Dinner with Friends

Tonight we went out to dinner with our friends, Michelle, Tam, Howie,
Raychel, Steven, Ayi and, I'm so sorry, I can't remember the
gentleman's name! We went to a local restaurant, which was VERY
good! Afterwards, we strolled and shopped in the non-tourist area,
which had FAR better prices. IBoy bought 2 pairs of jeans for $10, a
warm winter coat for $15, 2 pairs of girl's tennis shoes with the
local favorite cartoon character for $10, thick wool socks for about
$0.75 each, and the list goes on. It seemed wrong NOT to purchase them!

Oh - I nearly forgot - the dinner - a few choice dishes were swan
(very yummy), snake (also good), chicken feet - yes I ate all of them
- not all of the chicken feet - some of each of the dishes! Michelle
ate the fish head - I chose not to go quite that far, but she assures
me that it is yummy! Dad ate one last year and said it was just
fine! Raychel says that the swan head is delicious, also, and
encouraged me to try it, but I figured that would be rude to take her
favorite piece!

Saturday on Shamian

Medical Exam. Yup, she hears, Yup, she sees. Ah - 38 1/2 inches
tall, 33 pounds. Are you the mother? 7 vaccinations later, we were
out the door.

A little shopping, played in the park, dropped off our laundry to be
done, lunch at subway and we are off to dinner and shopping with our
friend, Michelle!

Beautiful Poem

Gold

Majestic and strong is the stag who stands near the river His antlers a held high his eyes a rich and golden brown His fur so silver a blade in the night He stands near a lamp post, illuminated by it's light The air is cold here One couldn't shed a tear Rain turns to snow as it falls falls falls It seems Christmas is hardly hear at all A tall beautiful white women stands A tiny little man with a wip in his hands Then a flash of gold and light I see a lion so powerful and might A mane so rich and shinning gold A powerful lion before me standing oh so bold I feel fear as his eyes fall upon me But I feel a rich warmth when he smiles gently Because I know what He has done for me A table made of stone Every drop of blood- every broken bone Was laid down so I may live The Witch has gone, the Evil has fled All my sin is shone in the blood that was shed But he stands before me alive A Lion Who has Conqured Death Oh How Amazing is The Love of Christmas

By Sofie AGCI Bulgaria Adoptee

Nanchang to Guangzhou

Today's post is brought to you by IBoy, himself! Well, today we flew
back to Guangzhou, but before we left I just had to take one more pic
of gross/strange food at Wal-mart (note the un-refrigerated eggs).
Also another misspelled translation (note the lighter sign). On the
way to the airport, we drove behind a funeral procession, where a
group of people dressed in white, drive along the freeway throwing
lit firecrackers and slips of paper on the road (freeway and
firecrackers don't mix too well).

last one for now

From America with Love

Hey there everyone! This is MissE - one of the unlucky ones who had to stay home on this amazing trip! Well, even though we had to stay home, Chika, daddy and I are all having a blast. Okay, I half way take that back - I never knew how much work being a stay at home mom is! I've got my first taste of home keeping and child rearing - in the usual, crash course kind of way. Fortunately, I've managed to keep the house from burning down again (though it's been a close call a few times...) nor turned it into a pig-sty and let the little one run off and be raised by coyotes (sp?). Though, again, it's been close. However, I could not convince her that Halloween was over: 'I Jesus, Shiba!' Then she picked up a teddy bear, held it gently, and suddenly 'I Mayee (Mary) Shiba! See, baby Jesus!'

Anyway, this morning started off like the mornings usually start on the home front nowadays. My darling mei mei dragged me out of bed at the ungodly hour of 7:30 (I know, I know - but not only did I go to bed at around 2 in the morning, it's Christmas break for heavens sake!) and downstairs for a round of Veggie Tales (mainly just to keep the little imp occupied so I can snatch another half hour of sleep).
Amid doing other things, like taking blurry pics of eachother with the latest piece from the paper chain mom and Naya made for the countdown to Zabi's homecoming on our heads....


We mozied through the day until almost lunch time, when I realized that I kind of desperately wanted a shower.
Like, now.
So I hop and skip off to my daily ablutions, with kiddo yelling at me to 'don't leave me! Take short showa! I wuv you SO much!' and me assuring her all of these things would either be or not be done and that the sentiments were returned. After I was once more dressed, I hear a polite little knock. There's my little Chickadee, standing there and smiling prettily up at me, asking me if she could 'please come ina bafroom wiff Shiba?' Well, after such a nice ask, could I really say no? So in she comes, and starts sorting through my makeup bag. Inside she found my ruby red lipstick (which was bought expressly for giesha makeup for Halloween - but that I liked so much that I actually use it sometimes) 'Oh! Shiba, wipstick?! Put onna me?' So I oblige her and carefully apply this lipstick. Chika, being Chika, instantly wants a picture taken.
You Shall Not Pass! Also, pwetty wed wipstick.

Unfortunately, we immediately had lunch (fresh crab in a bowl with noodles and various veggies - yum!) and as soon as she saw her napkin, she instantly turned to me 'uh oh! wipstick, all gone!' Yes dear, the lipstick is all gone.

Anyway, that's the news from the home front - nothing too exciting, but we're learning how to get along. And even though we're having fun, I gotta say it - Mom, Iboy? WE MISS YOU!
And of course, we can't wait to meet little miss Zabi.

God bless!

2nd post - alot of pictures!