Finally Home!

We traveled home on Saturday, June 21. It started with Annie and me waking at 4:00 AM with the kids getting up at 5:00 AM. We had to catch a flight from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, which only took about an hour. Then we had to board the flight to Chicago - 14 hours! It's one of those flights for which you wished they could put you into suspended animation. We finally got home at about 9:45 PM after several time zone changes, a connection in Chicago, and customs and immirgration. I was completely surprised at how well both Little Annie and Rose Xiufen did. There was very little complaining and no melt-downs. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures except for a few at the Hong Kong airport.

Since coming home Rose Xiufen seems to be doing quite well. She has shown an interest in meeting our neighbors and likes to talk to them in Chinese. She's taken a strong and instant liking to her grandma and grandpa and has enjoyed playing baseball and badminton with me, Little Annie and grandpa in the backyard. It has taken her a few days to get used to our little dog, Lucy, however. She didn't like the way she jumped on her when she first met her. But now they're used to each other - Lucy doesn't jump on her and she doesn't run away shreiking!

Little Annie graduated the fourth grade and is now on her way up to middle school, as of June 26. We all went out to Frendly's to celebrate. Here are some pictures of them there:

Today, we start the un-exciting process of living as a family in a small up-state New York village. Grandma and grandpa, who have done more for us than any couple should ever have to think of, have left to return to their home and their normal lives. Now, we have doctor appointments, school placement examinations, learning the ABC's and just getting to know each other for the summer. We look forward to every minute!

American Consulate

On Friday, June 20, we went to the American Consulate for the final interview and to collect our visa papers so we could bring Xiufen home. The morning started with shopping, followed by a lot of swimming in the hotel pool, then the ride to the consulate. No nap. Late night finishing packing for the trip home early (wake up at 4:00 AM) Saturday. Kind of a recipe for disaster!
















These are my daughters getting ready for the Consulate appointment.

This is us with the Meaghan-Kendricks at the Consulate.

Safari Preserve in Guangzhou

On the outskirts of Guangzhou, there is a nice park, the XiangJiang game preserve, that boasts the largest collection of white tigers in the world. I believe we were told that there is more than 100 of them there. It covers a large amount of area and most of it can be seen from small from small train carts that give tours through the preserve. We were lucky to be there when they were feeding the tigers. The kids, of course, loved seeing the giraffes, deer and peacocks close-up. Most of it was green space with a few lakes in the middle for the swans and pelicans. During the week Thursday, June 19, it was pretty quiet there, which was nice because it was the first time we had been without crowds since we landed in China. This was much more relaxing than the other tours we have been on.

This is us getting on the train. Xiufen was getting a little weary of my taking pictures, at this point, and was trying to hide. Our guide, Kelly, was in the lead with her little girl, followed by Amalie (Xiufen's friend from the Beijing Chldren's Welfare Institute) on the left and Xiufen on the right and Little Annie behind them.








Couldn't get a good picture of a white tiger, but here is one of their others. Good thing they had a deep mote and fencing between us and them!

My favorites were the Macaws. They had a large collection of them to greet us at the entrance to the park.

We began the packing process last night and Xiufen seemed to become a little agitated. At first, we thought it was because she was afraid of leaving China. After awhile though, we found out that it was because she didn't like the idea of not having a suitcase (maybe afraid of being left behind?). That was easy to fix on Shamian Island - within 10 minutes I had a nice big suitcase for her, much to her approval!

Pictures from Wednesday

Children's Park in Guangzhou

Wednesday, June 18, we went to a children's park across town in Guangzhou. It had a few rides and climbing areas for kids. Like many parks in Chinese cities, there were areas where people could exercise outdoors by dancing or doing Tai Chi or Qi Gong. All of the pictures are from the park. It has been raining everyday, so the trip to the park was cut short. We had lunch at a great Mongolian resaurant. Probably the most interesting thing we had were these bananna dumplings cooked in molten sugar. You had to quench them in cold water before eating them. Then the two Annies went to the silk market while Xiufen and I came back to the hotel to try to take a nap.

Tuesday's Pictures

Physical and Boat Ride

Today, June 17, we took Xiufen to the local clinic for her physical. Everything went well with that. There is one picture of everyone in the waiting room. After that, we went swimming. That was a lot of fun and pretty relaxing. The White Swan has a nice swimming pool with a wading area. We started Xiufen out there. After she got used to that, we all got in the deeper part. She THINKS she can swim, but she really just thrashes around and needs someone to hold her at all time, much to her dismay. After a nap, we all went for an evening boat ride and took pictures of the building lights along the Pearl River. Two are of a building that has lights set up for the Olympics with the Friendlies.

Monday's Pictures

Guangzhou Monday

Yesterday, we went to a park that was mostly for just walking and feeding fish. It is pretty hot and humid here - like the southern tip of Florida - so we stopped to get icecream and relax in a little shop. The park entrance had an Olympic theme. Here are pictures of the entrance and the feeding frenzy at the fish pond. The last picture is of Shamian Island at night from our hotel window.

