Getting Settled In

We are finally settling into life here in Shanghai. Our shipment still has not arrived with everything from our house, but we are hopeful it will arrive within two weeks.
Living at the Racquet Club is best described as living in a bubble; as I have heard it referred to. Inside the walls of this place you have a bit of normalcy and peace. Outside the walls is a bit of a different story. It's not that it's bad....it's just different and takes time to adjust to it.
Traffic is absolutely crazy here and it takes a long time to get anywhere. For comparison purposes, imagine Denver traffic at 5:15pm on any weekday and multiply that times 100 to get an idea of daily traffic here. Really!
I finally gave in and hired an "Ayi" (chinese for nanny, housecleaner, cook) to work part-time at my apartment. (my arm really had to be pulled, wink,wink) Her English name is Sally (can't pronounce her Chinese name). She is awesome and absolutely adores my kids. She comes in the morning so I can go out and about to run errands, work out, or just have coffee in peace. She leaves just after lunch. She cooks the MOST amazing Chinese food ever! Today she made a wonderful soup and homemade dumplings filled with pork. YUM! The kids loved the soup and Trent can eat his weight in dumplings. She also does some of the shopping for me at local markets where she can get a better price than me. She tells me I pay too much.
After nap's we go to the pool everyday. The kids are loving all the pool time and so am I. Half the pool has a sandy beach with a sand bottom and the other half is blue tile (basic pool). We still can't figure out how they keep it separated so well. Tayton plays in the sand with his trucks while Tenley explores the bottom of the pool to find sea shells and treasures. I swear that little girl is going to be in public relations or a scientist!! She's never met a stranger and loves everything about nature...dead or alive.
I suppose that is all for today. We miss you all like crazy and are counting the days until we are home for Christmas!
Call us on our local Denver telephone number! Email me for the number if you don't already have it