Today is Thursday March 1, 2001 and we toured the city on foot.  James took us to the city center and we walked the streets and enjoyed celebrity status.  We drew crowds near and far, but I think it was because Dan wore shorts.  One guy looked Dan up and down then gave him a thumbs up with a smile, most everyone else just starred!  It was not really that cold today but I don't think they have ever seen a guy in shorts.  Nataya was given some sharps looks by the women because she was wearing Capri pants, not acceptable on a child.  Most of the children in China under the age of 8 look like Michelin babies, many layers.  We figured out why, because the kids wear split pants they wear so many layers to compensate for the the hiney hanging out.  By the way I bought some split pants to take home.

We finally made it but as you can see the crowd followed.  Several of us went to the Lakeview Hotel to have dinner at a different place.  It was very good, we had so much food and of course beer.  The taxi ride over was exciting, I was beginning to question the directions the doorman gave but we ended up in the right place.  The pollution is awful, especially at night.  We were choking in the taxi cab ride.

Some stats on Madeline:  She has 6 teeth and another coming in, her hair is course, she may weigh 15 lbs. at the most and is close to crawling.  She likes to stand up.  So far she likes to take a bath and washing her hair is not a problem.  She is a chow hound (as most of the babies seem to be).  She has Mongolian spots on her back just like Mackenzie.  She is double jointed her limbs move in the most unusual way.  She is going to be great in things like Karate and gymnastics.  Tomorrow James has arranged for us to go on a city tour and museum visit.

March 02,2001 - Sara's Birthday - Oops

I'm so sorry guys.  Besides the fact we forgot the camera (all of them) the camera malfunctioned tonight, batteries to low, so we don't have allot of pictures today.  We all went to visit an old temple, very nice.  There were some wonderful gifts to be had, ankle bells, umbrellas, coins and your name in neat painted print.  After the temple James took us to a great Chinese restaurant.  We had shark fin soup-kind of slimy.  For the Haas-Pound family, Sandrine appears to have motion sickness, Katherine got first hand experience with this not once but twice.  Where was Phil you say?  In the corner going ick-ick.  After lunch we napped and some folks went to a museum, the Geists stayed  behind to sleep, so what else is new.

This evening we had a birthday party for Sara Guay, she looked so cute in her torture device mom is making her wear (a headband with bow).  I guess Laura is getting tired of being asked if it is a boy or girl.  Anyway we all had a wonderful dinner complete with Budweiser beer and a birthday cake.  I don't think Sara was really into the party she was to busy playing with her toy.  We sang happy birthday and ate cake.  I feel so bad that the batteries were low and the pictures turned out blurry.

Tomorrow is the Zoo, if we decide to go we will check our cameras.  I think our problem is trying to get two kids ready by a definite time.  We have yet to try and figure out a good time to get up in order to get ready in time.  Madeline is THE most active kid, changing her diaper is a chore.  She is crawling all over the place.  This is wonderful but it sure makes things harder to do.

March 02, 2001 - Sara's Birthday - Oops

March 02, 2001 - Sara's Birthday - Oops

March 03, 2001 - Day at the Zoo

Today we went to the Zoo, it was not as crowded as the Denver Zoo which is nice.  I'm not sure what was the highlight of the day the babies, the guys in shorts, or the animals.  We met two other moms who were back with their adopted daughters for a visit, they were from Alaska.  It is nice to see western faces.  Mackenzie rode the little cars and thought that was cool.  I think she will have a great time at Disneyland.

March 03, 2001 - Day at the Zoo

Hey George is wearing shorts.

Mr. Hippopotamus.

March 03, 2001 - Day at the Zoo

View of Zoo patrons.

Martha talking to locals.

March 03, 2001 - Day at the Zoo

Feeding the Ostrich lettuce.

Nataya at the Zoo.  Mackenzie has found a best friend.

March 03, 2001 - Day at the Zoo

Group 255 at the Zoo, only the Pinto's did not go today, Marissa was a bit fussy.  We are still all in fairly good health and only one more week to go.

March 03, 2001 - Notes From NanChang

Hello to everyone back in the U.S.A.  The babies are bonding well with us  now, and are becoming so much fun to be around.  Rachel is sleeping so much at night, that we are actually getting more sleep now than we normally do at home.  We are all having a lot of fun experiencing all the new sights & smells & sounds of such a different country from ours.  Randy and I went out for a celebratory Cuban cigar last night, and we received a few stares from passers by.  (I don't think most of the people of Nanchang are used to the sight of Caucasians or the smell of cigars).  Later this week, we will travel to Lushan mountain for the day, it will be another nice change of scenery.  I also want to thank Dan for all the work he's put into this website for all of us to use. Thanks Dan!

