Emersyn has moved up the ranking ladder to #5. She won against Jackie 8-0. Coach Muir was surprised as Jackie is a Senior. Emersyn is the only Freshman on the girls varsity team. The other girls are Juniors and Seniors. Nicole, a Senior, has taken Emerysn “under her wings”. Nicole is a very sweet girl.

Emersyn’s tennis match was at Concordia against SAS Pudong. Emersyn played doubles with Bridgett. Bridgett is a Senior, but she has hurt her shoulder. Bridgett is struggling to get her serve in. Since Emersyn and Bridgett have not played together, they lost the first 3 games, but came back to win 8-3…once they found their grove.

Actions shots of our girl…

Emersyn is having fun with tennis. The team practices every night after school, but Wednesday. The following week, Emersyn challenge Natalie and won. She is currently at #4 in the ranking ladder…looking for a spot on the APAC tennis team to Japan. Go Emersyn!!

Average Rating: 5 out of 5 based on 201 user reviews.

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Eleri wanted her party at the Big E. The Big E is located 3 blocks from us with a cut through the alley. At the Big E, there is a room for KTV, laser tag and glow in the dark miniature golf. We picked this Sunday as there were no other groups booked until noon.

The kids began playing games in the open room until most of the guest arrived.

The first round of laser tag began at 10:10.

Sara, Ellie, Anna, Eleri, Lulu, Lisa, Selena & Paige

Most of the girls have been to the Big E for parties in the past. They made a “plan” for their attack.

Sara, Ellie, Anna & Eleri

Eleri having fun in the maze of laser tag.

The final two guest arrive to begin round two of laser tag. Lili, Eleri’s BBF, is always late!

Paige, Selena, Eleri, Lili, Lisa, Stephanie, Lulu, Ellie, Sara & Anna

Attack plans are an important aspect of the game!

Lisa, Selena, Paige, Eleri & Lili

Lulu, Stephanie, Ellie, Sara & Anna

The girls were ready for the next round of laser tag.

Lili, Lisa, Paige, Eleri, Selena, Lulu, Anna, Ellie & Sara

For this round, Eleri’s team mates were ready to find their opponents. The other group had gone in and were setting up their base.

Lili, Lisa, Eleri, Selena & Paige

Our Birthday Girl

Lili

Paige & Eleri protecting base

Eleri on surprise attack

The girls did 6 rounds of laser tags. They started to play miniature golf, but decided the laser tag was more fun. They played from 10:00-12:00. At 12:00, when the other groups arrived, they came in the room for KTV and pizza.

Eleri & Anna singing

Then, it was cupcake time. Jim had a hard time lighting the candles with the aircon unit blowing on them. Finally lit, Eleri was ready to blow.

Lili has been to EVERY birthday party of Eleri’s beginning at age 4…a BFF!

We had to give up our room at 1pm. Since the girls played so many round of laser tag, we had no time to open the presents. Eleri opened her gifts back at the house. Ellie gave her legos so she was busy putting those together.

From us, she received her “Eleri” of Shanghai.

Another fun Party! This one was an easy party – we just needed cupcakes and cash! Emersyn was not at the party as she was Ball Girl for a tennis match.

Birthday Recap:

Eleri’s Pool- Pajama Birthday Party

Eleri’s Pajama Birthday Party

Eleri’s Garden Soiree Birthday Party

Gardens, Butterflies and Eleri’s Birthday Party

Eleri’s Sand and Sun Birthday Party

Eleri’s ABC Birthday Party

Eleri is Three

Elle Turns 2!

Average Rating: 5 out of 5 based on 232 user reviews.

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Try outs for tennis were the first day of school. Emersyn made the varsity team which included seven girls. The coaches put them in a “ranking” ladder. To move up the ladder, they must challenge the girl ahead of them. Emersyn was ranked #6. The top five girls will go to APAC, Asia Pacific Activity Conference, in Japan.

Photos of our tennis player before leaving the house. She looks so cute in her Concordia tennis uniform.

