Building, Searching, and Being "Home"

This year our Spring break was all about "HOME".  Bracken worked the entire week in Malaysia building HOMES for Habitat for Humanity, Parker and his parents spent the week searching for the perfect place to call our HOME in San Francisco, while at the same time Preston and Tyson stayed with Hua Li and Shirley enjoying daily activities with their friends at HOME in Shanghai.  For the entire week, our family was divided in three different countries fulfilling and enjoying three different "HOME" purposes.  However,  HOW NICE  it was to finally reunite at the end of a long week back at our HOME in Shanghai, and give a summary of each of our week's activities.


Bracken---Habitat for Humanity

Bracken spent his spring break in an exotic location, Kota Kinibulu, Malaysia.  However, the work he was performing was nothing close to exotic and relaxing.  This was Bracken's third time volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, and although the work was grueling, and circumstances were difficult, he always comes home fulfilled and happy.  This year, his primary job was to help install an indoor plumbing system for the Habitat for Humanity home.  How grateful the family was to finally have indoor plumbing in their home, and how rewarding it was for Bracken to help provide.  Even though Bracken came home with mosquito bites covering his body, he was grateful for his experience, and even more grateful for his comfy bed when he arrived back HOME!

 John, Alison, and Parker---San Francisco

Even though we spent the majority of our week preparing for our upcoming move---searching for our future home, test driving new cars, and visiting the future schools, we also enjoyed touring San Francisco, catching new movie releases, eating yummy food, cheering at an Oakland Warrior's basketball game, and Parker's favorite.....shopping!!  We quickly realized how many reasons we are looking  forward to calling this city our new home!!  Parker had never been to San Francisco before.  He was quick to admit the city was completely different than what he was expecting, and was surprised to see so much green with so many hills.  As his parents, we could not get over how much fun it was to spend the week with Parker, and loved his ongoing positive attitude about the upcoming move, even though we realize he too is having a hard time leaving great friends in Shanghai

LOVED IT---HAD TO SEE IT TWICE IN TWO DAYS

THE REAL HOT CHOCOLATE

SOUR DOUGH BREAD....COULDN'T GET ENOUGH

SAN FRANCISCO CLAM CHOWDER.......A MUST

Tyson and Preston---Shanghai

Tyson and Preston were thrilled to see everyone return back HOME, but even better were the Lego's they were promised upon our return.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE BEING HOME!!