Emily is 9u

Emily turned 9 this week. She celebrated at school and is having a slumber party Friday night.

Here is her at school and the amazing cake I made her.

Xi'An

We have just returned from an wonderful weekend in Xi'An. Xi'An is the home of the Terracotta Warriors and a place I have always wanted to visit.

In true Ciempka style, our plane was cancelled due to fog and snow so we had to catch the overnight train to Xi'An. This was no where near as bad I as I thought it was going to be. We had our own little cabin with 4 bunks and it only smelt slightly of cigarettes. Which in China is a miracle. I think the true highlight of the trip was trying to use the squatty potties on the train with out falling in as the trian swayed its way across China.

Once we made it to Xi'An, we headed straight for the Warriors. They certainly lived up to my expectations. It would have helped if it wasn't - 10 degrees inside the hall and and we could have stayed longer with out freezing! I could have looked at them for hours.

We explored Xi'An, the city wall, the Muslim Quarter, the Wild Goose Pavillion and some markets and Muslim Mosques. It really was a lovely weekend!

These photos show just how cold it was.

Emily's Living Wax Museum

My Amazing Brother

My brother Doug is a chiropractor who is in Africa working voluntary for 6 weeks working with people who are living in poverty, refugees, rape and violence victims and sick. I just want to take the opportunity to tell him how proud I am of him, inspired by him and think he is doing an amazing thing.

Doug your life will never be the same. We are one of the lucky ones.

More Beijing Snow

From the title you can tell it snowed again today.

The best part about the snow today was that it was a Tuesday and it was heavy and that can only mean one thing......... SNOW DAY!!!!!

For an Aussie that means nothing really but if you live in a cold climate it means a day off. The Ciempka's made the most of their snow day.

Inches and inches of thick, powdery snow. I am so trying not to think about the fact that the Chinese government sent rockets up into the clouds to seed the clouds to make it snow. The reason why....... President Obama is coming to town next week and everything must be done to ensure blue skies.

I am not thinking about the chemicals or the reasons, I am thinking about the fun.

If this family shot appears on your Christmas card, don't be surprised.

Emily the Artist

Emily works really hard at school - well sometime. I am more concerned that she is still reversing her 3's! Or maybe she has changed her name to Emilyer?

First Snow of the Season

I have not been looking forward to winter and thank God it has taken ages for the cold to arrive at our doorstep.

Saturday was a glorious sunny, warm winter morning.

Sunday morning Miss Claudia sits up in bed (our bed, I might add) and states, "Cool it is snowing!" Much to our surprise it was and in November too!

It snowed all day here and so much fun was had making snow men and enjoying the snow. No matter how many times you see it, you never get sick of it, well I don't.