Emersyn had her first tennis match at Concordia against SAS Puxi. The boys played on the courts at Concordia. The girls played on the courts at Green Villas. The courts at Green Villas are grass turf with sand. Emersyn was playing doubles with Angelina. They lost, but they were able to get some good court experience. The SAS Puxi girls all have good serves. Serves are the one thing the Concordia girls need to work on.

A few action shots of Emersyn.

It was a fun afternoon watching tennis. After the girls finished at Green Villas, we went back to Concordia to watch the boys compete. Emersyn played another round of doubles with Nicole. It was more of a practice match as the SAS Puxi’s bus wasn’t arriving until 2:30pm. Nicole and Emersyn only played to 6 games when it was time for SAS to leave.

After the matches, the team went to Coach Nelsen’s house for a team party. I sent cupcakes with Emersyn which she reported was a big hit.

Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 based on 263 user reviews.

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Middle school lockers are a BIG deal – a locker to call your own. In Elementary School, the students have an open cubby. Having the advantage of an older sister, Eleri knew to buy locker decorations over the summer. Living in China, there is no run to Target!

We hit Office Depot this summer…we were in there for TWO hours! Eleri found this fun lamp that sticks to the door. She knew just what she wanted…the hooks, the pencil holder and magnets to hold photos.

Eleri wanted a stand to give her more space in her locker. She is keeping her locker organized and clean..so not Eleri!

Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 196 user reviews.

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First day of school this year is with anticipation. Both girls have moved to new buildings to begin Middle School and High School.

With jet lag, everyone is up early with plenty of time to get ready for school. It makes the early mornings easy. The bus is leaving at 7:10am this year. The bus stop is no longer outside our building. The girls need to walk to the side gate as all busses no longer pull into Yanlord. It is fine, just a bit more of an inconvenience with it is raining. The busses moved to this location last April.

Emersyn has moved to the HS building to start her freshman year. She is a bit nervous about starting high school. The high school building has six floors, therefore, the students need to hike up and down the stairs all day to their classes. Her bum should be in good shape by the end of the year!

Emersyn is happy with her teachers this year. She already has a favorite, the Farleys. The husband and wife team teach Humanities and Language Arts (LA). She is taking drama instead of band this year. The drama instruction asked her to be a part of his program. She will write a play in this class and it will be performed on the stage.

Eleri has moved to the MS building for 5th grade. Eleri is just excited to be in middle school. As a middle schooler, she has new freedom this year. She will eat at the PC Commons which means she can pick from three different food stations. She has the golden ticket, the tan pants…freedom to roam the school without a parent. This means a run to the PC Cafe on the second floor before getting on the bus. She will need more money on her lunch card this year!

Eleri has two teachers that will co-teach for the year. This is the first year to have co-teachers in the 5th grade. I am pleased with the change. She has Ms Carroll for her home room. Ms Carroll will teach math and science. Ms Carroll is very nice, but has high expectations. Mr. Chaveriat (Mr. C) is her LA and religion teacher. He is relaxed and fun with the kids – a good balance.

Eleri’s first day photo was a bit blurry, so we did a second day photo, too!

The girls ready for another fun year at Concordia!

Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 224 user reviews.

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June 14-24 2014: Emersyn and I participated in the annual Concordia Marine Ecology Program dive trip to Koh PhiPhi, Thailand. This was the second year at Koh PhiPhi were we are surveying a designated section of reef to document changes in coral, fish and invertebrates. The data collected goes to Reef Check who studies the data to determine the reef health (improving or declining). We are also supported by Professor Suchana â€œAppleâ€ Chavanich, Ph.D., who heads the marine ecology program at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and is a world-renowned marine ecologist.

The trip began at Pudong airport very early on Saturday June 14 where we met the other participants â€“ 19 kids ranging in age from 12 to 16 along with 5 chaperones. We flew to Hong Kong and transited to Phuket, arriving on Saturday evening. The group made it pilgrimage to Jung Ceylon mall for dinner and a quick shop before hitting the sack.

