Trip to China (part 10), Qingdao, with grandparents

During our stay in Qingdao, we walked to my parents' place almost everyday, for lunch and/or dinner. The kids sometimes dreaded the walk, but they always wanted to be at grandpa's place. "Because grandpa's place has TV! Cartoons! And always something yummy to eat!"

Because it was hot and humid outside, because there was not much toys or room to play with, and because there was no book for Daniel to read, Daniel (and James) watched a lot of TV at grandpa's place, mostly kids cartoon. I didn't like them watching TV, but, well, at least they were picking up some Chinese that way. :)

Grandpa bought a cake for Daniel and James' upcoming birthdays. 

With cousin (my step sister's son).

Daniel was watching cartoon in grandpa's room. 

This cousin (my step sister's son) is closer in age with Daniel.  They just loved each other's company.

It was really hot! See, the cake is melting and we had to take our shirts off.

Family portrait in my dad's bedroom.

Farewell. At the airport.

Hope that we will go back soon!

Trip to China (part 2), Haiyang, with Grandma

After one week in my hometown Qingdao, on August 5, Guibo's brother drove us to his hometown Haiyang, about 3 hours away. We stayed at his brother's home ( grandma was there too) while their family lived in a back room in his small factory workshop.

Grandma (Guibo's mother) is 89 years old. She is reasonably healthy other than hearing loss and occasional headache. Unfortunately, we cannot understand each other most of the time. I have no such problem understanding the dialect spoken by most of Guibo's siblings though. Mind you that he has 4 brothers and 4 sisters. Except for his big brother, all other of his siblings live in or around the village they grew up.

In little uncle's home.

In front of little uncle's workshop.

The dog is uncle's  guard dog.