FIRST FULL DAY IN GUANGZHOU...Today was a fun, relaxed day.  We slept in some, enjoyed a good breakfast and then headed out for some shopping at the local market and pearl market.  Guangzhou is a cool city.  Better air, more blue sky, warmer weather, and lots of great sights and sounds.

We shopped and got to barter with the locals.  Then we went back to the pearl market that we went to 6 years ago.  Great wholesale prices on pearls.  Jodi got a black pearl necklace and earrings for an incredible deal.  Imagine a 6 story building full of pearl shops!  I had to do some paperwork this afternoon while Jodi and the kids went across the street to a park with another couple.  They had a great time and at the park they are celebrating the last day of new year and spring festival.

Lexi is really coming along.  Laughing, playing and starting to do a lot of jabbering.  She's feeling more and more comfortable with us all the time.  She eats like a champ!  We went to a Japanese restaurant in our hotel this evening and she was pounding everything Jodi put in front of her.  We are really starting to have some fun times with her.  Hard to believe that tomorrow we will have had her for a week.  We'll blink and it will be 6 years like Addison.  All you parents out there understand those feelings.  In fact, as we were doing one of her daily walks (or I should say waddle) down the hotel hallway I got thinking about walking her and Addie down the isle some day - then I snapped back to reality cause I will never let that happen!  Hahaha!

Tomorrow morning Jodi and Lexi will head out with the group to go get her passport picture and her physical done.  That will take all morning.  The kids and I will hang out and have some fun!  Thank you all so much for the continued prayers!  Thanks to the incredible Momentum staff and leadership who makes everything happen!  Thanks to a great church who loves us and supports us as we do our best to live out James 1:27 and thanks to our families who taught us about how to live as a family!  We are also so grateful to be overflowing with great friends!  Please know that your comments on Facebook, the blog and through text are so appreciated.  They make our morning as we get up and read them!

Love you all! The countdown is on.  We'll be home soon!

Bart

We are riding the subway!

Going down the escalator.

"I love having my sissy push me!"

There are escalators everywhere here!

Keaton bought these goggles at a tactical store.

Jodi purchasing pearls at the pearl market.

She's a sweet thing but she's not perfect.  This was right in the middle of a good fit!

It doesn't get any better than this!

Hibachi time!  What a great meal!

Interesting wall decor.

"Yes, my chopsticks match my shirt!"