Quote of the Week

The joy of learning is as indispensable in study as breathing is in running.

               - Simone Weil

                  French philosopher and social activist

                  1909 - 1943

The Other Side of the Story

Check out Jesse and Rach's blog:

www.jesseknight.com/blog

Team China!

250 lbs of packed bags and stuffed in the car, boys toting their bread and our Chinese Visas hot in our pockets......let's go!

Jesse, Rachel, Deb and Jonny

Team China!

Quote of the Week

There are more things…that frighten us than injure us, and we suffer more in imagination than in reality
               - Seneca
                  Roman philosopher, statesman and dramatist
                  c 4 B.C. - AD 65

I will have my cake and eat it too!

Our first day in China is actually going to be my birthday. Such a coincidence. We start the biggest adventure of the year on my birthday! So great, and I'll stop myself from getting philosophical about the coincidence.

Growing up one of my favorite traditions was birthday cereal. The week of our birthdays, we picked out any cereal we wished with as much sugar as we pleased! Super fun as a kid. So, in a bit of self-indulgence (and nostalgia), I purchased a box of Frosted Mini Wheats at the market. I'm sure they'll have something in China-sugar cereal that is, but I couldn't help myself from doing it a bit early.

Also we made a confetti cake to celebrate early. Yummy!

I wonder what the Chinese rendition of the 'Happy Birthday' song sounds like?...

What traditions have you had over the years for birthdays? Or have you started any new ones as an adult? Please share!

Beautiful Etsy shop to check out...

Check out Kristi Johnson's Etsy shop Mischief By Lokie. Her handmade jewelry is gorgeous and very reasonably priced! Kristi is local to Walla Walla, WA, and making jewelry is one of her many passions. With her good eye, fantastic taste, and attention to detail, any piece would make a lovely gift for yourself or someone else.

Lothlorien Earrings in turquoise and gold

Pearl and Sparkle Necklace

Pearl and Sparkle Earrings

Earth Pendant

Galaxy Necklace

Lyla Necklace in Turquoise

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MischiefbyLoki

Great book- it will change your life!

Recommended reading:

http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/

http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/12/31/cold-remedy-15-real-world-lifestyle-design-case-studies-now-its-your-turn/

Egg-scuse me!

Scrambled, fried, poached?

Min and Kev came over for breakfast. Do you see anything wrong with this photo?

While reaching for seasoning, I knocked over the whisk that was sitting in the bowl holding raw eggs....ewww! Not only did it spill down the front of the counter and onto the floor, but it ended up dripping down the crack between the stove and the counter. Oh man! I couldn't believe it! So gross! We imediatly pulled out the stove to clean it. This was on my chore list anyways, but it was still a pain while in the middle of cooking breakfast. And the egg was so difficult to clean!

Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because the rooster egged her on.

What happens when you tell an egg a joke?
It cracks up. 

Oh Jonny, how you amuse me!

Jonny wants to build this box, he thinks it is one of the greatest things ever!!


The Most Useless Machine EVER! - More DIY How To Projects



Have you ever come across anything that is completely useless? Do you own anything that is completely useless?

The Ex....

A few years ago, I made a very shameful purchase: The Ex.

This was a knife set that we had seen on Overstock.com. My thoughts on it were very negative (as I believe I have at least a little class) and Jonny thought it was hilarious (I'm not saying he doesn't have class, but his opinion on this knife set made me wonder). I bought it for him for Christmas on one condition:

IF WE EVER GET MARRIED, THE KNIFE SET DOES NOT COME WITH YOU!!!! and it will be passed on to the next bachelor in our group of friends.

This horrid knife set has actually turned into quite the good luck charm when it comes to marriage. Each bachelor that has owned this knife set has gotten married in the order in which it has been passed along.

Jonny

Whitney

Kevin

That's 3 for 3

Cheryl (Kevin's mom), was soooooo excited to have the Ex removed from her kitchen (Kev lived at home until he got married). See how excited she is?!

