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We arrived home on xmas eve after a 24 hour odyssey that included 2 hours in hong kong airport, 14 hours from Hong Kong to Chicago, 2 hours in chicago, 2 hours from chicago to DC and then a car ride home after filing a report one lost bag in DC. The kids did just amazing despite each only getting about 3.5 hours of sleep.

I slept poorly tonight, Shelley seems to have slept well and the kids both seem to have slept well so we can't argue with that.

Guang Jin is terrified of the cat, will almost certainly be more terrified of the dog and otherwise seemed to enjoy the house other than when going to bed in his new room which caused much crying. 

Life begins again, here.

Merry Xmas and Happy Channukah to all.

Peter

Just Another Monday in Guangzhou

Today our paperwork for the U.S. Consulate appeared to be accepted without problem so tomorrow we will go through a very short and perfunctory ceremony and receive Wade's visa and then head to the train station for Hong Kong and what Wade undoubtedly thinks is his third home in 8 days. 

The temperature dropped to a frigid 62 degrees today.  Real bummer.

Merry upcoming Xmas and Happy Hannukah to everyone. Wierdly there are tons of Xmas decorations in China as it is apparently celebrated as a secular holiday. I have yet to see a Menorah which is highly disturbing. How do they celebrate the festival lights in this country?

Shelley May Have Completely Lost It

Guang-Zoo

Today was spent at the Guangzhou zoo - fun and yet depressing like most zoo's. We accompanied the Fraschetti family from Marin County, California (pictured below) who are seriously good folks and have the previously mentioned 6 year old daughter Sarah who has become quick friends with Clara June.

Today also marked some great progress with Guang Jin where he is becoming closer to me (Peter) and just more comfortable in general with change and adversity. I was the recipient of a couple of big and lovely hugs from him which is a first for me. He has of course become very attached Shelley (who wouldn't?) and loves to follow Clara June around. In general, if he realizes he is not where Shelley is he becomes worried, whiny and/or panicky. Clara June has been a dream on this trip, amazingly patient for a six year old and seems to be enjoying her brother despite the obvious challenges of sharing parental attention and toys, and his occassional emotional outbursts.

Sore throat started for me today which other than Dan's bout with the run for the border is the first illness we have been subject to. Hopefully it will be short lived.

I warn you that the last picture below ( of CJ And GJ) will break your heart.

Peter

Guangzhou

Losing a little steam on the blog but will post some pictures tomorrow. We arrived in Guangzhou last night around 8pm with two overtired kids. We are thrilled to be here as Shamian Island is a really wonderful place (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamian_Island) and the temperature here today (Saturday) and tomorrow is 78-80 degrees for highs. Quite amazing.

Wade Guangjin had his physical exam today. To say that he enjoyed the exam would be similar to saying that George W. Bush has enjoyed high approval ratings over the last few years. We discovered he is quite strong as he cried and threw one helluva of a fit on just about everything including (but not limited to) the heart check, feet check, hands check, privates check, ears check, eyes check, nose check, weight check, height check, hair check and coat check. 

We purchased a cheap stroller for him today and he very much enjoys riding around like a prince surveying his lands, serfs and other subjects. We also enjoyed one heckuva tasty meal at La Dolce Vita, a surprisingly tasty italian restaurant.

We met a great couple from Marin county California adopting a 16 month old (Leila) and with a beatiful 6 year old daughter named  Sarah who Clara June has become fast friends with.

We handed off all of our paperwork and fees to our guide today and thus await the arrival of WGJ's visa on Tuesday. We then take a train to Hong Kong for yet another hotel and fly out on Wednesday morning for the trip home from hell.

Our son is very active, funny and learning some English. He is quite alert and knows what he wants for sure. Getting an active toddler to bed in strange hotel rooms is becoming an interesting lesson in the battle of wills,  yikes.  Tommorrow we are off to the zoo, which will either delight or terrify Wade, stay tuned.

Last Full Day In Nanjing

Some sightseeing, some shoe shopping (prices for things made in china but not shipped overseas - incredibly cheap).  We are awaiting notarized documents for our adoption, ones that certify Wade Guang Jin's abandonment, etc. etc. Wade is so enthralled with Clara June that he always gives/offers her part of his snack when ever he has it. Peter bought 2 chocolates and asked him to take it to her which he did and then bowed!  Hilarious. He is now running and walking much better now that we got him sneakers which light up....good for Shelley since this means less carrying and for Peter since when he got carried, CJ wanted to be carried too.

Overall, Wade Guang Jin is a lovely boy and doing very well for having his whole world turned upside down.

We visited a confucian temple and a beautiful park in central Nanjing where you can see that Clara June is standing with a 600 year old Wisteria!! (Only 350 years older than our country!)

I forgot to write down all the breakfast items in our hotel buffet but I will leave you with only this one:

• Steamed Chicken Feet (Don't fill up on them because you will just be hungry an hour later.)
  

Just Another Day In Nanjing

Sorry - no pictures today other than two of CJ and WGJ eating fruit rollups. Forgot the camera in the hotel although we did have a lovley day of sightseeing at the Mausoleum of Sun Yat San. Amazingly beautiful and here is a link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat-sen_Mausoleum.  It is situated in the mountains that surround Nanjing. At this tourist site, we had a most unusual experience of having army men asking us to pose for pictures with them. Very fun and interesting.

We also made a visit to the Nanjing Museum which had some amazing brocade and jade. It also included a lesson on how to determine what Jade is high quality with frequent pop quizzes adminstered in rapid fire and without mercy. That, thankfully, was followed by a great chinese lunch and some hanging out in the hotel.

Standby for a list tomorrow of buffet items from our hotel breakfast buffet. You will not be dissappointed.

Tonight we eat at German restaurant called Paulaner. Stay tuned for gastroestinal updates as the situation warrants.