Down Time in Guangzhou

Father's Day in Guangzhou! I got a nice card signed by my wife and two children. Today, we just slept in. Ate breakfast at the hotel buffet, which is huge. Little Annie went swimming. I tried to get Xiufen to go, but she was not happy about the idea. Besides, none of the suits we brought really fit her well. Tomorrow, we'll try again, after we try to buy her another.

This is a very nice rosewood sculpture of Kannon, a female bodhisattva. They want about $40,000 for her, which isn't too bad because it is well done.

My favorite piece was this three foot tall jade frog at about $20,000 - I want it for my backyard!

This is a large sculpture of stampeding wild horses carved out of red marble.

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Finally, a picture of the waterfall inside the hotel! It fed and aerated a large koi pond. We had to visit the fish every day after breakfast.

Guangzhou

We were able to get to Guangzhou only about an hour late despite the thunder storms. We almost missed the flight because the plane was late, they set a later time for the flight, but then decided to use another plane without announcing it in English. The girls did pretty well, despite having to get up at 4:00 AM.

We are staying at the White Swan on Shamian Island, where the American Consulate is. It is a very small island with European influence. Narrow streets; not much traffic; more leisurely pace. The local shop keepers are very familiar with foreign adoptive families. Here are some pictures from our room's window. One is of the roof of a consulate building (I believe). Roof top gardens are common in this area. Of course, a picture of Xiufen relaxing for a few minutes.

Summer Palace

Last night we went to see the Chinese Acrobats at their home theater. They were amazing. I'm surprised and happy they didn't have an accident, the way they were flying around. Watching two man spinning wheel actually made my stomach turn! Everyone had a great time there.

Today, Thursday the 12th, we went to the Summer Palace of Empress Cixi. Magnificent place. Very nice grounds and built around a fairly good sized lake. Once again, large crowds of people. More pictures of the girls and one of the marble boat. It was built and fastened in the water at the Palace in order to symbolize the solidity of the 'steadfastness' of the emperor's rule. I don't think it will ever float!

Panda Zoo

I hope I'm not skipping days! On Tuesday, June 10, we went to the famed Panda Zoo. It was the first time any of us saw a real Panda. They look so tame. One seemed to like to do acrobatics from a tree while the crowd snapped pictures.

Xiufen is speaking more English now and understands more than she will speak, since she sometimes does what we tell her to do! Now, we of course have to go through the 'copy everything Annie Jr. says' stage, which is so endearing to us all. Most of us understand it's an important way of learning a new language. Annie Jr is dubious of the merits, though. Xiufen has also learned everyone's tickle spots. That is problematic because she can now control us.

Forbidden City

Monday, we walked Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City. A lot of walking for little kids. I think this part of the tour is for people adopting smaller children who would be in strollers. It was hot and sunny and very little shade. Everyone seemed to be just trying to get to the other side of the huge complex. I'm not sure I would have ever wanted to live there. No trees or grass. I guess they had 20 layers of brick under the pavement to keep people from tunneling in! We did get to go to an old-style Chinese restaurant afterward. The food was great.

As you can guess, we haven't figured out yet how to control our posts from over here. All we can do is post pictures then describe them later. The first picture is of Xiufen with her friend Amily asa they are getting ready with their sunglasses, then they're in front of a bronze lion sculpture - Xiufen is on the right. One picture is of Annie, Jr that Xiufen took.

Dragon Boat Festival

On Sunday, we went to the Dragon Boat festival in Beihai Park. It was like a large street festival around a lake in a huge park. Their were small musical bands everywhere. The two other families we went with took a boat to our meeting place - we walked. We're glad we did, because there was a lot to see along the way. The first picture is Xiufen with Annie, Jr., the next two are musicians we encountered and the last is our tired family before we got on the bus.

Xiufen continually surprises us with things she's learned. She can do cats cradle like a fiend and has a few origami pieces she can do from memory.

Pictures for Park/Aquarium

Park and Aquarium

On June 7, we went to a park that had children rides then went to an aquarium. The aquarium had a conveyor you could stand on while it took you through a glas-roofed tunnel so that you would watch the fish while you rode it. At this point, Xiufen has started to tease Annie Jr. She tries to tickle her and take the Nintendo away from her. Now we get to hear "Mom, Xiufen is touching me!" Music to our ears...for the moment! And, of course, we taught Xiufen the most important pirate words - AARGGH! and YoHoHo! These words are used to emphasize all kinds of emotions. It makes for interesting conversations with her!

The Great Wall!

On June 6, we went to the Great Wall. The whole thing was very impressive - from the surrounding terrain to the wall itself. Xiufen's only regret was taking me - I slowed her down too much! There were some steps 18" high and she was scampering up them without even breathing hard. She made it to the second tower and got a 'hero card'. Coming down, I had to stay in front of her to keep her from jumping down the steps. She seems to be very quiet at times and is a little apprehensive about not understanding English. But she can be pretty brave, too.

Gotcha Day: More Updates

On Tuesday, June 4 we did all of the paperwork to finalize the adoption of
Xiufen. This is a picture of her blowing bubbles in front of the police station
where we did the first of three parts of the paperwork: