Guangzhou zoo

(recap of Tuesday, March 2)

By this point in the game, Ian and I had getting breakfast off the buffet down to a science!  He'd snag a yogurt for each kid as we were shown to our table and I'd peel off to get a plate full of fruit, ham slices, scrambled eggs and sausage.  Then I'd head to the table and start using teacup saucers for plates for the kids, doling out food for them while Ian went to get his food.  When he got back I'd head off for my plate (the best thing was the waffle bar where I'd top mine with chocolate sauce, shredded coconut and whipped cream ~ Mounds waffles, crazy good!).  We were getting really efficient!  But we did find that despite our best efforts we kept getting seated further and further from the rest of the diners and more tucked back into far away corners...

We decided to join the group tour to the zoo that morning even though we'd seen it back in 2007.  And despite the fact that so many of the large cats seemed so sad in their cages, I'm glad we did.  Our kids had a blast and thought that every animal was so cool!  And there were plenty of photo opportunities.  Did I mention the photo opps?

 A rare sighting of Westerners...

We had fun playing with Kevin's family each time we "sighted" them at the zoo.

 My "All-American" crew.  (ready for the consulate visit later that day)

So if we head right at the panda habitat...

(The stair step of kids plan the best route)

Haven't I asked before for someone to teach that imp on the right kid to smile?   

Daddy and "his girls."

 If I could really contain these guys in a pouch I would probably have a lot less mess to clean...

Watching the panda eat his bamboo.

From the zoo we headed back to the hotel for a quick nap and then it was off to the consulate.  After a quick speech from one of the officers, where Darcy's birthday was recognized with the other March kids, we listened intently for Darcy's name to be called so we could go up to the window to sign one last form ~ of course we were LAST.  But within an hour of walking in, we were walking back out with the promise that as long as we "didn't open the brown envelope" that our children would become US citizens at their port of entry.  

Tuesday evening was the birthday of one of newly adopted Janie's sisters, so our family joined hers for dinner in one of the hotel restaurants.  We did a great job of ordering from the menu and I think I can say that I liked everything on the table.  Then we had the pleasure of heading back upstairs into yet another executive suite room to chat for a while with Janie's new family.  This is the family with THIRTEEN daughters.  

 Mom (Yolanda) and Dad (Dale) with Zoe, Janie, Desiree, and Naiomi

all other siblings at home

Four from China, seven from Ethiopia, one from South Korea, and one adopted domestically.  Yolanda and Dale were a joy to get to know, and if weren't for the fact that they live all the way in Idaho, I think we'd be seeing a lot of them.  I think one of my favorite quotes of the entire trip was Dale saying, "You know, some folks think I've sentenced myself to life with kids in the house, but I simply tell them that I can't imagine it any other way."  


And oh how I can relate.  Do you know how many folks have told us we're crazy for deciding to have three kids within a year of each other in age?  But I can't imagine it any other way either...