Christmas Day

Just in case you forgot how much fun it is to set up all the toys your kids get at Christmas...














Yes, that is indeed a Krispie Creme hat on my head.














Miles working his way happily through the pile. He did stop long enough to say "I have lots of presents because lots of people love me." I think there is a compliment for everyone buried in there somewhere!

This is my Christmas outfit - Thanks Auntie Sue!

Anticipation.....and not waiting gracefully when you're 5

Ok, they made me wear this hat for the requisite cute photo on Xmas eve. I think I pulled it off pretty well!











This is the picture we framed for Daddy's office. Miles had the great idea to frame pictures for one of Dad's Xmas gifts.











This is the spread that Miles prepared for Santa and his eight (count 'em) reindeer.













This is Miles doing his reindeer prance (his words).


We had a visit from Santa last night about 8:00pm. We had been tracking his progress all day on NORAD, and knew he was somewhere in Europe. The rumor on the block was that Santa was taking his dinner break in Germany this year, and might stop by to shake hands with his constituents. Sure enough, I opened the door to see if he was on the way, and there he was, larger than life right on our front porch! I let out a girly shriek and called for Miles. He could hear the ho-ho- ho's booming in our stairwell and was too scared to move. Kev carried him down while Wen Li worked her charms on him. Miles was too excited to speak, but managed a couple of head nods. It was VERY exciting!

Home for Christmas

Here's wishing everyone a happy, joyful, and peaceful holiday.
(This "peaceful" photo was number 47 out of a large batch of , uh, less-than-peaceful photos involving all 3 of us fighting over control of the camera remote!)

Finally made it to Guangzhou!

Finally made it to Guangzhou. Everyone is doing fine, but we have been very busy getting all the paperwork completed and adjusting to two kids. Miles is doing very well with his new sister (as can be expected from a 5 year old boy!).

Wen Li is really beginning to trust us and smiles constantly and has become very playful and demanding. She sleeps remarkably well on a schedule and has not woke up once after going to sleep! (we have to wake her up in the morning and she is still cheerful!)


She loves to eat! Especially steamed egg! She can eat a whole bowl and still wants some more. Believe it or not she uses the potty regularly and always for poop! yeah!

We visited the orphanage the other day. What a wonderful experience! The people there care very much for the children and love them. They were very excited to see Wen Li and she them. As soon as we got off the bus they grabbed her and began stuffing her full of rice from their own lunches with chop sticks. It explained alot about the looks we got from her when we ate and did not give her any of our food!

Miles has been very wonderful. He has fully enjoyed China and loves the adventures. He is very patient with the many people that either want to take pictures with him, pinch his cheeks, or rustle his hair. He has basically been schlept from bus to airplane and through the markets and consulates, and has been living with us in very small hotel rooms for the past 10 days or so. He has handled it all very well.

We promised him he could go swimming in Guangzhou since it is usually warm enough, but while nice, it has been a little cold for swimming. No problem for Miles, he went anyway. The people running the pool thought he was crazy. He jumped right in and splashed about!

Well we head to the German Consulate tommorrow to complete paperwork for her German Visa since she is still technically a Chinese Citizen.

It has been a wonderful experience, but we are tired and about ready to head home and get everyone into a normal routine. Hope to have more time to post tommorrow.