ALL IS WELL.....

It has been quite some time since we last wrote...but all is well for the DuBois family here in China. Seems like we are becoming quite used to our routines here and all of the out-of-the-ordinary observations we made when we first arrived here are now somewhat normal to us. Life is certainly easier/more convenient now that we both have our license and can run little errands around the area when we need to. We had (actually riley had thought) that we would continue to ride our bikes to school through the winter even when we got our license...well we have been driving quite a bit (which i love....too cold in the morning!) I have to be nice to my husband though as i honestly have not driven a meter yet....i am a little concerned about my stick-shift driving ability. Riley's truck was a stick shift in college...and i drove it then...but that was how long ago? the IKEA crew was here delivering a couch and bunkbed a few days ago and i couldn't even move the darn jeep out of the driveway! (I killed it twice!) so one of the guys moved it for me!
so the last two weeks havve been pretty normal....last weekend riley and kieran scouted out a church for us...and we went there again this week. It was really nice to be in church again. I think we will continue to go there..they have a good program for the kids and the praise and worship is great! (not that i am singing---i would scare people away).
Yesterday we ventured to the pearl market to do some Christmas shopping. It was quite a successful trip as we got many people gifts to bring home. Last weekend we went to yashow to get kieran a few more long sleeve shirts and i ended up doing some bargaining for some christmas presents there as well. it is fun bargaining but a very tiring. you really learn from one little hut to the next how cheap you can get things...they won't sell it to you if they will lose money...but they also start about 5-6 times higher than what they are willing to take for it! it is quite comical. then they act like you are ruining their day when they decide they will give something to you for your price...and they still try to squeeze one or two quay (30 cents) out of you! anyway-i have had enough for a while. we may have to go back one more time to get a few last items...but we will see.
One of Riley's friends (Eli) is coming over to visit at the end of the week. His girlfriend Anna came over last night for a while. We went out to eat and then Anna and I went to the compound next door to get massages...it was nice! I know riley is getting anxious for Eli to get here. He will be here for a week. Riley is going to take next wednesday (his birthday!) off as a personal day so he and Eli can venture out. I am sure we will get together this weekend as well---i think Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City are on the agenda for Saturday?
School is good for all...riley had conferences last week and mine are this week. The kids are released early and then parents come for the middle school from 10-4:30. i guess for math EVERY SINGLE PARENT wants to see you! i used to enjoy parent conferences in Delano b/c it would be a time for me to get some work done....but it will be full steam ahead on thurs/fri. i can't even fit all myparents in in the 2 days scheduling them every 10 minutes...so it is first come first serve! i even had 2 parents at church today ask me about their child's grade! Should be interesting.
i think that is about all i can remember for now.....just wanted to update quick. we have taken some pictures but i really need to get some schoolwork done so i am not going to upload them now.
we hope all is well for everyone back home! We miss you all and are starting to count the days until we can see everyone!
Love
The DuBois Family