Beijing - Day Two

We were all up bright and early thanks to jet lag confusing our bodies into thinking we were done sleeping.

The hotel breakfast buffet is ahhh-mazing and it was so fun to show the girls what Chinese people eat for breakfast.  There is also a large assortment of American food so we were well fed.

At 8:30 we were met by a friend of my mom's -- an American whose husband is headmaster at a school here.  We took taxis to the school.  Unfortunately, there is a law here now that only 4 people are allowed in a cab so we have to take 2 cabs everywhere.  Molly and I went with my mom's friend and the others left before us with a cab driver who supposedly knew where he was going.

Not.

He dropped them off a ways from the school and they began asking people around them for help. (They had a brochure with phone number for the school).  Eventually a kind taxi driver insisted on taking them where they needed to go (it wasn't far) and wouldn't take any money.  So thankful God took care of them!

The school was beautiful and the kids adorable.  It reminded me of how our kids looked when they were little (sob).

After that we headed to the Temple of Heaven by ourselves - thankfully our taxi drivers got us to the same place at the same time.  It was so interesting to see the place where the God of Heaven was worshipped centuries ago.  It is in a park-like setting that is so peaceful compared the hustle and bustle of the city.  I have never been to China in the spring and I think it is now my favorite time to come.  There are so many flowering trees, lilacs and forsythia.  It's beautiful.  I wish I could get some pictures of them but they are next to the highway and all I get is a blur or a big guardrail in the foreground.

 My girls.  

Then for the part of the trip that the girls have been saving their money for...the Pearl Market.  I was dreading the bargaining but a star has been born.  Chloe LOVED the challenge and had the time of her life bargaining down to the bottom dollar.  She was frustrating the shop keepers because she wasn't moved by any of their usual tactics.  haha  After seeing her in action we will be delegating the rest of it to her for the remainder of the trip.  The shop keepers told me that Chloe was 'very clever' and 'a hard one.'  ha.  I'm sure they were still making a nice profit.  We are now happy owners of a North Face jacket and several pairs of knock-off Converse shoes that say "Made in USA."  I'm sure they are authentic.  ha  Chloe and Jillian also bought a purse and wallet and my mom bought a boatload of pearl jewelry.  They had a blast.

 The bridge over the road to the Pearl Market. So thankful not to play Frogger with our lives over the busy road.

 Grandma buying pearls and Shu Shu, our Panda looking on.

 Bargainer at work....

 This is 'best price.'  It's is 'very cheaper for you.'

 Shu Shu rides in the taxi.

Our taxi driver....

We also purchased a stuffed panda to tour China with us and pose for pictures.  We forgot to bring a stuffed animal from home to do this.  Gah.  Our taxi driver gave us the name for Panda in Chinese - which the girls cannot remember - so I have decided to use the beginning of the word and double it like they do for Chinese names.  Henceforth our Panda's name will be Shu Shu.

Shu Shu had fun at Pizza Hut for dinner and riding in the taxi on the way home.  We found a taxi driver who had a slightly larger car and could take 5 passengers.  Yay!  He was hilarious!  He asked us if we wanted to hear some good music.  Cringing at what he might put on, we smiled politely and nodded.  He put on some 'really good American music' and started dancing in his seat.  I smothered giggles and briefly joined him.  The "American music" was some raucous knock-off American CD but he really enjoyed it.

Tomorrow is the Great Wall.  The girls are already asleep so I need to do the same.

Made it to Beijing!

We had a very eventful trip - but it was only that way while still in the US.  UGH!  Our flight was delayed until 11am and our flight from Detroit to China was leaving at 12:45.  Our flight landed at 12:30, we exited the plane at 12:35 and did an all out sprint to the next terminal.  Well...we started out sprinting... hehe...we ended up walking fast part of the way after we felt like we were going to die of heart attacks on the spot.

We made our flight with 2 minutes to spare.  The staff at the desk grabbed our passports and boarding passes because we were shaking and fumbling so bad we couldn't do it ourselves.  But we made it.

Our luggage did not.

Thankfully, I had instructed the girls to put underwear and a t-shirt in their carry-on's so at least we are wearing something clean today.

We got out our hotel around dinner time.  So far the girl's impressions of China:
Very different
We're all going to get hit by a car.
The food at the hot pot restaurant:  Gross.  Don't use any of the sauces.  (They were laughing at Grandma because she called it a pot restaurant.)
Jillian says she likes the food here.

Everyone tries to speak to the girls in Chinese and look puzzled when the girls give them a blank stare.  We caused no small stir in the Hot Pot restaurant last night because we didn't do ANYTHING the way we were supposed to.  Employees kept coming over and re-doing what we attempted - and looked rather disgusted at the stupid Americans who couldn't even figure out how to cook their food in a pot of water.  It was quite hilarious!

Pretty sure that the dishes speak for themselves.  Heh...

We then walked around a little and saw an amazing bakery which we wanted Jillian to be able to see since she loves decorating cakes.  This wedding cake was pretty incredible!

Miss Chloe has been hoping she would be able to find "Ball Cakes" in China.  She loved them when we were here adopting her and we always brought them home to her whenever we were in China.  She was so excited to find them in the very first store we visited.  Yay!  (I think they are gross but Jillian and Chloe love them.)

