Here are some more pics of Friday's visit to the orphanage and village side
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Today we took Ashlyn back to her home for the first 8 plus years of her life. Hefei Orphanage was much as we remembered and smaller than she remembered. As we walked through the school we heard whispers of "Shen YuanHui", "Shen YuanHui" and excited teachers and kids arched their necks to see the visitors. We had stopped and gotten candy and sweet crackers for the children and they were very excited to see them. The children were all so sweet and loving and we snapped many pictures. Next we went to visit the dormitory because Ashlyn's foster Mom was at the market and not home yet. In the dormitory we saw the physical rehabilitation rooms and more children who were not school age yet, including lovable beautiful babies. Next we were able to visit Ashlyn's foster parents and her Mother had brought bananas and nuts for us from the market. They exclaimed over Ashlyn's height (she's almost 5'5") and hugged her again and again. We even took some pictures of pictures of Ashlyn that they had on their wall. Next the orphanage director gave Ashlyn a handmade picture fashioned from iron of a tree with great branches. We were asked to bring a donation of 1000 rmb to visit and we were shown how much they purchased with it and they even gave us the receipts. Next the director took us to lunch and it was very good and interesting. Next we visited some children from a farming community and the children "spoke" to each other without many words. It didn't take long and they were playing jump rope together and riding bikes with each other. It was the highlight of their trip to Hefei. Ashlyn on the other hand has had the myriad of emotions in the last 48 hrs, from giddyness to sorrow to happiness to contemplation. This trip has been harder on her than she lets on. After returning from the countryside we went shopping for almost 3 hours and now we are exhausted. Oh yeah we had dinner at the wonderful, glorious noodle shop. It was just as good as we remembered from 2004. It's good that somethings don't change. Enjoy the pictures.
Friday, May 28, 2010
More catching up...
Wednesday we visited the summer palace in the morning and the zoo in the afternoon. We ate at Mcdonald's for lunch at it was a welcome comfort. The Summer Palace was a stark contrast from the Forbidden City. It was cool and shady and had windy little paths that followed the shore of the manmade lake. We got to walk down the "endless corridor" which is made of wood and covered with handpainted stories and folklore of China. I even snapped a picture of the "Monkey King" painting as that is a favorite story of mine. The temperature was several degrees cooler and it was very enjoyable. In the afternoon we visited the Beijing zoo and it was not nearly as nice as the one in Guangzhou. They even had a Cochin Rooster and 2 polish hens in cages. The Giant pandas appeared bored and disinterested. They had a huge sculpture that was at least 3 stories high of a jaguar(that's what it looked like) that was quite impressive. They also had several tigers and one Bengal tiger was at least 8 ft long. After the zoo we went back to the hotel and then met Angela for one last dinner. We tried to keep it light at talked about funny things and I even tried eel which was my fear food. It was a great ending to our time in Beijing and I will miss Angela.
Thursday was a day of traveling and then an undignified search for pizza hut (it was under construction) and then we settled on KFC. Luke's wing had a deep fried feather on it uggh!!!! More pictures to come of Ashlyn's visit to the orphanage after it happens.
Here are some pictures from Wednesday:
Strolling down the avenue! ;)
Brianna and Ashlyn at the Beijing Zoo.
Thursday was a day of traveling and then an undignified search for pizza hut (it was under construction) and then we settled on KFC. Luke's wing had a deep fried feather on it uggh!!!! More pictures to come of Ashlyn's visit to the orphanage after it happens.
Here are some pictures from Wednesday:
Strolling down the avenue! ;)
Brianna and Ashlyn at the Beijing Zoo.
Catching up
Tuesday Morning Breakfast was much better. It seems that at @7:30 they change the food over to western style. We had omelets and scrambled eggs and french toast, bacon etc....
Next we headed over to T-square and the Forbidden City. We had learned the day before that Hilary Clinton was in Beijing. The Hall of people was blocked off for important visitors-must equal our Secretary of State :) The square had some new video screens showing the highlights of the Beijing area and the new stadiums built for the Olympics of 2008. We then entered the Forbidden City. It was packed with tours and guides and rehab of some of the buildings were going on. We took alot of photos and the boys kept rubbing the 9 knobs on the gate doors. My teenagers were alot more miserable than the rest of us. Go figure, I guess it was too much like school :). We then left for the acrobat show. A water main broke on one of the main streets and we were about 20 mins. late getting there. Luckily we got to see the act with buff men wearing next to nothing !!!!!!!! We then had Mcdonalds on the way home and actually got to shop (in China) for Ashlyn's 8th Grade Graduation dress. She is a determined shopper and it didn't take her long. We came home and crashed... Needless to say, no speedo swimming that night.
