Hello from the long, lost Gilbert clan!

Sorry it has been so long since we posted our last message. Our only excuse is that our life is crazy. My goal was to create a post before I turn 40. Since that is tomorrow, I better get this done!! As I mentioned, life have been busy, but we have been able to create some great memories over the past three months. We have posted a few pictures below to give you an idea of what we have been up to. Liisa spent a week in Australia at a MYP workshop, but was able to sneak in some sightseeing in Syndey the day before the workshop and in Adalaide following the workshop. If you ask me, I think she did more "sightseeing" based on the number of pictures she took! Liisa's parents visited us in Febuary and we spent the week of Lunar New Year in Beijing. We toured the sites of Beijing and traveled to the Great Wall - a memorable week! Over spring break in March, Jim and Sandy visited us and we escaped to Jeju Island, an island off the southern tip of South Korea for a few days of relaxing and sightseeing! The weather was cool and windy, but we still had a great time. The rest of our time has been spent teaching, coaching (Andrew - elementary and middle school basketball, Liisa - high school dance crew), and parenting. The kids have kept busy, but are looking forward to being home this summer!

Pictures of the Kids

Family picture on Jeju Island during spring break! It was "unseasonably cool" the week we went!

Lonne performs in his first play - "Tacky the Penguin" at school. Lukas "decides" to play basketball this year, since the school does not have a wrestling team - Dad could not be prouder!!!

Ailsa with her first grade friends at her 7th birthday party!

Jeju Island - Spring Break

Jim and Sandy (Andrew's parents) were able to join us for a trip to Jeju Island. The kids at a pagoda (temple) on Jeju.

Ailsa finds a basalt figure on Jeju that she thinks is pretty cool! I'm not sure why this picture uploaded twice!

Liisa and the girls before we hiked into the crater of the volcano that is pictured in the background.

The Great Wall of China

Lukas, Ailsa, Anja, and Lonne stretch across the Great Wall of China!!!!

Liisa enjoying a walk along the Great Wall!

Andrew and Lonne prepare for the slide from the Great Wall back to the parking lot below - tourism at its best!

Eino and Jeanne (Liisa's parents) eating Hot Pot in Beijing. Wow - Jeanne looks like a natural with those chop sticks!

Lukas and Ailsa posing with a Kung Fu cast after a show in Beijing.

Lunar New Year in China

Lukas outside of the Olympic Stadium (The Birds Nest) in Beijing.

Andrew and Lonne surviving the street scene in downtown Beijing on Lunar New Year - Lonne had the best views of China!

Liisa, Ailsa, and Anja sharing some street food - their favorite was candy covered strawberries!

Outside the "Forbidden City" in Beijing!

Lunar New Year in Beijing, China

Liisa in Australia

Liisa and a couple of friends from school visiting a winery near Adelaide, Australia.

Looking out of the winery into the valley of grapes. Liisa looooves her animal pictures. I will spare you the pain of seeing all 200 pictures she took of animals - the highlights include one of a Kuala Bear and Liisa feeding a Kangaroo!

Probably the most well known site in Australia - the Opera House in the harbor of Sydney!