Shopping and Cruising!

Today we went to the Pearl Market.  

There were pearls piled up everywhere!

These women string pearls every day.  They didn't even have to look at what they were doing!

Next we went to Shamian Island.  There are a few fun shops and gardens and such there.  It was so peaceful and not-so-crowded.  We really liked it there.  

We went back several times before we left China.

This is one of many statues on the island.  Ian hopped right in there.  Eli would have nothing to do with it.  I tried again later in the week... I'll show you that epic picture later.

For dinner we took a cruise of the Pearl River.  The buildings lit up nicely.

I don't know who those two crazies in the foreground are.  :)

Touring and Shopping

Today we visited a 1,400 year old Buddhist Temple.  

It was beautiful. 

And hot.

Ian.  

Covered in a rash. 

Hot. hot. hot.  

Sick.  

Still Smiling.

These are the main buddhist shrines in the complex.  

These statues are HUGE!

Next we went to the Chan family's ancestral home. 

It was very detailed, and a very busy place to go for the locals.

Big Sister says "cheese".

Then we went shopping.  

I found an artist who wrote the kids names in Chinese on a piece of artwork for them.

Then we came back to the hotel for an afternoon nap. 

This is Ian laughing at us.... instead of napping.

For dinner we went with our group to a Cantonese restaurant.  

I love how they feed large groups of people here.  You sit at a large round table with a massive lazy suzan in the middle.  They place all of the dishes in the center and you scoop out what you want.  The food was YUM!

Eli decided he was done with sippy cups!

Medical Exam

After a good nights' rest, the entire group loaded on the bus to go get the babies medical exams.  

Ian checking out the locals:

Notice one shoe already pulled off....

While Eli is already too cool for words; binki and all.

This is the Medical Exam place.  

The kids had to have their photos taken for their American visas.

After that, they checked the children's hearing and general well being, weight and whatnot.  

This is so boring.  Let's go back to the hotel!

Guangzhou!

After a very long day of traveling to Guangzhou, we were greeted by this gift basket in our hotel room:

And look who threw mommy's shoes away!

(And was quite happy about it!)

After this picture was taken, we went to bed.  

We spent the day traveling with two strollers and a 10 year old in a wheelchair.

In a not-so-wheelchair-friendly country.

Totally pooped.

Lazy Day

So after the Longest Day Ever, we decided to just chill in the hotel at Zhengzhou.  

All.  Day.

Most of the rooms on our floor were adoptive families so we just opened our doors and all hung out in the hallway with our kiddos.  

It was a blast.  

I think we went downstairs ONE time to eat. 

Other than that, room service, baby!

Big Brother was sitting in my lap when Ian came and plopped down, too.  

What precious grins :)

We have discovered Eli's "I"m naughty" smile...

Brotherly bonding needs NO words...

Eli wearing Big Brother's hat.  

I just LOVE this picture!

Tomorrow we go to Guangzhou, where the American Consulate is.