Getting Ready For Christmas

It's Christmas Eve and my family and I have been getting ready for Christmas for the last couple of weeks. Here, lane is holding his "Christmas Chain." The chain used to be longer, and he would take of one link for every day. Now there is only one link left. That means that tomorrow is Christmas!


Lane and Ian made this gingerbread house. This is a tradition for many families in the US and it's also a tradition for Lane and Ian! You use gingerbread cookies to make the walls of the house and "glue" them together with frosting. Then you add candies.









All Finished



Here's our very small Christmas tree. Our family used to have a large, real, Christmas tree, but my mom thinks she's allergic to them.



Here's my friend's Christmas tree.


One tradition for some familes in America is to bake Christmas Cookies and give them away to family and friends. Here are the cookies our family was given.



Here are the cookies I made to give to my friends.

Big Horn Sheep

These big horn sheep live in the desert mountains around my town are are famous for coming down from the hills to eat grass in this small park by the lake. A lot of people come to take photos of them and you can get pretty close. They're so adorable！

这些动物叫“大角羊。”它们住在我家乡旁面的山里面。它们很有名的！它们经常来到这个湖旁面的小公园吃草。很多人来拍它们的照片。大角羊好可爱！












This tour guide's hair is so cool!

这位导游的头发很好看！

Snow!

It's been snowing almost all day. I can't believe it! It rarely snows like this here. I would guess it only happens once every four years or so. When I asked my little brother's friend when the last time it snowed was he said that he couldn't remember!

今天下雪了！我很惊讶的！这里的下雪很少。我们这里只有这样的下雪4年一次。




My brother and his friend, Ian

我弟弟和他的朋友，意恩。


Lane

雷恩。


Ian!

意恩！


They're trying to build snowmen. (it was unsuccessful)

他们在做一个雪人。没用！

.

Visiting My Little Brother's Classroom.

Today I went to my little brother's first grade class to tell them a story and a little bit about China. They were all so cute and totally reminded me of my first grade class in China (only a little more quiet). I taught the class how to write "mom" in Chinese and they were so excited! They wanted to learn more and more. I also taught them to say "spider" and goodbye.

我今天去了我弟弟的一年级班的课。他们都好可爱!我一看见他们就想起来我的中国学生们。但，我弟弟的班比较安静！今天我教了他们怎么写“妈妈。" 他们都很开心！他们都学汉子！我也教了他们怎么说“蜘蛛" 和“再见。”


Here are some pictures of my brother's first grade class and one of my first grade classes in China. Who is cuter?

这些照片是我弟弟的班和我在中国的班。什么班比较可爱？





The classrooms are very different here. They're smaller and have a lot more "stuff."

中国和美国教室不一样。在美国，教室比较小，还有很多东西教室里面。

My First Chinese Friends!

In America, at least. My parents have been taking a dance class that has a young Chinese couple in it. When my parents first met the couple, they told them I was working in China. They soon became friends and I was able to meet them last night. Their names are Bo and Lily and they are so smart and nice! We talked about going to the local Chinese supermarket and making food together. I hope that we can be good friends.

我昨天晚上交两个中国朋友！他们叫 Lily and Bo. 他们又聪明又友好！他们跟我爸爸妈妈有一个跳舞课。我希望我们可以当好好朋友们，一起去卖中国的东西，烧中国菜！

Here's a video of my parents' dance class.

这个电影是我爸爸妈妈的跳舞课。哈哈哈！

My Little Brother!

My little brother, Lane, is 7. He likes drawing, watching movies and going to the park. He's so smart! He is really good at reading. His favorite color is red and his favorite food is p-i-z-z-a. (He spelled it out when I asked him)

这是我弟弟，雷恩。他7岁。他非常喜欢画画，看电影，去公园玩。他很聪明！他读书读得很好。他最喜欢红颜色。他最喜欢吃比萨。

Some Pictures Of My Hometown

All of the leaves are turning beautiful colors right now!

现在树叶换颜色。好漂亮！







A playground at one of the local parks.

这里，小朋友会玩。在公园里。




The parks are different here than in China. Just trees and grass.

公园在美国和中国不一样。在美国我们只有树，草。


An old, historic hotel.
很有名的饭店。


Here's a short video of the drive through town. My cousins are in the back making all of the noise.

这里有一个短电影。 这是我老家。我的亲人跟我在车里面。他们在说话！

Coming Home

I left China Monday afternoon and got to Los Angeles Monday morning. Who knew that time travel really is possible! I then took a flight from Los Angeles to my local airport in Las Vegas. I had to wait around for 5 hours for my layover even though the second flight only lasted 40 minutes! My little brother and my dad were at the airport to pick me up and take me home. When we pulled into our driveway, this is what was waiting.

我星期一回家了。我坐了两个飞机，一个到安赫莱斯，然后一个到我老家，拉斯韦加斯。我爸爸和弟弟一起在机场接我。回家的时候我看到这张自己写的。



Welcome Home Shanell

“欢迎回来”

How sweet!

I'm going to write in this blog to update my friends that I left behind in China. Much like the China blog was probably a bore for them, this blog will likely bore anyone from the US.