Alrighty!!!   We are now Wednesday morning here in China, 6:30am!  ouch!  I just can't sleep today.
No worries though I feel well rested.  Every day we get up, and pull back the curtains hoping to have the sun shine in our eyes....but....nope, nothing but a thick grey smog!  YUM!
The orphanage visits have been very good!  What a huge change since last year.
Last year we were ready to pull out and go to another orphanage that wanted to work with us, not tie the kids down, not leave them with minimal toys or stimulation!
This year!! WOW!!
They want advice, they want to have conversations, they have changed!  Everyone is so happier, the children run around freely, playing with lots of toys in 2 beautiful bright rooms.  Our goal now is to get strollers for the summer and 2 walkers / wheelchairs.
We have a meeting today with the Head of the nannies, the Director and our room manager to discuss things.   Compared to last year, our "changes" we would like to see are so minimal.. things like hand washing after changing the baby, setting up a changing station, cleaning the toys every night..
When we walk into the room, the toddlers look up and start shouting ni hao and smiling and waving and run right up into our arms laughing!

There is a huge shopping center here with hundreds of stores, but it's like dresses, shirts, shoes, coats, and it all fits me!  lol (I am a large here)!  lol
No name brands or anything.  Not till Beijing on Saturday!

For now I leave you with this wonderful t-shirt we found in Walmart!

Ohh  I want to win a copy of this book by Kay Bratt!!! 

A Thread Unbroken  

I wish I knew how to put a picture with a link here.... 

Long time no post!!

WOW, way too long since I've blogged!!  Darn you FB!

I'm heading off to China again for another trip to XinXiang Henan China, to our Gracie's Room Program there.
I'm hoping to see the children in much better conditions than the last time few times we were there.
They've moved into a nice bright and new building and we have 2 big beautiful rooms for our program which is now running 24hours a day!!

My incredible friends and family have once again been so generous and I've been given lots of donations to take with me for the babies, and the nannies!

I'll be updating this blog whenever I can, so stay tuned to keep updated!

Jennifer is having a fundraiser for their upcoming adoptions!  Her little Addisyn was in our Gracie's Room program for a short while.

http://browneyesandbarefeet.blogspot.ca/

Please show your support!

suppers

Last night for supper I made Chicken Tortilla Soup by Ree Drummond - The Pioneer Woman Cooks.
It was soo good!!  Be sure to have all the fixings in the center of the table for people to choose from.  We had Pico de Gallo (also from her site), avocado slices, limes, cilantro, and sour cream. Although we fried the corn tortilla slices first and ate them as a side.
This was hit with everyone and and I'll be making it again!

Tonight's supper (since I have fixings left over) I'm making Fish Tacos from Michelle's site Bite By Michelle .  I'll let you know how it turns out.  I'm looking forward to trying it.

Hanlin's 8th Birthday!!

We celebrated Hanlin's 8th birthday last weekend with a Pirate Party!!
It was a huge success!  We started out at the house, where upon arrival each kid was quickly transformed into a Pirate!  We slathered them with Tattoos, earring, eye patch and a sword!!  (Lily took her transformation very seriously, and ran around yelling Argghhh matey!! That is her Argghh pose -  although it looks like she is in pain..lol )
The big sisters made an amazing Treasure Chest Cake and Abigail made a huge map for the table and I used Chinese coins for bits of treasure on the map.
We had cake and opened presents, then headed off to the Movies to watch The Pirates!! Band of Misfits!!  The kids got popcorn, juice and smarties!  They were so excited and soo well behaved!
Lily and her friend never took off their eye patches wearing them under the 3D glasses!  Too Cute!

 It was a great idea for a party.  We were only at the house for 45mins, not enough time to completely destroy the place, and the kids still played outside, ran around, saw a movie, got tatts and piercings!
Good Fun!

I got the pictures of Abigail from Provincials today, I'll have the videos of Atlantics up shortly!

Giant

split leap

Back Tuck on Beam

this is her dismount, it's called a Gainer.  Yes cheryl, she is flipping back towards the beam!

Then she lands facing this way

Provincial Gymnastics Competition 2012

The girls attended the Provincial Gymnastics Competition this weekend in Saint John.
This competition determines if they make Team New Brunswick and get to go to Atlantics (in Newfoundland) and Easterns (in Quebec).
Top 6 go to Atlantics and top 4 for Easterns.  The 1st and 2nd place finishers are guaranteed a spot on the team and their coach get to go with them. 

Both girls did great, Isabelle placing 2nd overall and Abigail placing 1st!  So both are heading to NFLD and Quebec.
Just wish Team NB paid for the trips!!


Here are some pics of Isabelle and I'm downloading some video of both of them now.  I'll have some of pictures of Abigail later in the week. (I bought a CD of pics and they only had Isabelle's ready).

 

 

 This is her bar routine from a competition in Ontario the week before.  The video I took of this weekend sucked!  I was out of focus and I missed half of the routine! 

Here is Abigail's floor routine.

Here are just some of the items Angela and I are bringing to China with us!!

Lots of warm sleepers, cloth diapers, nursing pillows and jumpers!

6 more days and we're off!!!

Happy Valentine's Day