Letters to China

I wrote Danny a full account almost every day, and sent along these pictures. It is a record long post...I sure don't expect you to read it all!

Saturday, February 21
Hi Sweet Man,
Today we missed you. We went to the park, went to Wal-mart, ate lunch at Jack in the Box, took naps, cleaned, made a bed out of the brown couch pillows, and watched the Valentines episode from 30 Rock again. Attached are 3 pictures from today.
The girls are feeling better, for the most part. Still coughing, but they are much improved. Scott picked up your truck from the airport. I made cookies again and ate three, then threw the remainder away. I am proud of myself that I don't eat my whole batch myself anymore. I don't want to make any more cookies.
I don't know if we will go to church and your mom's house or not. I will have to see how the girls feel, I guess. I love you very much.
-Annie

those pictures are priceless. thank you so much for sending. I wish I could be there. that looks fun... I love you. dh

Sunday, February 22
Dearest Love,
Today we hung out all morning and the girls seemed to feel better and better as the day wore on. Sophie only peed once in the toilet, and had 3 accidents, all poopy, too. But she was very excited about the new and thrilling challenge of peeing in the potty. She has hated putting on diapers the last few days, but tonight, after a full day of effort, she happily complied to wearing a bedtime diaper.
It was great to go to your mom and dad's. Your mom served a sinful chocolate coconut "mounds" candy bar cake. When we were loading up at our house to go to Fallon, Rex jumped up into the car by himself, and very easily too. He was elated when we arrived at the house. He was sniffing everything in range, then hounded off to find his old friend, Zidane. He was very happy to see your dad, too. A few hours later, however, when it was time to jump into the car again, he did not jump. He stayed five feet away from the car with his tail between his legs and his head down. He did NOT want to come back with us. I had to make him get in. Zidane was sorry to see him go too. As I was loading the kids, your mom asked me if I wanted to talk. I said no, but ended up talking anyway, and stayed for two or three more hours. Who talks to their mother-in-law about their personal and marriage issues? I have never disclosed so much about those things to anyone but you. I can't believe I was so honest, but I am satisfied that she loves me the more for it, and I her, for it was very interesting, heart warming, plus I think I made a couple breakthroughs. Thank-you, Anne.
I love you. I miss you. i can't wait to hear how your first work day in China went. Call me on Skype before you go to bed, even if it is 5 or 6 am here. I will leave the computer on and just might here the ring --who knows? Love you.
Good night,
Annie

Hi Honey,
Good work on the frames! I can't wait. How long will they take?
I've had a headache all day, but today we had some fun. Sophie awoke at 5:30 am and was a pretty unhappy girl all day. She pooped on the carpet first thing in the morning, which I am sure you are glad you missed, and that was when she received bath #1. But she was very excited about the panties and potty anyway, and sat on the potty countless times all day long. The girls watched TV while I catnapped, and then at 10 we went on a run. The new bike pump is nice. It is a Schwinn. The girls really enjoyed riding together. Melia gave me the play-by-play of what they were doing the entire time ("Look, Mom! Sophie kissed me! She kissed me again!" and "Sophie and me and my baby are hugging" and "she STOLE MY CHAPSTICK!" and "Mom, I wanna go to the park." I only brought Rex for the first half because I was worried about his hip. I jogged 4 1/2 miles today, half of it up in the hills behind our house, and wanted to do more but the girls were tired of the "trailer," as Melia calls the ride, and we ended our run at the park. But during our run, we stopped to pet a pony the same size as Rex. The pony was cute, in a creepy/hairy way, but a man came out of a nearby house and told us to get away or we would get bitten (I was relieved to be back on our way, but Melia talked about that for the rest of the day). At the park, I enjoyed a post-workout drink while the girls played and talked to a grandma who was there with her grandson. So many grandchildren are watched by their grandparents these days. Anyway, we looked like a bunch of ragamuffins and it was starting to get cold and windy. So we left...when little Sue peed her pants. At home, we showered and Sophie and I had some of that Kirkland jumbo shrimp- YUM! Then I spoke to you on the phone until Sophie peed on us, in total exasperation that I was talking to you and not listening to her. She got a bum rinse. Bath #3 (in the sink).
Then we all went on a drive and stopped by Wal-mart to buy panties. Melia picked some My Little Pony ones and Sophie go the Value Pack because they were all the same to her. I picked up paint samples at Lowes and we went home. We ate, Sophie cried and cried and cried for two hours because she was so tired, peed in her crib, and Melia and I played dolls and ponies together. Two of the ponies "bit, hard"--and so we had to keep our princesses away away from the naughty ponies. We ate some more, Sophie took tub #4, I put their girls in their pajamas and we went on another drive. While we drove, we listened to Bach and Schobert, in your honor. It was actually kind of nice. I really liked the one by Schobert. It was an oboe and piano arrangement. Melia fell asleep and Sophie waited until she was wrapped up in my arms, sitting in the dark family room, watching a 30 Rock rerun, before restlessly falling asleep. (Sigh). I could have gone straight to bed then, but I needed to write to you. Now that I have done that, I feel a small burst of energy that I ought to use on housecleaning. It is a bit of a wreck around here. Hey check out my sister, Heather's blog. She has a video on there of her singing at the cruise. She was not a shy Heather! Her voice sounded strong and sassy.
Good work in China, my Love.
Good night. I love you.
-Me

