Saturday!!!!

Today rained all day. We stayed in and did laundry. Later we went to dinner at Nan's Mother's home. We ate fish, greens, bread, soy beans and potatoes with carrots. As always dinner was excellent!

Bei Hai Park

After going to the Forbidden City we visited on the the most beautiful parks I have ever seen. Bei Hai Park is lush and huge. I can't image the man hours it takes to create and preserve this parks. I had no idea that Beijing had so many parks.


It stared to sprinkle but still a beautiful view. It is a definite must see when in Beijing.




Again here is our lovely model Delainie. Showing us the proper rain gear. However, her mama forgot to pack an extra pair of socks and band aids for the wet weather. She later removed her socks where they rode around soggy in my purse for the remainder of the day.



This is the bell tower at the park only 3 Yuan each to go up and ring the bell. Shu shu went with us but did not ring the bell. Delainie and I did. We want to keep up the good luck.





More stairs and a little slick too!


Well worth the climb. Look at this beautiful pagoda!






Here is the view from the boat we took across the water.




Our model one last time. Look how large this loin is.


Here Delainie and I are at the Nine Dragon Screen






Delainie's views:

At Bei Hia park I got a blister on my foot. It hurt very badly. We got to go on a boat across
the lake. When we first came in Bei Hia park there was these pretty lily pads with the most prettiest flower I ever saw! I got to ring a bell three times for good luck. I couldn't do it my self because the swingy thing was to hard to push.

Forbidden City

Well, today it rained. We braved it anyway. We took a long subway ride to the center of Beijing. Remember we live west on downtown. We visited the Forbidden City.

Here is a picture of Delainie and Chairman Mao. She was a great sport in the rain. I think she rather liked the rain. She wanted to run in the rain but it was too crowded at the FC. Yes, crowded. There were a lot of visitors even in the rain.



We entered in the city gate and it was raining. We borrowed Shu shu's umbrellas. We need to buy some of our own. I want one of the ones that also block UV. Maybe Wu mart will have them.






Here are the gates entering the FC. They are impressive even in the rain.



I don't know if you know this but the Olympics are going to be in Beijing in 2008. Everywhere you can see these green screens where they are renovating things. This was also apparent at the FC. Somethings we just couldn't see.

Here you can see the rain stopping. My main goal of this trip was to experience China with Delainie. I want her to see and have memories of her birth country. When we visit sited I have already been to I push her up front to see it while I hang in the background. Watching her as she see HER country's history come alive right in front of her. It is great to watch.


Here our lovely model, Delainie, shows you how large some of these sites are. She said to me. "My, Mama, China sure does have a lot of steps." I said "yes, sweetie. They do." "Mama, they are beautiful steps" "Yes, Delainie, they are." "Imagine actually living in some place like this." " But Mama, it is so big ." "Yes, Delainie, it is."




Don't we just love our girls! Here she is in the back garden of the FC. The rain had stopped by now and it was getting humid.

Don't you just love Chinese architecture! I could spend the entire day just taking pictures of the little details. But then I would miss they beauty of the entire place. This dragon is a great example on buildings all over China.



Here is a picture of Delainie with our personal guide Shu shu.


We went to lunch here. It was very crowded.

Picture of the Day

Here it is the long awaited picture of the day. Got to love this girl!

Ba Da Chu

This afternoon we went to Ba Da Chu park. Again we had a very hot day for walking up and down hills.



Is everything interesting on a hill? Well, we are doing well with all of this exercise. We are able to move the next day. Even in the heat we are able to walk great distances but water is an essential.

These were some signs we saw entering the park. I thought they were awesome statements!

It is good luck to hit the drum three times. So Delainie did!

This is a pond near the entrance.





Here we are on our climb up to the top of the steps.






Here are some things we found at the top.











This is the Famous Thousand Buddha Pagoda

Sculpture Park

As you can see we visited the China International City Sculpture Exhibition & Symposium today. They have sculptures by artists from all over the world. It stared out to be a cool day but it was just tempting us to go out. By the end of the time at the park we were very hot!








Here is our favorite model showing us how big the owl sculpture really is.




Here are some ladies at the park. The one on the left is tuning her Chinese Erhu. Later we heard her play it.



Here is a little sweetie that we saw at the park







These students must have been having a field trip this day. They were everywhere in the park. I think there is only one more week of school. And you thought your school year was long!




Here are three more sculptures!











There were many other interesting things at the park. Like this giant praying mantis. But you see Delainie was able to tame it just for this picture!







Nan's parents with Delainie!

Here these pictures captured the whole day. Nai Nai & Ye Ye with their grandchildren.

Picture of the Day

Okay. This is now officially my new favorite picture of Delainie. I love the little serene look on her face. She looks so sweet! What do you think Daddy?