PICTURES

Well here are the pictures I promised. This is the guys at the Vancouver Airport just before our flight on Thursday.

Here we have the frozen Russian Siberian tundra This one we took out our window. A machine had ripped up the pavement earlier in the day. After that men arrived with shovels, picks and this man was taking care of the dust with his state of the art broom. Branches ties together with twine.

Lastly, we have the recyling man taking his very large stack of cardboard and plastic bottles on his bicycle. It was quite amazing to watch!!

WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!

Well folks I am now talking to you from Beijing, China. We are here safe and sound. There were four families on the flight in our group. The other 7 families arrive tonight and we all head out bright and early Monday morning to fly off to the provinces where we pick up the newest additions to our family. Then we will all meet up together again on Friday. The next 2 days we are planning to rest up and explore a bit. Everyone is in recovery mode.

A couple of interesting facts so far: Beijing is a city of 17 million people.

Beijing has 10 million bicycles.


Will try to post a few interesting pics we have taken since arriving on our next post.

VANCOUVER AIRPORT

Its already 11:40 and we have been up for 7:30 hours. We have reached the Vancouver Airport and are sitting in the gate area waiting for our flight. Everyone is extremely excited and anxious to take off. The next time you hear from us we should be in China.

2 MORE SLEEPS

It doesn't seem possible but 2 days from now we will be on the plane to Vancouver. The boys continue to count down the days each morning, in awe that the time is almost here and we are really going. For me it seems amazing that within 6 days we will have Julianna and she will officially be part of our family. Then all the waiting, preparing and packing will be forgotten.

Look forward to updating you all on our travels. Hopefully, the internet will work properly on the other side of the world.

Anna

Julianna's Birthday Party

Hi folks,

Had a wonderful surprise this morning, we received some new pictures of Julianna at her birthday party at the orphanage. She looks so well taken care of; which is such a blessing. Don't you love the flowery hairband.

ITINERARY

Well, here we are, 2 weeks away! Our itinerary has arrived and goes something like this:
Nov. 27 Leave Edmonton 7:50am
Arrive Vancouver 8:45am
Leave Vancouver for Beijing 12:30pm

Nov. 28 Arrive Beijing 4:05pm

Nov. 29 Rest and Explore surroundings

Nov. 30 Meet with group and depart for Guangzhou in afternoon

Dec. 1 Meet Tian Feng/Julianna

Dec. 2 Family Picture/Paperwork

Dec 3 More paperwork and shopping

Dec. 4 Visit Chenjiaci- Academy dating to 1883-1894
Architectural wonder- 19 single buildings build in square form Anchestral temple of the 72 Chen families

Dec 5 Travel to Beijing

Dec. 6 Children's and Group pictures at hotel
Beijing Zoo - afternoon

Dec 7 The Great Wall

Dec.8 Children's Medicals


The Summer Palace -the largest imperial garden in the world

Dec.9 Tinnamen Square / Forbidden City -world's largest palace with 9999 buildings
Dec. 10 Shopping Silk Market and Indoor Market

Dec. 11 Receive Canadian Documents/ Prepare to go home/Free time
Some of our group is leaving on the 11th

Dec.12 Leave for home 5:35 pm
Arrive Vancouver 12:30pm
Arrive in Edmonton 8:10pm

3 WEEKS AWAY

Well, folks it doesn't seem possible but we leave in 21 sleeps!

We are also pleased to announce we have received the final piece of paperwork we needed, the letter of Notice of Coming to China is in our possession. We now have everything we need.

We are still busy with renovations; at the painting stage now. Will post pictures of that as soon as a couple of rooms are completed. I will post a picture of the outside though, siding complete!

Stephen returned to work a couple of weeks ago and is due home tonight for a week, so the mad rush will be on to get as much done as we can before he heads back to work for 13 days and then we head off to China. The carpet layer is coming on the 24 and 25th. Oh yes! I am crazy!!! But those were the only days he had available.

We are still waiting to hear about our Beijing itinerary. Anyday now it should come!

We are all getting quite excited! Although I must say I feel quite tired at this stage because there is just oh so much more to do. I look forward to getting on the plane and sitting down because whatever isn't done by then isn't getting done.

I ordered a birthday package and album of pictures to be sent to Julianna. They even deliver a cake to the orphanage for her to celebrate with her friends. We hope we might get some pictures of the event. Will have to see.

Will update you on the itinerary as soon as I know.

Here it is, the almost completed reno!




Anna