We upped the GNP of China today

We bought out Shamian Island this morning! The last time that we were in China with MeiMei, it was all so overwhelming that we didn't end up shopping very much. So, we decided to remedy that today. We started out by getting four pairs of adorable shoes for Betsy and one pair for MeiMei. After that , we got the traditional Chinese dresses in lots of different sizes for the girls to grow into. We also got a Chinese jacket for Ray, and one custom made for me. It will be ready on Monday.






MeiMei is trying on one of her new dresses.



We also picked up our laundry that we had dropped off two days ago. Even though I am getting homesick, I sure will miss having everything done for me like laundry, cooking, and cleaning!




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Teletubbies and Yo Gabba Gabba

Ray pulled up Teletubbies on YouTube. Betsy didn't t care for them, although Tina and Em were reliving their childhood.... Then he tried the "Don't Bite Your Friends" song from Yo Gabba Gabba. She didn't like that one either. (Maybe because Ray and the girls were singing all the wrong words...). So now they are watching the "Rubber Ducky" song. She seems to like that one!




But, I have to say that her most favorite song is "Twist and Shout" by the Beatles! Ray thinks that Betsy looks like John Lennon. How cool! Betsy is actually "singing" to it!!! Is the most noise that she's ever made!

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My new office!

Since we got here, I've had a difficult time connecting to the Internet. I would either have to stand out in the hallway, or else just inside the door to the room.




There is my old office. Nothing but the best for me. I would sit there on that little stool thingy and blog to my heart's content!
But my wonderful husband changed all that! While they were in Hong Kong, he picked up a travel wireless router! Now I can blog from anywhere in the room! We can also finally FaceTime whenever/wherever we want!




And Ray can get more dependable service, as well. The girls also have better service in their room.
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Ceilings...

Poor Ray. Being 6'6" and trying to get around in China is difficult. He has to duck his head everywhere we go, but most especially here in the hotel! Here he is with his head grazing the ceiling in our room. And the poor guy can't even walk upright through the halls. Otherwise he'll impale his head on the water sprinklers....




Betsy has had her first taste of "real" food such as it is... Emmie has just given her some tidbits of Chinese Pringles (I think they are either cucumber or shrimp flavor..).








Look at that smile! I think that she will soon be eating real food! And I don't mean Pringles.
O.K. This hotel room has the strangest thing. Check out these pictures:




Here is the wall between the bedroom and the bathroom.




Here is the wall with the shade open. You can see right into the bathroom! Weird! I mean, you'd think we were at the Sybaris or something.... Emmie had just taken a shower (with the shade closed, thank you very much).
Here are some more pictures of our suite here at the China Marriott.




Our room.




Our bathroom - real door, no glass walls!




The room between our bedroom and the big girls bedroom. We are happy here. Lots of room for us all to spread out. And as you can see from the condition of the room, we have spread out... There is also an additional half bath.
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Guangzhou Chen Clan Academy

Today we went to the Chen Clan Academy. It was built by the Chen family long ago as a place for their descendants to learn. It had really, really neat architecture. It was all outdoors, and the weather has turned quite brisk. Betsy Anne does NOT like to wear her hat, but Mom persevered and I won the battle! She is very strong and strong willed for someone her size! I'm glad, though, since it's that will that has helped her to survive for the past 16 months.




She's trying to pull that hat off no matter what!








Check out at great architecture! So ornate and beautiful.




This guy was painting these really intricate paintings using just his hand, fingernails, and fingertips. Fascinating! We ended up buying some of his artwork. So far, this tour has been Tina's favorite. They had ivory carving and bone carving.




When she dies, Tina wants us to carve her bones into beautiful intricate works of art and display them around the house...... Hmmmmm......




Here's Tina outside in the garden, working on her feng shui.
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We went to Shamian Island this morning

We had to go to the Island to get Betsy's Visa photo taken and then on to the medical appointment.



The children go to three different stations to be checked out. Height/weight, ENT, and checking for any undisclosed special needs.







Thank goodness Betsy is under two, or else she would have had to have a TB test. As it is, I had to sign a waiver that I will have her immunized within thirty days of being in the States.

After we were done at the clinic, we wandered around the island. I really miss staying there. In the past, most adoptive families stayed at The White Swan hotel on Shamian Island. We were there for MeiMei's adoption five years ago. The island is so peaceful and uncrowded compared to downtown Guangzhou.






I will be happy when Ray and the girls get back. It's pretty quiet and lonely here without them. I hope that they are having a great time!


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Thank you!

I just wanted to say thank you again for all the wonderful comments!  It really does help us to feel all of your support.  Sometimes it gets a little lonely way over here, and reading all of the comments helps to keep everyone back home close to us. We read and cherish every single one.  Thank you for taking the time to read our blog and also taking the time to comment.