YOU ARE GOOD AT THE SELF TIMER! These are great shots... I will give you a play by play of my day.. woke up at 4 or so, talked to you, sent a few emails, went to the airport, where I waited at the ctrip. com desk for 30 min. until I called our frame guy roddick and he told me that I could just go to the ticket counter and present my passport. Not reading chinese is a pain. Waited in line for 30 more min. to get to my gate. Boarded the plane. Got unloaded from the plane, due to some freakish mechanical error. waited in the airport for 2 hours until we were herded to another plane across the tarmac. Did the stair style entrance on the plane. Landed in Xiamen, got picked up by Jack's driver. Ate chinese food lunch with Jack and toured his factory. Saw the Bal project and while I was there, the ceramic sinks were delivered. Everything looked ok. on a few of the vanities, there is a crazy vein in the stone that makes it look broken, not broken. i guess that is natural stone for you. After a few hours with the granite people i shared a car with a 'purchasing agent type' that told me how valuable he would be to my business... got dropped off and met with the hydro power guy for about 30 min. Went back to the airport and flew to GuanZhou, got served some ultra nasty chinese airline food. could not be mre gross... took a cab to the China Garden Hotel. it just turned 9. I think I will go eat at the brazilian restaurant. Not sure what I am going to do tomorrow. I might go see Heaven, might go see Bradman, might go to HK and visit a solar panel company, might go see the wallpaper factory...might just hang and do some Danny time in the morning... we will see... a lot of the people that i have met over the last 2 years are now out of work, they were the low man on the totem pole, so now its like starting over. sort of sucks. the main reason I am here.. Linyi to inspect tubs... is a huge hassle to get to. I think I will be in GZ for 2 days... maybe 3.. fly to Linyi on friday night and out of there on saturday night.. i have to try to get tickets tonight... or i don't know if I will make it there. this has been very busy.... not very fun. I miss you. thanks for the updates. they make my day, and give me energy to eat. danny

Well My Dear,
I am tired. In a different way than you are, probably. I am glad I am tired in the way I am. Today was great. We all got a full night's sleep last night, I got most of the house cleaned up (while listening to one of your mix cd's from last year, thanks), I got to read blogs for almost an hour (which was fun and inspiring), went on a run, visited with Anais for a few minutes, sorted through paint colors, and made some plans for tomorrow.
Tomorrow I am going into Reno first thing in order to have the doctor look at Sophie's ear. She is so grumpy; there must be a reason for it. After that, I will be dropping the kids off at your mom's for the rest of the day so I can paint. I am still not sure which room I will be painting, but definitely plan on doing one of them.
Today Sophie made potty progress. She pooped in the toilet in the morning, and later on in the day almost did it in the toilet twice. The first time she came to tell me, with a very anxious look on her face, but she was too late, for as she told me, the pee came trickling down her legs. Then an hour later she had me take her clothes off and she sat down. After a minute, nothing, so she got up...and pooped 30 seconds later on the floor! She is getting closer, I am convinced. It will just take her a few more days to figure it out.
This morning, Melia did not complete her homework, but we both made a valiant effort. She is only 3, after all. And I am convinced she knows the letters J and K after this week or trying to get her to work on these letters EVERY day! (Sigh) There were a lot of K's to complete! It was so funny. I was trying so hard to get her pumped up about K's. I was trying everything. I was telling her words that began with K...kite, Karen, Kangaroo...and I asked her excitedly, "Isn't that great, Melia?! ...Can YOU think of a word that starts with the letter "K"? Then without even a pause she turns from her work she is completing on the floor, looks at me angrily, and says sharply, "CRAP!" I had to laugh at that reply. I couldn't believe she actually came up with something, and so quickly, too! We both enjoyed a fun little laugh about that.
In the morning, Melia and I played dolls and did homework. Then we all took a bath, just for fun, I guess, in our clothes. Then from 11-1 I felt like swearing loudly and throwing things. Sophie was so grumpy, Melia was so mad about homework and disobedient to do anything I asked and the house was still so messy. But I didn't swear. I threw Sophie's chocolate syrup outside so she couldn't ask for it anymore and I stomped and slammed a little bit. (embarrassed look on my
face) I wish I wouldn't do that stuff, either. But from 1:15-3:15 while Melia was at Cowbus and Sophie was napping, I got to decompress by reading blogs, eating lunch, and I cleaned half the house. I read that Amazon has released it's second edition Kindle. It is lighter, more comfortable in the hands, thinner, has 3x the amount of memory, an adjustable light to dark screen, a pre-loaded dictionary, and pdf capability. If you wait just one more year can you imagine how nice the next set of improvements will be? Then you can buy!
Anyway, after I picked up Melia, I cleaned more and cooked the girls eggs from Papa, and then we went on our jog. Rex never bothers anyone we run by. He is very polite, even when interested, but he was very suspicious of an adolescent boy we passed on the hill and tried hard
to to smell him and size him up. I had to pull him away three times from the boy. I saw Ana a minute later and she told me that boy had been arrested at school yesterday for drug dealing. Good boy, Rex. Well then Ana came over, I talked to you, she left, and we ate dinner. Melia pulled a MAJOR Bombaloo session, screaming and running around the kitchen yelling "I like Bombaloo, I like Bomabaloo, I like Bombaloo, I want her to stay!" and throwing grapes all over the floor...you get the picture. She finished her tantrum, of course, quite abruptly by running into my arms like a scared little kitten and helped me clean up the grapes a few minutes later. Then I got the girls ready for bed, watched a show about rats, bamboo, and rats eating rice crops in Asia, and now it is 9:30 pm and I am wondering where you hid those Snickers bars?? :o)
I better get some stuff together for art and finish cleaning the house. Wish me luck tomorrow in my doctor and painting adventures!
I love you! Good-night.
Annie

