.
 Red Team – Emmy, Kelly, Avery, Elle, Karis, Mimi, Colin, Jake & Sean
 Green Team – Justin, Yijin, Kean, Ruth, Helen, Xenia, Annabel, Ginny & Felix
 The birthday girl
 The secret weapon
Jim and Emmy decided we needed two cakes for the birthday so everyone could have a big piece. I began Friday morning baking. I have made this cake for every birthday for the past 8 years. I have never had anything but a perfect cake…until this day. My second cake flopped. I took it out too early as I was concerned about it burning. The ovens get very hot and by the time the second cake went in, the oven had been on for a couple hours. I made a third!! Emersyn came home from school to decorate her two cakes.
 The Birthday Wish
It was a fun celebration as Emmy begins life in the double digits. After the party, we went to lunch out with Mimi. Mimi was spending the weekend with us, an extra special birthday bonus!
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Permalink Saturday is party day for the Lyon family. We start with Emersyn’s birthday party from 10-12am. After a loud, fun kid party, we are having an adult evening deck party. We have this fabulous deck with a view! I have spent the last week de-cluttering our house. I think Jim will insist on a deck party every year – so, he can enjoy a clutter free house all summer. The clutter makers will be gone!
I went to the Hongqiao flower market to get flowers for the party. These cost me all of 130rmb/$20. Amazing!!
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Permalink Eleri’s field trip to the Pudong Beach…I didn’t know there was a beach in Pudong. The trip is part of the studies for Humanities Unit on seaside holidays and habitats. I love going on field trips with my girls. Today’s trip was from 10-12, therefore, I decided to squeeze a haircut/highlight in at 1pm. I have the ever wonderful Mr. Nie to help me – he will pick Elle up after school and bring her to the hair salon in Jinqiao so I don’t have to rush home to meet the bus.
 The beach
Eleri had fun playing in the sand with all her classmates. They were all building a water-way system together.
 Lili, Elle’s best friend
Dulwich has a “no hat – no play” rule. I love this rule as it is enforced for all outside play. Eleri is under that hat somewhere!
Eleri had a fun day playing at the beach with her class. I did leave early with a classmate’s Mom that had her driver since the kids did not leave the beach until 1pm! I left Eleri with her best friend, Lili – I don’t think she even noticed.
Average Rating: 4.9 out of 5 based on 286 user reviews.
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