All the kids

On Sunday morning, we boarded Manta Queen III, a live aboard dive boat, for our 3 hour journey to Koh PhiPhi, where we would be anchored off for the following 9 days. As the title of this blog suggests, we dove, we ate, we slept (or napped) and then started again – sometimes up to 5 or more dives a day. Days start at 6AM wake-up, the first dive at 7AM and bedtime by 9:30pm.

7 AM dive with the sun coming up

Life on the boat

This year, Emersyn again was in the returnee group â€“ she only selected one specialty â€“ Rescue Diver â€“ to continue her dive education (along with 2 other divers). Rescue Diver is one of the most intense training courses, requiring divers to take part in simulated emergency situations staged at anytime throughout the week. Emersyn was on her toes at all times expected a simulation. Her successful completion Rescue along with prior specialty work now puts Emersyn in an elite class of diver known as a Master Scuba Diver.

Master Scuba Diver

Having just completed my Diver Master professional certification, I was involved with the instructors training the first year students on their Open Water and Advanced Open Water training programs. Unfortunately, Emersyn and I only dove together once the entire trip.

Ethan, Emersyn and Hayden

We enjoyed dive sites at Koh PhiPhi Lei â€“ including Viking Bay, Phi Lei Wall and Loh Samah Bay. The highlight dives were at Koh Bida Nok, a short ride south of PhiPhi were we saw reef sharks, seahorse, octopus, Napolean wrasse, zebra moray, lobster, barracuda, crocodile needle fish, pipe fish and turtle. We also dove a newly sunk wreck that was swarming with sea life.

Other highlights included the rescue scenarios â€“ one was a Titanic moment, were all the kids â€œfellâ€ off the back of the boat as panicked swimmers and the rescue team of 3 had to â€œrescueâ€ the other 16 â€“ making priority decisions between responsive and unresponsive victims. Another was the lost diver scenario where another DM and I quietly donned our dive gear and slipped off the back of the boat â€“ my buddy then resurfaced in a panic screaming he had lost his buddy while I played â€œunconsciousâ€ at the bottom waiting to be rescued. Emersyn did a great job taking the lead on this rescue, pulling me from the bottom, performing rescue breathing, getting me back to the boat and finishing up with CPR.

There are strange traditions on the diving community when you reach a milestone dive â€“ 50 and 100 being a couple of milestones. For the 50th dive, a diver eats a banana underwater (I did this last year) â€“ there is nothing like a salty banana. For the 100th, a diver makes a dive in their birthday suit. Emersyn reached the 100th dive milestone along with Jean, another returnee â€“ the two of them went on a night dive together to conduct the birthday suit ritual.

Throughout the trip, there were multiple pranks played to keep the mood light and keep the kids from getting homesick. Some of the memorable pranks included food coloring in dive booties â€“ so the kids have colored feet, flying underwear on the flag pole, a cold cup of water here and there, and cornflakes on the BCD pocket to attract the fish. I also continued the tradition of â€œbakingâ€ brownies after the kids completed their Advance Open Water certifications. When I say â€œbakingâ€, it is more like steaming, as there is only a wok on the boat. Overall the kids had a great time and kept the mood light and fun throughout.

Pranked!!

The culmination of all the dive training and the main objective of the Program was Reef Check on Sunday, June 22. This required the kids to be divided into 3 teams where they made 3 reef-check dives each taking data along 100 meter designated section of reef. The kids had to take detailed substrate data every half-meter, count fish (reef indicator species) and count invertebrates. The day is a whirlwind as the first group hits the water at 7 AM and each team follows on the hour every hour until we have a total of nine data collection dives. We follow with a reef clean up, collecting all the trash documented along the reef.

Shuttling for Reef Check dives

Reef Check complete!

As we stepped back on land on Monday afternoon, June 23 with our wobbly sea legs, the kids commented they could not believe the trip was over so fast and wanted to keep diving. In the end, the kids are exhausted but fulfilled. The only thing left is the return flight to Shanghai to start summer vacation for the kids and step back into real life for the chaperones.

Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 202 user reviews.

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The theme for the 2013-14 year is Discover. Emersyn is in her last year at Middle school as an 8th grader and Eleri is in her last year at Elementary school as a 4th grader. I love this post as it shows the girls changing and growing throughout the year.

June 12: Last Day of School

Last day of school and no photos. Eleri slept over at Ellie’s house since we were out past midnight for the 8th grade dance. Emersyn was too tired for a photo. A photo of Emersyn with her freinds at school in their class t-shirts from the dance.

Emersyn, Bella & Hayden

May 30: MS Field Day and ES Field Trip

After taking photos all week, the girls were rushing out the door. I grabbed a photo in the lift! Emersyn has MS Field Day and Eleri has a field trip to Tongli, a water town.

I am getting the “really” look from Emersyn!

May 26-29: MS Spirit Week

Monday – Pajama Day: Spirit week started off with Pajama Day. Emersyn wore her Monterey Bay Aquarium sleepover shirt.

Eleri wore her uniform as she is not part of the MS Spirit Week – next year!

Tuesday – Twin Day: Bella, Hayden and Emersyn order these off of Taobao for 70rmb ($12).

Wednesday – School Spirit Day: Emersyn wore her MUN shirt.

I couldn’t pass up the feet photos!

Thursday – School Sprit Day, Again: There was some confusion on Wednesday. Half the school came dress for Wacky Day and half came for Spirit Day…not everyone got the same emails. Emersyn wore her MUN shirt, Again.

May 2: ES Field Day

Ready to play in her pink and black!

April 21: ES Green Dress Day

Eleri loves this green dress from Mimi and loves having a reason to wear it to school.

Emersyn is away for Model United Nations (MUN), therefore, no photo of her on this day.

April 18: MUN Attire

Emersyn had to wear her MUN attire to school all week. MUN attire is black skirt/black pants/black jacket with a white shirt. She looks like she is ready for a day in the office.

March 21: ES Charity Dress

Elementary School had a free dress day for 30rmb ($5) for the charity of the month – Huge Grace Orphanage. Eleri wore her favorite sweatshirt from the Santa Cruz boardwalk. Aunt Kathy bought it for her over the summer!

Emerysn is setting a “style trend” wearing her hiking boots with her skirt. Today is the last day she will be setting her “trend”. She had to break her new boots in for the desert trip, which she leaves tomorrow for the adventure.

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day

Free dress is green for St. Patrick’s day. Emersyn’s green was her trip shirt from last year to Beijing.

Eleri had an adorable green poka-dot dress from Mimi.

March 7: MS Charity Dress

Middle School had a free dress day for 30rmb ($5) for the charity of the month – Huge Grace Orphanage.

February 14: Valentine’s Day Red and Pink

Both girls were excited for a free dress day. Eleri was very Valentine ready with her red and pink. Emersyn was happy to wear jeans to school.

December 20: ES Just Because

ES Students had Christmas dress. MS students did not since they were going off campus for their Christmas party. Emersyn is looking very “Middle School” wearing a skirt and a cardigan sweater.

October 25: International Dress Day

International Day is the day to dress from your country. The students enjoy an international fair to taste foods and play games from different countries. This year, we came prepared with our red, white and blue from Justice.

October 14: Professional Dress Day

The 4th Grade had a professional dress day. They were presenting their speeches at school to give them an opportunity to look the role.

Our middle schooler looker older in her skirt and sweater!

September 26: Magic School Bus Dress

The Magic School Bus came to school today. Its creators, author and illustrator, Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen were on campus for one day. The Es Students were asked to come dressed up as one of the characters or topics from the famed Magic School Bus books. Eleri went as Dorothy Ann.

September 25: Soccer Day

Eleri was all smiles for Grade 4 Soccer Day.

