Memories 3.7-9.17

New Story of my life: we're busy here at the Buss home!  I love following my friend Kristen and her family as they are currently in CHINA!!!!  exactly 1 week behind where we were last year.  Brings back some great memories.  One of them being time..  Seems like things slow down in China.  I remember being able to blog everyday, where as the first time around I barely had time/felt awake enough.

Here's the last three days of memories.  I just realized in a few day's well be at the end of Memory lane for Cheng.  Well for the trip anyway.  Still amazes me that's it's only been almost a full  year...

Thanks for following my Memory journey.  Please keep Kristen and her family in your prays.  They have 1 more week in China.  Thanks.  Blessings to you all! 
Becky

3.7.17

Today is a free day, we have a lot of those this trip...   Some families are going to the Island but we'll just take it easy and visit the park instead.  We have to be back to the hotel room at 230 for his TB test results.

We headed to the 5 goat park which is pretty good sized.  Of course the statue of the goats was way up on top of a hill.  It's a very beautiful park, and they were busy taking down decorations I believe from the Chinese New Year celebration.  It was pretty cool to see what they were made of under all the silk coverings.

Cheng and Nian both did really good, and walked a lot in the park.  It was a bit overcast and misty out and the temp dropped but it wasn't too bad.  There were a lot of fun/funny signs all over which I will share with you below.  The bathroom had to be one of the best yet, although it gave more privacy than the one at Nian's orphanage which was totally open for all to see.

We found a good noodle restaurant and have gone there a few times already.  Along with Starbucks.  hope they get some new ice cream in at the hotel market they haven't added to it since we got here and I took the last chocolate bar.

Cheng's TB test came back negative so all was well.  We had our family/group pictures in the lobby then headed over to the group dinner at a restaurant not too far away. We shared a table with the McGuire's again and boys had a good time.  It was a bit more misty when we came back to the hotel. We got some ice cream and headed up to the room.  Early nights for us since we had to get up early wed am. 

These were all over the park, they are bomb shelters

SO excited to have a leaf 

He still gets excited about them!

They had recycle bins all over China.  Wish we did the same here!

Unless your Jesus, cuz he CAN walk on water

3.8.17

Today we were up and at it early.  And both boys ended up in bed with us at some point during the night. UGH.  One tired mama here.

We had a quick breakfast and then back to the room to change.  Were a little late meeting the group in the lobby.  We were off to consulate to finish the paperwork for Cheng's Visa, which is that last piece of paperwork we need to get him into the country. I should his Immigrant Visa..

We headed over to the Italian restaurant for lunch, it was really good and Nian ate 3 pieces.  Cheng wasn't so impressed with it, we'll have to work on that right Nona!  😉

We're just having another relaxing day.   I took the boys down to the play area while Joe got in a nap and now Cheng has promptly fallen asleep...  at 5:47pm..  Hope he sleeps all night.

Joe and Nian are heading up for dinner, and i'm praying I get 2 minutes to myself.

Tomorrow we go to the zoo in the morning, then some shopping in the afternoon.  Can't wait!

“When you all evolve from your cocoon you’ll be an amazing beautiful butterfly family.” – BJL

Shawarma Pizza

Evan said we can't go here next time....  Apparently he didn't like the Shawarma Pizza.

BEST Big brother ever!!!1

3.9.17

Today we headed to the Zoo.  I didn't now until we were on the bus half way there that the Panda house was in repair so we wouldn't be able to see them. 😠😔 Are you kidding me..  Twice we have been to this beautiful country and twice we have NOT been able to see the pandas.  WTF..   Oh but we did spend a lot of time looking at birds there.. 😒  Event #3 we know NOT to participate in the next time around.  Yes you read that right, the next time around.

We did get some cool pictures of various animals, and both boys were SO good.  Except Cheng who threw a major fit when I went to the bathroom without him.  What was I thinking???

After the zoo we came back and had some really good lunch from Starbucks. Then I headed out to shop with Ann, who's a personal shopper and got me so awesome deals on the items I was looking for.  It was like have Emily back in my group again! Cheng of course went with me, cuz you know he wasn't about to spend any time with Joe what so ever.  He did really good. I got the boys silks, and us chop sticks, and the tea set I've wanted though I'm not sure if I'll keep it or save it as a gift for Nian as it has dragons on it.

Caleb and Evan went out for dinner to the usual noodle place and brought us back an awesome rice dish.  Which Cheng proceeded to eat most of mine. lol.  This kid is like a teen, his stomach is a bottomless pit.

Friday is another downish day for us.  We have a meeting at noon to get the kids Visa's and then we're not sure what' we'll be doing.  Maybe go to Shaman Island or just go to the water park. Which is a park with a lot of water features, not an actual "water park" as we know it home. We also get to finally Skype with Mimi.

We are all ready to head home.  It's been a busy, wonderfully emotional trip for sure.  So different from our last and I'm sure from our next.

Here's some pictures from our day, and I have a video of what NOT to do at the zoo, but it won't load..  So the first pic is this Tiger, and it was a very scary moment right before I started filming. I had walked down a bit and Nian came running toward me.  This tiger took off after him. I know we weren't in danger but just to see this Tiger run after my child.  Evan said I jumped about 4" off the ground.

I think he was looking at Nian at this point.

Dinner date the night before.

Rubbing the Dragon's head and belly for good luck!

An amusement park inside the zoo.

The Trash Panda..

No one over there understands this sign...  seriously that's all I saw people doing was tapping the glass

Good to know!

While it's an Excellent toilet there's still something a little eerie
when your this open in the zoo.  The mind runs wild..

And here are the famous Panda's..  Ugh maybe next time we'll see them

He's still a bottomless pit teenager!

Hungry boy That container was full of rice. He ate most of it.