Shopping

I have finally figured out what book I will write someday. It will be called The China Diet. I will tell people that if you want to lose 10 lbs in two weeks, go to China and adopt a baby. You will be so busy, plus the food is strange, plus there is the whole traveling-jet lag-yucky feeling involved that the pounds will just melt off! Hm, looks like I just wrote the book ... so much for royalties.

Yesterday Robert, Kellie and Connie took the kids shopping after lunch. Well, first they had lunch at McDonalds. This was like a trip to Disneyland for these kids. Seriously. They had heard of McDonalds, of course, since they have them in China and there are commercials, but had never been to one. Robert said they all ordered coffee because that is so cool and American ... but no matter how much sugar they poured in they could not drink it! Then Robert and Kellie really wanted to buy them things. They took them to a posh shopping center and bought them clothes.

One of the artists is a little girl, 4 years old, about the same age as Maya. Her hair is cut very short, like all the girls in her orphanage, because no one has time to take care of long hair. (Seeing her and Maya together, this difference is the most obvious ... one has a mom to brush and fix her hair. One does not.) Kellie bought her a beautiful pink dress and matching hat. When I saw later she was beaming, laughing, twirling her dress. She was beautiful.

While Robert was spending time with them I was in charge of all four kids for the first time (happy mothers day to me!) and it went well. Whew, I think I can do this. I took the kids out to dinner to the American restuarant, Lucys, where you can sit outdoors and there is place for the kids to run (and they did). They ordered spaghetti and pizza. I had a cheeseburger that was very good. The only hitch was when all three of the older kids said they had to go potty ... all at different times. The potty is in a building that anyone can access, and all the potty are squatties (hole in the ground, and you're lucky if there are handrails and TP). I had to draw on all my mommy skills to make sure everyone was safe. When we got back to the hotel I gave the girls baths together ... first time. The formerly quiet meek little Ella has really come out of her shell. She kept trying to climb up the side of the tub, and she loved splashing. Within 60 seconds she was wet from head to toe. Maya was very patient with her and careful of her.

It is early Monday morning. After breakfast Kenny and the kids get back on their bus (these kids have never been on a long distance bus before this trip, also have never spent time in a city before! A lot of firsts for them on this trip. Even the hotel .... the tv with all the channels ... the computer that comes with the room! The boys loved playing on that). And Robert is taking the arduous trip to Dianbai orphanage. We debated a long time about whether he should go. The trip is 4.5 hours one way, and it costs a lot of money to hire a car and driver. The final factor in deciding it was realizing how precious it would be to have a photo of the little 4 year old boy that Ella was close to there. So ... Robert will go to the orphanage, take photos and video, but mostly he is going just to meet this boy.

I will have to post photos later unfortunately .... I hope I am still able to blog at that point!

Stephanie