air port

Today we started our morning by calling home. It was so good to talk to the girls, but it made us miss them so much and wish they were here, too :( Mallory told us to ask if we could tell the people in China that we can only stay one week because we have 3 kids at home who miss us badly :) Maggie asked us about the food. I told her it wasn't as good as the Chinese food we have at home. I told her we didn't eat much and she said "Oh no, I hope you will survive." I miss you girls and love you lots! We took lots of video today!!!

This is our guide Yoshi (pronounced Yo-sure :) He is giving us the details of our day. We have been so blessed to be traveling with a great family. They are adopting a little girl Ashley 15 months old.Our first stop was the Jade Factory. It was amazing to see how they carve each piece with such detail. The people who work on the jade are taught the skills and then the skills are handed down from generation to generation. We learned that jadeite is the highest quality of jade there is. We also learned that each girl is given a jade bangle from her mother at a certain age and it is handed down through the generations. The jade bangle stands for good health, happy life and longevity. It is always worn on the left wrist and never taken off until time to hand it down. We have loved learning all the cultural things! Girls we will quiz you when we get home :)
Stop #2 The Great Wall. I can't believe we can say that I have climbed the Great Wall!!! It was so neat-girls we are coming back! I think that was the best work out I have ever had! Our legs were like jello when we got down.
I couldn't get Mitchell to turn around for this picture, he was to scared to look down! It was so steep!
Stop #3 was the Friendship Store where they made all sorts of things with copper. The specialty being vases. The vases looked like porcelain, but were actually very light and made with copper. The work was very tedious, and just like the jade factory, each job is past through the generations. The work was beautiful and amazing!



#4 Temple of Heaven. We didn't get to go in, but we walked on the outside grounds. It was like a big park with lots of people playing hacky-sack, singing, dancing and even playing poker. Michael, Mitchell and the other kids we are traveling with joined in with a group playing hacky-sack. Mitchell was actually pretty good and got some cheers from the people. As we pass by people they will sometimes turn to look at Mitchell and the other little boy we are traveling with. It's funny. It's as if they've ever seen a little boy with blue eyes and blonde hair :)

Well, that's it for today. It has been a full day and we are wiped out! We leave for Guangzhou tomorrow morning and will have Max shortly after we arrive!!!! :) Girls that means when you wake up Tuesday morning we will already have him so look at the blog. Meredith, I am going to email you Gmail ok-love you all and miss you all like crazy!!!

We are so appreciative of all the prayers and words of encouragement we have received. I can't believe tomorrow if the big day!!!

Please excuse errors...jet lag kicks in about the time we need to update and my eyes start to cross:)

PS -we saw a little boy today while we were at The Great Wall who looked just like Max. Mitchell stopped to watch him walk by then said to me "Oh mom that little boy makes me want Max so bad." He couldn't stop smiling!!!......I just want to remember everything since this is my journal :)