Day 2- Children's Palace/Summer Palace/ CCAA

Day two started off after a good nights sleep. We stayed up until 10:15 after going out for dinner and then a walk. We watched the movie Benchwarmers on HBO and then went to bed. We both slept until 6am. We went to breakfast at 6:30 and ate with a group of families. We enjoyed a meal of dumplings, fruit, toast and MacLean had bacon and an omelette. We left on the bus at 8am for the Children's Palace. It is a place that kids can go and do sports, arts and music. They also have nursery programs for the wee ones. We saw lots of babies wearing split pants today. The kids laughed and laughed and couldn't imagine these kids with their bums hanging out of their pants. the children were given pins and a package of postcards from the Executive Director. This was followed by a lesson on using the Chinese YOYO. the childen all received their own yoyo's to take home. It is much harder than it looks I tried a couple of times and failed miserably. MacLean and the others got very good at it by the time we were finished.

The kids then went inside to participate in a tye dye activity. IT was great fun. We left there just before lunch and were treated to an amazing lunch of chinese food. There was rice, veggies, chicken, noodles, beef and eel. The food was wonderful. YUM!

We headed out to the Summer Palace where the Imperial Family used to spend their summer vacation. They have boats, a man made lake and many beautiful buildings. Unfortunately it started to pour as we got there. So we decided to brave the rain with our umbrellas and do a short version of the trip. We were sad because we didn't get to go on the boat. I have lots of pics from last time but wish the girls had seen it on a good day. It is a beautiful place. IT was time to head back to the hotel and get ready to go and meet the Deputy Director of the China Civil Affairs office. He is in charge of all international adoptions. It was quite moving the girls were all dressed up in their new dresses and he came in and spoke to us and told us how happy the girls look and that he was proud of all the families for taking care of their children. I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. He then came to each family and presented the girls with a Beijing Olympic mascot and a lovely folder with their names and a note each hand signed. We had pictures taken with him . We also met the woman who would have been in charge of matching all our families. She was very kind and took great pride in seeing all the beautiful girls. WE then headed into the special dining room where higher level staff eat and had a banquet. It was very nice. What a wonderful experience for us all. After we returned we decided to head to the Friendship store and buy some gifts and more Olympic stuff.

I am done for now so enjoy the assorted photos of the day and chat with you tomorrow.

Love, Shauna and MacLean xoxo