A GREAT DAY! Wednesday, March 29th

They can't get enough of Jack! The dancers from the show grabbed him out of Erich's arms and surrounded him.

Jack has had enough of the celebrity status!
Don't touch me, again, Lady!!!!!!

The way to Annie's heart, notice the chopsticks.
James and Evelyn our guides. Both kids were with Grandpa Bob-sleeping on the bus.

Erich is almost ready to come home so he can rest. Moving furniture is so much easier, especially when both kids want daddy!

Jack is always reminding us to please just slow down and stop to smell the flowers!

This man actually had a fishing pole with a little hook and was catching goldfish. How about that for a park activity?

These little girls were practicing their English with all of us. It was so cute! They would giggle and giggle. They followed us throughout the entire park.

We went on a tour today to see the New City, a temple and another authentic lunch. We are staying in the Old City. The Old City is the "real" China- complete with the game frogger in the traffic! I still can't get over looking out our 9th floor window. The orphanage must have been along a street with traffic. It soothes Annie to look out the window. She babbles and almost yells at the traffic. (She is going to be so verbal, just like Lili and always asking, "Why?") We only stayed in the New City a short time. When Alsepts were here 2 1/2 years ago it wasn't even there! We then went to a temple, bought a few souvenirs and went to the top floor for a Chinese performance. We were sitting in the front row. Jack was hamming it up!! The dancers were peeking from behind the curtain and waving at Jack. He was waving back.Then we saw a few of them taking pictures of him. I'm telling you he is a celebrity. When the performance was over we were able to go up on stage and take pictures with the dancers for about a $1.00 a picture. We got up on the stage and were surrounded. One dancer grabbed Jack and ran behind the curtain. All of a sudden you heard all of the dancers talking and laughing. Jack was so confused he couldn't even cry. Then they were passing him back and forth like a baby doll, snapping pictures like crazy. We would have made about a $100 if we would have charged for Jack's pictures! I think my mom got it all on the video recorder. It makes me wish I could speak Chinese. Mrs. Ma, I should have taken your classes before we came to China. I hope I never said your name in a bad way. We learned that a lot of Chinese Mandarin words can be pronounced several different ways and one way to pronounce ma means something not so nice. :) We were waiting for the group and a few people wanted their picture taken with Erich- you know the tall NBA player. Then they spotted Jack and Erich's fame was all over. Jack took over again!!!!

Lunch was great. We have had 3 real Chinese meals. Jack likes the steamed eggs. It almost looks like a custard but it tastes like eggs. Annie knows what she likes and doesn't like. She will throw it or just spit it out if she doesn't like it. Grandpa Bob was a baby hog, today. Annie warmed up to him and even reached her arms out to him a few times. Grandma Jane demanded to feed her lunch, so now they are buds, too!

Interesting tidbits-
*We are constantly seeing fireworks in the distance. James told us they are used all of the time to celebrate and also for mourning, so during a funeral . They go off in the morning as much as in the evening.
*Water Buffalo are used to plow the fields. As we were crossing the big bridge to go to The New City we saw a bunch of water buffalo on islands of grass in the middle of the river.
* Things are made and built so cheap because there are so many people. 2 million people live in this city. No wonder the game Frogger is played in the traffic! Nanc, my dad went in a taxi today- he was traumatized. He won't let Jack or Annie near a cab!!!
*You don't want to rob anyone. Police are allowed to chase and shoot you. What do you think of that, Bubbs????
*Yes, we are in shorts in most of the pictures. It is 75 degrees (unusual for this time of the year) However the locals look at us like we are crazy. If the babies are not covered up they let you know. You don't have to speak Chinese to know what they are saying. I took Annie's(Lili's) sweater off today and was scolded by an older Chinese woman. She was shaking her finger at me!
*We have to boil the water before using it. It is a pain brushing your teeth. Try taking a shower and not opening your mouth or letting water run all down your face!

Time for bed! Annie and Jack are both sprawled out in our bed. Erich wants to know how his 6'4" frame will fit in the crib? Tomorrow we are traveling to the countryside.
Stay tuned. . . Love, Kari