Happy Holidays!

While the Wife's Away

Andrew will find something to entertain himself...

Like ride a horse,

take a stroll with a local,

go for a hike with the boys,

 

or spend the day on the golf course. 

I'm not in the U.S. Anymore

When I arrived in China I was quickly reminded at the Shanghai airport that I wasn't in the U.S. anymore (besides the large amount of Chinese people). While I sat in a restaurant in a small booth enjoying my vegetable noodle bowl, a strange Chinese man without acknowledging that he was invading my table, sat down across from me at my small little table and ordered. I wasn't quite sure what to do as he was loudly slurping his noodles about 2 feet across from me. Do I give the guy who, in my opinion, rudely invaded my space or do I avoid eye contact? I thought welcome home!

2011 U.S. Tour- Part II

After returning to China for only a few short weeks I returned to the U.S. to be part of my dear friend Megan's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding held at the J.J. Hill Reference Library in downtown St. Paul. I'm happy I could be there to be part of her special day. Following the wedding I was able to spend a couple weeks with my family, and visit friends in both Iowa and Los Angeles before returning to China. It was a great trip home, but I missed my new husband. I was happy to return home to him.

The beautiful bride & handsome groom.

Dinner's Served

Our move to China has brought some changes to our relationship. The most drastic change in my mind is that I am now responsible for the majority of the domestic duties, e.g. cleaning, cooking, shopping, picking up, etc. (mind you, we have six day maid service so the "cleaning" part is really easy). Andrew has some domestic responsibilities, i.e. clear the table and clean up the kitchen (minus doing the dishes) after dinner and helping out anytime I ask him too. This is very different than how things worked in the U.S. when we were living "normal" lives. Then we shared the responsibilities of domestic duties. Granted even then I had a larger share of these responsibilities because according to Andrew my expectations of a clean home are just a little higher than his.    

Those that know me well would probably say I'm not the "domestic" type and wouldn't think I'd agree to an old school role where the wife cares for everything domestic and I'd agree. However, while I never thought I'd become Martha Stewart, similar to how I never thought I'd live in China or be a stay-at-home fiance/wife, for us in this situation it makes sense. Andrew works hard and he works a lot, sometimes 12 or 14 hours a day to support our little family of two. So as a stay-at-home wife, I do the grocery shopping, I cook, I pick up, and do the laundry with a smile on my face, usually. 

And while I'm happy to do this now, I'm also looking forward to one day having a "normal" life again where I work outside of the home too and we split the responsibilities 50/50, or more realistically 60/40. Until then I'll embrace my inner Martha Stewart and be the best stay-at-home wife I can be and I will cherish every morsel of food Andrew cooks on the rare occasion he cooks, i.e. when I beat him bowling and he loses our ongoing bet.

Chinese Weddings

We attended a couple of Chinese weddings recently and found that although they are similar to Western weddings there are several major differences:

• The bride and groom's bosses typically give a speech. 
• There is a lot of focus on the food. Typically guests are fed banquet style with many of Chinese delicacies, including chicken feet, whole fish, and abalone. There is an abundance of food.
• The bride typically wears multiple dresses, a Western style dress for the ceremony and a traditional Chinese dress, a.k.a. a Chi Pao, for the reception, but there could be more.
• During the reception the bride and groom visit each table and guests from the table have to do a shot of baijiu, which is a traditional Chinese liquor, similar to vodka, with the bride and groom. None for me, thanks.
• Wedding favors typically include cigarettes and candies for children and adults alike. 
• Wedding gifts aren't given, but rather a red envelope with cash, no card. When you arrive at the wedding a friend or two of the couple will count your money and record the amount of money you gave. (This is because it is traditional for the bride and groom to give back the same amount or more later at the guest's or guest's children's wedding.) 
• There isn't a dress code. While this may be the case at some Western weddings, this is definitely the case in China. Sweatpants, jeans, no problem, come as you are.

Andrew giving a speech at his employee Ivy's wedding.

Bride & Groom, Ivy and Mu, at the reception.

