Thursday, December 17, 2009
PACKING AND PLAYING

We had a very mellow day today. For those of you wondering about Sophie after her crash yesterday, she seems to be fine.

She was back to her normal goofball self today. We had a nice relaxed breakfast this morning. We didn’t have anything on the schedule today except packing for travel tomorrow. We have to get up at 4:30 A.M. tomorrow so I won’t be writing any books tonight!

I did take the girls to the Swan Room again today to play. They have a brand new orange couch. It’s a tradition for adopting families to take a photo of their new children on the red couches here at the White Swan. I’m starting a new tradition, goof around photos on the orange couch! All of our playing around gave Brandy time to pack without little helpers.

While we were playing in the Swan Room Opal decided that it would be a good idea to read Woman’s Day Magazine. She came across a picture of a little boy eating some cookies. She decided it would be a good idea to try and eat the cookies right off the page. She was sitting on my lap. I got a cute picture of it.

At about 5:00 P.M. our guide Kelly came by with the final paperwork. Both of the girls now have an American Travel Visa in their Chinese Passports. Hopefully we will have easy travel. Those of you who followed our last trip will remember that a
typhoon hit Hong Kong the day we were supposed to be travelling. We spent the next 3 days trying to get home. I’m hoping for a 1 day shot this time. It will be a LONG day, but I hope we make it in ONE day.

The plan is for us to fly back to Beijing and then switch plans and fly to San Francisco. Then we have a direct flight from San Francisco to Spokane. With any luck we will be on the ground it Spokane at 12:39 p.m. on United 6154.

I’m excited to see the girl’s reactions when they get home. Despite the fact that she was exhausted, Amalie was literally jumping for joy when she saw the house for the first time. I miss my dog. I miss my cat. I miss my BED!!!!

Ready for long travel,
Brandy, Ted, Amalie, Opal and Sophie