Saturday, February 14, 2009
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

We woke early today to fly back to Guangzhou. It’s only a little over an hour flight, but having to repack everything and weigh it to make sure we don’t go over the weight limit is time-consuming. China is very strict about luggage weights.

Caiya did great on the flight, except for the beginning, when I gave Ethan a rice cracker while she was eating Cheerios and got mad, and threw a tantrum! After about 5 minutes, Echo came over to me and talked to her in Chinese and she immediately stopped crying and took a drink of juice from her sippy cup! Jeremy asked Echo was she said to Caiya and she said, “Don’t cry…there’s no problem.” We asked Echo to write it out for us before the trip is over so we can use that for the next time.

We got checked in to the hotel already and settled and are now resting a bit before venturing back out. We are so glad to be back in Guangzhou. Fuzhou was ok, but the hotel wasn’t that great, and there aren’t a lot of site-seeing and things to do there. So all of us are excited to back in the Holiday Inn – Shifu hotel and to get out and do some fun things; including to help continue to stimulate China’s economy by shopping!!!

We went to dinner tonight on Shaiman Island…Lucy’s. It’s the authentic western food! Sharon and Jeremy got a burger and loved it. Caiya and I stuck to noodles, and E and Lauren got peanut butter! Yep, they served PB and Jelly!

Also, today, we heard Caiya’s first real belly laugh! It’s hysterical! She is also so friendly and humorous! She will do anything to make people laugh. She is really very jolly. You can’t help but to smile when you watch her. She will fake cry to TRY to get her way, too. It’s funny the lessons parents learn with their first child and how differently you do things with your second child :)

Jeremy is making more progress in getting his Princess to warm up to him. Today, she let him carry her for a bit while at the airport, she let him kiss her hand, and she let him help her brush her teeth tonight before bed, and lay her down, as well! I am so glad. She is really letting her guard down, becoming more comfortable with all of us. Coming to us when she needs something, and showing us more and more of her spunkiness! As Lauren says, ‘Caiya is a perfect fit for our family. She is loud, like the boys…and crazy like the girls!’

Ethan and Lauren are doing well. They are troopers and have been very helpful, with the exception of a little bickering back and forth every now and then. But, they are great!!!

Sharon is our sanity on this trip. I cannot tell you how blessed I am to have such a great MIL (mom-in-law). I’ve said it for the past 10 years, and now after sharing this trip with her, it just reaffirms how remarkable she is! I love her a ton!


Lauren's Blog

Hey how are you all doing? Thanks for the messages 5th grade.

The most fun place I have gone is probably the HUGE temple Echo took us to the other day.

OMG the super markets are so crazy they smell funny and have dead fish hanging on the back wall. We attacked the lays chips there.

The houses there are like … well picture this ok you’re walking out on your patio in your apartment take 5 more steps you fall. Because there are no gates or cages to stop you from falling. They also hang clothes to dry on their decks it is pretty cool. You can not believe the food till you try it. It is AAAWWWSSSOOOMMMEEE. Tomorrow, we are going to the White Temple Mountains I can’t wait. Write to you tomorrow.