Another beautiful bride & groom, Siwen & Patrick, during their ceremony.

The feast. 

Wedding favors, candies and cigarettes.

The Mini-Honeymoon

Andrew and I traveled to Maui, Hawaii as a "mini" honeymoon directly following the wedding. The trip was a wedding gift from his mother and a very wonderful gift it was. I refer to the honeymoon as a "mini" honeymoon, to much annoyance of my friends, because it was only four days. Let's be honest, we are very fortunate to go on a honeymoon at all and even more fortunate to go to Hawaii, but I'm a dreamer, I think our honeymoon should be two weeks. Which is two weeks less than my European friend's honeymoon. Those European's and there generous holiday packages. Hopefully we'll be able to take the "real" honeymoon sometimes this spring; I know we're spoiled. 


Although the "mini" honeymoon was short, it was amazing. It was my first time to Hawaii and Andrew hasn't been there since he was a child (although it was 20 years ago he still thinks he remembers the trip like it was yesterday). It is absolutely beautiful. We stayed at the J.W. Marriott resort and had four fun filled days packed with activities. We went snorkeling, Andrew swam with sea turtles and got a little too close for my comfort, we went on a helicopter tour, woke up at 1:30 a.m. to see sunrise over Haleakala volcano, rode bicycle downhill 26 miles from the volcano (it was fun, but lesson learned, a 26 mile bike ride with a helmet that is too small, is less than amazing), and did a scenic drive on the Maui coast. All that in four days. At least another day or two would have been perfect to have some time just to sit poolside and drink Mai Tai's.

The Wedding

Andrew & I tied the knot. After about 10 months of planning, well about 10 months of me planning & Andrew smiling and saying "whatever my baby wants" & wishing the two of us had been married in Vegas already, the day was here. The day we'd make promises we intend to keep for the rest of our lives to the person we love most in this world. About 90 family and close friends joined us to celebrate our day. The weather was beautiful, a sunny 80 degrees. I was excited, Andrew a little nervous and wondering if it was too late for that trip to Vegas. 


The festivities started a week before with my third and final bachelorette party (Andrew thinks three bachelorette parties is a bit excessive, but I can't help it if my friends are spread all over the place and they want to celebrate my last days as a "single" lady) and Andrew's bachelor party. Our families and friends started trickling into town on Wednesday. Thursday Andrew went shooting with the boys while the girls arranged the flowers for the wedding. Thursday there was a cocktail hour sponsored my my mom and her husband, which was followed by a rehearsal & dinner. Friday was the big day. Saturday there was brunch at my mother-in-laws. It was a fun filled few days.

*Photos by Ventola Photography (she's awesome!)

Chinese Engagement Photos- The Photos

We received the photos from our Chinese engagement session. We were happy with them. Along with a DVD with all the photos we received two large albums, a 36 inch framed photo and two framed 5x7. 

2011 U.S. Tour

Prior to our October 7 wedding, I was in the U.S. for five weeks. It was great to be back in the U.S. for a few weeks. I enjoyed the comforts of home, e.g. Chipotle, seeing good friends and family and was able to accomplish all the tasks for the wedding I couldn't complete in China. 


First stop was Denver, CO, where our good friends Adam and Chrissie became husband and wife. It was a beautiful wedding and I was fortunate to spend a few days with the beautiful bride before the big day.

From Denver, I few to Minnesota where I spent two weeks with my family. It was so great to be home. I forgot how beautiful Minnesota was. I was able to meet my new nephew for the first time. I may be bias, but I think I have the cutest neices & nephews. 

Hopefully they'll always like each other this much.

While in Minnesota, my sister and aunts threw two bridal showers and my bridesmaid Hannah hosted a bachelorette party.  Fun was had by all. I also was fortunate to spend a few days with Hannah and her two beautiful little girls. Hannah is a stay-at-home mom. I think it's the toughest job there is. I had a great time visiting her and her family. After Minnesota I was off to Arizona for the wedding.

What bridal shower wouldn't be complete with out zip lining in Viking color zubaz?