MS Band Performance

Thursday was Grant's first Middle School band performance.  They have been working all year on many songs and this was three of their favorites.

They all looked so handsome in their matching tailored outfits.

Great Grandpa Williams would be so happy of this one.  Grant is now using the 1937 trombone that Len Williams, Richard Williams, and Mark Hevland each played.  He practices with it at home and brought it in for the special performance.

Not only did they play as an individual band but they also did a group performance with all the Middle School band members and the band Abacu5.  It was a pretty cool show.

Abacu5 in Shanghai

The middle school band program has a band here from Dallas Texas working with them. Grant's concert is Thursday and the band came to work with his group today.

Here is a bit of information about the band and a mention of SAS. http://www.abacu5.com

They put on a concert for the whole middle school today. Either I'm getting older or they were really loud.



Pretty cool opportunities we get here in Shanghai.

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Location:Shanghai American School - Pudong

Cool Birthday Party

Grant went to his Buddy Chris' birthday party last weekend.  This is what you call Laser Tag on steroids.  Wish I was invited.

Turkey day

There aren't many things in Shanghai that remind me of Portland. But I took a walk to the store this morning to get some bubbly for our Friday Thanksgiving in Green Court and came to this sidewalk






It's not quite Maplewood or Nevada Ct but it sure made me think of friends and family back in Oregon.

Happy US Thanksgiving day from the Hevlands in Shanghai.

Be home in 21 days.


45 minutes later on the way back it is all gone.



Hence why the unemployment rate is so low here.


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Location:Yanggao Middle Road,Shanghai,China

Ruff day

Almost 10 years old. A full day of school and he apparently needed a nap


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Famous people

Look who I met today at school



Jerry Rice. He has been in China promoting the NFL and came to speak to our students.

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Location:S20 Outer Ring Expressway,Shanghai,China

A day of exploring

Cable car to the top of Tinamen Mountain, approx. 1400 meters. Cable car is 7.4 kilometers log and takes 30 min.



This is the road from the base to the Tinamen Mountain Hole. Vey famous. The road has 90 switchbacks.


It was very foggy at the top


This is the glass pathway, also approx 1400 meters in elevation, nothing below. Had to wear special booties to walk on it.


Let's just say many people. Over 30mil tourists each year.


The ride down


It takes 999 steps to get to the top. Once there you are at the base of the hole, which is in the fog.


Took us about 15 min to get to the top. My legs are dying.



Night performance at an outdoor theater.


The set was incredible. Those are the mountains lit up in the background.


Hoping for clear skies tomorrow.

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Location:Huilong Road,Zhangjiajie,China

Another place in China

Off on another adventure for SAS. This weekend I'm checking out an area in Hunan province, city of Zhangijajie. Apparently this is where the worlds longest cable car is and where they filmed part of the movie Avatar. Photos to come soon.

http://maps.apple.com/?q=29.118458,110.493728&sll=29.118458,110.493728


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Catching up

Me in Truckee CA with the Grooms for a few days before my class in Vegas. I miss chopping firewood.


Vegas. Need I say more


Not in a million years. K9 is the only way to go


Ninja Grant at school on Friday


Sunday brunch. Who doesn't like cotton candy?


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Location:All over

A few things

We had quite a bit of rain a week or so ago and after five days it finally stopped. Watson's was excited to go out and run.


And the rays of sun coming through the trees made it a nice morning.


Rugby has begun and after three practices game one was yesterday.


Grant and Bruce tearing up the field.


Not sure he knows which way to go.


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Hard day

Somebody had a hard day at school.


Bet he ends up snoring on the bus ride home

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Location:Yuedong Road,,China

First day of middle school

The stages of the first day of middle school. He was very excited and the highlight of the day was getting his locker and being able to conquer the dial combination lock.














And as of today he will start the first full day of classes.

PS. He signed up for rugby yesterday. Practice starts Monday.

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Location:Jinkou Road,,China

Back to work

Well the summer officially comes to an end in the morning. I have been back at work since the 28th and Kelly goes back tomorrow morning.

I have been busy getting my offices organized. I was moved out of my previous office on each campus and relocated. Along with wrapping up some major system upgrade projects over the summer.

Grant and Kelly have been enjoying the last week and a half sleeping in and relaxing.

G has one more week off and then 6th grade starts on Aug 13th.

It was a good summer. The shoulder is feeling well and Bali was great. Next break is October 1 and plans at this point are to stay in Shanghai.

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Location:Yinshan Road,,China

Back at potato head

Friday we saved because our friends the Sharps were in Bali. Headed over to Seminyak in the morning to meet them for brunch then to their villa for an early happy hour.
The kids played in the pool and we laughed and drank. Miss them tons.
Headed to Potato Head Beach club for a follow up visit from our last trip to Bali, it didn't disappoint.















Good food, great friends and a fabulous view for dinner.

Today is our last day in Bali. We are lounging by the pool and will pack after dinner. Flight back to Shanghai leaves at 1:05am, back in China at 7:00am Sunday.

Then I have to be on the bus to work at 6:50 Monday morning. Yuck

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Location:Jalan Pantai Sanur,Denpasar,Indonesia

Some Highlights in Bali

I would guess one of Grants highlights would be his surfing school.  Three days in Kutu surfing for almost 3 hours each day.  I think he's ready to try hanging "5"

With all good surfing come some good crashes.

The face is priceless

On the last day of surfing school we joined in on the daily baby turtle release.  They collect the eggs from the beach and move them to a safe environment to hatch.  Once they hatch they release them on the beach and safeguard them to swim back to the ocean. 

 Pretty Cute

 Go turtles go

Grant and I went on the hunt for the black sand beach.  And we found it.

A bit of sea kayaking

And a day of relaxing.  Kelly's new favorite drink, Red bull and Vodka.  Mmmmm tasty.

Beach time

Grant and his surf school instructor. This place was based out of the Hard Rock Hotel in Kutu. Pretty cool surf school



Grant was busy at the pool saving months. This guys name was spot.



Spent the day just chill'n on the beach. Chicken satay for lunch and a few tasty beverages.



What a handsome couple. Sure wish I was in the picture. :-)


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Location:Sanur, Bali