We are HOME!  There is nothing like that word right now.  We landed last night about 9:30 and had the greatest welcome by our sweet CASE.  We have really missed him.  Especially Camden.  Camden was running through the airport and could not get to Case quick enough.  When he spotted him, he threw down his backpack and just about tackled Case.  It was so sweet, I of course started to cry.  I love how much my boys love each other - they really are best friends.

Harper was, not surprisingly, quiet.  But she knew who Case was and was very friendly and interested in him.  She gave him kisses and hugs right away.


She also went to Grahm and Big Pop right away.  Not at all scared, just quiet, taking it all in.


We had a sweet "Welcome Home" banner at our home when we drove up - This was so nice to come home to :)


Harper was so cute to watch as we went through the house.  She was the most excited when she walked into her room and playroom.  She had seen pictures but seeing it in person seemed just perfect to her.  She actually gasped and started jumping up and down.  Once again, such a sweet moment to see her so happy.  She knew this was her room and her toys.  I opened the closet and she gasped again.  Walked in and picked out some clothes to put on....




With all the celebrating we have had the past few weeks with Harper and birthdays - you would think we were done but we have to keep it up for one more special day...  Today is Camden's birthday!!!

I am getting my things packed and getting ready to go to bed but had to post one more thing before we left China...

Our guide brought us Harper's passport with Visa this afternoon.   She has been the greatest guide!  She explained to Harper again what was going to happen tomorrow - the plane rides, going to America, our home, learning English, etc., etc.,

We asked her to ask Harper if she had any questions for us.  At first Harper would not tell her anything (usually the minute someone speaks to Harper in Chinese, she just get's quiet and only shakes her head yes or no - when we are alone as a family, Harper talks to us all the time even though we do not know what she is saying).  Me and Cole eventually went into the other room (we have connecting rooms) - She was able to get Harper to sing some songs - and got her to open up.  Like I said, this guide is wonderful!  Harper came running into our room, smiling, with the one question she decided to ask us!!!!

She was so excited!!

Guess what her question was??!!??

"WILL YOU BUY ME A WHITE BUNNY RABBIT??????"

We died laughing - I really died laughing because I know my husband - and I know how many times he has said "No more animals" - especially small rodent animals!

I can't wait to see how this plays out...

My guess is I will be posting pictures of a white bunny very soon :)

OK.  We are officially ready to come home.  It has been a great trip.  I really do not think it could have gone any better.  Today was our consulate appointment.  We are done.  Nothing left to do.  Our guide will bring us Harper's passport with Visa tomorrow and then we leave VERY early Thursday morning.  Leaving the hotel at 5:00 in the morning!  Yuck!

Our flight itinerary home is a bit crazy & long on Thursday.  Praying no flights are delayed so we do not miss our connecting flight's - prayers are welcome!

After our appointment this morning we took the kids to the zoo here.  It was a really good zoo.  I am wondering what we do to the animals in America - I very rarely see animals do anything but sleep back home - just about every animal here was moving around.  Made the visit that much better!

Also - I meant to mention that Elon was so happy to receive a message on our blog from one of her school friends.  It made her day!  She can not wait to get back to school too Jake - she misses all of you!

This was last night before dinner - they are both so silly.  And with comedian Camden around - watch out!


I found the most beautiful dresses in Shanghai.  I should have bought more.  Harper wants to wear dresses everyday - we had a "moment" yesterday when getting dressed and she did not want to wear the pant's outfit I put on her.  I decided to not have another today so she picked these out to wear.  Luckily Elon is going with the flow and just want's to be "twins" with Harper.

They looked stunning!

Elon wanted me to post a picture of the Panda for her friend Jake and her classmates!
It was so cool to see one in person.  They are really big!


They do not have the same rules in China regarding feeding the animals.  A guy was standing next to me dropping crackers down to this bear.  The bear was hilarious!


And of course....
This girl has posed like this all over China!


This is one of Elon's new friends - one of the twin girls who was also adopted on this trip.  They were in our travel group and we got to tour around the zoo with them.  Such a sweet family!!


These guys have been awesome!  I can not believe how good Camden and Elon have been for us.  Of course there have been moments of needing to settle down but they are so excited about their sister.  It is one of the sweetest things that I have ever seen.


First meal in our room and it may have been one of the best meals Harper has eaten!  Noodle time!!


We will see everyone soon!

Hello all (My first Post on Dawn's Site)!

There was no better way to spend my 40th birthday today than to spend in Guangzhou China with my 2 little Chinese born daughters! (and of course Dawn & Camden).

We were able to have a great dinner with another couple we met from New Orleans, with birthday cake and a great US steak. The best present of the day was Harper singing Happy Birthday in her language - "eppy si di coo you, eppy si di coo you" to the same tune we sing to!

I have enjoyed seeing Dawn post and read all the comments on our journey. We feel very loved by each of you.

