"Apple-Pear Revenge"!...then a nice shopping trip...and hanging in the hotel lobby!

 Nothing on the agenda today but a trip to the market to find gifts for friends...and a few for the girls.  Above they are showing off their new bead-bracelets...and drinking sprites.  Very fun.  Unfortunately the bus ride to the market included Maggie filling up several barf-bags as a result of the "Apple-Pear Revenge".  It was quite a scene as we had several of our "adoption group" pitching in by holding bags and passing wipes!  More unfortunately for Maggie it continued for a good 45 minutes after we arrived at the market...Meritt sitting on the steps holding our pink barf-bags while Maggie filled up a few more!  Mary Henley was really amazing...normally she clings to Meritt when we are out in crowds, but somehow she sensed that Maggie was hurting so she helped me push the stroller (which by the way neither one like...so it acts as a backpack carriage).  Thankfully after about an hour of cleansing...Maggie bounced back in full force!

 Above striking a pose with our new bracelets...which they told everyone on the bus later that their Mama had bought them as a pretty new gift.  Isn't she nice!?!

 The very nice couple who "hand-crafted" a large number of very expensive, very rare, artisan bracelets for our dearest friends and family back home!  They were very nice and asked a number of questions about the girls and our adoption.  They have a 7 year old son who was also in the shop helping them.

 A picture of the center of the market...lots of rain...but lots of fun...obviously except for Maggie's first hour, and also except for the bathrooms...although the girls had to go...they passed!

 Back on the bus heading to the hotel...Maggie was all smiles and talking up a storm to anyone who would listen.  Mary Henley was catching a few Z's.

 After we got back to the hotel, we walked across the street (actually under the street) to a mall.  We walked every inch of it just letting the girls explore a little and get more accustomed to being in crowds.  They did really well...and very much liked the toy store and kids clothing store.  Mary Henley is extremely fond of pink and we walked through this section that had nothing but pink clothes...she touched and rubbed and felt everything...and always with a sigh!  It was hilarious.

Picture above - the girls finally couldn't hold it any longer...only to find a line in the ladies room.  I snapped a quick photo...and then got some really odd looks from the ladies in the line!  Probably not the smartest thing I've done since being in country!

 As we were walking back under the street (it's actually part of the subway but pedestrians use it to cross from the hotel to the shopping mall)...I noticed the sign above and had to take a picture.  Notice the rules: No Smoking (okay), No Explosives / Firearms (got it), No Pets (makes sense), No Balloons (what!?!).  I'm still trying to figure this one out.

 Back out from underground on the way back to the hotel...the girls have come such a long way from those first several days when they were absolutely terrified to get out in the crowds.  It is really cool to see them getting more and more comfortable with both Meritt and me...and each other!

 Speaking of which - we stopped in the hotel lounge to grab and adult beverage (Meritt and me), a plate of fries and a couple sprites.  In the picture above, Mary Henley is removing all of the peanuts from the bowl that Maggie does not like and refilling it with her favorites.  It was about a 5 minute conversation between the two of them that lead to the  project.  Mary Henley performing her motherly duties by making sure that Maggie did not have to worry about finding anything in the peanut dish that she did not care for.  Mary Henley then picked out her favorites and neatly discarded those that neither of them cared for by handing them to Meritt.

 This little pose was staged by Mary Henley...she got both Maggie and Meritt to lean on their arms knowing full well that I had the camera out and was taking pictures.

 Hamming it up with our most provocative poses...and then our best scary, smiley-face!

We finished our day with a grilled chicken and italian sausage pizza, some very syrupy orange drinks, and two rather very large Tsingtao's...the girls had the orange drinks.  I got two kisses! for hunting and gather our dinner...neither of which were from Meritt.  We also had a MAJOR breakthrough with the potty process today...Mary Henley actually grabbed my hand twice today to help her in the bathroom!  Now...I know that may not seem like a big deal, and is one that I will likely regret having been brought into the circle of confidence at a later date...BUT, it is a huge step for her in her trust with me!  Also, I am sure that Maggie will get their sooner because Mary Henley is setting the pace.  It feels really good~

Tomorrow we get our TB tests read.  Dr. Meritt' pre-read says we are good to go...but we will likely look to have the physician at the clinic confirm her reading!

Tuesday we go to the ACS (American Consulate?) to take an oath and submit our visa documents...this and making sure we don't miss our return flight on Thursday are our final two big hurdles...please pray that all of  our documents are in order!

Wednesday we go to the Zoo in the morning...pick up the girls Visa in the afternoon and then take a bus ride to Hong Kong (about 2.5 hours)...then we catch the first of our return flights around 10am Thursday morning!  Yippee!

See you all very soon!