Greetings from the Guay's!  It's amazing how exhausting it is to sit around and play patty-cake all day!  Sara is a joy and becoming more and more animated every day!  She laughs & smiles and babbles a lot.  She likes slurping noodles and can do it with the best of those Italians out there!  All the babies are beautiful and it's so much fun being together.  The hotel room is getting smaller and we're looking forward to moving on to the White Swan in Guangzhou.  Can't wait to see all our friends & family back in NH.  We can't thank Dan & Mary enough for all the work (and nights until 4AM) that they have put in to updating this web site so all of you can share this magical experience with us.     Bye from NanChang!

March 03, 2001 - Notes From NanChang

Hello everyone.  We are having a great time in Nanchang.  Anne is wonderful.  She is healthy, cute, inquisitive, and has a very pretty smile.  Yesterday we toured the city and tomorrow we will go to Lu Mountain (Lushan).  Mom--this trip is much more relaxing with less stress than the last one.   Jennifer, our sherpa ayi, is a star.  She is wowing all the locals and our travel group with her command of Chinese.  Hello to all my group #49 travel mates, being back in Nanchang has brought out a flood of memories from 4 years ago.  

Karl & Cory -- I LOVE YOU!!!  Love, MOM

Emily--I LOVE YOU!!! SEE YOU SOON!!! 

Love Mommy  XXOOXXOO

Greetings from the PRC.  Katherine and I are having an incredible experience here.  Sandrine is already ruling the roost and loving it.  She eats all the time, sleeps when she wants, plays when she wants, holds the remote control and Katherine has to change her diapers!  We are having quite the time.  This city is unbelievable!  Taxi rides are e-ticket rides...people drive/ride/walk on both sides of the road at any time regardless of the traffic lights.  It's all good!  Sandrine seems to be living the life of Reilly!  She has a great nature and is a joy to be around.  Today, Saturday, we went to the department store and bought her her first pair of shoes.  Afterwards we went down to the first floor to wait for our friends but after 5 minutes the crowds were so overwhelming we had to get a taxi and leave.  Sandrine draws a crowd!  We are here until Tuesday and that day can't come soon enough because we have ordered everything on the menu 14 times!  Thank God Sandrine still loves the noodles!  That's all for now! We will talk to you soon through cyber space!    Love, Katherine, Sandrine & Phil  (Long Winded??)

March 03, 2001 - Notes From NanChang

  A message from Mackenzie to everyone back home.  We're having another snack, apples from Jennifer.

Madeline says hello from the edge of the bed.

March 04, 2001 - Lushan Mountain Day

Today was a long day, our destination Lushan Mountain.  Everyone boarded the bus at about 9:00, except Phil and Katherine since Sandrine appears to have motion sickness.  Our first stop was Jui Jiang or Jamestown (the birth place of James Jin our CCAI representative).  We viewed the Yangtze River from atop a pagoda on the side of the road.  The weather was chilly because it was windy but otherwise a beautiful day.  We had a marvelous lunch and trashed the restaurant, we seem to do this often, I wonder why.  After lunch we headed to Lushan Mountain, elevation about 5K.  The high officials of China made this place their summer home because the Jiangxi area gets very hot.  I don't remember much else of James speech I was trying to juggle Mackenzie and Madeline in the front seat.  The road to Lushan was extremely winding and not very narrow.  Imagine driving in China and then doing the same on a winding road and have people try to pass you up!!!!!  We stopped in Lushan and shopped, a really neat place built on the top and side of the mountain.  Mackenzie made some more friends.  Dan was scolded because Mack's hands were cold-of course I stayed back out of the way so I wouldn't be involved.  Josh, I finally found your boat with a point.  I almost bought some whole, freeze dried frogs - they look like beef jerky with a head.  By the time we loaded up to go home the babies were on their eyelids we had a symphony of crying babies.  We were all exhausted when we got home about 6:30 pm.  Thank God tomorrow is a rest day with only one official thing to do.

March 04, 2001 - Lushan Mountain Day

Looking at the Yangtze River.  

March 04, 2001 - Lushan Mountain Day

Lushan Mountain, a hotel sits at the top.

Mackenzie is rock climbing.

March 04, 2001 - Lushan Mountain Day

Group 255 overlooking the valley at Lushan.  We were very nervous our total weight would be more than the rock could handle.

March 04, 2001 - Notes From NanChang

This is the Schell-Lovejoy Family

We are a happy new family! Even though Mommy has an awful cold - BinBin's spirits are making up for it.  If she would only stop making me laugh - coughing seizures follow. She is a beautiful, happy, silly, Mommy's girl.