March 09, 2001 - Hotel & Shopping Day
Our last day in Guangzhou.  We started off with breakfast in the lobby, the only one we got to have, to bad it was very good.  Later we shopped, played, and napped, and then I shopped again.  We had to buy another suitcase, so did several others.  Mackenzie and I  had a tea party at the tea pot shop.  We received the babies visas, we're ready to go home!  Most of us stayed close to home to shop and pack.  Of course we will probably barely make it.  Boy two kids are tough!  The worst part of this is we have to have our luggage out by 9:00 pm so we have to be ready to go tonight, everything else is carry on.

 
March 09, 2001 - Hotel & Shopping Day
Hotel lobby pictures.

 
March 09, 2001 - Hotel & Shopping Day
Lobby shops. Look at this boat Josh, I think this cost as much as your house it is Jade.

 
March 09, 2001 - Hotel & Shopping Day
View of river from lobby. Doormen.

 
March 09, 2001 - Hotel & Shopping Day
The greens around the hotel. Budda belly.

 
March 09, 2001 - Hotel & Shopping Day
Most shops had lots of furniture, beautiful! Lobby chairs.

 
March 09, 2001 - Hotel & Shopping Day
We bought lots of strollers here for $19.

 
March 09, 2001 - Packing to Go Home
The Guay's room doesn't look to bad. Yikes the suitcases exploded!

 
March 09, 2001 - Packing to go Home
The Pinto's are getting there. Steig is ready-she's done this before!

 
March 09, 2001 - Packing to go Home
Stepleton's are ready. We haven't even started-are you surprised?

 
March 09, 2001 - Packing to go Home
The Schell's room is fairly organized,
I think they were on their way for more luggage,
so grandma is babysitting.
The Rasmussen's, where is Rachel? Oh my God Susan packed the baby!

 
March 09, 2001 - Packing to go Home
The Pizza Party is at the end of the hall and if Dan doesn't post these pictures within the next thirty minutes our luggage will not go to the airport!
Most everyone else looks very relaxed.  Hope everyone enjoyed following our journey to China for best souvenir ever-our babies.

 
March 10, 2001 - Homeward Bound, Travel Day
We met in the lobby of the White Swan at 6:30 to board the bus for the airport, we're going home.  For Dan and I the journey will be a long one and will involve three plane rides.  For most of us we parted company in the Hong Kong airport.  Dan and I met up with the Guay's for a snack.  Parting was sad, we've been family for two weeks and bonded with each other.  I was sad to see everyone leave, we said goodbye to Sara last, she is such a sweetie.  The girls did much better than I thought on the planes.  We also did a layover in Taipei, Taiwan and finally arrived in Los Angeles at 2:00 pm.  We went through INS and customs within 45 minutes, not to bad.

 
March 10, 2001 - Homeward Bound, Travel Day
EVA airways gave Mackenzie a backpack, she thought this was pretty cool.  We had fun in the airport, I went to change Madeline in the restroom Mackenzie followed.  Madeline had poop up her back and I just tossed her onezie then I turned around and Mackenzie had locked herself in the bathroom stall, oh well one crisis at a time. Mackenzie and Madeline and daddy in the airplane.
It was nice having a whole row to ourselves.

 
March 10, 2001 - Homeward Bound, Travel Day
Mackenzie running around the airport in Taiwan.

 
March 10, 2001 - Homeward Bound, Travel Day
Madeline crawling around the floor in Taiwan.

 
March 10, 2001 - Homeward Bound, Travel Day
I was feeding Madeline Cherrios and she was so tired she was chewing and sleeping at the same time. Our last plane ride.

 
March 11, 2001 - Our first day in the USA
Our first night in the USA was a restless one.  Madeline had two good crying jags, on the last I finally gave her a bottle and all was well.
So between Mackenzie and Madeline I was up all night. Dan finally slept on floor and left me on the bed with both kids.

 
March 11, 2001 - Our first day in the USA
We are decompressing at my uncles for a few days.  This is my cousin Valerie with the girls.  She made us dinner and a welcome home cake, yummy.

 
March 11, 2001 - Our first day in the USA
Mackenzie ate two pokey eggs this morning. Auntie Marylou was up early cooking for us.

 
March 11, 2001 - Our first day in the USA
Uncle has a swing on the tree outside, to bad it is a bit cold and we're a little tired. Cousin Blanco, I think he's a bit overwhelmed.

 
March 11, 2001 - Our first day in the USA
Blanco up close. Uncle Jimmy is in the dog house and is doing his chores.  This one is for Grandma La La.

 
March 12, 2001 - Disneyland, Madeline's first US Adventure

Today is Disneyland!  Madeline's first theme park was a hit.  The girls lasted longer than we thought.  We started about 10:00 and returned home at 9:00.  We rode "It's a Small World" at least 6 times before Dan and I started to fall asleep.  Madeline thought this was the cat's meow, she loved it.  We stayed for the parade of lights to see Mickey Mouse, Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eyore.  We feasted on burgers, pizza, hotdogs, popcorn, and lollipops-a meal fit for kids.  Madeline slept better last night but I still got up at 2:30 to feed her a bottle and then she played for about an hour before crashing.  We woke her up at 8:30.  When we were waiting for the tram to go back to the parking lot we met up with at couple who was in our adoption group 140 in July 1999-it is a small world, their little girl is three.

 
March 12, 2001 - Disneyland, Madeline's first US Adventure
Quite time with Blanco and Uncle Jimmy. Our first ride was the train around the park.
A man gave Mackenzie and Madeline some candy.

 
March 12, 2001 - Disneyland, Madeline's first US Adventure
This was inside the small world ride it didn't come out to well. Madeline hanging onto the bar in the Small World ride she had a great time.

 
March 12, 2001 - Disneyland, Madeline's first US Adventure
It's a small world Mackenzie and Madeline on the ride..

 
March 12, 2001 - Disneyland, Madeline's first US Adventure
It was a beautiful day at about 70 degrees.  We were roasting I had to buy the girls some short sleeve shirts.

 
March 12, 2001 - Disneyland, Madeline's first US Adventure
I look exhausted. Having a snack of bottle and crackers.

 
March 12, 2001 - Disneyland, Madeline's first US Adventure
The true marker that a kid has had a fun day-dirt.  Mackenzie has sucker all over her face.  Her eyelashes were stuck to the lids.  We couldn't wipe her nose because the Kleenex stuck to her nose. Mickey and Pluto in the Parade of Lights.

This page was last updated on February 25, 2012.