Update on MeiLi

美丽
MeiLi is doing well. We had to treat an ear infection for her and she is finishing up the antibiotics. She gets one on one time with Mary for a few hours each school-day when Karah is in Kindergarten. MeiLi seems to be adjusting well. She really likes the neighbor's horses but she's not too sure about the dog & the cats. She likes to have a hand held when outside. She could care less about watching TV. We are trying to teach her, since we introduced her to Ketchup, that she is suppose to dip the food and then eat it, not just lick the ketchup off! She is speaking a few words of English now and I have heard her saying things in Mandarin; for example, she is saying "ni he" which means "you drink" which from her means, I want you to give me something to drink. She will take us to the refrigerator to show us what she wants to drink after saying that. She still calls me baba (daddy in mandarin) and calls Mary "mama". She loves to dress up in princess dresses after bathing, along with her sister Karah. She also is very busy getting into things (like a 2 year old does) and scattering things about. She enjoys watching hummingbirds feed in front of our living room window. Karah has shown a bit more jealousy but also watches over and protects MeiLi. Karah pulls MeiLi in the kiddie wagon outside.

Beijing - Olympics

北京
This is as close as we got to any of the Olympic activity. The Paralympics had just started the day we left Beijing. As we drove by on the expressway, we could see the Water-cube & the Bird's nest. I was delighted to see the torch burning, as I had watched when it was extinguished on TV at home. I guess they had relit it for the Paralympics It was raining (obviously) and we snapped a few photos.

A Great Wall Story

长城Chángchéng
As far up as we climbed on the great wall, I met a group of Chinese ladies who asked me to take their picture (With multiple cameras). I was conversing in Mandarin with them for about 5 minutes when one of the ladies decided to try her English with me. She asked me "Where are you from?" I replied, from California. She then asked "where in California?" I replied "near Sacramento". She said "oh .. I'm from San Francisco!" She is the lady sitting next to Karah. It's a small world sometimes. The smiles here reflect how friendly people are in Beijing. Karah was very tired by this time . Mary was visiting the shops.