We are headed off to a school this morning.  This afternoon it will be Temple of Heaven and the famous Pearl Market.  The Pearl Market is several floors of everything imaginable.  The girls have the goal of buying North Face jackets and seem to be counting on Mama to do all the bargaining.  I will sure miss the expertise of Dad and Taylor in that area.  Ack!  Not my favorite thing to do but it has to be done.  Haha

The Terra Cotta warriors in our hotel lobby.

Resurrecting the blog for a Heritage Trip to China!

Tomorrow we begin the first leg of our first ever Heritage Trip to China.  Jillian, Molly and Chloe are the first of our children to make the trek back to their homeland.  My mom will also be joining us.  Jeff will stay home with the younger kids and hold down the fort.

We are getting so excited!  I haven't been to China since we adopted Zoey and Kate in 2009 and am so anxious to show the older girls their homeland.  The government has a special program for adoptees that offers free Heritage tours within China.  So we pay the international flights and my mom and I pay tour fees.  It's a wonderful opportunity and since Jillian is graduating this year, we decided it was time to make the trip.

Passports.  Check.
Suitcases.  Check.
Snacks.  Check.
Excitement.  CHECK!

We leave for the first leg of the trip tomorrow afternoon.  We have an early flight out of Nashville on Saturday so we decided to spend the night there tomorrow.  We will arrive in Beijing on Sunday afternoon.  Can't believe we are actually doing this!  Squeal!

As an added bonus, we found out after signing up that friends of ours who adopted during some of the same periods of time as we did are also going on the trip!

Pictures for Grandpa

I haven't updated on my dad in awhile.

{Oh, let's be real....I haven't updated this BLOG in awhile...}

He has made the decision to stop chemo.  It's just gotten too hard and is making him miserably sick.  He had an MRI last week and it showed that the cancer has gone into his spine.  He is losing feeling in his arm and shoulder so will be starting radiation tomorrow.  The radiation always makes him quite tired and sick, so prayers would be greatly appreciated.  He continues to be in pretty good spirits - except for the days that he is very sick. 

One thing he has requested is that I post pictures of the kids to the blog.  So in no particular order, here is a random sampling of what we have been doing the past month or so.

 Christmas Day.  God answered Dad's prayers to have a memorable day with his family.

He also felt well enough to tell the kids one of his famous bear stories.

Here is my mom passing out all the presents she bought and wrapped.  My dad is always telling me how cute she is.

 Back home, Jeff had a surprise for the kids.  I thought I had pictures of them riding but all I have are videos.  Sorry!

I found a pogo stick at a local resale store and the kids have had a blast with it. 

  This hockey game brought back many memories of my childhood games with my brother.  The kids had fun with it for a few days until it broke.  Ugh.  Cheap piece of junk.

Katie-bug had a birthday...her last one in single digits.

She requested a bonfire, which her older brother was happy to provide

She wanted a giraffe cake and Jillian made this for her.  So cute!

Jake and Zoey rooted for the Patriots during several games in January - although Jake often just rooted for whoever was winning.  Siiigh...

We got all excited a week or so ago when snow started to fall.  It was dark so we turned on the outdoor lights to watch it.  The following morning we woke up to actual snow on the ground.  This was the big show - ha!  It looked more like a hard frost and melted by noon.

Most days it's in the 40's or 50's but the days that reach the 60's mean that the kids are begging to wear shorts and t-shirts.  When I tell them it's not warm enough, they tell me they are 'roasting hot' and sweating.

 So I relent.

They play outside almost every day and love zipping up and down the driveway - which is quite long.  Good thing we don't have to shovel snow here!

We have had some days that were warm enough to do school on the front porch.  

One day we looked up and noticed that Jordan was relaxing with his feet out the window.  Or maybe SaraGrace  (his school partner) told him that his feet stunk.

Wherever Chloe is doing school, the dog is right beside her 

(whether the dog wants to be there or not). 

And sometimes Ginger likes to appear smart.

We have spent countless hours playing Dutch Blitz - the best game on earth.

SaraGrace shows us one of her "Dancing with the Stars" moves.  

{Don't look at the messy counter behind her.}

Jake drew a portrait of me.  I seem to have jaundice, a broken arm... and my brother politely mentioned that I appear to be a man.  When I asked Jake why he didn't finish coloring the picture, he said his crayon broke.

This awesome room is the one we use for school but we had no place to put our books.

Daddy to the rescue!

Look what Jeff built!  He spent several weekends hard at work and did a great job!

 

Another project...We didn't care for the wallpaper, so Taylor stripped it.  The built-in ironing board was a big disappointment because it hit the washing machine and wouldn't fully open.  Doh!  Sadly, it had to go bye-bye.

I wanted a board and batten wall with hooks, kind of like something I would see in a Pottery Barn catalog.

Here it was mid-way through the process.

Not totally decorated but Jeff's part is all done.  Oh...and OF COURSE it always looks like this.  

HA.  

I took all the coats down and pushed the shoes out of the way to take the picture.

Jillian and I have painted a few rooms but that will have to be a post for another day!