This is what we walked down.....

After many steps we finally made it to the bottom.

This is a view of the people who chose to see the bid Buddah from a boat. After wrangling Teac in the line for 2 hours I was wishing we had too.

Going down more stairs.

That is the left hand...

Here is the head.... and you can tell how hot and sweaty we are from the condition of our hair styles.

This is the huge line we waited in for 2 hours to climb down the big Buddah.

Family :)

This is infront of one of the statues in the temple at the top of the hill.

Le Shan is located at the merging of two rivers. This is a view of the city and the two rivers converging behind.

This is at LeShan (The largest Buddah in the world- http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/sichuan/leshan/buddha_statue.htm ).

This is coming down from Emei Shan- you can see how full of run-off the river is.

So we made the 3 hour drive to Emei Shan http://www.sacred-destinations.com/china/emei-shan.htm supposedly one of the most beautiful spots in all of Sichuan. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain so rather than pay the $20 per person to go to the top of the mountain and see nothing, we got out, used the bathroom, ate some sandwiches, then got back in the car and went to LeShan. We will have to come back in Oct when the weather is good.

Entrance... read below

This is the entrance to Luo Dai. You can see just the the left the red dresses and ancient Chinese armor. There were a ton of shops where you can get dressed up in ancient clothes and have your picture taken along the old-style street. You can see the tour bus pulling up in front. Aparently just down the road from this place there is a "great wall" that you can climb too. We never found the wall. Oh well. :)

Tea house at Luo Dai

We watched a guy make ginger candy. You can see him in the background pulling it like taffy from a hook on the wall.

This is the information center at Luo Dai. I just think the building is cool.

This is a shop where you can watch the process of going from the silk cocoon to the fabric. the white hanging stuff and the white on the table are all raw silk that they are drying and then smoothing out to make into thread.

I took a day trip just outside the city to a touristy spot called Luo Dai. It was fun but not very authentic. People really live there, they just built the shops to look like an old Chinese town.

Here they are getting on the bus. Not quite the yellow school bus we all grew up with. These seats even have seat belts.

So Teac, in his pajamas, went out to the bus stop with me to wait for the bus. While I was taking a picture of his sisters, he headed down the street like he was perfectly fine and what was there to worry about anyway.

My brown-eyed girls. Can you believe Marlo tried to convince me the other day that she didn't like pink? She put particular effort into this outfit to make sure that it all matched- all pink.

Aug 24th was the first day of school!! Zoe is sooooo excited to be in kindergarten this year (can you tell?). I think they look great. It is really fun to watch them grow up.

Papi was playing so Teac insisted on climbing up to play along. He was very serious about it, it was really cute.

Heidi is slowly getting used to being so far away. It's a good thing we have unlimited calling!!

Yeah Heidi's here!!!!!

Teac really likes watching the fish. Even I have been surprised how nice it is sit and watch them swim around.

We have been thouroughly enjoying the Nintendo Wii since we returned. You know it is a big deal when dad can stand to play with his daughters and their friends.

Some friends left and couldn't take their fish with them... we told Zoe she could get a pet when we got back from vacation. The fish tank they delivered is now also home to two salamandars that have been eating the small fish- one each night since we bought them.

This is just a cute picture.... he's smiling and waving... what more could I ask for?

Chuck e Cheese is always a good idea- at least the kids think so. Teac rode this little merry-go-round at least 10 times.

Enjoying the cool evening air in the back yard with Grammy and Grandpa.

I am so greatful fo all of the effort our friends and family make to keep in touch with us while we are so far away. (Those not in the picture included of course!)

These are only some of the trains they have at Travel Town. It is free to get in and they have a nice picnic area. I highly recommend it for an afternoon stop with kids if you are ever in LA.

I don't think this engineer is tall enough to reach the pedals... I mean see where he's going.

"Zoe, we'll get this thing started some how!"

Travel Town is so cool because they let you climb in and on a ton of old trains. You don't realize how huge they are until you stand next to them.

Grandpa took us all for a train ride at Travel Town!

So you'd think with all of the traveling that I could learn to travel light... not so. Here we are at LAX and my children are being so amazingly patient.

Grandma let us put our little fingers on everyone of the cookies.

Making cookies with grandma. Yum!

All this time together, he drags me all over the world, and we still like each other- go figure.

Beautiful Arizona. It makes beautiful kids tan either with sun or dirt and colorful sunsets.

Sleeping sister to my right.... I must have done something right.

Sleeping sister to my left....

When you have a lot of kids, it's hot enough to cook on the sidewalk, and you are about to go insane, you take them to an indoor place to run crazy for a while. This is at Makudu's Island.... big sister Kaisa is taking care of the little ones.

Happy Birthday Cow Girl

Between cousins and friends and cousins of friends, Marlo had a pool full of kids for her party. We ate Otter Pops, ring pops, drank Kool Aide, ate ice cream, and then sent all the kids home with their parents... ha ha ha ha ha :)

Happy Birthday to Marlo. The cake was her creation- layers of chocolate chip cookies and cookies-n-cream ice cream.

There are amazingly beautiful waterfalls at Hava Supai, I just don't have any pictures of them. You are just going to have to take my word for it.

When you sleep in the car the night before and then hike 11 miles, it is definately not all about the fashion.

BS, I mean Bologna.

One more year older and still handsome.... a few less hairs but who's complaining. :)

Cousins and chips, two "C" words we don't get much of in China.

Surprisingly, Teac was not interested in random squirting water... he would rather chase the killer geese than play in the sprinklers with his sisters.

My head ees to big for my body..... Skippy Jon Jones

Ahhhhhh, just kidding.

The Phoenix Zoo is always a good idea, even if it is over 100 degrees F outside.

I did so well at not letting Teac get sunburned until the last day while we were taking down the tents. His poor little cheeks still didn't hurt enough to keep him from enjoying time with Grandma.

At what point will we have to force them to hug or even stand next to each other when we take a picture?

Good friends

Play hard and then crash.

Mom only thinks we're going back to sit down.... I'm going back in the water!

We had so many kids at camp there was a best friend for everyone.

Do I look cooler covered in sand with my hair a little wind-blown?

So I tried to take a picture of him with a towel on reading a book just like his mom, but he moved before I could get it! But this is why we love vacations at the beach so much.... you just have to sit and relax.

You haven't really had a smore until you've eaten it with lots of chocolate, at least 2 marshmallows and even some peanut butter roasted on top.

Uncle Scott was very creative and made a T so that the kids could play baseball at camp.

Just over that hill in the background is the ocean. On this particular camping trip I think the kids out numbered the adults.

We had such a good time at Carpinteria with our family and friends.

we like playing with cousins... not sure where my girls get their sense of humor, I don't think it comes from their parents.

mmmm spaghetti.

mmmm dirt.

I think they look related :)

Happy Birthday, I mean cheese cake, Uncle Ryan.

Kite's a Dog

Kite is the best dog in the whole world. He even remembered us after our long absence. He did stay away from Teac however, unless he was strapped in his high chair and willing to hand out food. :)

Dogs have good memories and Kite is a great dog.

Happy Birthday Uncle Ryan!

Dogs have amazing memories. Teac loved the dog, and Kite was careful to stay away from him unless Teac was strapped in his seat and willing to feed Kite treats under the table.