I have to say that I had a wonderful time the past week and 1/2, BUT I am ready to get back home! Harper needs to fatten up, so I look forward to taking her to Krispy Kreme doughnuts and five guys for a burger & fries.

see you all soon,

Cole


* Now it is my turn :)  Hope you enjoy the pictures!  As you can see, she is really coming out of her shell - opening up more and more everyday.  This girl has a wonderful sense of humor.   Silly faces are happening ALL the time now.  We LOVE this girl's personality!




Look at Harper's face - You think she like's ice-cream???





This is our travel group!  We have enjoyed getting to know these other two families and very glad to share this awesome trip with them.



What a birthday present!  Happy Birthday to my awesome husband :)


Amazing the people you meet on these trips!  Love hearing other people's stories and making new friends :)

We really want to thank everyone for all the wonderful comments and support we have received while we have been in China.  It has been so encouraging to read your messages every morning on our blog, on Facebook, and by your email's.  We really feel the love :)

Here are some pictures of our day...





Harper has began to finally pose for pictures and actually smile on her own.  Before we would get no expressions when she knew we were taking pictures.


Now little Ms. Thing has no problem with posing for pic's...



And for those in the adoption world - our extended family - I know you will recognize these spots on Shaman Island...



And these next two spot's bring back memories from our first trip to China.  Made me think of some amazing families that we will always have a connection with.  We really miss you guys and wish you were here with us!!!




I also wanted to tell some things that we have figured out in the past 7 days about Harper...

1.  She is extremely smart and seems pretty much right on target physically and mentally - If there are any delays from living in the orphanage, we have yet to identify anything.  I personally think that much of this is due to the fact that she spent the first 1 1/2 years of her life with her birth mother.  It is amazing how important those first years of life are for a child's development.

2.  She has the cutest, muted, laugh.

3.  She has two precious dimples on her cheek's

4.  She has a small scar on her right upper chest from where her port was when she was receiving treatment (this scar makes me sad, sad that I could not be there to hold her and comfort her during that yucky time).

5.  She laughs when we tell her "no"

6.  She cry's (this is a muted cry - not a screaming cry) when we give her a firmer "no" and really mean it!

7.  She has already learned to count to three in English - She can count much higher in Chinese.

8.  She has great handwriting skills, can draw any letter we write for her!  She also draw's the cutest stick person.

9.  She speaks the Shanghai dialect but also understand's Mandarin.

10.  She loves to color - and color's completely in the lines.

11. She will repeat anything we say with precise English - it is amazing - she does not really know what she is saying but her pronunciation is incredible!

12.  She love's The Cha Cha Slide song - and will copy Camden and Elon doing it - it is the funniest thing I have ever seen.  Camden even has her saying "Funky, Funky".  I have got it on video and will try to post it once I get home.

13.  She is tall and she is thin - but she does not eat much.  We need to fatten this girl up!  I wish she would eat more.  We have found that she likes candy and fried food's the most.  Not the best diet she need's to be on, but she will fit right in with our crew.

More later!!!

Man there was some craziness in our room before we left Shanghai.  As Cole and I packed, the kid's ran and played so hard.  We had been trying to keep the noise level down all week but this time it seemed better to just let them get their energy out since we knew that we were going to need them to be still on the flight.

As I was getting the bags packed, I walked around the corner and found this....


Harper eventually emptied everything I had packed.  I finally got her to leave the bags alone and then she moved to the sitting area.

This is what I found next...


And then this...


Then Camden got involved and started spinning them and throwing them on the bed.  It was really getting loud by now.  But they sure were having fun!



When I pulled Elon's hair back into a ponytail, Harper pulled her's up on top of her head and wanted me to do hers.  She kept pointing and saying something, but I got the point.  We added the bow to top it off.  Oh my goodness, she looked like Pebbles.
 
The airplane ride was uneventful.  Elon looked like a pro and she actually fell asleep after about 20 minutes (which was wonderful).  Harper colored pretty much the entire flight.  She was so good.




So now we are in Guangzhou to do the medical exam, get Harper's visa, etc. - this is for the American side of things.  We are now half way to coming home!

The kids were so good at the medical exam appointment.  It took a long time, we were there for over 2 hours!  Harper was very brave, she was very quiet, no smiles, but there were also no tears - not even for the TB test (small needle).




This picture cracked me up!  It really shows how each child was feeling...
                      Elon - Silly                 Harper - Quiet                     Camden - Bored

Then we were able to see some of the neat buildings in Guangzhou.  There are some very futuristic looking building's in China.  This is the theater - it looked like a giant spaceship.


And this is the tallest tower in all of China.  Camden was holding it up with his little finger :)

  
We did find out this morning that Harper is a typical 5 year old and can be quite feisty.  We found out that she does not like to be told no.  Imagine that?!?  She melted down after not getting to have Elon's toothbrush - and refused to brush her teeth.  Then melted down after being told not to climb up on the back of the chair and then up into the window seal - she kept trying to do it after being told over and over again not to - and did receive a firmer "no".  We got the guide to explain to her that we did not want her to get hurt - Harper told our guide that she did not like to be told no.

Hmmm?

Ummmmm???

Uh oh.

The re-training begins :)