I've finally got a minute to do a quick update. I can't believe how busy we've been and we're just too exhausted at night to do anything. Here are a fews pictures from our last couple of days in Changsha. We had a couple of great meals out with our guide, Amy. Mom was able to eat most things...she even got a bit handy with the chop sticks. Isaac is very good at feeding himself and we have to keep reminding Ella to eat as she's more interested in everything else that's going on. I say Isaac is good at feeding himself and he is, but he is also very picky and pushes away anything he doesn't want...once he's held it close enough to see. We're pretty sure he is near sighted...he holds things very close to get a good look. He loves cleaning his face and hands and then the space in front of him at the table. Again, great training at that orphanage. I would recommend adopting three year olds...completely toilet trained, feeds themselves and cleans up after. Always throws things in the garbage...only things meant for the garbage, of course, goes to bed quietly...no fuss (except the last two nights when daddy has put him to bed). I'm sure no men at the orphanage ever put the kids to bed. Not sure if I mentioned this before, but the orphanage gave us a number of photos of Isaac from the last two years, including his first birthday. Such a welcome surprise.
On Friday morning, we went to Martyr's park in Changsha. This is a very large park...in fact, we visited it in 2005, but on our own with a couple other families. The park was decorated for the upcoming festivities...60 years of the new country...the People's Republic of China. It had been closed for the preparations, but just opened again last week, so we were very fortunate. There is a big lake in the middle of the park with a bridge going over it. There is also an amusement park inside this park and, of course, this is where Ella wanted to go. It was actually hard to know who the kids were as we all wanted to play the games and go on the rides. Some of the rides were fantastic....should be at wonderland. Ella and Isaac went on a water ride and then Ella, Lisa, Isaac and I went on another water ride like the log ride at Ontario place. Loads of fun...we got a little wet, but loved it all. There was a large group of school kids there. Our guide said they were on a school outing.They could have been about 10. They were all very excited to be at the amusement park and equally excited to meet us. Of course, they all said, "Hello" and ran away laughing. Ella gave them pencils from Canada (something I learned from Nadine on our 2005 trip - great idea). We also played the games of chance. Hey, who wouldn't when it cost just over a dollar for a bucket of rings. Also, one dollar for 8 shots at the balloons. Ella played the duck game...one dollar and she could play as long as she wanted....and she'd get a prize at the end. The last time we played the duck pond game in Toronto, it cost $5 and she could catch one duck! One vendor told us we could play again and she would give us a prize even if we didn't win. It was very clever as we were actually attracting quite a crowd to her booth....hence more players for her. Oh, I forgot to mention that some of the prizes were very tiny LIVE fish, turtles, lizards, etc. in a key chain!!!! Ella wanted one soooo badly. We met a girl who had won a baby rabbit...maybe a miniature rabbit... and she wanted to give it to Ella. Another big disappointment. Plus, she had to give up the balloons we had bought the day before....see the long face in the photo. They left them in the play room of the hotel.
We had a fabulous time at the park......highly recommended for any trip to Changsha. We bought great ice-cream at the park and noticed the woman also sold beer.....yep, you can drink beer in the park..no problem, so we bought a tall one to share.

That afternoon we went to the pool in our hotel. It had been closed for four days for the annual cleaning and had just opened that day. Everyone had a great time...even mom, who can't swim but went more than half-way down the length of the pool....along the side. I really didn't think I'd take Isaac, but he just LOVED it. Ella loved it as well and impressed us all by swimming the whole length of the pool by herself....with water wings. AND, she put her face in the water a lot while swimming.

Saturday morning was our last time for morning exercises and dancing. We were also sad to be having our last breakfast there as it was the best buffet ever for breakfast. We loved the hotel and the staff....all great people who really looked out for you. Very friendly as well...always smiling and trying to speak as much English as they could.

We had to go to the airport early as our guide was heading out to Anhui province for work...she also works for "Love without Borders". She brought her husband along to help us...thought we might need help as she had to leave earlier than us. We had to spend about three hours at the airport. Guess what... you can drink beer anywhere at the airport as well. (Lisa is holding a beer in that airport picture). In fact, you can drink beer in cars....just NOT if you're the driver.

Not sure if I mentioned this before, but Isaac absolutely LOVES his stroller. He loves to get in it, cries when we don't take it, gets the tray and asks to be put in it...don't forget to strap me in...and then he helps to put on the tray. We actually use it to feed Isaac when we eat in our room. It has served us well considering no one likes it except for Isaac and Ella. Isaac is just too big for it. The sit-n-stand part is perfect for Ella. She loves the fact that she can hop on and off.

Everyone is doing great so far. Isaac is a really good boy and Ella has been a great big sister...a bit of complaining that he bothers her, he broke her new headband....hence she started hiding her things in the hotel room safe. They're both great travellers (while riding in cars/vans/busses he just loves to look out the window...there's so much to see). We are truly blessed. Now, it might be a different story when we get home.

I said that mom had mastered the chopsticks and she is doing really well...survived the streets of Changsha....Whew! She has only one problem.....the squat toilet. They (Lisa and mom) had their first experience at the museum. There should have been directions! Oh, well. The good news is that the handicap bathrooms have western toilets.