Monday, January 31, 2011

Ray and Maria visit China!

Ray and Maria came to visit us Jan 20-30. Here are some photos from their visit!
We had SO MUCH FUN with them, our new travel buddies! We're already planning our next trip with them!! The 10 days that they were here just zipped by so quickly, but we made such good memories with them, and it was fun to get to know each other as couples!


We went to our fav place to watch American football games: the Big Bamboo. Since the Steelers were playing to seal their place in the Superbowl, it was especially exciting!! We enjoyed a good breakfast and a good game--the Steelers won!! Haha, if you've never had the experience of watching a football game with any of the Martins??? They are a riot! Makes football FUN!! :D






We found a store named for us!!!


Ray was SO GOOD at trying out different kinds of foods!
Sichuan food, although spicy, is SO YUMMY. We were all sweating, crying, and blowing our noses by the end of the meal, but loved every second!! :D




Here is a little maternity photo shoot for your enjoyment of our growing family:









We made Thai food for Ray & Maria at home one night--they were brave enough to humor our attempts! Joe & I loooove Thai food, so it's a frequent style that's cooked in our house. Come and visit to try!! :D






We also went to Pizza Hut to enjoy some good "western" food, which we all need once in awhile. :D








Chinese New Year decorations at Yu Garden





Lovin' up the candied strawberries on a stick!



haha, Ray, you're so rich


One of the many local fruit markets. Right now strawberries, pineapple and other fabulous fruits are in season and so cheap to buy! Yum!


Exploring the "Old Town" of Shanghai





Chopstick masters!! :D Ray got his first experience!





West Lake Hangzhou




The China Pavilion from the Shanghai 2010 World Expo


Coffee and jazz at the Hilton





tired travelers on the subway


Come back and visit, you guys!!! We already miss you!! :D

J&N

Saturday, January 15, 2011

2011 so far: seminars, online shopping, and guests!

We are settling into 2011 well, with Joe getting back into the swing of school, Nica being busy with her work, as well as beginning to prepare for the changes (baby! yay!) that 2011 will bring us!

The past two Saturdays, we have been going through the 2010 Global Leadership Summit DVD series with several of our friends! Everyone comes over to our place and we go through the sessions, taking time for discussions afteward. Joe & I have really enjoyed doing this with them: a good way to begin a New Year in discussing our goals personally, in our marriage, ministries, and work. Last year was the first year that GLS came to Shanghai, and we have really enjoyed the speakers, finding each session to really relate to our marriage, ministries, and work!


On a baby note, we are starting to research baby gear!!! While Nica peruses the baby secion of the classified section of EnjoyShanghai.com looking for people who are moving away from Shanghai and want to get rid of bunch of their stuff fast for good prices, Joe is practicing his Chinese reading skills and searching Taobao.com, which (as a friend put it!) is like e-bay on steroids. haha, anything and everything can be bought on Taobao and for amazinly low prices, and all delivered within 1-2 days to the door! So easy, fast, and cost-effective: an online shoppers dream come true: if you can read Chinese. Which Joe can! My husband never ceases to amaze me. :)

Here is an example of a crib we were looking at. Joe reads the details for me, I sit in awe by him and look at the pictures, and we shop together! So fun!


So, the days have begun when we're realizing how much STUFF a baby needs, or the parents need to make caring for baby easier! (ie: do we need a crib AND cradle AND baby seat AND playpen AND bouncer AND carrier AND an umbrella stroller AND a bigger stroller--all of which simply holds the baby??? How much extra space do we actually have in our apartment??? haha...we're having fun researching and discussing.

THE HIGHLGHT OF OUR WEEK THIS WEEK??? RAY AND MARIA are coming to visit!!!
We haven't seen them since their wedding in October, so we are SUPER thrilled to have them here to visit us!!! Maria has been to Shanghai before, but this will be Ray's first time, so we'll have fun showing him around, wowing them with great food and our Martin hospitality!! They arrive on Thursday! YIPPEE!!! More posts on our time with them, soon!
Okay, time to do some dishes and get ready for church. Last week I led worship (had a great team of keys, drums, electric and acoustic guitar, sax, trumpet & three back up singers! what a privilege to sing and worship with such a talented team!) but I love being beside Joey as we worship together more than anything. Sunday afternoons (when our church services are held at) can't come fast enough!

Love you all!
Nica

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

last memories from 2010...

We found this tiny little stocking to honor our special little one this Christmas! Just looking at it hanging on our tree reminds me of the many changes coming to us in 2011. Although an exciting (and intimidating!!) thought, I can't wait to help him hang it on the tree himself next year...


We had so much fun opening gifts this year...yet how much more will it be next year??

Danny had my name, and Ben had Joe's...they planned ahead to send the gifts to us already when we were back for the weddings last fall! Since Joey wouldn't let me open them till Christmas, I was SO excited to "dig in" as soon as Christmas became official!!

and a bell for my bicycle!!! Thanks, Danny!!! xoxo

I can only imagine and anticipate our Christmas next year when we celebrate our son's first Christmas together with in little family!

New Year's Eve Joe and I kept telling ourselves we REALLY should go out, since next year we'll have a little baby to tuck in (yay!!) but it was so cold outside and our apartment so warm, we settled in with Papa John's and some good movies and prepared to celebrate on our own...until our friend Vivienne called us up and talked us into joining the party our church was hosting at a hotel...complete with a great worship band, lots of friends, food, and a fun countdown!

All in all, we were glad we went! Here I am with Ivy and Vivienne,

...and my dear husband. I am SO GRATEFUL that I get to enter into into another year with this great man who I have the privilege to call my husband.


Welcome, 2011!!!
Shangdi baoyou nimen! (God bless us every one!)



Saturday, January 1, 2011

Home from Hong Kong...a peek into our trip!

This was Nica's first time to HongKong, and something she looked forward to even through the teary farewell of our beloved Sanya beaches. We have LOVED our relaxing vacation, and now that we are back in cold Shanghai (right around freezing!!!) we look back at these photos SO happy for the trip, the perfect weather, and the perfect company: just the two of us. >grin<

Photos can't adequately do justice to the beauty or history of Hong Kong, you'll just have to someday experience it for yourself!

Here we are in the raincoats provided to us by our airline, since it threatened rain the night we left Sanya...we thought they were at least a great photo opp! haha


Boxing Day: Nica was up late into the night for a Christmas Day skype call with her family...Joe's shoulder is the pefect height...the train lulling...the book at a slow spot...all perfect elements for a lovely snooze...



We made it to Hong Kong! We checked into our hostel, and immediately started exporing the city! We tried to catch a church service, but the church had different services over Christmas, so we enjoyed Boxing Day sales instead!



Monday we just walked and enjoyed the city!! Here is Nica on one of the many shopping streets

Stopping for a treat! Nica's "drop" in her "Shop till you drop" routine comes much faster these days...Joe is good at providing periodic stops for refreshment!



He is SO MUCH FUN to hang out with...>sigh<

All the taxis look the same...and of course,very British. And the cable cars (the size of a doubledecker city bus split in half down the middle!) made us laugh! But, we have to admit, the public transportation system was quite impressive.

We enjoyed exploring our new neighborhood!




yep, flamingos in the park! cool.

Here is "Harbor City" right before we got on a ferry to head to Hong Kong Island


Exploring Hong Kong Island!


Monday was also a holiday in Hong Kong, so LOTS of people out enjoying the Christmas spirit and the beautiful weather! It felt like we stepped from summer in Sanya to spring in Hong Kong!





We explored, shopped, ate, explored, shopped, ate...till night when we caught the city-wide light display on the Harbor! Set to music, the lights on the buildings put on a beautiful light and music display with hundreds of people gathered to watch. We had a great seat...it was so romantic!



The next day we set off to explore one of the outlying islands called Lamma Island

It was a beautiful 30 min or so ferry ride away from the bustle of city life...





...and into a quiet fishing village and hiking trail throughout the hills of the island.


We were all set to try some fish in the many seafood restaurants when we arrived, but when we smelled these blueberry waffles we were both surprised and excited...we couldn't resist. Maybe we'll get fish next time. haha

















Since Nica was just finishing a historical fiction book about the last Empress in China, and Joe has a LOVE for history, we were both excted to go through the Hong Kong Museum of History. Wow, it gives such an increased appreciation of the city!




And we caught the Tram up to the Peak that night!!! AMAZING views of the city!



We were surprised (why are we surprised at this!?!) at how much SHOPPING was at the top! Here is a view looking down on the beatiful mall built on top of the mountain. haha





Nica thought it was SO COOL that a store was named for HER! Unfortunately it was closed when we found it, so we still don't know what is sold here. We'll have to go back.

Here is a view from our hostel room on Nathan Road...a very bustling part of town! A fun place to stay

And a peek into our teeny room...just perfect for the two of us
That's our trip to Hong Kong! Much too short, but an amazing trip! We have thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas vacation--the last major vacation till our little one arrives!
Welcome, 2011!!!! Pics of our New Year's celebrations to come soon...