Wednesday, February 13, 2008

No Making Fun.....


I'm going to tell everyone now that I am taking brown sweaters and black sweaters and one Tinkerbell sweatshirt to China... so no making fun of me when all the pics show me wearing the same thing!!! Now Lilli AnHui on the other hand has a wardrobe fit for a Princess! When it came time to decide what made the "final cut" for my suitcase... I am afraid it was my clothes that got the old "heave hoe" and Lilli's stayed put! Can you blame me???


I have packed a dozen of those paper thin Gap t-shirts to wear under my sweaters so they won't need to be dry-cleaned every day. Joe will bring me one "nicer" change of clothes for Adoption Day, but after that it is back to my favorites... black and brown!


Funny thing is that after our time in Xian, and happily giving out goodies and gifts, I will have one entire suitcase that will be empty... hmmmmmmmmmmm... what to do, what to do????? I think the nice ladies at the little shops near the Victory on Shaiman Island will surely have an answer to that question!!!


Now I am off to "make copies" because we all know that when it is time to go to China... it is time to make copies!!!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Oh No... Reality Check!!!

OK... I thought I was all packed, but in reality, I had not put in all the "meds", toiletries, snacks, my things, papers, gifts for the children at the CWI and Foster Home, etc etc etc. ... and now that I have ... my suitcases won't close!!!

So when I added the last few items, and could not zip the puffed up bags... I purged. I really downsized and put a bunch of stuff back in the closet. They still won't close. It will be easy once we are in Xian as so much of what I have packed will be "shared" ... but that still leaves a big problem ~ getting it all to Beijing and then to Xian. YIKES!!!

... any suggestions?????

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

I Really am Packed!





I really am packed... now, this does not mean that I won't unpack and repack once a day until we depart... but the major decisions of what to pack etc. are made. I will have 2 checked bags and 1 carry on. I will need to pay an extra bag fee on our flight from Beijing to Xian, but will be fine on all other flights. This is as "small" as I could get!!!

A friend of mine (Thank you Ellie for the great idea!!!) suggested that I pack Lilli's clothing in "outfits"... so notice the Ziploc bag above... it has everything needed to dress Lilli for an outing. Each Ziploc contains socks, undies, pants, undershirt, shirt, sweater, and hair accessories! It was so much fun stuffing the baggies! And you know... I am sure the baggies will be of great use while we are in China... you can never have enough Ziploc baggies while on a trip!!!

Friday, February 1, 2008

Our Itinerary

Thursday ~ February 21st - Arrive Beijing via Singapore Airlines. Visit Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.


Friday ~ 22nd - Great Wall Tour and Evening Chinese Acrobat Show



Saturday ~ 23rd - Tour Summer Palace and Tea House


Sunday ~ 24th - Fly from Beijing to Xian --- Meet Lilli AnHui!!!!




Monday ~ 25th - Adoption Finalization - for China

Tuesday ~ 26th - Tour Terra Cotta Warriors


Wednesday ~ 27th - Tour Xi'an CWI (Lilli's Orphanage) and Bethlehem Foster Home (Lilli's Group Foster Home)
Thursday ~ 28th - Xi'an City Tour - Including City Wall and Bell Tower

Friday ~ 29th - Pick up Passport - Fly to Guangzhou


Saturday ~ March 1st - Medical Exam and Visa Photos for US Consulate

Sunday ~ 2nd - Tour Safari Park
Monday ~ 3rd - Visa Appointment at US Consulate and Chen Clan Tour

Tuesday ~ 4th - US Consulate Oath and receive Passport - Turn in Passport to Commonwealth Consulate for Aussie Visa
Wednesday ~ 5th - Free Day .... Which translates to a very needed "sleep in" and a bit of shopping!

Thursday ~ 6th - Pick up Passport with Aussie Visa and Fly to Hong Kong
Friday ~ 7th - Hong Kong Disney


Saturday ~ 8th - Depart Hong Kong for Singapore ~ Late arrival

Sunday ~ 9th - Enjoy Orchard Road in Singapore and depart for Sydney ~ Evening Flight
Monday ~ 10th - Arrive Sydney at 7:20am..... Drive to Canberra ~ YEAH!!!! HOME SWEET HOME! Hug my babies... big and small!!!

March 11th - 19th -Rest and Recuperate and Enjoy Grandma and Grandpa before they return to the US!