Busy days!

We have had a busy last couple of days!  On Thursday I got really brave and took the girls to a large park, resembling Central Park in New York, called Zhongshan Park.  We took a taxi because I didn't quite brave the metro with the girls on my own yet. Too much to carry, Cambry, Reese, an enormous diaper bag, and a stroller that I would have to get through a turn style gate, so I wasn't up to it yet!  So, we took a taxi! It was about a 30-40 min. drive.  The park is just  beautiful with lots of trees, flowers, paths winding up and down and around, huge open grasses, waterways, and bridges.  It was so nice to let Reese just run around and climb on rocks and up trees and play on the grass.  But...like anywhere we go, we don't get a lot of time just to ourselves to relax without people coming up to us and wanting to touch the girls or make comments about how insuffiently they are dressed for the weather.  May I remind you that it is around 60-65 here and the beautiful sun is out.  You could swear that there was 3 feet of snow on the ground with how many layers they wear!  I was sweating, literally, and Reese asked to have her jacket off, so it was plenty warm.  They also couldn't believe that I didn't have shoes on Cambry.  First, she can't walk, for that matter she doesn't even crawl yet (close, very close)!  Second, she always kicks them off, so why put them on, right?  I was asked if they could take Cambry's picture for some baby magazine.  No, I don't think so!  I was amazed at how many people go to the park to do yoga, or just meditate.  Very interesting, but I guess it is a quiet place to relax in an incredibly busy city. After spending about 3 or so hours there we went to lunch.  Reese was so excited because I took her to McDonalds.  It was a treat!  Yes, the food tasted the same or maybe it just tasted similar enough because we downed it.  AAAHHH good American food. (I really shouldn't complain because the food at the hotel has been very good, but the menu gets a little old after awhile.)  Reese even was able to talk me into letting her get an ice cream for the walk to the mall.

We decided that after talking to Kim, Grant, and Brooke on Skype that Reese needed something to occupy more of her time while in the hotel.  Grant was showing us all of his creations he made with Legos the other night and we decided that that would be a great toy to get.  So....Toys 'r us here we come!  We picked out a cute set that she would be able to build many things.  The first thing she made was a horse stable and a cart for her horse to pull.  (Yes mom, she still talks about Lady Bug and Shiloh every day!)  We also managed to find a cute Hello Kitty puzzle that had 150 pieces.  Very challenging by the way!

On Friday, Eric took a half day and we went to a huge market (kind of the idea of Mexico's markets) where you can buy souvenirs and hang bags, clothes, sunglasses, etc.  Anything you could ever need or want!  We managed to get some sunglasses, headphones for Reese on the metro, tons of DVD's for dirt cheap, and a Rosettea Stone Spanish version.  We were a little bit leary as to whether there was anything in it for only $32, but yes it came with everything.  Then we had to go to an electronic store to try and purchase a Blueray player.  I thought a lot of people worked at Best Buy.  This place had so many employees that I bet I could see 25 at any moment where ever you walked.  Eric that they each had 10 products that they were in charge of to sell and this store was two floors with thousands of electronics and appliances.  We spent for sure an hour there before getting exactly what we needed.  We were spent when we got back, but not too tired to not go swimming!  What is funny is that Reese is really starting to come out of her shell.  We went to a Pub for dinner and she was brave enough to get on a stage and sing her, "I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee," song.  Granted it was just Eric, myself, Reese, Cambry, two other guys and the bartender there, but she sang it!  Crazy I know!  She would NEVER have done that before, not even for people she knew!

On Saturday we went to the apartment complex that we are very interested in.  We were quite disappointed with our realtor because we were expecting to see many different apartments but were only able to see one.  We would have been able to see two more but when we got there they said they didn't want kids to live in them.  So...I think some things have gotten lost in translation.  Very frustrating and disappointing!  We were there for probably 3-4 hours and only saw one apartment!  Reese was ok, because we took her to the play areas while we were waiting so she was happy!

I emailed an english speaking realtor this afternoon and she will hopefully be able to find what we are looking for and the specifics that we have asked about.  So, hopefully next week we can look again!

We love talking to our friends and family on Skype which has seemed to help all of us adjust more smoothly!  We miss you all very much!  Thanks so much for all of the prayers! On a really good note, Reese and Cambry both slept in today! One week after being here Cambry slept until 7am and Reese until almost 8am.  YEAH!!!!

My brother-in-law is putting this on the blog for me because we are having technical difficulties over here so we just wanted to thank him and tell him that we appreciate it VERY MUCH!  Thanks Tom!

The pictures are mostly of the park.  Reese also wanted me to put her pictures of the Legos on there for Grant to see what she made, so there you go Grant!