Storie's progression

It is 4 p.m. on the 12th and all of the girls are napping. We visited a Buddhist temple this morning and Storie was blessed by a monk. Yep, a monk. We don't practice Buddhism, of course, but it was a ceremony that has been performed for centuries and it was kinda fun to have Storie experience what Sydney had experienced 3 years ago. The humming of the monk and the drumming he did was sort of soothing and the little one sat on Mommy's lap so quietly and still. Shelby snapped a bunch of photos from the area and we were then hurried back into the van for a trip to the zoo!

It was odd to visit the zoo located smack dab in the center of the city. From all directions stood tall office and apartment buidlings, visible through the treeline above the animals. The zoo certainly wasn't large but it had some very interesting animals. We all have come to expect the zoo staples; bears, lions, giraffes, zebras, rhinos and such, but the most interesting and unexpected caged animal of them all..........a raccoon. Yes indeed, a large raccoon who paced back and forth along the cageline and bared its sharp teeth. I guess I had never thought of raccoons as being the culprits who terrorized China's city streets at night. And then our guide Helen announced,"The raccoon comes from the United States." My eyes met those of the masked creature and we instantly bonded. I swear that I heard the furry critter chanting, "USA, USA, USA!" Sweet.

We stopped at a small petting area and saw the greatest petting animal of all time...a dalmation dog. Geez, I miss our Nikita (our 13 year old dalmation for those who don't know). Julie and I even petted a python, but Shelby said, "Uh, no thanks!" Our last stop was the monkey stadium (I don't know if they call it that but it sounded cool-I must be thinking about the NFL-GO STEELERS!) There was a tiny baby monkey that cruised all over the joint and cracked us up. Storie was grinning away and pointing just like she had at the swinging chimpanzee a little earlier. She was so good and seems to be becoming more content with each passing day.

Storie still sleeps the whole night through and has been sleeping in the king bed. Believe me, she utilizes every inch of space as she sleeps. Diagonal, sideways, upside down, on her head-I mean this girl is all over the place. And she snores.

We have finally gotten her to wear another pair of shoes in place of the ones she came with (sounds like I'm referring to a car accessory!) She has alot of confidence and it seems to build more every day. Another strong-willed girl in the house. I'm in serious trouble!

Storie loves to hug. I've gotten one or two but she gives plenty to Julie and Shelby. She squeezes our necks and also squeezes her little legs around our waists at the same time. It's funny. She loves to share. No matter what she has on her plate she will eventually hand out the goodies to those around her. Of course, she is very smart, and wants what we have then she hollers for it too. Crazy kids.

Shelby has been trying to snuff out her homework that she brought along so that she'll be in the "free and clear" upon our return home. She needed some help with algebra the other night and I am not ashamed to admit that Julie and I had no stinking idea what we were staring at. A few nods here and there from us and she talked herself through it. Those 20 years since high school felt like 40 that night. She gets a little more homesick by the day but insists that she is having a good time. She has been reading quite a bit as well to help keep herself busy. In fact, she just awoke from her power nap and immediately reached for a book.

Tonight we have plans with our fellow traveling family to have them over to our place and order in. No, not Chinese, but rather PAPA JOHNS! And they deliver!! Wooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooo!!!! I've got to meet the bicycle delivery guy at the elevator doors at 6. Might need back-up.

Enjoy the pictures and we will write again soon. We trust that everything is going swimmingly with you all in the USA! Godspeed!!