China Part 1

I am starting a series of posts about our summer trip to China. I know it's a little late but I want to record our experience, let you all know what we did this summer, and document the baby's 1st overseas trip :) So, I'm going to split this up into a couple of posts and there will be lots of pictures. And maybe if I can "steal" the video I'll post that too.

So, sit back and enjoy the trip 1/2 way around the world.

The trip began on July 1, 2009 we flew from Wichita, to Detroit, to Shanghai, China. We arrived in Shanghai the night of July 2, 2009. Kyle's birthday is July 2nd, so I think he had the shortest birthday ever (about 3 hours)! What a way to spend your 29th birthday, poor guy.

Kyle & Me after the long flight

The most memorable moment of the flight was at the end. When we landed in China after a 13 hour flight we were instructed to remain in our seats because we had to be screened for the swine flu. We remained on the tarmac for about an hour as 2 people in full hazmat gear tested the temperature of the 500 people on the plane. It was comical and scary all at the same time. I mean it was a bit ridiculous, just because you have a fever does not mean you have swine flu. However, it was nerve wracking because it you had a fever you, your row, and the 2 rows in front and behind you would be quarantined for 7 days! Praise the Lord no one on the plane was quarantined! How amazing is it that no one on the 500 seat plane had a temperature!

The Hazmat Team taking their job very seriously.

Sorry the pictures are grainy, lighting wasn't very good in the airplane...and we weren't really supposed to be taking pictures, but I had to sneak one...I mean it was a once in a lifetime experience :)

To be continued, the fun has just begun...

Sterling 28 Kansas Wesleyan 18

We won again! The game was a little more exciting than it should have been, but when your starting quarterback, 2 linebackers, a defensive back, etc. are all sidelined with an injury you don't know what you're going to get. And despite the adversity the guys pulled together and got a win on homecoming!

The first play of the game Sterling kicked off and KW fumbled the ball and the Warriors got it and scored. This was the exact same thing that happened in last week's game. So, that was a great sign, but then things got interesting we were down 7-10 at half, but in the 3rd quarter we moved ahead and were able to retain the lead. Yay for a happy team and a happy husband!

Me & my adorable husband

Ali hugging the baby

Jodi, a.k.a. Mom, entertaining Culley

Nervous?

Disclaimer: my apologies if this doesn't make sense, just something I've been mulling over lately. If you don't want to hear my incoherent ramblings you might want to stop here.

I'm 27 weeks along (exactly 3 months until the due date!) and one of the most common questions people ask is "Are you nervous?"

I always think, should I be nervous? Why do they keep asking that?

To be quite honest I'm not nervous and that makes me nervous. You see I am a Type A person that likes to have things planned. However, planning has seemingly been thrown out the window for this stage of my life. I have yet to read a baby book, start decorating the nursery, write a birth plan, go to birthing classes, find day care, etc. The list could go on and on.

I always hear you can't plan anything with a baby...so maybe my lack of planning is a blessing. If I had a plan that wasn't working I would probably become frustrated...so maybe it's best if I just don't have a plan.

Luckily, someone does have a plan and at this point I'll just try and rest in the fact that He knows best! In fact, I'm feeling very blessed to have this peace (hopefully it continues once the baby arrives :) I'm quite happy to be oblivious to all the stuff I "should" be doing.

One thing I have been planning is a little art project for the nursery and here's a sneak peek:

Amy Butler, August Fields Collection, Fresh Start in Tangerine
I love this fabric...do you think it's too girly for a boy's nursery?

I just have to tell someone...

We recently learned that one of our favorite couples is having a baby! Remember this post about 2 of my favorite guys? Now they are going to have babies in the same year. We couldn't be more excited! The kids are destined to be friends (in all reality they probably won't have a choice, their dad's will make them be friends :) Congratulations Blake & Casey! We are so excited for you. So, when are you moving closer to Sterling?

Here we are at Blake & Casey's wedding in July 2007.

Sterling 47 Tabor 21

It was a bittersweet day...Sterling won big! Tabor lost big.

The Warriors played well all the way around. The other team didn't score until our 2nd and 3rd team was in. Right after half-time it was 34-0, so it was a good confidence booster for Sterling. However, Kyle's brother, Jake was a coach on the other sideline. If you couldn't tell from the score, he did not have a great time at the game. Sheila, Kyle and Jake's mom, was at the game and it was torture for her. She hates having 2 sons on opposing teams. She feels so conflicted and can't cheer for either team :) Needless to say I did not have that conflict...Go Warriors.

Overall it's been a weekend full of fun. On Friday, several of Kyle's family members came to watch Sterling play Tabor in volleyball. Jake's wife, Audra, plays for Tabor. So, we cheered on the Bluejays and they won. Then Sheila and Breckyn, Kyle's cousin, spent the night. On Saturday we put on our Susie Homemaker hats and baked the morning away. I think I've filled my cooking quota for the rest of the year (cookies, trifle, corn bread, cheese muffins, and tacos)! Then we went to the game. And this evening we had a get together with our Bible study from church. The guys watched football and the girls chatted. All in all it was a fun-filled day, but I'm exhausted.

Unfortunately, I only remembered to take pictures at the game (I'm going to have to get better at this picture taking thing).

Audra (sister-in-law) & Sheila (mother-in-law)

Papa, Tache, & Me

Brayton (Kyle's cousin) who plays for Sterling

Breckyn (Kyle's cousin) & Me

Baby Stash

We have already been blessed with several items for Baby Schenk!

On a side note: I think we're going to call him Dewey until he is born. I'm not sure why, but Kyle thought of it, and I don't really pretend to understand how his mind works. I'll just go with it.

Anyway, here's some of Dewey's stuff that I'm sure he can't wait to use :)

Burp clothes made by mommy, his first "dress" shirt, khaki shorts and a hat for our beach vacation next summer, a lullaby cd to soothe him, baby blankets, a neck support, the cutest socks/shoes ever, and his first football (it applauds every time you catch it, which is funny because if he has hands like his daddy it may be the only time he gets applauded for catching the ball :) Thanks to Grandma & Great Tache for most of the baby supplies!
And here's his wardrobe...can you tell it's a boy? So far all of his clothes are brown and blue and have something to do with football. I think we may need to diversify his wardrobe before he makes his appearance.

Things I do to purposely annoy Kristen for fun...

1. Sing to Kristen a really catchy song before she goes to bed. Reason: she gets it stuck in her head and can't go to sleep.
2. Lay on her pillow. Reason: she's little paranoid about her pillow.
3. Jump into bed before her so she has to turn out the lights. Then I steal her pillow. Reason: It's really funny because she really hates other people touching her pillow.
4. Jump out of the car and run to the bathroom when Kristen has clearly stated how bad she has to go. Reason: obvious reasons.
5. Crack my thumb joints. Reason: it makes her nauseous.
6. When she asks me to do something from another room I respond with gibberish so she can't understand me and has to come into the same room. Reason: my own amusement and sometimes I get out of work.

Posted by the most amazing wife's husband,

Kyle

My radiant wife and I in the DR, May 2007.