tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8781259313870526622024-03-13T22:12:12.480-07:00Howes It Shakin'Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-732898489654358322008-11-24T12:54:00.000-08:002008-11-25T17:53:28.095-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SD7tNabQum90X4-SA2vpcFdaG2wtaH49gHO7-yEpGBLIGbUX8BC9b1ls_Iijb_6y0T_M-NUBA3UmzolsGcRES-dl6tzDzquE6uSr2Nc1uO1E6pXE5U4jQev-AcwFJvql3mtwEYBxTyc/s1600-h/IMG_2701.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272774860443579682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SD7tNabQum90X4-SA2vpcFdaG2wtaH49gHO7-yEpGBLIGbUX8BC9b1ls_Iijb_6y0T_M-NUBA3UmzolsGcRES-dl6tzDzquE6uSr2Nc1uO1E6pXE5U4jQev-AcwFJvql3mtwEYBxTyc/s320/IMG_2701.JPG" border="0" /></a>OK, so I'm finally getting to this. We're learning about time (or lack of it) with two kids. Here's a couple of photos from home, followed by some videos from the trip.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhre5Xf2oHvFUX-E9v78eMg708_JYaeTIsIcq5E5F0VJGCVtvvYsHF-pD57NLM68jz7hwOLH3t-xQDwQeZlyvaRzq_VeiSsRh8hnsuC7qdSRBHpL3W9J-WUc29mFq7OEp6HO0YlAkqYLg/s1600-h/IMG_2709.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272774490975738050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhre5Xf2oHvFUX-E9v78eMg708_JYaeTIsIcq5E5F0VJGCVtvvYsHF-pD57NLM68jz7hwOLH3t-xQDwQeZlyvaRzq_VeiSsRh8hnsuC7qdSRBHpL3W9J-WUc29mFq7OEp6HO0YlAkqYLg/s320/IMG_2709.JPG" border="0" /></a> Uncle Mike/Bill - she's already about grown out of your alumni sweatshirt...<br /><br /><br /><div></div>We're settling in pretty well. Days are really good - she laughs and smiles most of the day. Nights have been more of a coin flip. She's had really good ones with plenty of sleep and others where she basically screamed most of the night. Besides changing her entire world she's also battling a little bit of an earache and a whole bunch of teeth are popping through. But she's been out playing in the yard and is adapting to her new life. We're making good progress on letting me in. She laughs a lot with me (or maybe at me) and occasionally lets her guard down and let's me hold her. Gotta go...videos below.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxwDrun28Kd03gP_7HD1Qd2M0RT5BsyieyZ7vARw0z_cIlAGIH2OySiL3OM4jzdH_AGl9YgcQjthF5FOg0Qig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Welcome to China<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwBPJj31wnpx34b0cBvBgI9UXTyjgW4Nl09mkb9j1arGMZKblvvrAztdk7Vm3shPhWFjCR18r4OBSIO5fdcLQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>First book for Audrey.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx41WOxFAPHubC3eGaZIup7UB5QiyAXX4wy1QWlhZRUbiogFq0-n2OwDjBQl0ze2BZkAQO3-tzeZ5EAzwRdgw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Wrestling on the boat.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxwd1x2UfTtkGV7P87XZMY03Gb4vuf33MRdveZt-EUwKNcISeK8imQnRzM2I8mmugsmgM6sIeXthhaERFRsDQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>Wacky ride!</p></div>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-2363164112451570962008-11-20T21:48:00.000-08:002008-11-20T21:56:07.831-08:00Hey all - we're back in Portland. Dropped 30 degrees in temperature. Nothing much to report about the flight, which is the kind of flight we were hoping for. Really nice to get home. Neighbors/friends had food and welcome home balloons for us. <br /><br />We crashed pretty hard. Often when I come back from a big Asia trip I wake up in the middle of the night but I slept through it. Everyone slept pretty well but Janie won the prize for sleeping nearly seventeen hours. <br /><br />Audrey is transitioning well with lots of laughs. I've never seen a kid think that falling down is so funny. She's fearless and pretty much any time she falls she laughs about it. <br /><br />No pictures tonight. I'm going to crash but if things go well tomorrow I'll get things transferred over from the laptop to the home computer and get a few more up. <br /><br />- JDeb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-70543495681466311842008-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:002008-11-18T05:41:31.195-08:00<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlz4cnuQOocIriexdcEFCrUXaQ2HigIz3ysQ3atPzRC9G2pjA112VnJID8w74dcDZA4E7TmiNyyIrB2FXk4H2UiDF-O3QkgHGizq1W7cXDeDqP91sDlJSYCePPpP-_hHGJP-3HdxbOsw/s1600-h/IMG_2683.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269985567197319570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlz4cnuQOocIriexdcEFCrUXaQ2HigIz3ysQ3atPzRC9G2pjA112VnJID8w74dcDZA4E7TmiNyyIrB2FXk4H2UiDF-O3QkgHGizq1W7cXDeDqP91sDlJSYCePPpP-_hHGJP-3HdxbOsw/s320/IMG_2683.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Last night in GZ. We have a 4 AM wake up call and still have a little packing to do. Our route home is GZ to Tokyo and then Tokyo to Portland. We'll take off here Wednesday morning and land in Portland early Wednesday morning. Best trip ever, but we're ready to get back. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Fantastic day...Audrey turned a big corner today. She spent practically the entire day in great spirits. Heard her laugh a lot and we had hardly any of the mourning cries that we have been hearing. She even played some with me (John) so we're making some progress there.<br /></div><br /><div>Quick rewind...yesterday (Monday) was pretty light which was good because it was Janie's turn to get a quick stomach bug. She lost it, with it being breakfast in a store late morning yesterday. After a nap and a movie in the room she was totally fine. The rest of the day was shopping and hanging out at the park. We then had a big group dinner with all the families from our agency. I think there were eleven families. Nothing too crazy at dinner, just a little pigeon. </div><br /><div>Janie woke up today at 5 AM so the two of us went walking until breakfast at seven. There were tons of people, or all ages, out exercising. Today was a combo of a museum, the Six Banyan Temple, the park, shopping, the outdoor market, and dinner with some friends from the group. Plus, the most important part, the swearing in ceremony at the US Consulate Office. Here we received Audrey's passport and visa. There were 52 families going through the ceremony that day. Audrey will become a US citizen when we touch down in Portland.<br /></div><br /><div>That's about it. We'll catch this up once we catch up at home. Thanks for following along.</div></div></div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269989360166360978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPRtTgi_KCGSvO2GS12CTnDIRjKGwlKz50W6Uso-bbgj6vUB1QTxujGzSGX4ou0NuBg68BkiUoJMzAn0QoZ8zP_j1yvNdEHceZ5vjiKgMRYylzMdZm1OKFslu1CcnNPmOQr71plNRvAE/s320/IMG_2654.JPG" border="0" />Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-14048724968694859162008-11-16T20:01:00.000-08:002008-11-17T05:33:24.837-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm-HWMw6tv0xi4-bJLNrahGohO_9PMrwu0q4twG-eIkH_4J7J85xfxH9CL2a2913HzjruuF5RODfAlS4TUUO7v0f1uEKmXSWCuCxb9msc4CCSlyXHFp-nz1_596BhRkTzjYlKFHB1v38/s1600-h/IMG_2562.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269610474772415282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm-HWMw6tv0xi4-bJLNrahGohO_9PMrwu0q4twG-eIkH_4J7J85xfxH9CL2a2913HzjruuF5RODfAlS4TUUO7v0f1uEKmXSWCuCxb9msc4CCSlyXHFp-nz1_596BhRkTzjYlKFHB1v38/s320/IMG_2562.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I know we posted about the medical appointment a couple of days ago but I thought it deserved some photos. It was extremely busy and crazy. Another family who had adopted before said their first experience was nothing like this. We were in this packed/hot/noising medical clinic with lots of screaming babies. Actually, Audrey seemed to be screaming the loudest so I have know idea if other babies were screaming because she was drowning everyone else out. Other interesting observation, I thought the clinic was just for adopting families but there were also Chinese patients there. So these poor sick patients had to be put in line with all of us too<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269475587075089298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxRYJcp6iePnKSBHrtsuPntpQ7Vi0ekhEQceayhJDNokaFpCsF3OmF8MBHkCQNw0AylHFm4xgMrJzDmdG8gPgTMae7BcHteGE-O1gEcNkZNVCv7HTe0PXZo8B27leV6ysDNwR-t9QY-o/s320/IMG_2559.JPG" border="0" /> Audrey is feeling much better today and we learn new things about her every day. For example, she loves to feed herself. She'll let me feed her a little bit but she wants to do it all. Tonight at dinner she used a spoon, and she did it quite well. Also, she was going to bed easily and now it's a little bit more of a challenge but we'll get through it. She loves playing in the hotel room and taking stroller walks. I was carrying her every where but we tried the stroller one day and she really liked it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0619CNKn_6kK7fUphSXxNnhuUohJ7l9Ngy_fq1u_iJSlu51SkxlxDc8fAFY-iw7MJ9sAjfQka9AW5e2yxv-c6mLb-KUgNnTLqSIjcNYBYSju5uHApVz1ona_bKkMMZHkEYrZDuQcgAk/s1600-h/IMG_2566.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269474779865247794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0619CNKn_6kK7fUphSXxNnhuUohJ7l9Ngy_fq1u_iJSlu51SkxlxDc8fAFY-iw7MJ9sAjfQka9AW5e2yxv-c6mLb-KUgNnTLqSIjcNYBYSju5uHApVz1ona_bKkMMZHkEYrZDuQcgAk/s320/IMG_2566.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeAHEP_x6AGEErKDObb06DdcDJFA6UHnQ9ScZ34AKK7HD8a1m8n7PlPcWoYPUYH6jJjY9Vkb3zIJfz1AB50QcT0vIBO0ts-NtLOv2_mIRpnoeqc0IMEg-gVBSjvDo-5IC1xuyZyrYdtY/s1600-h/IMG_2568.