Hey. I lost my phone today in a cab. it takes a whole day to buy a phone here. this sucks, I am missing three factories because of it. I will call you. dh

Today, I love you.
But that is not what this letter is about. That is why I write the letter. It is actually about how CUTE Sophie is and how HAPPY Melia was to get to spend a few hours at Grammy's.
Melia had SO much fun, she conked out at 6 p.m.! I have no idea what occupied her so. I know she played a game with Grammy, and examined the whole in your mom's sock while your mom and I were talking on the phone. Your mom said Melia looked disgusted.
Today, Sophie said "I want Mama" a lot while at your mom's house, and on the way home asked for "frie." She got some! She got a small chicken breast, fries, and cereal, then a bowl of hot cereal when we got home, as well as 4 teaspoons of peanut butter. And that isn't mentioning how she ate half of Melia's lunch earlier today, in addition to her own! She is a hungry girl! Oh! That is another word she said today! "Hungeeeeee."
Rex did a lot of kissing up today. I don't know how to describe how a dog actually does that, but today, he did it. And you know what else he did? Waited in the garage for an hour on two separate occasions in hopes that I would put him in the car and take him who knows where. Funny dog.
I was so happy to talk to you today. I can't wait to see my running suit and try it on! That was SO thoughtful of you, honey! Thanks so much! I have really been wanting something like that. I better stay on my running regimen so I deserve it. Sorry about not going to look at it on Skype. I was worried afterword that I had been rude. I should have looked.
The painting is in progress. I have no idea if it will turn out to my satisfaction. But I aim to be satisfied!
Tomorrow, I have visiting teachers coming in the morning and then I will head into Reno to get Sophie's ears looked at. I was able to get an appointment with the nurse! She said we can take a look at her ears through a machine. I am grateful to do it; whether she has an infection in her ears or not, I will be happy to have a clue as to why she has been so grumpy!
Today, we are over halfway through your trip! Hooray!!!
I love you.

What do you think of this mosaic? For the office entrance in Fallon.
The temple paintings are now framed. I guess 10 of them have a spot... the rest look pretty good... he is sending them today via DHL. I really wanted to talk to you today. where are you? danny

WOW! The temple prints look awesome!!! I can't wait to take them in to Deseret Book!
I think should sell really well, too. What do you think? Is Roddick also sending along the regular cardstock prints? I really look forward to seeing them.

