Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Monday - Tuesday

Monday

Monday was our US Consulate appointment - no cameras 
We went as a group - took the citizenship oath on behalf of our children
When we land in the US (Chicago for Francie), the immigration officer opens a package I am carrying, and she is a US citizen



Lunch



 Went on a river cruise Monday night

The tallest structure in China - 4th largest in the world 



A stadium with floating seating?

She calls me "Papa" - that's who her orphanage workers told her she was going to meet  

Bad video - but listen to audio Abby

Monday night, she was doing these flips where I hold her hands and she climbs up my legs and flips over
She kept saying something each time so I asked the waitress if she could interpret -
Francie was saying, "One, two, three"
Going to stink not having anyone around who can speak Chinese

It would be like Lilly watching this Spongebob



Tuesday

Last day at Garden hotel
Tired of only using bottled water

Last shower in China

Went to neat place for lunch - The Happy Monk

The heck with her rice - she wanted my pizza

Starbucks

Has her a new watch - got some catching up to do to be as spoiled as her siblings



Never ate at these two

We took a van with the Haughtons to Hong Kong - 3 hour ride - in my lap of course
At the border to enter Hong Kong they checked our temperature
In Hong Kong hotel - took her shoes off to put her to bed - she put them right back on (the wrong feet)


Next time you hit the sack with you're shoes on you'll be home

We leave Hong Kong Wednesday at 11:10 - arriving in Birmingham around 5:00 PM Wednesday with a layover in Chicago
Sound like 6 hours?  Have to add the 14 hour time difference
See you when we get home

Brett

Monday, December 17, 2012

Saturday - Sunday


Saturday 

I know, I know...too many pictures of her eating


Had to return to doctor to have TB test checked




Lunch at a local Chinese place.  The local places are really cheap - the two of us can eat for $5.  Also, they don't give you napkins, but you can buy them.  Needless to say, in these places I am the only person who speaks English
We skipped the goose


Meeting time

Hanging out in the play room and around the pool







Kiss

Ready for her iPhone 




Sunday

Shopping day - "Times Square"


This "wing" was just jewelry 

Had to buy some pearls to give her one day (Mom's instructions)
You buy a strand, then they put them together







Didn't know they had a lottery

The "China Welfare Lottery"


Lunch with the group

Getting crazy in a nice restaurant





Happy girl



Friday

Another day...

Went to the Chen Clan Academy / Temple




All the doorways have a raised base.  To quote guide, 
"people have feet and can step over, ghosts have no feet they slide"
In other words, it keeps the ghosts out!







Chen what?



This ivory carving will set you back about $14,000 US




Still haven't found a diet coke


This is a friend of Francie's from the same orphanage.  She was adopted the same day by a family from San Antonio - we will stay in touch.

Posing...








Going to be interesting adjusting to a car seat


Shoveling it in




Here is what we do at nap time - cry hard for 2-3 minutes...



...then pass out


Up from nap - time to head out




 Supper time
The Irish owner of this restaurant says Francie like it's Mary or Susie
"How's me girl Francie today?"