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269474271472844466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeAHEP_x6AGEErKDObb06DdcDJFA6UHnQ9ScZ34AKK7HD8a1m8n7PlPcWoYPUYH6jJjY9Vkb3zIJfz1AB50QcT0vIBO0ts-NtLOv2_mIRpnoeqc0IMEg-gVBSjvDo-5IC1xuyZyrYdtY/s320/IMG_2568.JPG" border="0" /></a>And yes, Janie is a great big sister. Janie is having a great time on this journey and she has had to make a lot of changes and done it very well. John bought this hat for her in Beijing and Janie loves to wear it. It's sort of goofy hat too, it has ear flaps that come down and she looks like she should be traveling some where cold, not southern China.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LnWis_lK80XvZ_2vYdgh21q4DufqGFw3jA-hEQ4RSGrO09_AlTVHl-Xm9fVwvtkqfZ4uvScAkuL5TqEWeo1wpfR676JCSKxQ892ZZ6QV4m_9lz9LfOMiK4Jo3UzVGrhz0YKQ1AhEZHk/s1600-h/IMG_2577.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269473868662011970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LnWis_lK80XvZ_2vYdgh21q4DufqGFw3jA-hEQ4RSGrO09_AlTVHl-Xm9fVwvtkqfZ4uvScAkuL5TqEWeo1wpfR676JCSKxQ892ZZ6QV4m_9lz9LfOMiK4Jo3UzVGrhz0YKQ1AhEZHk/s320/IMG_2577.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />On Sunday, we went to the Chinese Botanical Gardens. Very beautiful and both girls had fun.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269473496401939458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrfHqMYFfyH94j9wo6GOgb4-hNvnBXN-dU-ESeu4d9uG87hlHCjLZ5C_3CACZmaOSZ8xrPX7kjep-wB29hLNWlu_be3-4GAl9wfesLJUTquxODuFg51cPRv8n5buU4FNZ-vvyyTlOLGA/s320/IMG_2579.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymcl3LpT_S5L1cJiTxrRmVe_CFmwx1Tchwu1FdttVo1192DK5kK2gVkXchRioLxWgQ6czeXEJfOhgwinAT8gKFH4N3SN44C1D3wu7rueekiNPRv2_C3ZyrPvdNaWV5orG09q-B7Eq4Uo/s1600-h/IMG_2595.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269472279073013810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymcl3LpT_S5L1cJiTxrRmVe_CFmwx1Tchwu1FdttVo1192DK5kK2gVkXchRioLxWgQ6czeXEJfOhgwinAT8gKFH4N3SN44C1D3wu7rueekiNPRv2_C3ZyrPvdNaWV5orG09q-B7Eq4Uo/s320/IMG_2595.JPG" border="0" /></a>We have seen so many awesome things in China but I often think what makes a country our its people. And there are some very gracious and kind people in China. People are always smiling at us and always offering assitance when needed. And trust me, we have needed it a couple of times. </div><br /><div><br />Well, it's Monday night in Beijing and I can't believe we leave Wednesday morning. This has been a great journey but I think we are all ready to get home. We leave the hotel at 5 am on Wednesday morning so we are in for a long day. I hope this flight goes better. We'll try to post tomorrow night but it might be when we get home. If you saw all the stuff we had to pack -- OMG. This evening we bought another suitcase. Yes, we've bought a few things but for some reason it never goes in as neat when you're on your way home. Why is that? Alright I'd better be signing off --D</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>PS Thanks for all of your comments. It's been awesome reading them and we appreciate it so much.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-62897456009935690192008-11-14T23:53:00.000-08:002008-11-15T06:08:17.524-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJazWwYnt13liY1NqPVBHQBzJix2L5ttHDhFEiSYtQG9TswRyW00HF0_jqjOACZ3LHfSU75woz-R7Q1uHbMJ0gy66B0OyYT8RRwXDmlOnUf0mBftZNfP95JTTQ2fu6EjnNCBaLnDU02EA/s1600-h/IMG_2321.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268870840691623714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJazWwYnt13liY1NqPVBHQBzJix2L5ttHDhFEiSYtQG9TswRyW00HF0_jqjOACZ3LHfSU75woz-R7Q1uHbMJ0gy66B0OyYT8RRwXDmlOnUf0mBftZNfP95JTTQ2fu6EjnNCBaLnDU02EA/s320/IMG_2321.JPG" border="0" /></a> Hi all - a lot has happened since our last post. Each day until today brought progress with Audrey. We hit the point where Mom was able to actually leave and go the restroom in a restaurant and Audrey wouldn't lose it. Audrey spent a few minutes on my lap and I was able to tickle her and make her (and me) laugh. She had a great day Thursday and Friday until Friday night. <br /><br />Things went a different direction Friday night and today but the encouraging thing is that we know that things can and will go in the right direction. Friday night was our flight from Nanning to Guangzhou. Didn't turn out so well. Poor Deb, she's been a rock, but has had a very challenging 24 hours or so. So Deb was feeding Audrey a bottle on the plane before it took off. Well Audrey basically threw it back up all over Deb. Then she lost it seven more times (but who is counting) over the course of the flight. Since then, and all throughout today, she's been really lethargic and it feels sort of like day one again. She's thrown a few times today but hopefully it is all behind her. It is strange, after all the medical fun we've had with Janie (for those that don't know Janie was born three months early and was under two pounds at birth, but is all good now) we've had about zero stomach sickness with her. So this is a bit new to us. <br /><br />This morning in Guangzhou (GZ) was the medical appointment day. This was sort of like slightly controlled chaos. The GREAT NEWS though was that they didn't hear any heart murmur for Audrey - her special need is that she has VSD (a little hole in her heart). When Audrey was a little baby they found a whole in her heart and one of the signs of VSD is a heart murmur. The specialist that listened to her didn't hear it. We're optimistic that he was correct, but still have her lined up with specialists in Portland when we get back. <br /><br />Overall things are great. Our guide (Kathy) has been super and we're in our final city. The last 24 hours have been tough, but hopefully she'll sleep well tonight and rally tomorrow. Below are some photos from the last couple of days. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyOQF6nX8heigZJ3DwLS5ZMjv6CLZ9Gpy9HXQAedMPImVGEwIIOtNI39qZs-oSOUVRHXHecLq50AaUF6NmsM-gwosiXD-Qzwkc6LfYYfB06IxK16WOfaNJ9Bm-xxVhvM80UeXCqr9RS8/s1600-h/IMG_2324.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268869564221396402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyOQF6nX8heigZJ3DwLS5ZMjv6CLZ9Gpy9HXQAedMPImVGEwIIOtNI39qZs-oSOUVRHXHecLq50AaUF6NmsM-gwosiXD-Qzwkc6LfYYfB06IxK16WOfaNJ9Bm-xxVhvM80UeXCqr9RS8/s320/IMG_2324.JPG" border="0" /></a> She's already working it. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq4H7QZHz8yFz5CYZoa50ItUAeGLWupiv6jHL1O-JUOfgqU9HVm-m-lRhQxAoww2kfWm5qvMG9C9APk3cCZtpedOplha0WpXsEQLWPr12_Vof3cLixmcT8-YgN0JJ7ywESGw9B9UFe38/s1600-h/IMG_2345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268868201804459858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq4H7QZHz8yFz5CYZoa50ItUAeGLWupiv6jHL1O-JUOfgqU9HVm-m-lRhQxAoww2kfWm5qvMG9C9APk3cCZtpedOplha0WpXsEQLWPr12_Vof3cLixmcT8-YgN0JJ7ywESGw9B9UFe38/s320/IMG_2345.JPG" border="0" /></a> Probably my favorite photo of the trip. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheciyrq9YKVBLqKGIskUyyRj9kV0OwFNZJKmbuxbGFUkJijMMVtNg9eAw7z-9zGdOpI3X1hqyaUYcAXcbNHG24LLx_ZNiI9X06YVI_2XnY9dZwnOO0pQWIugau-5GxTYk_R1tb-BgzyOM/s1600-h/IMG_2375.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268867225634551458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheciyrq9YKVBLqKGIskUyyRj9kV0OwFNZJKmbuxbGFUkJijMMVtNg9eAw7z-9zGdOpI3X1hqyaUYcAXcbNHG24LLx_ZNiI9X06YVI_2XnY9dZwnOO0pQWIugau-5GxTYk_R1tb-BgzyOM/s320/IMG_2375.jpg" border="0" /></a> This one is pretty good too. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwUaQGIsm14KiOZ6iIYUuL81Snwmth54Q0qmJ9u8PXI2Lg2APAHEUEY-YJTsy17b0dhX_9c0dDUuJFLuyNNoMCoPxj6-EafKog6RZE-dxy7ljQk5QvTmIu1-EINHiKuWwu6oxATzSi4k/s1600-h/IMG_2389.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268866138135862850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwUaQGIsm14KiOZ6iIYUuL81Snwmth54Q0qmJ9u8PXI2Lg2APAHEUEY-YJTsy17b0dhX_9c0dDUuJFLuyNNoMCoPxj6-EafKog6RZE-dxy7ljQk5QvTmIu1-EINHiKuWwu6oxATzSi4k/s320/IMG_2389.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is Elephant Hill up in Guilin. We hiked around this place.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cBT2793L8qWfTZt2-vzJXIRhb9liI-mFSnFEfhDR-8ZA75yhKZy3lZD0Y66MCD3dt0h0J8GVacLTdFNzVrO7vNTg_Ef_q4cEW75iXKh15iuynuDk0h3dbjc7hSlzo6HLEvF6IBirb9Y/s1600-h/IMG_2444.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268863661032841202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cBT2793L8qWfTZt2-vzJXIRhb9liI-mFSnFEfhDR-8ZA75yhKZy3lZD0Y66MCD3dt0h0J8GVacLTdFNzVrO7vNTg_Ef_q4cEW75iXKh15iuynuDk0h3dbjc7hSlzo6HLEvF6IBirb9Y/s320/IMG_2444.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here we are in Ludiyan Cave (also called Reed Flute Cave). Amazing place. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXmlIvpt7xqAvIKGhZ41kqjiSE-QR1-_8M81U5XGQ5a8v0Fo_-l-ePw7OeR8VvvD5OBMvxiVuuu042Ty6CIRp7jaTTu4-AicDa2X2ZyhY9_J2CoDNpBMlw2zIzOHqckg7yhrahhuZepQ/s1600-h/IMG_2443.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268862433610596802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXmlIvpt7xqAvIKGhZ41kqjiSE-QR1-_8M81U5XGQ5a8v0Fo_-l-ePw7OeR8VvvD5OBMvxiVuuu042Ty6CIRp7jaTTu4-AicDa2X2ZyhY9_J2CoDNpBMlw2zIzOHqckg7yhrahhuZepQ/s320/IMG_2443.JPG" border="0" /></a> The cave was full of these incredible shots. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DjdQZtvkrh9hd2pOSq1kdZ-upFZaIQEY2Mj9JPxwp3ejcvWKU9H9gkUNS0yQCE5Nxn4aEycHZg7k9QDnLTgoQjFzRT6HIc5BMFhkVF3m9HaT4Ely_oGC8xYeahGiWZMZ7TigTvMCTMk/s1600-h/IMG_2477.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268861318131776242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DjdQZtvkrh9hd2pOSq1kdZ-upFZaIQEY2Mj9JPxwp3ejcvWKU9H9gkUNS0yQCE5Nxn4aEycHZg7k9QDnLTgoQjFzRT6HIc5BMFhkVF3m9HaT4Ely_oGC8xYeahGiWZMZ7TigTvMCTMk/s320/IMG_2477.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Their first sister kiss on a river boat cruise. We took a bus from Nanning to Guilin. Then spent the rest of that day at Elephant Hill and the Caves. Stayed overnight in Guilin and then the next morning we did the Li Jiang river cruise through the most incredible scenary. The cruise was about 4 hours and ended in Yangshuo. We then took another bus back to Nanning. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSaO2_IHxWZPxR1VmAJl-hYOXwAPh8NlY10VCcGUchaG1hA8_tPyLkXH8-0AW0lDhxJMZwSYysUVEU5FMy3UqXnlwfhyVoOIYCeo0DLAMEeb8l4y_svSOnzGDW4FSnS2NZ9dDQfywjno/s1600-h/IMG_2461.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268860464618884786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSaO2_IHxWZPxR1VmAJl-hYOXwAPh8NlY10VCcGUchaG1hA8_tPyLkXH8-0AW0lDhxJMZwSYysUVEU5FMy3UqXnlwfhyVoOIYCeo0DLAMEeb8l4y_svSOnzGDW4FSnS2NZ9dDQfywjno/s320/IMG_2461.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's bubba with her friend Allison (from another family that adopted) on the boat. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IW9s07VAwCARAPSIrb5rylh5-STca_-cIrM8l31v6sneLdDTJfzyeVBI9HFLdaza-vG2WLhag5fXYOZ_heM5WIWJfyXixKZ5Tx842z2M-866R5g7YpXXVYKujm1o-TiWsI4dciVe3vc/s1600-h/IMG_2482.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268859324503908162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IW9s07VAwCARAPSIrb5rylh5-STca_-cIrM8l31v6sneLdDTJfzyeVBI9HFLdaza-vG2WLhag5fXYOZ_heM5WIWJfyXixKZ5Tx842z2M-866R5g7YpXXVYKujm1o-TiWsI4dciVe3vc/s320/IMG_2482.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here was the "kitchen" on the boat. We skipped the food. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVr8bd-rbqxWq1QBieDS7wIcgJ86Q-2rblMkv8IV56150HVYKPumGQbmVsw_3cz8f3FZRz3yJHRpht499vRy_zh-Z9mr4LdLVSLQ1ushdNeF6ayTvQpjtiq6RyRC2rHXq7bn8vx3wxOkQ/s1600-h/IMG_2487.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268858228613806674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVr8bd-rbqxWq1QBieDS7wIcgJ86Q-2rblMkv8IV56150HVYKPumGQbmVsw_3cz8f3FZRz3yJHRpht499vRy_zh-Z9mr4LdLVSLQ1ushdNeF6ayTvQpjtiq6RyRC2rHXq7bn8vx3wxOkQ/s320/IMG_2487.JPG" border="0" /></a> But I did try the snake wine. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJS6awftTfT0xKJLrc7b0KDcoUfMoQhVzcHWRtDwZfcp7ToGp1w4YyQYi-ETa9W034LaUvEsiODMLgYBXYPXiPQhhDQnF6gbSC11I46VQ8SPjXDrF-Oq2sBfcEH2X13wfvyuCxLHJSAT0/s1600-h/IMG_2484.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268857317853711778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJS6awftTfT0xKJLrc7b0KDcoUfMoQhVzcHWRtDwZfcp7ToGp1w4YyQYi-ETa9W034LaUvEsiODMLgYBXYPXiPQhhDQnF6gbSC11I46VQ8SPjXDrF-Oq2sBfcEH2X13wfvyuCxLHJSAT0/s320/IMG_2484.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Endless views like these. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLks3toqOzpnSOhcgH3bjnEJpJ90AdhizJO1CDI558b6JWS8sAgRmYq9cyRKCwqtvGFi3ubp4opooLLBUZk-jz3MxJWMckd4IiPH_-2CG7PB97xTgdjFV7PKEpKmpicIjdKKWjTZEP8x8/s1600-h/IMG_2515.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268855812706260450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLks3toqOzpnSOhcgH3bjnEJpJ90AdhizJO1CDI558b6JWS8sAgRmYq9cyRKCwqtvGFi3ubp4opooLLBUZk-jz3MxJWMckd4IiPH_-2CG7PB97xTgdjFV7PKEpKmpicIjdKKWjTZEP8x8/s320/IMG_2515.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Followed by some even better views...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlelCLy7dU9Ft9WZLemNA9WYmpKBbLKJyGa714pQ4q3S0BtSaDxPJ61W2oe-GSpMSHif9z1lrGOCMaSyb5zUY3BCutvqUiOHJdxZdpCwmtd3fJE1xO2NpMvQmz-yhVXt11EeILd3dK7r8/s1600-h/IMG_2540.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268823079730279330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlelCLy7dU9Ft9WZLemNA9WYmpKBbLKJyGa714pQ4q3S0BtSaDxPJ61W2oe-GSpMSHif9z1lrGOCMaSyb5zUY3BCutvqUiOHJdxZdpCwmtd3fJE1xO2NpMvQmz-yhVXt11EeILd3dK7r8/s320/IMG_2540.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEqZKraN0_RxiWJH7ycikIm7Ha8FmX_XdDqqXKKrICU046s4kR5Kk7PwrCC-klugh3VmYqB0cVlT_IsSwz4XM_gCVbUJC1w1DS2aG8OauG1Th7FF-bDh7_cbUwd9sgMS2x8tV76yZsrE/s1600-h/IMG_2541.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268822160189390978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 331px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEqZKraN0_RxiWJH7ycikIm7Ha8FmX_XdDqqXKKrICU046s4kR5Kk7PwrCC-klugh3VmYqB0cVlT_IsSwz4XM_gCVbUJC1w1DS2aG8OauG1Th7FF-bDh7_cbUwd9sgMS2x8tV76yZsrE/s320/IMG_2541.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCjP4UwQJHJyz68DgBYLCxLjAoArrokKrAQqs-s9syhD73RLrP22kF3DEgsFv78JJDQ0cLqqVHkS-1PH8G9tBbi5YW8wQE3NYwyI1gczGR5kVxckvhgZlWiqZhDLFd1ftzcpd5uqE9Og/s1600-h/IMG_2543.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268821143389082258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCjP4UwQJHJyz68DgBYLCxLjAoArrokKrAQqs-s9syhD73RLrP22kF3DEgsFv78JJDQ0cLqqVHkS-1PH8G9tBbi5YW8wQE3NYwyI1gczGR5kVxckvhgZlWiqZhDLFd1ftzcpd5uqE9Og/s320/IMG_2543.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWW4Wxkj1Uxmhyb_XP7Bo2FYnIZAaf_rtLAb3o4izBQA5yYnPBF1AeKhL974qFKTojV4AnjUviF6UKPbwZA82kzJfzlxTc-b_7IDERpevDOSTD7Oi17_-IIyWWbhPuv5P6uT9y92pLDgc/s1600-h/IMG_2544.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268820053547555058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWW4Wxkj1Uxmhyb_XP7Bo2FYnIZAaf_rtLAb3o4izBQA5yYnPBF1AeKhL974qFKTojV4AnjUviF6UKPbwZA82kzJfzlxTc-b_7IDERpevDOSTD7Oi17_-IIyWWbhPuv5P6uT9y92pLDgc/s320/IMG_2544.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvMFJawIET2bEbElZg5i5Y77RKMln3dADWw0PO81MGZQuD_GQmjzO1IHOaJNiHFGYkPukJCptsgvnP0IOnBo9doW8g9L9NmA_ESsvPtYA1nfjr4qPi0MpYQG9yZfRXI1DH0kg09goVmc/s1600-h/IMG_2552.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268816646384832370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvMFJawIET2bEbElZg5i5Y77RKMln3dADWw0PO81MGZQuD_GQmjzO1IHOaJNiHFGYkPukJCptsgvnP0IOnBo9doW8g9L9NmA_ESsvPtYA1nfjr4qPi0MpYQG9yZfRXI1DH0kg09goVmc/s320/IMG_2552.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Janie has good friends in Portland (Sammy and Lizzie) that are twins and thought it was funny that they also have twins in China. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3pDnHcjj_6Xb3-P0lsf8OAYcKbstl2MCp5Dn0vTtmQvfyceHmDFuxcBgUOrPytZKPDQ2rNnMw3EnzDxYSkN-NP9Pd8M3dJqQ33HohGOhA_yfCuZvALU5FjCNSCe17_nYSepu5rJ2sGY/s1600-h/IMG_2553.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268792245915870674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3pDnHcjj_6Xb3-P0lsf8OAYcKbstl2MCp5Dn0vTtmQvfyceHmDFuxcBgUOrPytZKPDQ2rNnMw3EnzDxYSkN-NP9Pd8M3dJqQ33HohGOhA_yfCuZvALU5FjCNSCe17_nYSepu5rJ2sGY/s320/IMG_2553.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The twins and the bear are at the People's Park in Nanning a couple of hours before we flew out. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I4JRgaatE4LlOcDVDzevc1UlqJBEM1hnk9uYxdd31i-RpM_q-MHKEj4R-WaYKg-mU-mX4nYiv_syn9ObxpWccvP39C9-hM2nMqRrkXiEckZw_2-Vjw-UyW03MmdvJQfiGOgiiSbufQs/s1600-h/IMG_2557.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268790244623951426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I4JRgaatE4LlOcDVDzevc1UlqJBEM1hnk9uYxdd31i-RpM_q-MHKEj4R-WaYKg-mU-mX4nYiv_syn9ObxpWccvP39C9-hM2nMqRrkXiEckZw_2-Vjw-UyW03MmdvJQfiGOgiiSbufQs/s320/IMG_2557.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One last shot of the happy girl. Hopefully she'll be feeling better tomorrow. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-34310958955075162522008-11-12T06:08:00.000-08:002008-11-12T14:36:56.368-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiho-Aobo_aetf-ekpZtibqVk6oZfzGAaz4nM8PFgLY3mUZo6KHZElf11PEpSC-x8REIyVdgxBg1fDjb5x3Mzztbmmt-i_kVE2efWnVGAY9RtzxlC_OIY9mHmXi-AC4G0sA4ZP2FdiplXo/s1600-h/IMG_2456.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267897533677872290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiho-Aobo_aetf-ekpZtibqVk6oZfzGAaz4nM8PFgLY3mUZo6KHZElf11PEpSC-x8REIyVdgxBg1fDjb5x3Mzztbmmt-i_kVE2efWnVGAY9RtzxlC_OIY9mHmXi-AC4G0sA4ZP2FdiplXo/s320/IMG_2456.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP65cYPdn_m9SnYtUxzGz810U1SKus_3ZWrU5M7_zm6elrOAcUqJfPzdd2H1e8FMqOJaDl_zrcCfC5GW6mpzHh0J-ZbVDLGkix2dU8e3Gmm9z651zXoa_sFyJ-VQolAR8wF1IE1k74Fpc/s1600-h/IMG_2316.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267896422635822866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP65cYPdn_m9SnYtUxzGz810U1SKus_3ZWrU5M7_zm6elrOAcUqJfPzdd2H1e8FMqOJaDl_zrcCfC5GW6mpzHh0J-ZbVDLGkix2dU8e3Gmm9z651zXoa_sFyJ-VQolAR8wF1IE1k74Fpc/s320/IMG_2316.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSfU0hdT0Y7IE3tPMIE1qD1cAXgwrayrg_LqQKR-58VT8nxs8y4ad0kTPkleafOyfsPaDmhI0sAxRAHv3qdPNgkCJE7Y_lerZ4I1A2IMtStdfOdwXyIGSgsHJkH6eO8qIvvB9xomgm80/s1600-h/IMG_2312.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267895603682063138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSfU0hdT0Y7IE3tPMIE1qD1cAXgwrayrg_LqQKR-58VT8nxs8y4ad0kTPkleafOyfsPaDmhI0sAxRAHv3qdPNgkCJE7Y_lerZ4I1A2IMtStdfOdwXyIGSgsHJkH6eO8qIvvB9xomgm80/s320/IMG_2312.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Tried to post this last (Wednesday) night here but couldn't get through. It is now Thursday morning and I'm still having lots of difficulties with getting this sent. I wanted a lot more photos but I'm going to send now to make sure this gets out. </div><br /><div>Hi, sorry so slow getting back, but we're pretty exhausted. First thing I want to say is THANK YOU for the comments that you sent. Really appreciate it. A special thanks to those that described similar experiences with their daughter and then said that it will get better. So it's Wednesday night and it has been 36 hours or so since I last wrote. At Nike we have a Maxim that reads "Do the Right Thing" - and after being with her over the last couple of days I know we are, but it has also been really tough. Over this period of time I've probably been able to hold her for a total of 10 minutes in little short bursts before she cries/screams. We have been able to play a little together but only if Deb is within sight. So it has been tough for me, but there have also been times when she's let her guard down and her personality has come out. Those times are just outstanding to watch (from a distance). She's said MaMa, Elmo and Bye-Bye so far. Unfortunately for me, Bye-Bye came when I left the hotel room for a bit. She turned to Deb and Janie and said Bye-Bye in a perfectly clear voice. I'm truly extremely happy that we have her and everything is now official, I'm just ready to join the fun. So again, for those that have been through it, thanks for the good words, thanks for listening to me ramble and thanks to everyone that has been following.