August 19th was the first day of school! The following week early morning seminary started. Lucky for us seminary is just one street away in our same neighborhood. We are happy to be back in school and seem to be getting the daily routine down again.
Emma is a senior this year and we can hardly believe it. I get sad thinking about dropping her off at college somewhere next fall. She got the lead in our HS fall play, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 and is the president of the drama club. She is taking three AP classes (Calculus, Honors Music Theory, and English Literature and Composition). She didn’t take a language class last year so this year she is in James’ Chinese class. It is sweet for me to see Emma and James always together this year. They are both in the play so are at rehearsals together until 5:30 and then they study with each other until about 11pm most nights.
James' school schedule, as a 10th grader, is just as intense. Some of his classes are AP World History, Honors Algebra 2, Chemistry, and World Literature.
Eliza is in the 8th grade. Her electives this year are drama and choir. It looks like she is following in her older siblings' footsteps. She participates in an early morning choir class on Wednesdays, has piano lessons before school on Fridays and goes to gymnastics six hours a week. She is a school ambassador and in the NJHS, so often stays after school to plan activities and decorate the school bulletin boards. She also got the lead in her drama class production and is excited to try out for the Middle School musical soon.
Tessa has one of my friends for her 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Kim. She has been an incredible teacher for Tessa. Tessa’s piano teacher comes to the house on Tuesdays after school and Tessa has ballet on Wednesdays.
The Imagine Dragons concert was in Shanghai on the first day of school. We are huge fans! Their concert in SLC was during the Larsen family reunion so we couldn’t go. We were thrilled to find out they were coming to Shanghai. We got tickets with the Johnsons and the Millers. It was such an amazing concert, and made for a pretty cool first day of school.
Emma, James and Luke Miller — They knew every word to every song!
Cara Johnson, Mallory Miller, Tessa and Eliza
On Sunday, August 23rd, John and his presidency re-organzied our entire branch. There were over 20 changes. I was called as the 2nd counselor in YW and am thrilled to be there working with Eliza and the other Beehives. The YW president is a new neighbor of mine, Julie Cook. The first counselor is a GM family from Michigan, who just moved here from Mexico City, Linsee Christensen. I love having an organized Branch President. The quorums and YW classes got new presidencies too -- James is 1st counselor in the Teacher's quorum, Emma is Laurel class president and Eliza is 2nd counselor in the Beehives.
Emma had a great 17th Wednesday birthday on August 26th! The prior night we celebrated with a family game night (Wacky Six). Her love language is “words of affirmation” and she felt so loved all day. The morning started with 6am seminary, where each student wrote a personal note to her, then all her friends made her feel special at school and a few of them came over after school for cake. That Friday she had friends over for dinner and they made homemade donuts. Emma got a new phone this summer for her main gift - but she also opened some gifts of clothes and a puzzle.
Our driver Kevin, gave this cake to Emma. It was green tea flavor, so we just ate the fruit and chocolate off the top.
That Saturday night was Johns’ 41st birthday. The two of us went out to eat at a steak house called “The Meat.” His present was a new elliptical (the Icon Fitness Trek manager is in our branch and gave us a great discount). It has all the bells and whistles and seems to be motivating John to work out. John’s job at work right now is so exciting and intense. I love going on long walks late at night so he can tell me all about it. He was asked to be on a panel next month when Ford China is making a big announcement. He is nervous to be doing it in Chinese. Last week he went in for special Communications training to learn how to deal with the press.
That Monday Tessa came home from school with a fever. Tuesday she threw up. Wednesday morning, Sept 2nd, I was combing her hair and saw a bug. I looked closer — LICE! Tessa stayed home the next two days. I used lice shampoo on her and spent about seven hours that first day combing out nits. I washed all her bedding twice. I bagged up her bedroom rugs and stuffed animals and will keep them in a closet for several weeks. We checked the other kids and they were OK. School policy is the school nurse checks Tessa’s siblings and classmates for several days. Not sure where she got it. Lice is no fun and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Poor Tessa. This is the second time she has gotten it.
Our district conference was Sept 12-13th. Elder Gerritt Gong (our area president and a member of the seventy) and his wife, Susan, were visiting from Hong Kong. That Saturday I was asked to organize a luncheon for the Gongs, the district presidency and their wives, and the wives of branch presidents. It was inspiring to talk with Sister Gong for 2 hours and hear about the work they are doing in Asia (while the men were at the Priesthood leadership session). During the afternoon adult session our young women were in charge of babysitting for those families that had traveled to be in attendance. We are essentially the host branch, as many others travel several hours to be able to attend. There were 24 kids ages (2-11) to watch so it was a little crazy in the primary room. That evening we also hosted several of the youth at our home, with games and snacks. It made for a long day including my two Zumba classes in the morning.
Sunday after the meetings John was asked to drive Elder and Sister Gong to the airport. He loved that opportunity. He empathized with them having to travel so much and Elder Gong said, “Home for me is wherever sister Gong is.” They also enjoyed talking about the faithful service of Brad and Cheri in Singapore. He was gone for about two hours and it made for a crazy time for the kids and I because we had invited two families over for dinner immediately following the meetings. One of the families has five kids under the age of 9.
Eliza was sweet celebrating her 13th birthday on September 17th. She is ready to be a teenager! The night before John and I took Emma and Eliza to a show called “Ultimate Broadway.” There were four famous broadway stars and a huge cast and orchestra. They performed numbers from several different Broadway shows.
Thursday Eliza started her day off with birthday pancakes. Her friends decorated her school locker with balloons and candy. We had Cincinnati Chili for dinner and cake and ice-cream. She quickly opened her presents of clothes, gymnastics clothes, and a purse then we hurried to a combined young men/young women activity — water balloon battleship. The Young Men were in charge and had a cookie cake for her, I was impressed!
Eliza’s b-day cake
Youth Activity (They are all wet from water balloons.)
Friday morning Emma and James left on their school interim trips. Emma and her group flew to Shaolin. They are going to visit the famous Shaolin temple, learn Kung Fu from the Shaolin Monks, teach English and music at an orphanage and visit the Longmen Grottoes. James broke his heel last year right before the school trips. So fortunately this year he got to go on the trip he had signed up for last year: the Silk Road. They will be riding camels in the Gobi Desert.
We didn’t eat Eliza's birthday cake from our driver until Saturday. It was a delicious chocolate one this time!
Eliza left at 4:45am this morning for her five day 8th grade school trip to Yangshuo/Guilin. This is one of my favorite places in China. They will do some service and team building activities. She also gets to hike, bike ride and see some cool sites.
