We are getting ready for bed for our last night here. We spent much of today indoors in our hotel room, away from the incredible heat and humidity, and surrounded by the kids' favorite tv shows, toys and food (peanut butter and honey sandwiches .... for the 8th time this week). Just before dinner we met with Molly and Joe and agency rep Jocelyn for photos on the red couch at the White Swan hotel .... something all the adoptive families do. Then, trying to decide what to eat for dinner, we (with Kellie and Connie) tried a few different restaurants but they were all too expensive and had weird food (see below), like really really different. We really wanted to celebrate for our last meal in China, but Ella was starving, and then Jasper fell and scraped his knee, and Cyrus was sad about not wearing his new shoes, and there was no highchair available and the service was unbearable slow .... and everything got very bad very fast and we ended up going back to the hotel, leaving Maya with Kellie and Connie (where they waited a very long time for her peanut butter and jelly sandwich and french fries, of which she only ate the fries anyway) and Robert got us food from the Thai restaurant and I made the boys peanut butter and honey sandwiches. It wasn't the way we wanted to spend the evening, but I guess this is life with 4 kids. In China. Who love being here but also really want to go home.
Tomorrow morning we pack, and we check out in the early afternoon, go to our consulate appointment, then go to the airport. I am not sure we will have time to post again.
See you on Saturday, or soon after!
Group photo of our entourage on the famous red couch at the White Swan hotel. You can see Jasper is holding Ella's hand down and her other hand is just a blur. This is because every time the photographer Jocelyn said, "Ready, one, two, three" Ella smiled and waved vigorously. It was so funny it was hard for the rest of us to keep a straight face.
Family photo, Tadjiki style.
Ella and Molly and Joe's daughter Hope. Hope is a natural ham who smiles at every camera, while Ella is wondering why this little girl keeps trying to put an arm around her.
Jasper and Cyrus watching the ships on the river from the White Swan Hotel.
Jocelyn is making Ella smile by doing a Chinese nursery rhyme.
Yummy water beetles ... you can get them stewed or stir fried!
4 comments:
love the family photos! What a beautiful family :) Its been so incredible to read your journey, thank you for sharing your story with us.
See you all soon!
Love the Knox Gang
forget the pig roast, lets do a beetle roast, at least we'll know they are cooked the hole would only have to be a few inches deep.
Jim
I'm guessing you are in the air right now...wondering how Ella's first airplane trip is going.
I know i'm not the only one who cries buckets when reading all of your posts, it really is incredible what your family has accomplished-not only the adoption but the Scrolls of China and everything for Kenny and the kids.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE reading what you write, you are so articulate, plus I can appreciate all of the daily drama that occurs when you have kids. The photos are wonderful. I just can't get over the fact that you are going to have so many wonderful memories to share with your kids related to both of these adoptions and the tet off the trip to China. I am so excited for you to get off the plane and show Ella her home and her room and her toys, and all of your family and friends who have been waiting to meet her----and just get on with your lives as a family of SIX!!
I hope to get my family up there one of these days soon to see all of you!
Take care,
Amy
YEAH ~ you are on your way home... I was hoping to make it to the airport but will not be able to... when things settle down for you, give me a call ~ I'd LOVE to meet Ella and catch up with you.
Pam
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