<br /></div><div>Now on to the good news...she's absolutely attached to Deb...extremely attached. Poor Deb can't get two seconds to herself and I'm not sure I'm exaggerating. The good news though is that it shows Audrey can and will attach. Deb has been fantastic and it is wonderful to see the two of them connect so well. Janie has been a trooper and every day amazes me. She's great with Audrey, great at trying all kinds of new foods in the restaurants and even a great sport at the non-Western toilets. She's very adaptable and get comfortable quickly in different environments.<br /></div><br /><div>I'm a little fuzzy and tired but here's what's happened since last post. We left Tuesday morning to go back to the Civil Affairs office. There we waited with a bunch of other adoptive parents and went through ceremonies to make things official. We then went to the governmental notary office for more questions and at that point everything was official. One great thing is that we received a little gift from the orphanage and in it contained a packet of photos of Audrey over the last 16 months. An unexpected treasure. </div><br /><div>Tuesday afternoon was a big nap for Audrey and Deb. Janie and I went back to Wal Mart. I probably haven't been in a Wal Mart twice in the last 10 years but now I'm on back to back days. I also hit a Nike store and a Converse store so now I can expense the whole trip (just kidding Nancy if you're out there reading). Then Janie and I went swimming, sort of, because the pool was outdoors and the water temp was in the 60s Fahrenheit. We got mostly in but there were some guys a lot tougher than I am that were swimming laps. That night we had a celebration dinner and then tried a shower (didn't go well but the bath tonight didn't either). </div><br /><div>We were up really early this morning and took a bus from Nanning to Guilin. It was about a 4.5 hour bus ride but I think it was worth it. We wanted to experience more of the country than just the large cities and the scenery was amazing. We then all went to Elephant Hill and then we dropped off one family at the orphanage and we went on to the Reed Flute Cave. We've been traveling with another family from Portland and their daughter is from the orphanage at Guilin. We chose ahead of time not to go to the orphanage and I think we made the right choice. It sounds like they had a good experience but I think it would have set Audrey back even more. Elephant Hill was great scenery and after that much time on the bus it was good to hike around. I've never seen anything like the cave. I'll just leave a couple of pictures below to show it off.<br /></div><div>Tomorrow we're on a river cruise and we'll eventually end up in Nanning. We then leave Friday for Guangzhou. I should sleep. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-60827709141791791252008-11-10T13:43:00.000-08:002008-11-10T15:18:05.859-08:00We got her - gotcha day! Here's the first photo of Audrey Min Ann <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Howes</span>. She's beautiful, healthy and feisty. What a day/night! Overall it went incredibly well. Like her big sister, she's a tough, brave girl. Here's how it all went down. After a morning shopping (at a Chinese <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wal</span> Mart) for supplies for us and for our donation to the orphanage we hopped on a bus at 2:30 to go t0 Civil Affairs to meet her. We were the third of about a dozen couples that were called. After our name was called Audrey was brought in. After that I don't remember much except a bunch of photos. Audrey did <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ok</span> for a while and then it got a little too much. Then the tears came and we got to hear the power of her voice. This lasted until the bus got moving to the hotel. After that she chilled out and really, for the most part, she hasn't cried that much. Janie has helped a lot and Deb has been incredible. I haven't been able to hold her yet, hopefully today. It brings back some memories of Janie and not being able to hold her right away. Overall, an amazing day. Even better than I expected...and I had big expectations. Did I mention she's gorgeous and smart. OK, I need to run. We have to report downstairs in 90 minutes for a day of paperwork and meetings. Enjoy the pictures below. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONJI0SODkAaiBLpfKYh__TJkeCn80WIQGtcuzd7yN_7UlU_ulzcMTy9tsloM2E7Cwh0GNHN5H8iu5ZPlLsHG9Mg4XpqohAyzG3vLkGPHdesFSF0RA6dlkIiSslUgSPBJ_8jqmrsJ7yik/s1600-h/IMG_2276.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267161298000635570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONJI0SODkAaiBLpfKYh__TJkeCn80WIQGtcuzd7yN_7UlU_ulzcMTy9tsloM2E7Cwh0GNHN5H8iu5ZPlLsHG9Mg4XpqohAyzG3vLkGPHdesFSF0RA6dlkIiSslUgSPBJ_8jqmrsJ7yik/s320/IMG_2276.JPG" border="0" /></a>First sisters photo - these are at the Civil Affairs office.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPeV2gOtP91ntic1fnbBNqmmjNH1GXYxciQ5j2p6ikGtl3Mn66dk6NidARoBIhPOoWSlzD-VNcBmtTqrdh0UgJxQMCSyvKQBvulX6SSjqz6UZ64sEGfHqGaIcnE5QY1fGrLF7BWwPQVc/s1600-h/IMG_2281.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267160417907165282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPeV2gOtP91ntic1fnbBNqmmjNH1GXYxciQ5j2p6ikGtl3Mn66dk6NidARoBIhPOoWSlzD-VNcBmtTqrdh0UgJxQMCSyvKQBvulX6SSjqz6UZ64sEGfHqGaIcnE5QY1fGrLF7BWwPQVc/s320/IMG_2281.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's her early look towards us. Actually, it is still the look I'm receiving.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VkFt3J4Eiy9mzisgN7LeSzbFiN1P1-gQ69K7VM4S8ENjVjoliZ_7-QOCcMtBUEhXsQp-QV1R06D4nfNCFZC65uqK4oWiSRaGH9didUk80BUqmu4DPBoFYu9pkedf649DLPqWc4OEEUY/s1600-h/IMG_2294.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267159594562067554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VkFt3J4Eiy9mzisgN7LeSzbFiN1P1-gQ69K7VM4S8ENjVjoliZ_7-QOCcMtBUEhXsQp-QV1R06D4nfNCFZC65uqK4oWiSRaGH9didUk80BUqmu4DPBoFYu9pkedf649DLPqWc4OEEUY/s320/IMG_2294.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Toys helped a ton. She has <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">fantastic</span> motor skills and you can tell she's really quick. She spent a good hour plus on the bed playing with these toys and her big sister. Since the beginning Janie has had a buddy named Suzy that she's played with. Audrey now has hers and Janie helped name her Lilly. She is very curious and played/explored everything.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdtp2EpwchCeYjsyg2msQShFGS8Uyf748dC37dobcKE0Wcd55S6ZFiHZmo_vRkGZdlTd1lDIc7xCzbRBuQq9spcbjk3Z81ZDhNlbRWkLrOvUsFZDefgsmI8pTX6FqKHS-1A3bsaYr3wk/s1600-h/IMG_2295.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267158496889451810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdtp2EpwchCeYjsyg2msQShFGS8Uyf748dC37dobcKE0Wcd55S6ZFiHZmo_vRkGZdlTd1lDIc7xCzbRBuQq9spcbjk3Z81ZDhNlbRWkLrOvUsFZDefgsmI8pTX6FqKHS-1A3bsaYr3wk/s320/IMG_2295.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hmmm</span>...maybe these guys are going to be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ok</span>...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69KtS2spmxg-4mpcxB56sczH8f2jaIbqnKz0Oy-3s9BLzGH7s-iJIxJvNd5C7QDsmh9hSx6jURtqFTfI-UVKoSIezg0SD55iM3yRrKXVw7i2EFM_eqdJlblNXla6UmCMRQYEqnVfHo6k/s1600-h/IMG_2296.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267157598676164242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69KtS2spmxg-4mpcxB56sczH8f2jaIbqnKz0Oy-3s9BLzGH7s-iJIxJvNd5C7QDsmh9hSx6jURtqFTfI-UVKoSIezg0SD55iM3yRrKXVw7i2EFM_eqdJlblNXla6UmCMRQYEqnVfHo6k/s400/IMG_2296.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />First dinner in the room. When we get more time we'll post the schedule that Audrey is supposed to be on for food and sleep. Here she did a great job eating and was more interested in trying what Janie was eating than eating hers.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggAlsP4ntOh6g9hdLpY7a9hX8LMU-VQfhPHGhoHAuFeUCsF7t-AaqfNhBDEXUwrf0ZlVp-fYjxNaIY53qhJ6Yv4I17iVkCPjbnry15egUhK5ZRwVBHvIqSpRsSFc4fOsaL_cnJk_Es7Q/s1600-h/IMG_2302.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267156616793075250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggAlsP4ntOh6g9hdLpY7a9hX8LMU-VQfhPHGhoHAuFeUCsF7t-AaqfNhBDEXUwrf0ZlVp-fYjxNaIY53qhJ6Yv4I17iVkCPjbnry15egUhK5ZRwVBHvIqSpRsSFc4fOsaL_cnJk_Es7Q/s320/IMG_2302.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Eventually, we got to hear her sweet voice and her laugh.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLIyMY6I5u2ZS9-xwXX-bB9vwWpUpQDDtDXVUICTCQahvfyGHR-qCirFmTr1SQU2zdULzzumvendc-sd-4DZZmk15HWxTBwEuhErLViGI2pwVyYqz_ueVDN76FBQeIsNC65j8VjN-0Tc/s1600-h/IMG_2306.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267155548116359058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLIyMY6I5u2ZS9-xwXX-bB9vwWpUpQDDtDXVUICTCQahvfyGHR-qCirFmTr1SQU2zdULzzumvendc-sd-4DZZmk15HWxTBwEuhErLViGI2pwVyYqz_ueVDN76FBQeIsNC65j8VjN-0Tc/s320/IMG_2306.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhTIbueV6vxSDOYoFMOLNqGV6SmtdbQQvYjEvZu0ZUDnsVSsGoDjG_W9ZCye2c_FDsAMW9D6CZv51CZWLtRcJh8CrAUepyOFtWLWVSH1Q-9FqmC7H1xz2Gwlo2_LFzsbPah7VOMa0GIM/s1600-h/IMG_2305.