`
Apparently, we were interupting James' nap! ;) Aren't naps forbidden in the Forbidden city?
What time is it? Anyone???
Next we headed over to T-square and the Forbidden City. We had learned the day before that Hilary Clinton was in Beijing. The Hall of people was blocked off for important visitors-must equal our Secretary of State :) The square had some new video screens showing the highlights of the Beijing area and the new stadiums built for the Olympics of 2008. We then entered the Forbidden City. It was packed with tours and guides and rehab of some of the buildings were going on. We took alot of photos and the boys kept rubbing the 9 knobs on the gate doors. My teenagers were alot more miserable than the rest of us. Go figure, I guess it was too much like school :). We then left for the acrobat show. A water main broke on one of the main streets and we were about 20 mins. late getting there. Luckily we got to see the act with buff men wearing next to nothing !!!!!!!! We then had Mcdonalds on the way home and actually got to shop (in China) for Ashlyn's 8th Grade Graduation dress. She is a determined shopper and it didn't take her long. We came home and crashed... Needless to say, no speedo swimming that night.
`
Apparently, we were interupting James' nap! ;) Aren't naps forbidden in the Forbidden city?
What time is it? Anyone???
Sunday, May 23, 2010
To swim or not to swim, that is the question!
It is 5 am here so our activities for the day haven't started yet. First before
I start the whole sordid story, let me tell you that Angela our guide, who works
directly with Kelly R. on care packages and info etc... is absolutely wonderful.
Now for the story:
We wanted to go swimming yesterday as the hotel has a pool and spa. We had been
told upon arrival that we would need swim caps and goggles. SO Angela took us
to an area to purchase them where we could barter. So for 8 people we purchased
the caps and goggles for 50.00 USD. Not exactly how we wanted to spend 50$, but
hey we wanted to swim. So then after a lunch from KFC we head to the pool. As
soon as we arrive we are told the usual spiel about showering and shoes etc..
and we then head out of the ladies locker room to the pool. No husband or boys
are in sight. I notice Brian standing outside the pool area and motion him
over. He procedes to tell me that he and the boys are not allowed to swim
because his suit is not Chinese standard. Now he and the boys wear typical swim
suits. They have long trunks with liners and drawstrings. It seems that this
pool wants them to wear very short suits (almost speedos). At this point Brian
goes to call Angela, who has actually stopped by to check on us. She proceeds
to speak with the staff who explain that this pool is part of a high-end club
and that it would be embarrassing to them if the "men" wore leisure shorts to
swim in. "Didn't we have anything tighter for them :) Angela translates for us
that it is a cultural thing for Americans to wear these suits and that they are
acceptable everywhere in the US not to mention other parts of Beijing, Changsha,
Nanjing, Yinchuan city, Hefei and Guangzhou. We know because we have swam
there. No help! Next a manager from the hotel is called and he speaks very
good English. He reiterates the spiel about embarrassment and images blah blah
blah. Brian then explains to them that we have already spent 50$ that we
haven't had to in other parts of China and Beijing!!!!! We tell them that we
will switch hotels if half the family is allowed to swim and half isn't. Now
the female side of this family encompasses 2 bikini's and 2 tank suits and
varying degrees of coverage. No issue there :) Finally a suggestion of
purchasing a suit from them is brought up. Problem-my husband wears a large in
the US. So now we have the boys swimming but not the husband. Next Brian is
told that he can swim from 2-5pm in the pool (when club members are not there)
and spend any other time in their spa (no embarassment there I guess). Finally
an agreement after an hour plus of confrontation. So Brian goes to the
whirpool/spa area and our family begins to relax. Angela bless her heart, goes
out and somehow finds a larger suit and brings it back to us. She didn't have
to do this, but that is how wonderful she is. She is very approachable, fashion
savvy and has a wonderful sense of humor and she is compassionate beyond
compare. Needless to say we have never experienced this kind of prejudice or
judging based on suits that cover more than uncover. On a side note- Ashlyn is
drawing all kinds of attention in her bikini and Brianna is drawing all kinds of
attention with lighter hair and Blue eyes. Both wear bikinis and have nice
bodies but Ashlyn was more appealing to the teenage boys at the pool :) So
there you have it-new experience-new thoughts-crazy world :)!!!!!!!!!!!!
I start the whole sordid story, let me tell you that Angela our guide, who works
directly with Kelly R. on care packages and info etc... is absolutely wonderful.
