Life in China pt.2

Today we had our civil affairs appointments, interviews, and the notorary; not to many opportunities for pictures or filming.

So, Hannah was the photographer today.

Hannah's self portrait, she looked in the mirror to take this picture.

Hannah watching Jacob staying busy.

Hannah likes the sprayer on our European tub in our room, (I am missing my shower...we are so american spoiled). It is hard to lather, then rinse, wash your face, then rinse, then wash your hair, then rinse, then conditioner, then rinse, then repeat. whewh...

Hannah's pretty shoes.

Mommy blogging to you all back home. :o)

Life in China...

Ashley has fast gone to bed, so I (James) am in charge of the blog tonight. What's it like in China? To start with, the people here are very polite. But what we will remember the most of our trip is how hot it is. Hot comes in all kinds of ways, it's only 84 outside but you can see the steam come off a ice cream cone; it feels like you are in a atrium and after only 5min. you are in a nasty, deep sweat. Your whole body feels sticky. Then you notice the smell everywhere you go, it smells like sewage everywhere.. truly. We went shopping today at a 3 story mall, and they did'nt have any air conditioning. Jacob was looking real pale, Ashley thought he was going to pass out from the heat. I really don't know how everyone can work much less live here. But as the picture above shows, you just take what life gives you... and Go get married!
Well Hannah survived here just fine, so one day she'll be making a blog about how cold it is in Colorado and wondering what fool would make a home there. On a side note, we had KFC today, and the chicken here is half the size that we have in the states. Hannah ate 5 pieces (what a piglet... heehee). She really likes the spicy chicken and the warm pepsi (we can't have any ice because it will make us sick).

More Hannah...

China waste management...really
Our guide, Kathy
After only 15 min. Jacob and Hannah were already best friends

We have Hannah!

Hannah Meiru our daughter is so beautiful,

and she loves us as much as we love her.
I could not have ever dreamed of such a wonderful,

special, little girl

and such a wonderful "Gotcha Day"!
(don't look at my face, crying and freckles never mix.)LOL :o)

Guangzhou

Whew, we finally made it to our hotel.

We are in GZ! it took most of the day; due to lightening and Thunderstorms. We arrived at the hotel late this afternoon, around 3pm. Our flight was delayed from Hong Kong for 2 hours before take off, and delayed one hour in the air circling Guangzhou. We could not land due to the weather and the low cloud turbulence... at moments I thought ... wow, we should have taken the train..(but, our agency does not recommend the train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, unless you pay and book your own tickets.)

The 45 minute van ride from the airport to the hotel was crazy. They drive so fast here and squeeze in close and dangerous between other vehicles. We were on the express way going 110kmph and it drops quickly from 4 lanes to only 2 lanes... omg! crazy! By the way, they do not have stop signs, or many traffic lights.

We ordered a Papa John's Pizza for dinner... {Yes, :o) for in Room Delivery} Yummy!!

We took a quick walk up the street,... I stopped at 1 shoppe on my way to get a coke zero at the 7~11. The shoppe owner "GRACE" will do laundry for 40% off. You drop it off in the am, pick it up later the same afternoon. whoo'hoo!

James and Jacob are sooo tired, and Jacob and I got airplane sick...thank goodness for Dramamine and Tums! We are unpacked & organized (heeehee) and the boys are lying down now.

"Our Gotcha Day" tomorrow is at 2pm, :o) The orphanage director will be bring Hannah by train from Maoming City; which is 6 hours away, to the civil affairs office here in Guangzhou. We meet Hannah then!

Tourists (Hong Kong)

Today we took a tram to the top of Peak Mountain...only to find mist.

The rain did stop... only after we started coming down the mountain.
{lucky for us, we bought umbrellas at a 7~11 this morning. :o)}


The visit to the fishing village was a treat as we took a ride on a SanPan boat.
We saw the World Famous Floating Restaurant; "JUMBO"
(seen on T.V. & in movies)... we also learned
never check out the back of a restaurant...NASTY!!!

Hong Kong!

outside our hotel room tonight at 11pm

We arrived in Hong Kong at 6:15 pm, what is now Friday night here. Hong Kong, a city that is seperated into three parts. The airport is on the Largest Island of Hong Kong and our Hotel is 40 minutes away in the mainland city. We traveled in a taxi driven by a mad man! They drive on the wrong side of the car and highway (like England, of course). We traveled across the longest suspension bridge in the world, on our way to the hotel. 95% of the cities population lives in high`rise condominiums. (and yes, they are Tall, and Everywhere!) As we road through the city the sight at night was a whirlwind of lights and skyscrapers.

Tomorrow (Saturday: 14 hours ahead of you) we tour Hong Kong with another CCAI family that arrived yesterday. (Our guide says we will see near, where Jackie Chan lives.)

So, This is... Packing Light!

Yes, Believe It Or Not:

We really are under the allotted weight limit

for our baggage on our International flight.

{I still feel like such a glutton.} Next stop,... Hong Kong.

China, Ready or Not Here We Come.

Can you believe it? It is finally happening. We leave for China this week. When we arrive in Hong Kong, our China port city, it will have been exactly 10 months since we started the adoption process. In adoption terms, that is Super~Fast. But, as we know; Hannah has waited long enough for her mama and baba to find her. Hoorrraaay, we leave soon to bring our daughter home! We will be traveling to Southern China: Hong Kong for two nights and then on to Guangzhou (pronounced Gwan`Joe) to adopt Hannah. We are truly blessed to have been matched with Hannah as her forever family.

One more for the road: Testing, Testing 1,2,3

I am getting my blog ready for Travel & I posted this from my email account. Thanks Deb, It worked.