We're in Guangzhou...the last stop of our trip...

We made it into Guangzhou and the loudest group of adoptive families every received by Connie, our guide, surely took her by storm!

Our dear friends the Z family and the W family met us at the airport as we hugged, kissed and marveled over each other's beautiful newly adopted children. The bus ride (we had one bus to ourselves) was SOOOOO loud with the voices of thrilled children and parents catching up! What fun!

Tomorrow we have medicals for the kids, lots of swimming and our final ream of paperwork.

Our dear Chinese family friend is along with us and he's really enjoying visiting with the Z's son, 8 years of age, and the W's daughter, 7 years of age. He was able to speak with them, in Chinese, of course, and hopes to help relay to them some information about American culture. Since he was in the states with us just last year and in our homes...I believe he will be able to help the kids with their adjustment.

We're at the Victory...and we cannot imagine why anyone wouldn't choose this hotel over other competitors. We have adjoining rooms, soft beds (an amazing reality in "stone tablet" bed China) and free internet! I was somewhat nervous about choosing this as I've heard others say some negative things about it...but, I am VERY pleased indeed!

We said goodbye, a very teary one, to our sweet former babysitter and friend in Wuhan today. She will remain in Wuhan until next August teaching English to children of various ages. For a treat today, we took her out to Pizza Hut for lunch...she, as we, love the Chinese food, but we wanted her to have a little taste of home on our last day together.

For those who know our children well, I thought I might use this post, without pictures, to relay how the kids have been doing while traveling:

1) Magpie (7 years) - Everywhere we go she is saying "thank you" for the dozens of compliments she receives for being "such a fine girl, very mature and poised." She's had a great time traveling this time. Just the other day she told me that she feels safer in China than at home. Now this is REALLY saying something as she shares genetic ties with her father "Safety Boy," the man who can spot a safety violation at 70 paces. She brought a little bit of birthday money from her Grandma D and has now purchased an MP3...which is cool...but Momma nor Daddy know how to load any more music on it. There are two, Chinese pop songs...but she's nearly getting down some of those lyrics! And, she's picked up a Tomagachi (sp?) some electronic pet...we limit the screen time severely...but she's really having fun with some of her technology.

2) The Bug (5 year) - Miss socialite is definitely in the running for Junior American Ambassador to China. This chick has a following! She's constantly pressed for more photos...and enjoys at every opportunity some dialogue with Housekeeping or the Front Desk at our Wuhan Hotel. Today, she had to be the one who called for more toilet paper (we doubt they've ever seen a room go through so much in so little time) and I heard her talking to the person on the other line : "Oh hello, Ni Hao, yes, we would like you to bring some toilet paper to our room. Yes, toilet paper....toilet paper...oh yes....well, really, I only speak a tiny bit of Chinese...Xie Xie....Xie Xie...thank you....oh yes, room 8 eleven....room 8 -1-1" (This is only one of a dozen conversations with her staff today! :)

3) Potato (3 years) - Of course as we're touring "her" China...she's been pretty bossy around here. When we're in China, she gets to have her fill of "AD Milk"...it's a sort of sweet milk drink that all the children love here. We found something like it in an Asian market back home, and she was so thrilled, she calls any such drink her "special." Well, she's had a straw in her mouth with an AD bottle at the end most all the time. At home we've experienced her practically going to blows over her "special"...but she's also pretty high on this new "brudder" who she had "to come and get and bring home to her home." It was pretty precious when I heard her saying, I-saiah...I-SAY-UH...look at me... I'm talking to you...I said you can have some AD milk...right here...some AD milk...you're so darlin'....so darlin'...you'll like some AD milk!"

4) Busy Bee (3 years) - Still the most desired for photo ops..yet the most recalcitrant by far. When some well-meaning soul asks her if they can take her picture, I have (though I'm not proud of it) promised her a cookie to comply. She turns on this ultra sweet, posed mega smile. As soon as she hears the camera snap....her face falls flat and she says to me..."Momma...my cookie!" And, she loves wild and crazy taxi rides...she loves getting in and going to another part of town...usually because she gets to be on Daddy's awesome lap...but a few times, she and Isaiah have been up on my lap in the front seat. Taxi rides, elevator buttons and electronic door keys...yeah...she's practically in heaven!

5) Isaiah update: how many times a day can you play the "where's Isaiah" game?...you know the one...he covers his eyes...you act like you don't know where he is...then he takes his hands down and you acted shocked that he's right there in front of you! The answer to my query is...you play it as many times as you want for the sheer joy of getting a big grin, giggle and a hug from your boy!

This boy can eat! We are amazed at the amount of food he puts away at a meal and he makes all these cute little sounds of pleasure when he tastes something he really likes.....

And, this boy LOOOOOVES his Momma...'tis so sweet...

Daddy is standing strong...many admire him everyday when we're out and about...he's quite the traveler, unfazed by an unwilling taxi driver, or weaving through traffic on foot with his little seedlings in tow. I'm so impressed because he had not traveled much internationally before last year, but this guy is savvy and cool when he's rolling around China. He's showing great appreciation of the differences in culture and lifestyle. He always helps me "see" more of what there is to see at any given time on the trip....what a guy!

Latest Daddy funny: our girls (the three year olds) often break out in song...not just any song...the ABC's song...and often crowds gather...but suffice it to say...we've heard it a lot! And it never seems to end....Potato does it perfectly, except there are two X's and no S's in her rendition....anyway...tonight, Daddy was commenting that the Chinese have 300 basic characters in their language...Daddy said "300 characters...now that is crazy...somebody should have thought about that...think how long it takes to sing their alphabet song!"

And your Blog author?...I'm doing well...I am SOOOOOO blessed...as I write about these I have been given to love....I am profoundly grateful...