two more days of Stevie Joe Joe

Tuesday morning the little boys went to school, the big kids did home school and Stevie Joe Joe worked at the kitchen table.  By lunch we were ready for some more adventuring.  First up, dropping the big kids off at local school.  [No worries, uncle had some fun tricks up his sleeve for the big kids at pick up.]

Then the little two and I showed Stephen the subway ropes, straight into the heart of downtown.  It's an impressive place to explore and we did a little souvenir shopping too.

And then met the big kids at the school gate, they left to get some milk tea (big treat) with Stephen and I herded the little boys back home for a short rest before dinner.  We picked up Stephen and the bigs and went to a really cool dinner theater.  I'd never been but we will definitely go back - dinner, then watch a show of traditional drama? is that what you'd call it?  I'm not sure but it was definitely entertaining.

The tour continued Wednesday morning and we were off bright and early to the panda research base.

It had been a while since our last trip, so fun for everybody.  Cool, even misty (and raining by the time we made it back to the van), which is actually perfect panda viewing weather since they tend to get lazier as the temps warm up.

Spring flowers, green grass, bamboo eating panda.

And then Wednesday evening rolled around and it was bye-bye to Stevie Joe Joe (Matt drove him to the airport at 5am for the first leg of his long journey home).

We played a little more basketball and (after the kids were all asleep) we ate a little more shao kao (street food) and the visit was over.  But he will be back!  And we will be eager to see him again.  Just a sweet time for everybody!