Sunset at Mokapu

We took a stroll along Mokapu beach before dinner to catch the sunset- every night is like this- I loved it.

A slight breeze- the day before a storm blew in.

Fröhliche Weihnachten!

Our happy little tree- having a small tree makes you feel like there's more presents. We had a traditional German Christmas Eve with all the trimmings.

Home-made Stollen- the German fruitcake

We had a crowd for our small apartment- but I still had to decorate the table- ask my mom, that is a Christmas tradition too.

The main event- Roulauden! Yum, yum, yum. It looks disgusting in this picture, but is the German Christmas highlight. Pickles, onions, bacon, mustard, salt & pepper wrapped in steak- baked and fried. I'll miss it until next year.

Christmas Times

First Christmas on our own- starting our fun and traditions.

Not Christmas without a gingerbread house.

GRADUATED!!!

It's official! Lisa is done with school! Here's my nursing class at our graduation banquet (I'll be walking in April). It's amazing that it is all over. I'll definitely miss all of my good friends from the last 2 years.

Christmas Cooking

Thanksgiving- Thanks Rachel Ray!

So, this was the first Thanksgiving on our own! We had fun with our friends Mike and Alicia. Rick was in charge of the turkey. Courtesy of Rachel Ray- I give you- Maple Glazed Turkey with Apple Cider Gravy. Yum-o!

Happy Bi-partisan Halloween!

True Story: so Rick and I thought it would be fun to dedicate our jack-o-lanterns to this years election in a kind bi-partisan way. Thus, the elephant and donkey. Apparently that was not neutrual enough for someone though. The next morning after we put them out, we found someone had taken a knife and stabbed it through the donkey. Haha- welcome to Utah!

Xinzhu- Beipu Hot Springs

We got to go up into the Beipu mountains and play in this awesome hot-cold spring resort. They had a pool and about 8 different springs all at different temperatures so you can hop from a hot to a cold spring. It was beautifully nestled in the lush mountains- you couldn't even see any other buildings or road. It was dreamy.


The pool- it was a straight edge that just looked like it ran into the forest.

Spas in the evening

Last night here :'(
We are really going to miss all the wonderful food, friends, and fun. Here's one of Rick's friends, Thomas, visiting.


Our wonderful hosts- the Wang family

Xinzhu- Sanyi & Sushi

We're here in our last stop- Xinzhu. We went out to a town called Sanyi where the main street is just all stores of hand-carved statues and other woodworks. It was amazing the talent that these people have.


This was a dragon that was about 10 feet long

I just thought this little piggy was soo happy and cute

Rick's hero, Damo, the kung-fu kicking missionary that took Buddhism to China

This one carved piece was as big as a wall in a normal house


The family we're staying with have been wonderful and took us out to sushi- the chefs are crazy busy and just put the sushi on the conver belt and you just chose the one you want when it passes


Much fresher than Utah


They charge per plate- um... let's just say we were impressive


The Wang Family


City center at night- this is the ancient city gate


We spent the rest of the evening doing what I do best- shopping! So many shoes, purses, and clothes, oh my.


This is a drug store here that I had to take a picture of for my grandma watson- she's famous here!