Now for the story:
We wanted to go swimming yesterday as the hotel has a pool and spa. We had been
told upon arrival that we would need swim caps and goggles. SO Angela took us
to an area to purchase them where we could barter. So for 8 people we purchased
the caps and goggles for 50.00 USD. Not exactly how we wanted to spend 50$, but
hey we wanted to swim. So then after a lunch from KFC we head to the pool. As
soon as we arrive we are told the usual spiel about showering and shoes etc..
and we then head out of the ladies locker room to the pool. No husband or boys
are in sight. I notice Brian standing outside the pool area and motion him
over. He procedes to tell me that he and the boys are not allowed to swim
because his suit is not Chinese standard. Now he and the boys wear typical swim
suits. They have long trunks with liners and drawstrings. It seems that this
pool wants them to wear very short suits (almost speedos). At this point Brian
goes to call Angela, who has actually stopped by to check on us. She proceeds
to speak with the staff who explain that this pool is part of a high-end club
and that it would be embarrassing to them if the "men" wore leisure shorts to
swim in. "Didn't we have anything tighter for them :) Angela translates for us
that it is a cultural thing for Americans to wear these suits and that they are
acceptable everywhere in the US not to mention other parts of Beijing, Changsha,
Nanjing, Yinchuan city, Hefei and Guangzhou. We know because we have swam
there. No help! Next a manager from the hotel is called and he speaks very
good English. He reiterates the spiel about embarrassment and images blah blah
blah. Brian then explains to them that we have already spent 50$ that we
haven't had to in other parts of China and Beijing!!!!! We tell them that we
will switch hotels if half the family is allowed to swim and half isn't. Now
the female side of this family encompasses 2 bikini's and 2 tank suits and
varying degrees of coverage. No issue there :) Finally a suggestion of
purchasing a suit from them is brought up. Problem-my husband wears a large in
the US. So now we have the boys swimming but not the husband. Next Brian is
told that he can swim from 2-5pm in the pool (when club members are not there)
and spend any other time in their spa (no embarassment there I guess). Finally
an agreement after an hour plus of confrontation. So Brian goes to the
whirpool/spa area and our family begins to relax. Angela bless her heart, goes
out and somehow finds a larger suit and brings it back to us. She didn't have
to do this, but that is how wonderful she is. She is very approachable, fashion
savvy and has a wonderful sense of humor and she is compassionate beyond
compare. Needless to say we have never experienced this kind of prejudice or
judging based on suits that cover more than uncover. On a side note- Ashlyn is
drawing all kinds of attention in her bikini and Brianna is drawing all kinds of
attention with lighter hair and Blue eyes. Both wear bikinis and have nice
bodies but Ashlyn was more appealing to the teenage boys at the pool :) So
there you have it-new experience-new thoughts-crazy world :)!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
We made it!
Not TOO much luggage!
We made it to China about 12 hrs ago. It was a very painful landing as my right ear had fluid in it somehow. Probably to do with my sinuses being full. We had dinner down the street last night and got to choose our food before it was cooked and some cases before it was dead :) We slept from 7pm until around 4 am. We have met the wonderful Angela and attempted breakfast at the hotel. It's supposed to be western and asian cuisine but very little western. The staff finally asked if we wanted fried eggs. We stated yes and they proceeded to bring us fried eggs drenched in soy sauce. They were pretty decent. Next we trudged down the street to the convience store but it wasn't open. An uneventful trek down the street to find a park we'd seen from the hotel was a wild goose chase. We returned to the parking lot of the store and watched a Mother and son play badminton and a Father dance with his infant daughter. We said hello and the baby was so enamored with Andy that she gave him a kiss. It was so sweet. Now we are gorging ourselves with oreos and soda :) and it's just around 9 am :)
Waiting for the shuttle in Phoenix
At the Phoenix Airport
At the Phoenix Airport
Daddy and his girls at the Phoenix airport
All of the boys... still in Phoenix
and... pictures from dinner on Friday night (not in Phoenix ;) ):
The tall things in the first picture are sharks fins!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Heading to China
In one week we will be heading to China with our 6 oldest!!!!! We hope to spend lots of time in Beijing enjoying the culture and educating the kids on Chinese history both famous and infamous. Next we are heading to Hefei and a visit to Ashlyn's Orphanage. I am hoping to give her a better sense of her past and a glimpse into her future with us. Join us as we prepare for this trip and enjoy some vacation time away. Don't worry too much about Grace and Issac as they have big plans with Granny and PaPa that include: Denny's, McDonalds. the park and the wading pool. They also have special gifts and activities from Mom and Dad to enjoy. Pray for my parents and all of us as we head east :)
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Trail ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oATTHzyFNT8
Here's a video of the end of Brianna's first trail ride!!!!!
Here's a video of the end of Brianna's first trail ride!!!!!
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