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267154636719618962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhTIbueV6vxSDOYoFMOLNqGV6SmtdbQQvYjEvZu0ZUDnsVSsGoDjG_W9ZCye2c_FDsAMW9D6CZv51CZWLtRcJh8CrAUepyOFtWLWVSH1Q-9FqmC7H1xz2Gwlo2_LFzsbPah7VOMa0GIM/s320/IMG_2305.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Wal</span> Mart I was giving Janie and her new friend Ally cart spinning rides and Janie looked up at me and said that when she was dizzy it was the first time all day that she wasn't thinking of baby sister. She's a proud big sister and had a very happy day.<br /><br /><br />Two "people" brought out the Audrey smile. Big sis Janie and Elmo on a box of snacks. Both made her kick her feet and laugh at different times.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_xkP_9hXnXRQhJ8l0d-zXuX5fHEQGkCC0FrIxVAdfvuyEgUOLaYqW7YXvEFZMogZ6224Q-0RVFmtKhRhzkl1Oy-AQQquQl2Z_UCSiSV4Iqe35WDiksy6lP1Dz3a1rF-pxteoORzJ4ZA/s1600-h/IMG_2304.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267153542555071026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_xkP_9hXnXRQhJ8l0d-zXuX5fHEQGkCC0FrIxVAdfvuyEgUOLaYqW7YXvEFZMogZ6224Q-0RVFmtKhRhzkl1Oy-AQQquQl2Z_UCSiSV4Iqe35WDiksy6lP1Dz3a1rF-pxteoORzJ4ZA/s320/IMG_2304.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />She arrived dressed in three layers. The purple top you see here, some green pants and red shoes. All looked brad new. We saw one child arrived with a backpack full of her things, but Audrey just came with the clothes on her back. In some previous pictures she was holding a doll and we were hoping that would come with her but it didn't. One <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">heartbreaker</span> (of many) last night was when she climbed down off the bed walked over to the door (yes, she's walking well), picked up her shoes, brought them to us, and gave us a look that said why aren't these on my feet and why am I not going home. That was a bit of a tough moment.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjf3wTLd_UANIfkNLFZmTdn-6gZ6EDnitPZGnwy5bPS5YpMqvApS-_cMhjIztqstwfgnZc4WJJSbalipDUhYaCJoTA21shTfVj2nKxEnw0x0YYQ-YSGQo_S1hw8jN4ZoOFp2BoOHhXeY/s1600-h/IMG_2307.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267152579930248498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjf3wTLd_UANIfkNLFZmTdn-6gZ6EDnitPZGnwy5bPS5YpMqvApS-_cMhjIztqstwfgnZc4WJJSbalipDUhYaCJoTA21shTfVj2nKxEnw0x0YYQ-YSGQo_S1hw8jN4ZoOFp2BoOHhXeY/s320/IMG_2307.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />But then the smile makes it all worth it.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EyHkpDT9dNAORsTIyK7GvzRbxs8Ppo3SVS_tuijyZUHzNt9Cao-v1_FvcHmsWi1Vw2F-Lab5roRzvwxhBYV1Fq-nRTwq8BxLfKv30OLFVhcg6ARCYjHN1iNFEmqNluTHlmVm1crf1l4/s1600-h/IMG_2308.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267150676917331458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EyHkpDT9dNAORsTIyK7GvzRbxs8Ppo3SVS_tuijyZUHzNt9Cao-v1_FvcHmsWi1Vw2F-Lab5roRzvwxhBYV1Fq-nRTwq8BxLfKv30OLFVhcg6ARCYjHN1iNFEmqNluTHlmVm1crf1l4/s400/IMG_2308.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />So here's current state. The little one is sleeping peacefully. The big one is rolling, kicking and snoring. Here's she's almost off the bed and sleeping on the table.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZW1iD781KSYUx5jGJoanE_QX7hNj8ZRgPvD9m3OrPSh7wRwjoJqJvDIl0BY15O6eAREPFsa9pU5UsqeUF8ujzYrXf_-lqFkvOlbZWZD9keGSL9yZxClMv1GlIlf-PWjztcb552FDMU0/s1600-h/IMG_2310_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267149499561085698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZW1iD781KSYUx5jGJoanE_QX7hNj8ZRgPvD9m3OrPSh7wRwjoJqJvDIl0BY15O6eAREPFsa9pU5UsqeUF8ujzYrXf_-lqFkvOlbZWZD9keGSL9yZxClMv1GlIlf-PWjztcb552FDMU0/s320/IMG_2310_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Time to get ready. Hate to wake them up, but we have to. Really pleased with the amount they both slept though. Hope you enjoyed the show.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPskT6fmV17IENq_Q3XLw5gXxRCODIasEfbP5mjsSCwLahySd1YDL5pwgDiKo_Rh15TkgnaLwIqZ43mwSYPa8f8OxSZPZ7IOpk0lbP0TUio02BzZJwGQgQVxNyAFz7M60GVQn8qJI5wVc/s1600-h/IMG_2311_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267148671939196498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPskT6fmV17IENq_Q3XLw5gXxRCODIasEfbP5mjsSCwLahySd1YDL5pwgDiKo_Rh15TkgnaLwIqZ43mwSYPa8f8OxSZPZ7IOpk0lbP0TUio02BzZJwGQgQVxNyAFz7M60GVQn8qJI5wVc/s320/IMG_2311_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-49495999369496802882008-11-09T04:12:00.000-08:002008-11-09T05:37:17.047-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH3csU6Z1wWb7LP1zYiastx0Qkd8lqFDJSDjjOc3s9aRxSAXFsz2mwUoTnaRhRu_s2j16R8ZRrHcyNVOwBLGoirlj6QVAKypvrcXDpuB1jcd7EZptQIO5QZr5qo4ldV9u4MINpUSvXGw/s1600-h/IMG_2181.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266642927202638002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH3csU6Z1wWb7LP1zYiastx0Qkd8lqFDJSDjjOc3s9aRxSAXFsz2mwUoTnaRhRu_s2j16R8ZRrHcyNVOwBLGoirlj6QVAKypvrcXDpuB1jcd7EZptQIO5QZr5qo4ldV9u4MINpUSvXGw/s320/IMG_2181.JPG" border="0" /></a> Hi there - so we need to be quick tonight. Gotcha day is tomorrow and we're working on getting organized. Plus Janie didn't get up at 5 this morning, she moved it to 4:30. We're now in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Nanning</span> in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Guangxi</span> Province. Today was essentially a travel day. Big contrast from Beijing in terms of climate. Really nice out. We took a 3.5 hour flight today from Beijing to here. Very green here. Reminds me a bit of Portland. Very pretty area. We just returned from dinner with another family from Portland. They are adopting their second daughter. Their first is about Janie's age and they hit it off at dinner. <br /><br />Back to yesterday in Beijing and some quick highlights. We spent the morning and part of the afternoon at the zoo and the aquarium. Then we moved on to the Capital Museum. After that we spent some time in the markets shopping and then finished with a dinner in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hutong</span> that Sean took us to. Fantastic meals again. He knows some great places to dine and they aren't going to be found in guidebooks. Really thankful that he took us under his wing for a couple of days. <br /><br />The picture above probably doesn't do it justice. This little "guy" carried Janie around a courtyard at the zoo for 5 minutes. She was driving and almost took a couple kids out. There's a video that we'll try and get posted but it freezes up when I tried earlier tonight. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xFqHw_sD7bfEBfJhLwS4D3Uwx0q02Jn2ab2SWOfUUdTAEYeAorn5nxT0L0aRLf46dJAlOaPBrO4lYJUaMQlDq94tLqaxciiG7e2naAQAWHzVyFj9qDcsvJhgGHgI3fI7TjMlgbnJDKc/s1600-h/IMG_2166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266637616360103410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xFqHw_sD7bfEBfJhLwS4D3Uwx0q02Jn2ab2SWOfUUdTAEYeAorn5nxT0L0aRLf46dJAlOaPBrO4lYJUaMQlDq94tLqaxciiG7e2naAQAWHzVyFj9qDcsvJhgGHgI3fI7TjMlgbnJDKc/s320/IMG_2166.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Nice <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">aquarium</span> that was connected to the zoo. Janie enjoyed some of the rides. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHcFCQhPyE5NZ5hu_O_-FU41rxrGNK04XVCQSPkg2obXeHQ-7ZknYq5qmIGMCPKd0Bobw1NNnCp_DcFbP_-JxvOgf0wtb4W8kl11RxHr77rtxpxWz8vf1ch8wiFZkNC5SpHncqCcQh0w/s1600-h/IMG_2118.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266636580723564002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHcFCQhPyE5NZ5hu_O_-FU41rxrGNK04XVCQSPkg2obXeHQ-7ZknYq5qmIGMCPKd0Bobw1NNnCp_DcFbP_-JxvOgf0wtb4W8kl11RxHr77rtxpxWz8vf1ch8wiFZkNC5SpHncqCcQh0w/s320/IMG_2118.JPG" border="0" /></a> The highlight of the zoo was probably the panda bears. This guy was great. He essentially had a little yoga routine and we caught him in some stretching/scratching pose here. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLcWrw2sK4x0CQtQNuQKqdWxwRitoB5fh7V-7g7Dzsj7981oxDc2RBjWI7GzEKAXUChaVKKbmyLLB6HSAkcpggkKDpCufRhqDPb8EyWgfuyCZ5q8-ITxWtH189Kew0atkKuPhyphenhyphenCp-H1M/s1600-h/IMG_2123.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266635485024343778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLcWrw2sK4x0CQtQNuQKqdWxwRitoB5fh7V-7g7Dzsj7981oxDc2RBjWI7GzEKAXUChaVKKbmyLLB6HSAkcpggkKDpCufRhqDPb8EyWgfuyCZ5q8-ITxWtH189Kew0atkKuPhyphenhyphenCp-H1M/s320/IMG_2123.JPG" border="0" /></a> And here he is after completing his routine. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3QaU33VPjc89nuzF5Jq_hCiIpYtKdFBdU4zc3ujDDLzknCtZry4pZvgd9pP6umO1YyeTakkvYwWYG04X0bK-OptdfQZrPVz83P6999vhgFgN9RtvwFN1dLSRrtm9nrNYouMnyPSKkZg/s1600-h/IMG_2147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266634533787967986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3QaU33VPjc89nuzF5Jq_hCiIpYtKdFBdU4zc3ujDDLzknCtZry4pZvgd9pP6umO1YyeTakkvYwWYG04X0bK-OptdfQZrPVz83P6999vhgFgN9RtvwFN1dLSRrtm9nrNYouMnyPSKkZg/s320/IMG_2147.JPG" border="0" /></a> At this zoo you can get a lot closer to the animals than other zoos. These bears were doing tricks and people were feeding them. We saw one guy pouring his Sprite over the edge into the bears mouth. Another was feeding the bears cotton candy. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZA0jIr5r3YkH-g_jNnbwI9nGi_lg1NYt27ZjC_Y-ffMVlT5g2IV1lnR0tpzmEHV1TRNgML0NkUVaRo4m9dwmJBh4dUstTcxktrXWKw4lmz8YU7qIHqOgt5v05iRFBsA4Ehn-UTt7AQ7M/s1600-h/IMG_2196.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266633698518173730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZA0jIr5r3YkH-g_jNnbwI9nGi_lg1NYt27ZjC_Y-ffMVlT5g2IV1lnR0tpzmEHV1TRNgML0NkUVaRo4m9dwmJBh4dUstTcxktrXWKw4lmz8YU7qIHqOgt5v05iRFBsA4Ehn-UTt7AQ7M/s320/IMG_2196.JPG" border="0" /></a> As I mentioned, you can get pretty close to the animals...