Sunday, February 22, 2009

The rest of our time in Guangzhou

February 15, 2006 we had the famous "Red Couch" photo at the White Swan. We also had a group photo in front of the waterfall in the White Swan.

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Family Red Couch photo

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Hubei Girls!!

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I love these Red Couch photos

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Our Travel Group

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Todd, Erika, and Madison

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Ray, Angel, and Samantha

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One Happy Family

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Susan, Jim, Kara, and Emma

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Robert, Sue, and Alexa

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Jacob, Lisa, and Sophie

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With our guide Cindy. She was AMAZING! I can't say enough about her.

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We had the best time with Jim and Susan's daughter Emma. She is the sweetest little girl. I was lucky enough see Emma again when I went to Georgia.

We also went on a tour of The Chen Family Temple and The Six Banyan Temple. Katie received a Buddist blessing at the Temple. Then we went to a nice market to buy Jade and Porcelain. I bought a circle of life Jade pendent for Katie and myself. I also bought a Jade Rooster pendent for Katie since she was born in the year of the Rooster. I bought a beautiful porcelan tea set to give to Katie when she is older. I have it displayed in our kitchen and I will give it to her when she has her own home someday.

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The Chen Family Temple

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The Six Banyan Temple

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The Buddist Blessing

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Buddas

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View from dinner. I can't remember the name of this restaurant but we had dinner with some couples from our group at this riverside restaurant.

Feb 16, 2006

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Meeting up with some of the other Mom's from our GWCA travel Group. Erika, Carolyn with Mac, Me with Katie, and Andrea with Gwen. Carolyn and Andrea's daughter's were from Guangdong Province. They were at the White Swan for 10 days so they were able to give us some shopping tips.

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We went with Todd and Erika to the pearl market. The pearl market was very overwhelming. So many little shops with pearls. I bought Katie a pearl necklace, bracelet, and earrings to give to her when she gets older. Of course I got pearls for myself too.

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Dan with Katie outside of the US Consulate. We were not allowed to take pictures inside of the consulate. It was a beautiful and emotional ceremony. We swore Katie in as a US Citzen with 60 other families from our GWCA adoption group.
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Our group back on the bus after the Consulate appointment. Did I say already how GREAT our travel group was?????

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Our last dinner together as a group at the Cow and Bridge restaurant. A toast to Cindy our guide. I started to tear up looking at this photos. It was an amazing end to an amazing trip.

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Cindy

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Me, Emma, and Katie
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Katie back at the Hotel

February 17, 2006 our last day in Guangzhou. Most of our group left this day. We stayed an extra day in Guangzhou. We were flying home the next day with Kevin, Carol, and Mia. I made the most of our free day with last minute shopping. I did so much shopping during our time in Guangzhou that I had to buy an extra suitcase at Sherry's place for $10.

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Shopping
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We ran into Kate and Lia while shopping

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With Jordan from "Jordan's".

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Sketch of Katie's picture we had done at Sherry's Place

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Saying goodbye to Cindy, Todd, Erika, and Madison. We were the last family left in Guangzhou from our travel group.

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Katie and Mommy

February 18, 2006
Heading home!!! We flew back to Beijing and then flew from Beijing back to Newark, NJ.

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Kevin and Mia in the airport

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Katie and Mommy in the airport. Look at me I am hands free!

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Katie and Grace Ingram. We also flew with Carolyn and family from Beijing to Newark. Carolyn, Kevin, Mackenzie, and Grace Ingram then flew from Newark to Altanta GA. When we went to visit Carolyn and family in GA, Katie had the best time playing with Grace Ingram.

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Passing the time in the airport. Mackenzie and I playing "Miss Mary Mack".

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Heading home!!! It was 6pm China time when we flew out of Beijing to Newark. Katie sleep almost the whole flight. We were very lucky.

Well that's my walk down memory lane to tell about our journey to adopt Katie Min Min. My last post will be about our wonderful homecoming.

9 comments:

Jboo said...

LOVE reading about and seeing your photos from your trip! Fun to see Kate and Lia too! What a great time you all had. Don't you love strolling down memory lane!
Janet

Jodee said...

I thoroughly enjoyed your trip down memory lane! It looks like you had an amazing time in China. I especially love the red couch pictures and sketch you had done of Katie while there! She was soooo little!

Anonymous said...

magical! beautiful, moving.

Missy said...

Thanks for sharing in your journey! I love how happy Katie Min Min was. My favorite pic, which was hard as they were all wonderful, is the pic of Katie sitting on the hotel bed with the cutest grin ever!!!!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

Those photos are all priceless.....so many special moments that you captured and will remember for a lifetime!!

Katie is such a cutie....I love the pic of her on the hotel bed and that sketch is GORGEOUS....I have heard about them, but never seen one....AMAZING!!

Thanks for sharing your trip with all of us......seeing the joy makes me realize that I can wait as long as it takes to get my daughter, because it will all be worth it when they put her in our arms!!

Lisa

Chasing Dreams Photography said...

I love the red couch picture. The babies are never very happy LOL I have our picture hung up on the wall I just love looking at it....such a special time.
I loved all the pictures it was fun strolling down memory lane with you.

Laura said...

Jen,

I love all the photo's and the stories that go along with them. I still keep looking in the backgrounds of the pictures to see if Kevin, I or anyone else from our group are there.

Laura

Kate said...

I loved seeing all these pictures!!! I wasscrolling through and thought about the picture I have of you and me and the girls...and apparently you have it too!!!! There we were...looking all deer in the headlights....but oh so happy....and how could the girls have once been that little???

Love!!!!

Green Family said...

Oh my...these are just wonderful pictures. Isn't it amazing this journey of adoption?? I never thought I was so talented with paperwork!! It's hard to believe we're all where we are today...and so happily. Your little peanut glows with happiness. I've said it before...being a therapist I hear tough stuff during the day. These blogs keep me energized and are my balast.

Take care!
Kelly