June 2012 Random Pictures

Kerry Parkside - Our favorite mall hangout.  It is spacious, not crowded and there are a lot of restaurants to pick from.  Best of all, it is close to home.

We love to pose for pictures with the statues around the mall.

Mega Fitness - Mega expensive gym.  It is nothing compared to our Andover Y in terms of amenities and size but the cost is exorbitant at around $200 (US) per month ++.  Needless to say, we are currently not members.  

Decathlon Sports Shop - The kid's favorite shopping place.

At Carrefour watching live fishes and turtles while Mom shops for groceries.  It surely keeps them entertained for quite awhile.  Grocery shopping in China is a completely different experience... from seeing duck head and chicken heads, people grabbing meat with bare hands to people snatching vegetables and fruits that are on sale.  My favorite thing is having an online option to shop for staples.  I put in my order and a few hours later my order is by my door.  That is what you call double Amazon Prime!  I love Yihaodian!

Trying out a new playground at the SMIC LQ.

Strolling along the neighborhood in the heat of the sun.

My boys... lazing around at home.

Richard waiting for RJ while he having his entrance exam.  Thank goodness he made it.  SMIC is one of the harder schools to get into.  Hopefully, the kids will be happy there and get a good education.  Education is costly just as everything else in Shanghai is.  We are still getting use to the sticker shock of things here after living for such a long time in a small town where everything is so affordable if not free (I miss my coupon days)!

Exploring the city while Dad is attending an exhibit.

Back at Kerry Parkside.  We love playing at the Lego store.  As a side note, Lego sets here cost at least 2 or 3 times more than the US retail selling price.  Guess who is not buying?  I am glad we have our own stash.  :)

Posing with the martian frogs?

Ole' Supermarket where you can find almost everything imported.

Hershey Store at East Nanjing Rd.

Our first visit at the Orient Pearl Tower - it surely is pretty specially at night.  Breath taking!

At the Apple Store - first to have curved class.