A First Time for Many Things!

First, we just want to say thank you for all your comments. We look soooooo forward to reading them each morning - it's really good to hear from everyone! It means a lot to us!

We had a busy morning and afternoon today. Our guides took us to the park and zoo in Lanzhou City. Kaitlyn has never been to a zoo before and freaked out at many of the animals! She liked the smaller things like birds or fawns, but the jaguar, tiger, and bears were a little more than she could handle. She told our guides she was afraid they would bite her (even though they were in cages away from people). She liked the monkeys and of course the rides! She had never been on any rides before either and her face lite up like a light bulb! She was in heaven!

We had the most incredible lunch today! It was Lanzhou's famous beef noodle soup - which we later found out wasn't really beef... it was Yak!! It was probably the best noodle soup we've ever had! Kaitlyn put 3-4 heaping spoonfuls of this super red hot spicy stuff in her soup and gobbled it down. She loves her spice, vegetables and noodles!

It was also a day of testing mom and dad to see just what she could get away with. She has resorted to the behavior of about a 3 year old and wants me to do everything for her but feed her. I've read that's pretty normal and she'll get over it.... I hope soon. Tonight she will sleep in her own bed in the same room with Kailey and Austin. We can't take another night of constant movement, poking my body (if you know what I mean) etc. Everyone who knows me, knows I don't function too well on 3-4 hours of sleep!! Our guides came up to give us some important documents about an hour ago and explained many things to her on our behalf. The electronic translator works good for us to say short phrases to her, but she doesn't know how to communicate back to us. Our guides have shown her a couple times how to us it, but they say it's difficult for her to learn it. Thanks for your prayers! It all takes time.

We went to the local bookstore and picked up a few Chinese/American books, coloring books and markers. She likes to have things to do when A & K are reading or doing homework. Plus it helps with the down time in the hotel room. (Sheri... take some stuff like this when you come for your 10 yr. old next month! Also, get "The Oxford Picture Dictionary English/Chinese"on Amazon. I really wish we would've had time to order this before we left!). We also spend time having English lessons each day on starfall.com She's learning how to use the mouse and really enjoys using the computer! Well, we're off to some much needed sleep now... all has been quiet in the other room, so hopefully it will be a good night's rest for everyone.