So, now we have decided to bequeath the Ex to Kevin's brother Kip. He is living in Seattle and is in need of a quality girl! Look how cute he is:

(509)301-3403

coleki@gmail.com

aka Mr. Super Nice Guy

Kippra-ham-lincoln

Kip-sickle

Kipperoni

Interests:
all games
reading
movies
coffee (his dream is to own a coffee shop)
dancing
music
eating out

Likes:
Thai food
mangos
cats
anime

Dislikes:
peas
soup
actually he doesn't have too many dislikes, these are all that came to mind

So, if you know of a lady living in the Seattle or nearby (even within a few hours), Kip is looking (now officially since the Ex is being sent his way)!  Only nice girls please! :)

Our home in China

We were sent photos of our three options for housing in China. All are on the same complex with plenty of security (gated with a guard shack and plenty of security personnel), an indoor pool, ping pong and billiards. All are in the same complex and are with in a 3 min walk of each other. 

Apt option 1

Apt option 2

Apt option 3

Photos from the complex

All in all, we are happy with the options. Thinking about how bad it could be and seeing where we will be living is a relief.

Which would you choose?

Must be tax time!

This was the scene last night at the dining table. Both Ostojic men doing taxes. Don't you just love Nick's filing system?

You pack it, you carry it!

Jonny's one packing rule for China is the 80/20 principal. You use 20% of the stuff you bring on a trip 80% of the time. Narrowing down what that 20% will be, is quite the challenge. We are trying to only bring one checked bag and one carry on between the two of us (plus a backpack/computer bag each). This is quite the challenge. After all the lists I've made and weeks of planning what to take, I'm pretty sure it can be done.

"Trip enjoyment is inversely proportionate to the amount of [stuff] (re: distractions) you bring with you." -Tim Ferriss

What are your favorite must-pack items, multi-purpose tools, and lightweight winners? 

By: Miss Abigail Hansen, age 10

Jonny and I are in BC this weekend working on getting his visa for China. Abby and I are sitting here and we thought it would be fun for her to do a post. This is Abby, our niece.

Abby's Best Jokes:
1. Why do humming birds hum? Because they don't know the words.
2. What does a cow say without any lips? OOOOOOO!
3. What is a lion's favorite state? M-A-N-E.
4. What's a lion's favorite food magazine? Feeders Digest.
5. What do you give a blood thirsty angry lion? Lots of room.

This is the story (according to Abby) of when she was caught on the roof.

One evening, I decided to stick my leg out the window and touch the roof. And when nobody was looking, I climbed right out of the window. And I had been climbing on the roof for two whole weeks. And one day while I was eating pretzels and looking at the view, I heard someone calling my name. And I quickly scrambled through the window. Six seconds later, my dad came  barging in with the most ugly look on his face. And he said, "Abby, were you on the roof?" I didn't answer and I didn't have to, because he could see little parts of the roof on my window sill and dirty black socks. I was grounded for six weeks from going and playing with my friends. I got the idea from Kim Possible. The lesson I learned was to never go on the roof no matter how much you want to see what the bird poop looks like on the roof.

The End

Jonny, Max, Ella and Abby

My favorite things about my cousin Ella:

1. she like to suck her thumb

2. she make animal noises

3. we look alike

4. she likes it when I hold her and throw her up in the air

5. when Ella was born I was really excited

6. soon she is going to be a big sister to a boy and she said she wanted a fish instead of a little brother

7. my suggestions for Ella's little brother's name are Elias, Thomas, and Arthur

8. Ella likes my big stuffed animals

9. she eats funny

What will I be when I grow up?... No clue. But, if I could be a super hero, I would be saying no way Jose. I don't want to be a super hero because I don't want to get shot down by the bad guys.

My goals for this year are:

1. following the contract that I signed with my mom

2. playing as many video games as I possibly can

3. enter to be in the movies

I think that's all. All done!