September 10: Photo Day

For photo day, Emersyn woke early to shower before school (first time ever)! She wanted her hair to look nice for photos. We re-blued her hair on Sunday for a fresh, blue look!

September 9: Photo Day

Eleri’s photo day. She is growing her hair and bangs out. I love her with bangs, but she wants to grow them out…then, probably cut them off! She is looking more grown up as she begins Grade 4.

Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5 based on 297 user reviews.

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For 8th grade graduation, a big dance is held off-campus at a hotel. I was on the committee to help pull this dance together for the kids. The cost of the dance was 250rmb ($40). It was a tough committee as my friend Lisa stated, “there are too many captains on this one ship”. In the end, we pulled together a very fun dance for the kids.

Emersyn and Jim left the graduation ceremony for Emersyn to go home to shower and get beautified, again.

Dressed and ready! Emersyn dance dress came from the Black/White store on sale, too. It was a size 0, therefore, if fit perfectly (chest and all).

I left the ceremony to decorate the ballroom for the dance. The theme for the dance was Galaxy. The class voted on the theme which was an easy one to work with for the committee. The room looked fabulous! The ES Musical had just finished and we were able to use the planets from the production for our decorations.

At the dance, we had the kids check their mobile phone in with us. We wanted to take away the distraction of kids on their phones and be present in the moment. The kids put their phones in a zip lock bag with their name on it. Some were not to thrilled to hand over their phones, but it was communicated to them. Lisa G. was funny telling the kids we would only use their phones to take selfies of us!! Since the kids had no phone which means no camera, we had a Mom, Trisha, take photos of the kids with a backdrop. Other parents, including Jim, were taking photos to be shared on a flicker account.

A photo of some of the Moms that help to put this dance together.

Lisa G, Meggan, Rachael, Brenda, Lisa D, Gloria, Della & Linda

Brenda, Lisa D, Linda, Della & Meggan

Photos of Emersyn with her friends…

Nick, Ethan, Josh, Hayden, Emersyn, Bella & Ty

Hayden, Emersyn & Bella

Dinner was a buffet dinner for the kids. Soon after the kids entered the ballroom, one of the students came to tell us there was wine in the punch. We thought he was kidding, but not…THIS IS CHINA (TIC). The punch was served with wine because that is how it is always done. We told them to take it away as our 14 year olds won’t be drinking it tonight.

Hayden, Bella, Emersyn, Josh, Nick & Ethan

Hayden, Bella, Ethan & Emersyn

Dessert Table

Time to dance…

We had a Mom (this is a parent volunteer party) as the MC. She is a Zumba instructor – enough said. She had them do games to keep them ALL dancing. The girls took off one shoe to leave on the stage. The boys had to pick up a shoe, find the match and dance with the girl! They all had fun.

We had purchased from Taobao blow guitars, saxophones and microphones. The kids had a blast playing their instruments…and, of course, beating each other with them.

Lisa D. had arrange for some friends to come make an appearance at the dance. They were a big hit.

Rachael, Lisa G, Lisa D & Brenda

Hayden, Bella & Emersyn

At the end of the night, Emersyn & Bella did one last photo!

While the kids were dancing the night away, Rachael, Lisa G and I were putting the mobile phones, all 104 of them, in the t-shirt gift bag. The kids needed to check-out. Getting their t-shirt and phones was the perfect solution to have them check-out properly.

It was a fun night, the kids danced all night. We left the hotel at 11:30pm. Ethan and Emersyn were asleep in the back seat…should of grabbed a photo of them sleeping!

Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5 based on 275 user reviews.

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Getting Ready! Emersyn, Bella and Hayden at school beautifying for their graduation.

Final touches for Emersyn…

Looking good…

I had the girls pose for photos before the ceremony as I knew it would be hard to get good photos in the crowds. They had fun posing!

Emersyn looked so cute in her dress. We bought it over the summer at the Black/White store…on sale. When you wear a 00 size, you can find anything on sale. It was a little tight in the chest, but not noticeable which was good for 11 months later.