Guess Who is a US citizen!?

THIS GIRL!

Last couple of days in Guangzhou...

The last couple of days have been a blur. We swore an oath to take care of Cate at the US consulate, so I guess we have to. Now that I know that there is only one American staff member and the rest Chinese nationals...I'm pretty certain that they read the "strongly worded" email I sent to them. I sighed a big relief when there wasn't an interview at that one. In retrospect, I was a little let down by the oath taking "ceremony"...I envisioned a little more formality and maybe...I dunno something. Would having Aretha Franklin sing the National Anthem be too much? I think not.
Now all things official are behind us, we are turning our minds to bigger and more important things:
Caleb: How can he avoid doing his school work AND which of his shows were recorded on the DVR.
Virginia: How is Cate going to do on the flights home...Seeing Family...Chuck wagon...AND which of her shows were recorded on the DVR.
ME: How is Cate going to do on the flights home....Seeing family...Can I get to the Doc B in time... REAL MEXICAN FOOD.

From here on out I want to bullet things that I remember randomly and not chronological before I forget..

•  Caleb dropping the hotel phone into the toilet...
• Virginia being so tired she thought we had a conversation-we didn't...
• Seeing Cate in our dreams before we got her...
• The buffet serves something called the, "Century Eggs"...actually looks like month old hard boiled eggs..
• Caleb telling a hustling street vendor, "Boo-Yao" when she approached him to buy something. This was just moments after our guide taught us to say that to ward off pushy sellers on our tour van. The lady street vendor was so surprised that a kid let her have it...She laughed and told all the other vendors.
• They don't call it the Great Wall for nothing...My quads burned for two days.
• Beijing has it's history and seat of power like no other I have seen.
• Caleb is now a well taught student of how to make fine silk, he has a cocoon to prove it.
• Virginia was in heaven at the pearl and jade, but was more at home at the local shops in Guangzhou.
• Cate belongs in this family because she only eats specific things like her brother and mother.
• Where ever you live, if you're rich, it's a great place. There is a Lamborghini dealership across the street from out hotel and a women selling roasted chestnuts for less than $0.10 next to it.
• Beware of the older ladies who ask you if you'd like a "massage" on the street.
• Caleb really wanted to climb the Great Wall with me, but the steepness and uneven steps were a no go. By the way, if CALOSHA ever checks this place, were talking heavy fines.
• I prefer old cab drivers, they know how to use their car in an offensive way and get you there 5xs faster.
• There are more new cars on the road here than in any city in the US.
• 7/11s in China have no doors...seriously, it never closes...however smells like something is being embalmed there.
• Never, I mean NEVER order spaghetti bolognese from an Middle Eastern place called 1,001 Nights...
• The English signs in China were comedy, but it sure does reassure me that even here, they want us to be safe.
• Caleb has a cast iron stomach and great immune system so he didn't get sick once.
• "No PRR-Ah-BLum" is the key phrase for anyone who is willing to help. For instance, " No PRR-Ah-BLum, I make a special price for you..." 
• Caleb's nostrils are huge while Cate's are tiny.
• You can short out a brand new DVD player by plugging it in the wrong receptacle AND put the lights out in your hotel room.
• Guangzhou is the city of flowers. According to our guide the government shelled out 3 billion (don't know if that's USD) on flowers for the city.
• Caleb would like to try to take a half an hour shower if we'd let him. 

Good night for me and Good morning to you all...

Take care and God bless,

Chris, Virginia, Caleb & Cate

Museum and shopping...Caleb's Icecream surprise

 God is so good to us. I thank Him daily for my newly expanded family and our loved ones at home. Thank you all.
TODAY:
It was cold here today...like Fresno cold. It was in the 70's then it turned windy, then cold, then cloudy, then rain...
The museum we went to today was the of the wealthiest family in Guangzhou, the Chen family. It was amazing, but I couldn't help but think of Hearst Castle as I walked through the ornately decorated walls, intricate ivory carvings, detailed embroidered art, complex wood carvings, and just plain opulence. However, there was not one heater in the whole joint. So needless to say, it was a quick walk through.
Shopping in Shaiman island an old British/French outpost was amazing. Think New Orleans meets Trafalgar Square then overrun with assorted flowers and a dash of the old Sunnyside swap-meet. This is the place to wheel and deal, we did not. It was too cold and we went to world famous (they told us so) Lucy's. Ate our usual burger and fries, didn't know it was such a staple in the Chinese diet. By the way, Cate loves mashed potatoes. Oh and Virginia was if Caleb was 8 and Chinese.
Speaking of Cate, she and Caleb have learned to bond in a way that Virginia and I haven't been able to. He makes her laugh out loud. They play together and she puts up with him invading her space. She has begun to sing and babble when we push her in her stroller. Today she was reaching for Virginia and definitely prefers her to me.
We ran out of diapers and low on formula today, so I went to Carre Four (Chinese Walmart). It is a multilevel nightmare. So I spent my early evening as a mute. I asked the concierge for him to write me a slip to hand the cabbie and one for the return-off I went. It took me longer to locate things in Carre Four then it was to get there and back. Nevertheless, it was less eventful than a previous outing to get our laundry. I will save the details of that trip for my in person reenactment.
While I was out, our hotel has a kids playroom. Cate seems to love rolling a ball and was standing on her own.
Last stop of the night was desert. We asked for a chocolate/vanilla sundae with sprinkles for Caleb... Instead he got a chocolate/vanilla sundae with BBQ chips sprinkled on top. No kidding...You really don't have to ask if he ate it do you...

A week and a day has gone by, Cate reveals more and more of her personality to us. There is a sweetness that she show with her brother. A diva when she arches her back in protest. There is also the suspicious look she gives when other kids come around her trying to touch her stuff or worse her. I just thank God for this opportunity.

Take care and God bless,

CVCC

Clinc yesterday...today Free day

Cate does not like to be poked, prodded, weighed, or measured. We also found that there is nothing wrong with he lung capacity-she can really carry on when she wants to. She recovered nicely when she finally got a bottle and a nap. Then we went to the market in a mall. It was a "trendy market" it reminded me of a Trader Joe's. Got some bread for PBJs and diapers.

Today we're going to take Caleb to the "Lake Park" it's like Rotary Park with a few more rides. Caleb, Cate, and I scoped it out yesterday. Rides cost about .60 per ride. Sorry for no picture and no skype updates. Going to try to buy internet package today to hopefully get better quality service.


Love and Miss you all,

Chris, Virginia, Caleb, and Cate