As you might remember, we didn't go home for Christmas this year- so to say we were excited to see Nonni on January 28th might have been an understatement. The girls had been counting down for days. Funny story, the girls were peering out the window (our driver picked Nonni up because she lives right next to the airport) and saw headlights coming down the driveway. Shrieking, they ran outside only to realize it was our friends driver who thought he was picking me up for work. Womp womp. Less than one minute later Nonni arrived and it was all smiles again.
The girls were still in school so after a quick visit with Nonni, she walked them to the bus stop!
Later that day, she and Wes headed to have lunch with the girls.
Which ended in some hide-and-seek or tag on the playground.
Nonni read a lot of books while she was here.
And we all tried to jog our memory (anyone remember Cat's Cradle from the 90's??)...
The only problem with this picture - they were in our bed and not their bed ;).
The next day - Wes, Nonni and I joined Everly's class for a Chinese New Year craft...
Before getting ready to watch their CNY performance. Yes, Evsie's was a frog. No, it was not year of the frog...
Can you spy Emma?
Emma's class went first.
She did great!
Hmmm not sure where Ev's class is, but they were adorable. When we got home, we tried to get some pictures with Nonni which caused giggles all around.
Nonni sandwich :).
One night we did rollerblading and scooters!
Nonni arrived on a Monday and that same Thursday the girls started their Chinese New Year break so we thought it would be a good idea to hit up Xiling (Snowy) mountain to have some magical winter fun before the crowds would get heavy on CNY. The key word in that sentence was "thought".
We bought tickets, layered up and headed out on the gondola for some snowy fun.
Last year, you might remember we went the first weekend of March and most of the snow had melted and it was sunny... well, this year, the snow definitely had not melted and we were in for a coldy, blustery, wintry day.
Ev's was enjoying the snow.
And asked to have her picture taken time and time again.
While this one was pretty much miserable the entire time. From the minute we stepped off the bus until the minute we left (which wasn't that long - maybe 3 hours?) she cried. She is normally our child that goes with the flow, doesn't mind a long hike, etc. but this was not her day. And that's ok.
More pics for Ev's.
After we walked a little ways, we took a snack break and we were hopeful that would calm everyone down. We found a place that the girls could use their sleds and Ev's was ready to give it a go. We eventually convinced Emma to join in, but nothing was making her happy at this point :(. Nonni and I both gave it a go and had fun!!
Once Ev's got snow in her rain boots she was over it. Eventually she calmed down and we rallied to go one one ride!
We had so much fun that Ev's and I decided to go tubing together!
Things don't always go as planned especially when traveling with little ones so at this point, we just decided to call it quits for the day and head back to Chengdu :).
On the way home, we stopped and picked the most delicious strawberries! Ev's love love loves her some strawberries and once they told her she could try one, she kept going back for more and more and more! The happiest part of her day for sure!!
We ended the night at Peters with a margarita for us and ice cream for the girls! It was an eventful, first four days with Nonni!!
