Beautiful day at Shamian Island

It's 12:30am here and can't sleep so decided to blog about our day yesterday.  So we went to Shamian Island which is about 15 minutes from our hotel.  Beautiful spot with very European atmosphere...Savannah plantation style atmosphere to put on US terms.  Beautiful statues all over the grounds and Ashley wanted her picture taken with every single one.  She's been such a trooper, so I decided we would make that happen.  Had to miss the bus ride back with our group to make it happen, but we did it.  We ended up taking a taxi and everything was fine.  I will say though it was a little scary just seeing your guide and group take off without you and leave you in a strange place knowing that you will have to get back on your own....but then again that would explain this whole trip so what the heck.....
The island was beautiful and the weather was perfect.  Luke on the other hand decided that he would slide through the stroller and let his body fall and feet drag so much that he would began crying, spitting, drooling, screaming.  Okay so if you think Chinese people stare at blonde American people, let me just tell you that add a blonde American crazy woman with a screaming Chinese child and you have some serious stares....evil looks from the Chinese ladies.  Two things I will not miss about China:  squatty potties and evil looks from Chinese people.  Please don't get me wrong...we have also met some very nice Chinese people.  Some tell us what a good thing we're doing, some comment on our beautiful children.  Speaking of beautiful children, I love the fact that people here when they see that they can't communicate with me, they turn to Ellen and start talking in Chinese.  Yesterday at a convenience store, the clerk turned to Ellen and I told him "english" and pointed to her, but he proceeded to try to talk to her.  The look on her face during those times is priceless.
Despite Luke's tantrum, we were able to do some shopping.  The girls bought some things and we bought some things for Luke to have later.  One was a pair of cuff links with Chinese characters "Double Happiness."  Hopefully, we can give these to him when he marries or special occasion as ab adult. There was a place that made custom made name stamps with your name written in English and Chinese.  We bought one for Luke and the girls wanted one too so got one for them also. Sorry John and Alex :-)  Luke's tantrum ended with the purchase of some velcro sandals and an orange umbrella.  He was a happy boy after that!
We had dinner at a Irish pub.....yes, you read that correctly, Irish pub in China! Right above the noodle shop that we have eaten at the last two nights. Also right beside a massage shop that had "colon massage" on the list of massages available.  Wtf is a colon massage?!? Ken and Jen, the other couple here that we were eating dinner with, and I had a good laugh from that one.  Maybe we could bring that form of massage to the States.  Speaking of bringing to the States, Luke got a happy meal at McDonalds and an option instead of fries was corn...maybe we could bring that back to the States also.  It was very good! Actually better than the burger or nuggets! They just don't taste the same here.
The Irish pub was actually really good. Our waitress spoke very good English so made the ordering process much easier.  Was nice to have an American meal with a draft beer.  When I say American meal, please know that we truly will not have an American meal until we get home.  But they do try to assimilate it somewhat here.
Luke is slowly getting used to the word no.  And I'm figuring out ways to make it a little easier too.  Choices are good for him.  If I give him a choice between two things, he seems to do well with that.  He is also figuring out how to hand gesture wants to us and we've downloaded several preschool games and doing those with him is something that he loves.  We brought some seek and find books and he likes doing those so we'll sit and do those the four of us together.  He loves that feeling of success...I mean who doesn't, but with him if he can do something and see the results then he feels good. So I can see that once home I'm gonna have a little helper at home.  We've learned "good job" in Chinese and are really trying to praise the good behaviors.  He has the sweetest and cutest smile you'll ever see, so hard to stay mad at him for too long.  His smile would make anyone's heart melt.
We FaceTime with Steve, aka Baba (Chinese for daddy) and the boys in the mornings and at night.  It is the cutest thing....first thing he does when he wakes up is go straight to the laptop and lift the screen and then come get me to put in the password and then points to the menu picture of the FaceTime icon and says Baba.  It's been good for him to see Steve's face, so that when we get home hopefully he'll be somewhat familiar with him.
Tomorrow is our appointment at the US Consulate.  It is fairly early in the morning so I hope the mood of the kids can last through the day tomorrow.  This is an exciting day for us.  Luke becomes a US citizen! Officially when we hit US ground, but still a big step in the adoption process. Hey, and one step closer to home!
I truly want to thank everyone again for all their thoughts and prayers, texts, comments, and personal messages through Facebook.  I am a firm believer that we are the hands and feet of God and through each us God can be seen, felt, and heard.  I received a personal message from a friend yesterday that touched me so deeply.  She spoke of the sermon preached and how it spoke to her to share with me.  I know that is God's way of getting to me...is through her. So I thank her for listening to Him and relaying it to me.  She told me that they sang Here I Am Lord and then she proceeded to write the entire lyrics to me.....crying as I write this now.  She said how the words made her think of me and what I'm doing.  I LOVE THIS SONG and know it probably better than anyone, but to read each line and to read it during this time meant so much to me and really hit me.  Thank you Sarah for taking the time for me and being that servant of God to me.  Here I Am Lord was sang at Michael's funeral and to hear it now every time hits me like a ton of bricks.  On November 11, 2014 Lu ShuChen became Luke ShuChen Yang.  Offically a part of our family.  The same day 13 years ago, November 11, 2001, was the last day that I spent with my precious little boy, Michael.  How crazy is that?  I miss him so much every day and not a day goes by that I don't think of him. Michael's death date is always hard and then when you mix it with a new little boy who doesn't appear to want to be with me.....just a lot of heartache and asking God..."Where are you?"  Well, I know through all the words of so many that He is right here and He is with me.  So thank you for all of your words of encouragement.

Ugly stares....I just wish I had my zoom lens on to capture a closer look 

Just a few of the statues....lots more pictures were taken...LOTS!!!

This is Ellen trying to work on her school work