Back to School

School started February 1st.  The kids had a weekend home and then were excited to ride their Christmas scooters to school.  Eric =Year 4, Zachary =Year 5, and Wendy Year 3.  Hyrum will start school on his birthday in April.
Thus far school is going well.  Zachary is willingly writing, Eric is feeling more confident in his reading, and Wendy is slowly allowing me to drop her off rather than walk her in.  Hyrum has started a 4-year-old program once a week to help him get to know the school and expectations.  He is loving it.  So, overall school is great!

Taiwan: Home and Travel

We had a wonderful visit with my parents in Taiwan.  The next few posts will go through a few of the experiences we had. To start traveling and spending time near the apartment.

We spent plenty of time in airports and on airplanes. 

 Below is a set of photos of a prayer hall in the Kaohsiung airport.  Notice the rooms for Christian, Buddhist, and Muslim. 

 Grandma and Grandpa opened their home to the family.  Although it was sometimes cold it was a great place to call home for 9 days.  The kids played with Legos, UNO, Grandma and Grandpa's tablets, colored, and made their once quiet apartment chaotic.  We also explored the surrounding area visiting a park, the local department store, and the night market that just opened right outside there apartment.  

 Here we are at the park.  The kids loved playing and interacting with the other kids there.

  

The courtyard at Grandpa and Grandma's apartment.

  Playing games at the night market.

Taiwan: Lotus Lake

 Lotus Lake

The first touristy place we visited was Lotus Lake.  It was beautiful, the weather just perfect and the kids excited to discover new things.  We packed a lunch and Grandma bought a dragon fruit to try.  Everyone enjoyed it, but Sabrina couldn't get enough.  It was interesting how ornate the buildings-were and the stories found depicted in the halls of the dragons and tiger were interesting.  I'll let the pictures tell the story,

Taiwan: Temple Trip

 Friday, Grandma and Grandpa watched the kids while Kyle and I took the high speed rail to Tapei and attended the temple.  It was a wonderful experience!  We also visited Tapei 101 the tallest building in Taiwan at 101 floors. 

Our walk to the Temple 

 Taipei 101  I'm standing by the damper ball, an 800 metric ton ball that keeps the building stabilized during a typhoon or earthquake. Kyle is standing by a huge cabbage.  I guess there is a jade cabbage that is famous at the National Palace.  We found a lot of cabbages on souvenir shop shelves and this huge one on floor 85.

The Taipei, Taiwan Temple.  It was wonderful to feel the spirit of the temple and be with Kyle.  What a blessing!!