I wish we could have talked today. I had to cancel art and go into Reno to get Sophie's ears checked out. They are fine. She cut a new tooth on the bottom. And look how windy it was! Yuk, it was very difficult to steer! I love you.
annie


Hey Hon!
I am so sorry I missed you today. I was sad to hear your THREE messages and know that I wasn't here. bummer. How are you doing? The temple prints are pretty exciting.
Last night I stayed up all night painting. The girls woke up at 3:30 and 4:30 am, Melia first. Well at least they each got at least 7 hours! We tried to call you on skype at our time 5:30 this morning. They both napped good today. Today was okay. I am tired. They ran out of paint at Lowe's, so I can't finish the job until tomorrow or Saturday. I really like the new color, so much that it makes me disdain the old one, but I still can't settle on the accent wall by the table. The shade of white I used looks bad. Who knows? Maybe I will give myself a week to think of what color it needs.
Today I found my debit card and my credit card AND my sunglasses. Now if I could just find that phone.... I realize how blessed I am to have a phone. It is so convenient, and so good for catching up with family and friends while I drive to and from Reno. I realized today what a pretty little house this is we get to live in. I don't know why I get frustrated with it at times. It is good for our little family and my kitchen is lovely.
Tonight the girls helped me make german pancakes. They helped with every step, it was fun. We had a picnic on the floor since their was so much paint and plastic on the counters and table.
Today, Sophie said "Holdge ew" (hold you) a lot. Cute new phrase! She also learned to say "cute," and uses that one often.
Goodnight, Manly.
I love you.

Hey I just went to Linyi, I had to spend the night there and lurk all day until my flight came to take me back to Shanghai. Linyi is probably the dirtiest city in China, well, not dirtiest, that title is probably reserved for Beijing, but it is really dirty. Super polluted... You cannot drink the water there. the whole city is the same color and very square, no art. It felt really Eastern Block there... like i just stepped into East Germany before the wall came down, except they're are Chinese instead of Germans. The city is very... China 10 years ago. I ate 2 times with the GM of the factory... both meals were scary. They have limited bottled water in the city (I am guessing this, they didn't have any at the restaruants), all water at the restaurants had to be boiled... so they flavored it. This picture is of one of the tubs for the hotel. After they glaze it, they put it in this kiln 3 times. It was an incredible factory, they make all of American Standard, Kohler, Casero, and anyone else who makes cast iron tubs. They are the real deal.
I am so very done with China. I miss you. I miss my little babies. I cannot wait to come home. I love you.
danny

Dear Dad,
We are helpful to Mama. I love you.
-Love Melia

Above is the first letter Melia has ever dictated. To you!

Yesterday was good. We got lots of sleep and felt much better. We played, went to Lowe's, then I dropped Melia off at Karen's for 3 hours while Sophie took a nap and I painted the hallway and did a second coat on the living room/kitchen. Here is what the hotel looks like today. Then we went for a run and headed over to Cylee's for dinner with her family and the Chapmans. Sophie was as grumpy as can be. She was unhappy the whole time. So we came home at 8 and I got them ready for bed. Sophie cut a new tooth on the bottom. From 8:30 -12:30, I cleaned up, put back furniture, and did more touch ups and edge work. I went to bed very discouraged. I have worked on this project for over 20 hours, I really like the new color, but it doesn't look very good with the couch and chairs! Argh! I know I have never been sold on them anyway because I really just want a cozy sectional, but come on! I can't get a sectional right now! It is just too pricey! and the Mr. of the family wishes I wouldn't do anything in the first place except change the apple paintings! Speaking of those, I got some cool paper to put in those frames until we get around to doing our own new art.
Today Melia told me I was ruining her life! That was just after the third picture of her that I sent you, and she ran out of the room in tears. I don't know what she was mad at me for. I think she just wants to be the boss sometimes. she was bugged that Sophie, as seen in the second picture I sent you, was trying to talk to you when you were obviously not on the computer. She found it frustrating and infuriating that I would let Sophie pretend-talk to you for so long. Ever since that event this morning, she has been asking me when we are picking you up. Every time there is an unusual sound in the house, Melia asks, "(gasp)...Is it Daddy?! Is Daddy home?!" I keep explaining that it isn't til after church. Hmm. We will see if she asks again. she is in watching a movie right now while I type and paint the last wall, the dining wall, whose color has been alluding me. color is tricky. I really wanted to do this project while you were gone so that the stress and mess would not bother you. i know you hate when I get all worked up about it and I know you don't like to mess with the tiring decision making process of anything that has to do with decorating. I don't blame you! I don't know if you will like the color, but just know that I will try my best to make it all work. I am really trying hard (at least in my imagination) to create a more cozy, but fresh look for us. If it is all in vain, one thing is not vain:I will have learned a thing or two about decorating, not to mention we will know more of what our taste is. and honestly, money wise we have done very , very well. In 4 years of living here, we have furnished and decorated our entire house for approx. 3,500, including the TV, all art, even the bedding. I think that is terrific. We could easily spend that much on a mattress, or that couch I want. We have two bedrooms, an office, a living room, dining room, and kitchen space all done from that money. sorry I am droning on. I am sure you don't care to hear this. It is 8 am where you are now. ...you ready for that long plane ride home??
Good luck, I love you.
Annie