Guangzhou continued...

Today, we didn't have any real appointments in regards to our adoption trip.  We had arranged a shopping trip with Ann of Redthread.  She is the gal who lives here in Guangzhou and helped us get updates of Maddison from her orphanage.  She met us at 10:30 AM and we headed out to the Pearl Market.  We had another first for us as well as Maddie.  We road the subway to get to the Pearl Market.  We had a lot of fun riding the subway and walking the streets of Guangzhou.  I included a few pictures of us walking down the streets around the Pearl Market to let you get a feel of what it is like here in China.  It always amazing how many people there are.... all the time.  We had a great time at the Pearl Market and got some beautiful pearls for Maddison (it is a tradition to get your adoptive daughter some pearls for her wedding day).  Robin keeps wondering if I am ready to even type those words.  Ann was amazing!  She had these contacts and was very good at getting us super prices on jewelry.  Take a look at some of the pictures of the Pearl Market and see how many pearl necklaces are stacked in each of the shops!  It was nice to have someone who new the ropes and could get us some good quality pearls.

 

After the trip to the Pearl Market, we headed back to the hotel via a taxi.   Maddie took a quick nap and then we had to head down to the lobby of the hotel for the infamous group pictures.  Our adoption agency always has individual and group pictures of their travel groups to China.  It is always fun to dress up you children in their Chinese silks.  Maddie wasn't to happy since we had to wake her up for the pictures.  However, it was nice to see all the kids and their parents.  We will treasure the contacts we have made these past two weeks!  Maddie loves here new shoes!  I include a picture of her putting on her shoes.  It's amazing how quick she picked up on how to do this herself.  She is one independent little girl!  Oh my!!!!!

 

We ended the day going out to diner!  The whole group took taxis to a Mexican restaurant called Tekila.  You read correctly,  we went out for Mexican food in China!  The food was fantastic!!!!  It was so nice to eat something other than Chinese.  Not that Chinese is bad, but something different was great.  We had a great time talking and sharing stories over dinner.  Maddie is learning to share.  In one of the pictures she is sharing her Gerber Puffs with her buddy Aiden!  One of our families is leaving tomorrow and there are a lot of us leaving on Thursday.  It was probably the last diner as a group!  After diner we headed back to the hotel via a taxi.  We are starting to get pretty good at hailing taxis to get around in China!

 

Everyone is doing well.  We all seem to be in pretty good health, but are looking forward to coming home!  Thanks for the all the prayers!  Tomorrow is our Consulate Appointment.  Can wait to see Maddie in her red/white/blue bubble.  You'll have to check back tomorrow!  Good night from China.....