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFDGJzqsBBylK7FzCUoXiuMNjqGQI_dLbT3zwjGkhJq_IuDQf60CnuEw2rJShcz7IpP-6dZC2K8pcxn5P50ILvJeZG5kaX41CR1YpBykBxXhmmLg-l-_G1K2EDmnEd1hF4ocPh0KdaZo/s1600-h/IMG_2200.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266632777892068546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFDGJzqsBBylK7FzCUoXiuMNjqGQI_dLbT3zwjGkhJq_IuDQf60CnuEw2rJShcz7IpP-6dZC2K8pcxn5P50ILvJeZG5kaX41CR1YpBykBxXhmmLg-l-_G1K2EDmnEd1hF4ocPh0KdaZo/s320/IMG_2200.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here's Sean and Janie sharing some treats and conversation. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47Mr57TyA1Y164BJ056a4GnLd6aazEEWa3GGmCG4xTHOvajh6467ys0X8WkO2msDeoqOaeLb-U_MYjp9XTnFQJyTKfDYz-eUyKcnMKziJAV9B5xuNRuHwCLwgRNqtjBegMuDZStv-qKM/s1600-h/IMG_2213.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266631819037418434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47Mr57TyA1Y164BJ056a4GnLd6aazEEWa3GGmCG4xTHOvajh6467ys0X8WkO2msDeoqOaeLb-U_MYjp9XTnFQJyTKfDYz-eUyKcnMKziJAV9B5xuNRuHwCLwgRNqtjBegMuDZStv-qKM/s320/IMG_2213.JPG" border="0" /></a> Finally, one of the highlights...we took a cab to a different <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hutong</span> and then went back into some alleys to this family <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">restaurant</span>. Here's the fish hot pot that I had. Janie thought it was pretty crazy how they brought the big fish out still kicking in a net. <br /><br />Finally, early this morning (Sunday) we were out in front of our hotel and this group was out performing (I'm not sure that is the right word). Janie took this one of this woman swinging her sword. I'm sure I'm doing a really poor job of describing some 1000 year old ritual but it was cool to watch. I'm tired and get a new daughter tomorrow so I'm out. The next photo will be of Audrey!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRxOAaJ6kNOj8ubsGvT13CkvyZ7GxEk8zXBxUXQLjTDny4yK7ZzPpamsr0EpVukeq1tVekgmzYgS7odEJjkOLgdGyPEzDDoJ9h1PlMtbNKkuOCDZfbM2zyPQRqkM2QcrbECgpXArDBig/s1600-h/IMG_2228.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266630855522634210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRxOAaJ6kNOj8ubsGvT13CkvyZ7GxEk8zXBxUXQLjTDny4yK7ZzPpamsr0EpVukeq1tVekgmzYgS7odEJjkOLgdGyPEzDDoJ9h1PlMtbNKkuOCDZfbM2zyPQRqkM2QcrbECgpXArDBig/s320/IMG_2228.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-12385960102456266842008-11-07T04:00:00.000-08:002008-11-07T15:24:19.485-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqQtmWBYGIcb_WrqBLumkrOQjN_v9NpP7cxh-x05FYYw-BoHXREyzgg1sz5DtjjDrsZ4JNJ5k-2hwPyueWMlN9W5wxphnLNCJ-sujqRnp4NCm-pEtKRh-KHg8Uc9UExyWG64M81hUx5I/s1600-h/IMG_2019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265894334858615346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqQtmWBYGIcb_WrqBLumkrOQjN_v9NpP7cxh-x05FYYw-BoHXREyzgg1sz5DtjjDrsZ4JNJ5k-2hwPyueWMlN9W5wxphnLNCJ-sujqRnp4NCm-pEtKRh-KHg8Uc9UExyWG64M81hUx5I/s320/IMG_2019.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Morning</span>/Evening/or somewhere in between. It is Saturday morning here and we're killing time waiting for the pool to open. Janie and I (John) go down in the early morning and swim with a couple of guys doing laps. Janie is in the pattern of waking up really early, going hard all day, and then crashing in a cab on the way home from dinner.<br /><br />I know Deb wrote yesterday but I'll just add my catch up. The flight went great and Janie was super. Continuous movies certainly help though. I finally was able to watch the last Batman. The new Bond movie debuted here a few days ago so there's posters up everywhere for it. Our local guide picked us up at the airport and we fell asleep Wednesday night in our hotel about midnight. We then woke up around 3 AM and Janie got up about 5. After swimming we were picked up by our guide and driver and did the Great Wall, shopping, tea ceremony, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hutong</span> visit and acrobatics show as Deb described below.<br /><br />On to Day 2...after the 5 AM wake up call from Janie we went swimming and then met our friend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Shuang</span> (Sean). Sean and my dad (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">JC</span>) met about eight or nine years ago and Sean took the day off of work to show us the sights.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrYwvZ7ofmRiC_RgnJ2zTroD3ExE2m04XvM78IuWwre8HLAL9MDCf0nG53V-vXHk7Mnm9BwOUT80LY-l67qN_fKfk1rgwYRakzjUWOf-DCiTrYCXzr3U9j0ha6z6RpKJKYtv1Xtb4tD0/s1600-h/IMG_2040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265893709978781330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrYwvZ7ofmRiC_RgnJ2zTroD3ExE2m04XvM78IuWwre8HLAL9MDCf0nG53V-vXHk7Mnm9BwOUT80LY-l67qN_fKfk1rgwYRakzjUWOf-DCiTrYCXzr3U9j0ha6z6RpKJKYtv1Xtb4tD0/s320/IMG_2040.JPG" border="0" /></a> So after some caffeine we walked to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tienanmen</span> Square and the Forbidden City. Amazing, massive places. We went on Friday because on Saturday there will be more people there. It was great to see but it felt like the city of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Portland</span> was inside with us. But within the masses of people in the Square and the City there was one person that attracted the most attention. As Janie said, she's like a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">rockstar</span>. Let's put it this way, if we charged for each picture that Janie was in we'd have paid for the whole trip. The little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">blondie</span> was the highlight for many other tourists and kept very busy meeting new friends.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitemz973ccalq2KUvEH0FYw1BRyqKmeCROl0xV2PFdSarPzfJVmRO0M1S4yit1KJvXdO711LN9cgDGzZSGCxDDRIrBK-9mwVYAMwgm5DveFobw22ycJIOr1ebF-ZwKpQpEaPmq5KBTgE/s1600-h/IMG_2024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265892561358659778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitemz973ccalq2KUvEH0FYw1BRyqKmeCROl0xV2PFdSarPzfJVmRO0M1S4yit1KJvXdO711LN9cgDGzZSGCxDDRIrBK-9mwVYAMwgm5DveFobw22ycJIOr1ebF-ZwKpQpEaPmq5KBTgE/s320/IMG_2024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />No, not Audrey, just another little friend that wanted her picture taken with Janie.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIhMezuwdj7m-MTa8GsRvbGbQWLuyCcmrZDoKCXihFFcraWqox2ADDLfc4ySc06Foe7YgIZkrgsfJtkkgQ81ScW-N__uAtJmHo_BrbUa3Aba9tXTtfJM_w3VwYQhqsw-MYtV3MUMqNDA/s1600-h/IMG_2033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265891644494868754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIhMezuwdj7m-MTa8GsRvbGbQWLuyCcmrZDoKCXihFFcraWqox2ADDLfc4ySc06Foe7YgIZkrgsfJtkkgQ81ScW-N__uAtJmHo_BrbUa3Aba9tXTtfJM_w3VwYQhqsw-MYtV3MUMqNDA/s320/IMG_2033.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's the paparazzi lined up to take Janie's picture. At times we'd get pinned in by all the interest. Seriously, everyone was very friendly though. Actually, I'm really impressed with all the smiles and friendship that we've felt. So after a long walk through the sites, in which we probably only saw a small percentage of the place it was time for lunch. </div><div></div><div>We took a cab to a nice area where the Chinese youth athletes train and where there was a nice lake. Speaking of athletes but we also saw the Bird's Nest and Water Cube from the Olympics yesterday. So we took a couple of photos by the lake and then had a fantastic meal.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2P1AaI9SMWOhVpiIGb0BoQFauey-i8Hc37N7k1EF6qn0uflZGhMFEjvaRa0SmYng5SnADOxCtdMcjY8gH01LcRNXVZzM0eAVuf-W1h4IOiPnub6kqAbBeGnjpLnRaVgHMMBCQJKitkk/s1600-h/IMG_2054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265890884871725026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2P1AaI9SMWOhVpiIGb0BoQFauey-i8Hc37N7k1EF6qn0uflZGhMFEjvaRa0SmYng5SnADOxCtdMcjY8gH01LcRNXVZzM0eAVuf-W1h4IOiPnub6kqAbBeGnjpLnRaVgHMMBCQJKitkk/s320/IMG_2054.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzh90Uo5jN6eTab2ByTpD-tS4FD8kz5z3qQVULTjk9xKBUOviDuZnTwDzDyf6i8kBRBtOZe-y0feaXluGNiaRBFW2kJpVdifxNzip6LF8uzpcSeiRDgfc9JtfchQ_nHZFbwqBljOGw80k/s1600-h/IMG_2056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265890159202061458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzh90Uo5jN6eTab2ByTpD-tS4FD8kz5z3qQVULTjk9xKBUOviDuZnTwDzDyf6i8kBRBtOZe-y0feaXluGNiaRBFW2kJpVdifxNzip6LF8uzpcSeiRDgfc9JtfchQ_nHZFbwqBljOGw80k/s320/IMG_2056.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our friend Shaung, Janie and Deb outside the Forbidden City.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwLeTGZbgs2QtWx7YHKoepN02s0sC3bA9AZTmYbwrstQLwz0JuIDDJMHG-lpxJscX1grt48Dw5m5N9tCJizDNOuQiDSJfa8NSzTc9KCIMycGazBaNt2MySJ-fZB0L8c2B4T7GRfsuzqE/s1600-h/IMG_2058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265889327663666914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwLeTGZbgs2QtWx7YHKoepN02s0sC3bA9AZTmYbwrstQLwz0JuIDDJMHG-lpxJscX1grt48Dw5m5N9tCJizDNOuQiDSJfa8NSzTc9KCIMycGazBaNt2MySJ-fZB0L8c2B4T7GRfsuzqE/s320/IMG_2058.JPG" border="0" /></a> I'm not going to remember all that we had to eat but it was fantastic. One of the better meals that I've had in awhile. Janie is a whiz with the chopsticks and has done a great job at trying new things. We've had some new things but I'm going to try and expand the boundaries today. Knock on wood we've had no stomach troubles thus far. </div><div><br />A little side story about the lake...so Janie and Deb are outside by the lake while Sean and I are getting the bill and finishing a couple local beers. They had these little duck tour boats that people could rent and paddle around the lake. Well they don't know why but two duck boat drivers had a little conflict with fists, and as Janie put it, wrestling. One guy was chasing the other all over the dock and they ended up fighting in front of them. Janie thought this was as amazing as the Forbidden City and had all kinds of questions about this entertainment.