(no subject)

We had a movator incident yesterday. It was super scary. Chris was at the head of our group, followed by the kids and I. Suddenly, his cart got caught at the top of the movator and it simply would not push off onto the floor. It only took a split second for a large pile up to occur behind us. Of course, no one behind us is able to stop themselves. Not only was the movator full, but if you have a cart, you literally cannot move it because the wheels are locked into place. Within seconds the children and I were smashed between our cart that was jammed and unable to move and the carts behind us. I started pushing on our cart as hard as I could and suddenly it gave way and slide off the movator. I'm sure Chris was also pushing as hard as he could as well. The kids were all crying and shook up. Who can blame them? It was really scary. I have a large scratch on my leg, as does Chris, where our legs were mashed into the shopping cart by the push of people behind us.

Both my shoes came off, too. Zack rescued them for me. I stood there barefoot for a moment or two while the crowd thinned out and Zack searched for my shoes.

This is the second time I've witnessed a movator accident. The first time, a person's cart had tipped over at the end of a down movator. Once again, people were trying to walk backwards on the ramp, to avoid the accident, but it was virtually impossible to stop yourself from moving down into the confused masses. The thing is that there is no other way to get into Carrefour except for these dang moving ramps. You simply have to use them. Next time I go, I am going to make sure I know where the emergency stop switch is. Not that I could have reached it, as I was trapped this time around.

At Wal-Mart, they have an employee always standing at the end of the movator, assisting people in getting their carts off the ramp. Now I know why! Those things are dangerous.

I've started reading Harr Potter, book 1, to the kids. I hope they love it.

(no subject)

I just tried to call my parents, but they aren't home. *sigh* I hate it when that happens. I've heard other people here say the same thing. It's a bit disappointing to call half way across the world and have an answering machine pick up. Not that I schedule the call with them or anything, I just call at pretty much random times. I know they need to live their own lives and they have a super busy schedule. Why can't the world revolve around me, darn it?

The boys are quite disinterested in school today. I found and downloaded all the standards for 2nd grade in Arizona. This will be so very helpful to me. Why did I wait until now to do it? Now that's a good question for which I don't have a good answer. I was too busy? I thought I could do it without the guidelines? I'm not sure. I am looking forward to studying the topics outlined in the standards, such as cloud types, turing water into vapor and ice, and studying the life of great Americans like Benjamin Franklin and Martin Luther King, Jr. I need to make a list of books topics that I want to bring back with me.

If anyone out there is lost on a Christmas idea for our family, simply get us books. We just need books :)

BTW, I'll be sending out Christmas cards within the next week or so. If you want a Christmas card from China, just email me your address at vulcangirl@gmail.com. I'll be happy to send you one :)

Just for you risingpheenix

As requested, here are pics of our apartment. Ahem, I seem to remember another certain someone moving into a new apartment that we are yet to see pics of! *nudge, nudge*



Here we have the living room. I've bought the red throw pillows and blanket in effort to add some color to the space. I'd love a nice soft area rug too, but it would be pricey and then we'd have to buy some sort of vaccuum. Best to do without.

Now, if I were to walk to the other end of the living room, ( this is what greets the eye. )