Greetings from Guiyang City

As I write this, the girls are having a "camp out" under the covers of their bed. They are eating fruit snacks and playing with their stuffed kittens.

Wednesday was crazy. We left Beijing around 8am and arrived in Guiyang around 12. We met our guide, who explained that the plan had changed and we would meet Rissa and adopt her all in one day. Usually you meet your child and then officially adopt them the next day. But the Olympic torch would be coming through (those darn Olympics again) and all public offices would be shut down. So, with no time for lunch, we dropped our stuff off in the room and got our gifts ready for the foster parents, gathered up the cameras and went downstairs. We waited a few minutes and in walked Rissa with her foster family.

We got to spend about 30 minutes with the foster family. They were just lovely. The mother packed up a bag of Rissa's favorite toys, snacks, and a few clothes. Rissa was all dressed up. You could just tell how much they loved her. The older brother and sister loved her too. Apparently, there was a baby at home too. We asked a bunch of questions and they told us about Rissa. She is an easy child, doesn't have too many preferences. We are finding that out, as we ask her to pick things while we are shopping. They had also packed a backpack for her with a lot of pictures and special keepsakes for her. I made sure the coordinator told the foster mother that I would be forwarding pictures to them.

Then we ran (literally) across the street to get our family picture taken. Then off to the police station for the passport and visa. Then off to the official office for the rest of the adoption paperwork. It took a few hours for all of this and it was hot and we were hungry. So Mina was not on her best behavior, but by the end of all of this both girls fell asleep.

During all of the running around, Mina kept trying to hold Rissa's hand. She was so excited. She just really wanted to get her back to the hotel room and play with her. So after we got back, they got to open up their tiny toys and really play. They had lots of fun. Then they started tickling each other. Then it got crazy. They are going to keep me on my toes all day!

Yesterday, Thursday, we were advised to stay close to the hotel because of the torch relay. But the girls were getting cabin fever. So, we asked for the name of the department store. They misunderstood and sent us to the posh department store, not the regular one. I wasn't going to buy Rissa's tennis shoes there! So we just started to walk the girls around downtown. We are quite a sight. It's one thing to be American, then to have one chinese daughter, then to have two around the same age. But everyone is friendly. So we found some Olympic t-shirts for the girls. Then we found a shoe store and bought Rissa a pair of pink shoes that light up for $5. We also found the Pizza Hut, where we went back for dinner. Rissa likes Pizza.

Today, Friday, We are headed off to the Walmart. Mina would like her own pair of light up shoes and we need some bottled water and batteries. I'll see if the guide can get us to the department store too. Just to look around. Mina would also like some jellies. It's like candy. We tried to buy it at the Carrefour, but we didn't buy enough or something and they wouldn't sell it to us. So we'll try again.

Fighting did break out yesterday. It seems to happen when the girls are tired. Rissa is the instigator. She takes Mina's big blanket or her kitty. It seems she knows what she is doing. We were warned about that by her big brother. But then we just separate them. That 4 way timer I got for Christmas could get quite a workout!

Sorry this post is long. I thought I would get you all caught up. We do feel quite lucky. I'm afraid that when Rissa gets in school with Mina, Miss Chrissy won't know what hit her! They are quite a pair together. It's pretty funny. So far this morning, I've heard from Mina, "Having a sister is fun" "She's pushing me" and "Mommy, we're not doing anything." So does that give all of you any ideas?