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyFAidd_dFNCW41-XO6BYuf8GDwoZtL0265djDYNGTFbKhxdxiLCOIXq0DaC-_o6ksc2zxCJIfeckztJUvraao77YfBJQpj8d_e-e3Q_rQwqrnpVnMgL4Mzo42KJZhDYbP6NkFvL5zzE/s1600-h/IMG_2064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265888241892755858" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyFAidd_dFNCW41-XO6BYuf8GDwoZtL0265djDYNGTFbKhxdxiLCOIXq0DaC-_o6ksc2zxCJIfeckztJUvraao77YfBJQpj8d_e-e3Q_rQwqrnpVnMgL4Mzo42KJZhDYbP6NkFvL5zzE/s320/IMG_2064.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After lunch we went to another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hutong</span> area. This one was an interesting mix of the traditional <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Hutong</span> with a long, narrow street that (Portland reference) felt like a mix of Alberta Street and the Pearl district. Great shopping, and it helped to have Sean there for some bargaining. </div><div></div><div>We've been taking street scene photos. Here's a shot of a little cabbage and here's one of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Hutong</span> street where we did some shopping.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI83DZ0zzDt7V43ILz6DzqoMjstFNXVSmd4ZA6iF-rz_hkJo0yaMGDM6f4v6iBM0pi-NdQP8qvwryF_HdoUOR74bNZ_AcXYLeOzIyiAakYGaBH_0t5PNQVxfjQaA_c7wVLyR8ohMyeqQ/s1600-h/IMG_2069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265886978702499906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI83DZ0zzDt7V43ILz6DzqoMjstFNXVSmd4ZA6iF-rz_hkJo0yaMGDM6f4v6iBM0pi-NdQP8qvwryF_HdoUOR74bNZ_AcXYLeOzIyiAakYGaBH_0t5PNQVxfjQaA_c7wVLyR8ohMyeqQ/s320/IMG_2069.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Finally, we jumped in another cab (Janie thought it was cool how she didn't need a car seat and how nobody wears a helmet on a bike) and went to the Palace of Heaven. It was sort of like when the Griswold's got the Grand Canyon, took one <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">picture</span> and left, because we arrived there right about closing time. Had another good dinner and then crashed. More to come today...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRQYZ-f7Vr16tJDQUR-x6uZgN19Lft3iuHSytF8e0SZZREPgRQ4clrWi-VysQE22Uj9PkniVp2G69Q8iFZqbNosPQ_iAChVJNgla0WDSIdjtd6QQhQeJjMUuGRDi67g2INigxlVGKFDU/s1600-h/IMG_2088.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265885628914415570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRQYZ-f7Vr16tJDQUR-x6uZgN19Lft3iuHSytF8e0SZZREPgRQ4clrWi-VysQE22Uj9PkniVp2G69Q8iFZqbNosPQ_iAChVJNgla0WDSIdjtd6QQhQeJjMUuGRDi67g2INigxlVGKFDU/s320/IMG_2088.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-19879311848823557082008-11-06T13:57:00.001-08:002008-11-07T15:23:32.966-08:00We made it to Beijing. The flight went smooth and Janie did great. We got to our hotel around 11 pm so we had been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">traveling</span> for over 20 hours. Janie didn't sleep on the first flight but the second flight, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tokyo</span> to Beijing, she slept the whole way. As for the jet lag, we're doing okay. We were all up at 5 am this morning but we got a fair amount of sleep.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div>The next day we hit the ground running. Our guide met us in the hotel at 9 am and we were off. We had a guide and driver for the entire day. The first stop the Chinese Friendship Store. A very popular tourist stop on the way to the Great Wall. Janie and I couldn't resist a photo with Happy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Buddha</span>. Rub his belly for good luck, rub his head for cleverness, and rub his ears for a long live - We did all three -- we'll let you know how it goes.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265668484371253266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKWm50GZXewha5_cAFK-85HBLmCeIsRmvk6oCm1jWehbiqvB51Mz1T2BaBvkRUjViNgmvpx8aeIYi-OM0u30kU5sdnoXhyGMaBrcNk455JxUd69M5yBkX3tM5kPlP-KUWf9NdBNiC_oY/s320/IMG_1940.jpg" border="0" /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The Great Wall. It is truly amazing how they built this and why. I'm not going to go into the whole history lesson but it was pretty cool.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjDCCDF6oUVcYn4nd3m_ryLUXCQ6_ECFZ1shhSK6R_ZMVX4J8R7CfSr3PvOhxjvY_jSq6gh1G1jH54zMDKgCHZPuuMhyphenhyphenuVuMXj2RC8akshYedo5yzHDctJ6JRLz0CIXhrJtGLDrm68e0/s1600-h/IMG_1952.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265678176725338322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjDCCDF6oUVcYn4nd3m_ryLUXCQ6_ECFZ1shhSK6R_ZMVX4J8R7CfSr3PvOhxjvY_jSq6gh1G1jH54zMDKgCHZPuuMhyphenhyphenuVuMXj2RC8akshYedo5yzHDctJ6JRLz0CIXhrJtGLDrm68e0/s320/IMG_1952.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCXMJ2dVNFJD6aAM5q-Xd2nuwdNIRN8TLv8idRczoJ2l4bpcKT6qRVlvAMJzqdnSWALJrKWco8Jd7hK2wUku28hSoxxeLCpnTxJ_32ZRci_EELYj6X5GMQTI68_DvI6SUHwTiyA-pcLE/s1600-h/IMG_1994.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265687077355781298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCXMJ2dVNFJD6aAM5q-Xd2nuwdNIRN8TLv8idRczoJ2l4bpcKT6qRVlvAMJzqdnSWALJrKWco8Jd7hK2wUku28hSoxxeLCpnTxJ_32ZRci_EELYj6X5GMQTI68_DvI6SUHwTiyA-pcLE/s320/IMG_1994.jpg" border="0" /></a> After the Great Wall we went back to Beijing to a Hutong District. This district houses thousands of people and has been around for centuries. The streets are very narrow and most tourists travel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">through</span> the streets by rickshaws. Our guide also set up a meeting/tour of a family home in the district. Most of the homes will have all of their family living together. The home we visited has three generations living there. The woman that we visited with was kind and very worried about Janie. Miss Janie took a nap in the car ride and was in a zombie type state. I think we spent 50% of the time trying to convince this woman that Janie was okay. We did all of this through our guide who was doing the interpretation for us. The women gave Janie a coat to wear and put a blanket over her. She also kept coming over to Janie and feeling her forehead. I kept thinking she was going to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">whip</span> up a Chinese herb potion for Janie to knock some life back into her.<br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfu5g1o7QDVicQmOz4WD5g2wap8yYW5eL9pWskxZ_2Cgz24Rbe1-837d0p438GtEBsSL0auP_VpzNR5IsbBoV4osuQ0F1Ligx_FQBGjW-rYI3Ca7EvZ0ok1Athyphenhyphen-K3QEt3dOAvvfqZeII/s1600-h/IMG_1990.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265688475752197570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfu5g1o7QDVicQmOz4WD5g2wap8yYW5eL9pWskxZ_2Cgz24Rbe1-837d0p438GtEBsSL0auP_VpzNR5IsbBoV4osuQ0F1Ligx_FQBGjW-rYI3Ca7EvZ0ok1Athyphenhyphen-K3QEt3dOAvvfqZeII/s320/IMG_1990.JPG" border="0" /></a>Here we are in the home. You can see the adult coat that the woman gave to Janie to wear. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Then we went to a traditional Chinese tea room. The teas were great and we're given all sorts of reasons why tea is so good for you, which I believe to be true. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265693002426507058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOkA83sZq7TTAHzckLizjeBnqnR5FnoPEu1_OwFI1q45WC6A8YrLecQADirazzIOHs6H24MQdR8YboKfQCx4i-9t-m1Bzm82WDVCuq82KjTqRCQdZ3s-xTzndM9zXa69W2_OCVzYRIzs/s320/IMG_2003.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p></p><br /><p>We ended the day at the Chinese Acrobat show, truly amazing. We were all entertained. I couldn't take photos during the show but afterwards we had a photo opp with one of the performers.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265693975182570706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpREad34KshJInV-RHsWoY-moFHRcYeUftwcpk67e_IL5lUqTk1G1cqnXEkbWlNPV696K8b359uWjrC-wJCvF8p6QQxIi-cqHkhCcy2EqvE2cAdLrptbDChPI_jOujFF5FkCAkHY_nWU/s320/IMG_2015.jpg" border="0" /></p>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-87994452143052707402008-11-02T17:28:00.000-08:002008-11-03T09:50:20.711-08:00The Gameplan - leave Tuesday the 4thSo we're all booked now. Here's the lineup.<br /><br />We leave this Tuesday the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> (election day - we've already dropped off our ballots). It's a Northwest flight from Portland to Tokyo and then Tokyo to Beijing. I've flown the Portland to Tokyo flight a few times, but never from the back of the plane. We get in about 9:30 at night on the 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>.<br /><br />We have a few days to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sight see</span> and acclimate on the 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span>, 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> and 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span>. We then fly on the 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Nanning</span> in the province of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Guangxi</span> (Audrey's province). We have some paperwork that day/night and then the big day arrives.