Picnic and Planes

Our Discovery Club families invited us to a picnic at Olympic Park today--our first Chinese picnic. 

We set up our blankets under the shady trees that you see in the background above. Isn't that a cool statue?

One family set up a small tent. The kids were really happy to play and rest inside.

Everyone brought their own food, but a lot of sharing also took place. Our friends love to give us new things to try (I had a green pea Popsicle, for example) but they are not always very adventurous about trying the things we offer to them. They were very unsure about our oatmeal peanut butter cookies!

 The weather was lovely today (right up until the thunder and hailstorm, that is), and we played games on the grassy field-- Frisbee, soccer and Smashball.

Language practice was also plentiful, and we realized (as we realize each and every day) how far we have to go to be able to communicate effectively. We are thankful for these friends who are so patient with us and always willing to help.

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Our friends recently had a baby girl, but Chinese mommies rarely leave the house with newborns until they are 100 days old. Today was the first time we met this sweet little one. Isn't she precious? She really liked Amy and was smiling and talking to her. 

Ian's Adventure

Ian left early from the picnic to meet his friend Shawn White (not the snowboarder, but the guy pictured below) and his dad. Shawn is an airplane enthusiast who invited Ian to go and watch the "Dreamliner" land in Beijing.

I didn't realize it when he set out, but they were actually biking all the way to the International Airport!

They biked 35 miles round trip to see this plane:

(35 miles.)

A heavy downpour occurred on the way home, and since part of his journey took him along a dirt road, this is how his legs looked when he got home: 

(Those are not light brown leggings!)

Another fun day in Beijing!