Wednesday!

Wednesday morning was a fun time for us. Lisa had remembered our stories of dancers outside the cinema next door to the hotel early in the mornings. We've been waking up quite early, and they did hear the music and could see the dancers from their room window (on the 30th floor). This morning, we decided to join them. As you can see, we all had a great time. The man I am dancing with is 82 and was first dancing with my mother (we'll have to include a picture for you, George Carter). Mom's cousin remarked that mom had to go all the way to China to find a new man. Well, she just might have one. Of course, he did keep asking if Lisa was single.

They gather outside this place from about 6-7:30 for morning exercise. Most people are dancing...some ballroom dancing, some line-dancing (all to the same music, of course)..while others are playing badminton, OR just trying to figure out who these foreigners are. Of course, we attract attention where ever we go, but today we had someone who could speak English and then he in turn was mobbed by everyone wanting to know about us. He told Lisa he could find her and Chinese 'lover' and he'd find a tall one for her.

Ella and I shared a dance like we did in 2005 and Isaac and I also had a dance. Then we headed off to another fabulous buffet breakfast at our hotel. Great shot of daddy and the two kids.

Later in the day, we headed down to that department store we had planned to visit on Tuesday (but just never made it). This time, we ended up eating at MacDonald's.....imagine, coming all the way to China to eat at MacDonald's. Guess what...it really wasn't bad. We still didn't make it to the department store, but we did shop at a few really cute stores on the way to and from. Isaac still has a nap in the afternoon, so we wanted to come back for that. He fell asleep in the stroller on the way back. He has really been conditioned to sleep. I bet it's the only time the nannies at the orphanage get any rest. He usually goes down really well for his nap and to sleep at night. We certainly don't want to give up the naps right now. Today, he napped longer than planned and was more difficult to get to sleep at night. Even though he is a constant go go go during his waking hours, he was very good during quiet time leading up to bed. When he started to get ready for bed, he immediately took off his clothes and ran to the bath room, threw the bath toys in the tub and got in. He loves the bath! He cried when we put him to bed. This was the first time. He cried and jumped around so much that he knocked the bottom out of the crib. I put it back together and put him in again and I lay on the bed. He cried for a little longer and then fell off to sleep.

I'm sure it was hard for him as before going to bed, he was having a great time watching a movie with Ella. Well, HE was having a great time...ELLA was having a melt down. He was cheering and being too loud for her, so she couldn't hear the movie. At one point, she put her hand over his mouth and told him to be quiet. Of course, his response was to put his hand over her mouth...didn't go over well. Then she let out a big sigh and covered her ears.....so did he. He did whatever she did and it just made her mad. Finally, we gave up and sent her and the computer over to mom's room where she promptly fell asleep. Then we had some quiet time with Isaac and put him to bed. This was when he had his meltdown and knocked the bottom out of the crib. He did get over it and fell off to sleep. The moral for us....make sure he has his nap in the EARLY afternoon.