<br /><br />The 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span> is called Gotcha Day and from that day on we're with Audrey. We spend the next few days in her province, either staying in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Nanning</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Guilin</span>. We then fly to Guangzhou on the 14<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">th</span>. We'll be there until the 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">th</span> doing a combo of sightseeing and paperwork/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">appts</span>. This is where the US Consulate is and where we process out of. We're heading home the first day we're allowed to (the 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">th</span>) and with time zone changes we'll land in Portland around 8:00 AM on the 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">th</span>.<br /><br />That's the scoop, we'll try and post more details as they come. Hope you can follow along on our journey.Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-85245467370589101992008-11-02T17:09:00.000-08:002008-11-03T09:46:53.627-08:00Audrey's storyAs we prepare for the trip we thought we'd take a second and record Audrey's story. She was born on June 27, 2007 in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Qinzhou</span>. She was found abandoned at the gate of No. 82 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Zhongshan</span> road the next day. After searching for her birth parents she was then adopted into the Social Welfare Institute of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Qinzhou</span> City on July 28.<br /><br />Audrey Min is a special needs baby. Avoiding all the technical terms, she was born with a tiny (couple millimeter) hole in her heart. There's a clinic at Oregon Health and Science University that reviewed all her medical records and the doctors believe that everything will be fine with her heart. We also believe this to be true, but are prepared to help her through whatever she needs. She's scheduled for an appointment with a heart specialist in the first week that we're home.<br /><br />Because of her special need, after a few months in the orphanage she was moved to a foster care setting (Sept 19). We're incredibly appreciative of this and of the foster family. Our understanding is that everything is coordinated by the orphanage so we don't know at this point if we'll meet the foster parents or not.<br /><br />We've received a little bit of information about her food and sleep schedule. A lot of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">congee</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">similar</span> to rice cereal) and she sleeps with the foster mom, so we have a bit of transition in front of us!<br /><br />She's a very special baby girl, and we're so excited to meet her soon.Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-91895520629009771552008-10-25T16:13:00.000-07:002008-10-25T16:29:50.802-07:00San Juan Islands<div>We went on a quick vacation the beginning of October to the Suan Juan Islands. What a beautiful area. The Islands are located about 1 1/2 hours northwest of Seattle. There are more then 700 islands and reefs but only 176 of the islands are large enough to be named. To get to the San Juan Islands you must take a ferry, which Janie loved. We had a lot of fun, did some sea kayaking, whale watching, biking, and ate some great seafood. </div><div> </div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0gwRaVEMhTZx4A2ejojJFHy-SlgZRGCKQS6inISftGwOrtf1xM6PNS5208CnaYMlUo82FUWQmkYyMiX5H1g9WVU_Df6ENoCPVzQkI5XVCxNu4pKMxVKqG2XYH2GwLq2xPSo1R9ogdxM/s1600-h/IMG_1788.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261235593215525474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0gwRaVEMhTZx4A2ejojJFHy-SlgZRGCKQS6inISftGwOrtf1xM6PNS5208CnaYMlUo82FUWQmkYyMiX5H1g9WVU_Df6ENoCPVzQkI5XVCxNu4pKMxVKqG2XYH2GwLq2xPSo1R9ogdxM/s320/IMG_1788.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sea Kayaking was a favorite for all of us. Janie did great, she ate some kelp and took a nap. What more could you ask for?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5OvXmudtE7e4yqR97v_3CLjQNMR18kj8xkA2ThopAMbSTulhMs-Ny4ieij_WqbqSc0wgxkgxIRcl6hKR_l83ceo-etqtBzoP7RsEEmw7PBq3HUh7YScKkZz617M0ItVigVJEVHJ9YeI/s1600-h/IMG_1750.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261235401519621602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5OvXmudtE7e4yqR97v_3CLjQNMR18kj8xkA2ThopAMbSTulhMs-Ny4ieij_WqbqSc0wgxkgxIRcl6hKR_l83ceo-etqtBzoP7RsEEmw7PBq3HUh7YScKkZz617M0ItVigVJEVHJ9YeI/s320/IMG_1750.JPG" border="0" /></a> An unexpected surprise. There was camel, named Mona, on one of the Islands. She was very friendly and came right up to us. Janie fed her an apple and she stayed around for a photo op.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceQVMLUjoDF4r8ojO7GS4udvK1EWPJftUK3wga5wTZkrHdzH5aRZLzgPlgbFZm3ejuPGRoeLKRXksDcfz-Kjk-dCE_OAyaU4pZ_yYgl-K6saKuR6JY0YXWqgNBjMLSefKshMVSB2DUrc/s1600-h/IMG_1732.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261235164448591634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceQVMLUjoDF4r8ojO7GS4udvK1EWPJftUK3wga5wTZkrHdzH5aRZLzgPlgbFZm3ejuPGRoeLKRXksDcfz-Kjk-dCE_OAyaU4pZ_yYgl-K6saKuR6JY0YXWqgNBjMLSefKshMVSB2DUrc/s320/IMG_1732.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Watching for whales. We did see a lot of wildlife, pretty spectacular.<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div></div>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-2628586059877589192008-10-25T15:40:00.000-07:002008-10-25T16:11:19.100-07:00Mutton Bustin' (Sheep Riding)<p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxCBE17qIekp6YZdS-0wng0w4ocxLaPDRFzOO_zxyJBtb5c6x4WQis-V97FGldpeKIc2eKP6tDDsQQ0AnOy9Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p>We went to the Oregon State Fair in August and yes, we let our daughter ride a sheep.</p><p>Here's the priceless video that will put a smile on my face every time I watch. Enjoy!</p>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-80518190374241195502008-10-11T14:29:00.001-07:002008-10-11T14:39:18.646-07:00Update on Audrey<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZXB1m2y-zPa09fMyS3AWtAuZc2vNlDDRATiyAUZSW3jqSnkCyKKVp_ieDwDGbK6Z0RnIcCU7V9yNHTOFa95ploXkmtoAfXLysIcrwaP0RXGh71PGGvGcDWNtWfhOc9B1Y3rHYR706qM/s1600-h/Audrey+Min+Ann++15+months.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256011658839095826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZXB1m2y-zPa09fMyS3AWtAuZc2vNlDDRATiyAUZSW3jqSnkCyKKVp_ieDwDGbK6Z0RnIcCU7V9yNHTOFa95ploXkmtoAfXLysIcrwaP0RXGh71PGGvGcDWNtWfhOc9B1Y3rHYR706qM/s320/Audrey+Min+Ann++15+months.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCsK2jKzRq8Jjo-o-V-L2slBLA4LeDr-sAi5QNhGo4jwBaBnKX-8Ipj0j7jUDl_6e7KUH97qKpfLJu7Xx24QFc-e_PD3BQhgyYcb5mGa6r6YIHIyJi2X0mOAa_NrnHbeHQr8p3mnKIoI/s1600-h/Audrey+Min+Ann++15months.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256011798850584274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCsK2jKzRq8Jjo-o-V-L2slBLA4LeDr-sAi5QNhGo4jwBaBnKX-8Ipj0j7jUDl_6e7KUH97qKpfLJu7Xx24QFc-e_PD3BQhgyYcb5mGa6r6YIHIyJi2X0mOAa_NrnHbeHQr8p3mnKIoI/s320/Audrey+Min+Ann++15months.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div><br />We just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">received</span> photos of Audrey. She is roughly 15 months old in these <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">photos</span>. She is just beautiful. We are so excited!Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-84860436458998910852008-10-11T14:26:00.000-07:002008-10-11T14:33:31.262-07:00Big Sister<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypcUKq4t2BiMxsyG9_s22cAcX_DYrdvtL2bZANT4zagS1XvYhb1GFgMfae5fRts9jyaEHgHMAgg5-ElG7xvqYqPln6FzFbhXZlACGJM-ODwl30eXn9wNIhH9AfQUyTFGfXaVGnjYr7BQ/s1600-h/IMG_1763.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256011234873156754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypcUKq4t2BiMxsyG9_s22cAcX_DYrdvtL2bZANT4zagS1XvYhb1GFgMfae5fRts9jyaEHgHMAgg5-ElG7xvqYqPln6FzFbhXZlACGJM-ODwl30eXn9wNIhH9AfQUyTFGfXaVGnjYr7BQ/s320/IMG_1763.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>For the last 3 years this little sweetie has waited very patiently for a little sister. Needless to say, she can't wait to have Audrey home.</div>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878125931387052662.post-87666520892649959842008-10-02T16:22:00.000-07:002008-10-02T18:45:06.858-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNi8Wsw9zy4MZzt-XBRM8ndKi0Z0MaPidPAYIHXhYhYWyEJcbofp_IP-L7H3Am0ThT7plp_FEsFdhw_KCUwynGhjEPMo47WcKFpA4owOFtkzxLmPQD5wRMLRXmhb_TEx1hhC-qJSy_f0/s1600-h/Audrey+Min+Ann+13+months+with+friend.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252715903720934914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNi8Wsw9zy4MZzt-XBRM8ndKi0Z0MaPidPAYIHXhYhYWyEJcbofp_IP-L7H3Am0ThT7plp_FEsFdhw_KCUwynGhjEPMo47WcKFpA4owOFtkzxLmPQD5wRMLRXmhb_TEx1hhC-qJSy_f0/s320/Audrey+Min+Ann+13+months+with+friend.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJYBL1dqLUL4TjeRwyMSufbNzaNx85tTbUGo163T48e5pD0dgygJsvtmjYlyjx-zbM34IKfB4zQclzUlmGMBD9FBf5ubMcFsn8ZrvAQcM267Ger8s3CN5EhkDf6JrYU0eefKdKzZOWpw/s1600-h/Audrey+Min+Ann+13+months+big+smile.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252715733923307330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJYBL1dqLUL4TjeRwyMSufbNzaNx85tTbUGo163T48e5pD0dgygJsvtmjYlyjx-zbM34IKfB4zQclzUlmGMBD9FBf5ubMcFsn8ZrvAQcM267Ger8s3CN5EhkDf6JrYU0eefKdKzZOWpw/s320/Audrey+Min+Ann+13+months+big+smile.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Here are some photos of our adorable little girl that we'll be bringing home very soon. Stay tuned, more to come.</div></div>Deb Howeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647485333111981334noreply@blogger.com3