Home.

 14 hour fight from Hong Kong to Chicago...4 hour layover...1 hour flight to KC...we are home. 

I can't believe it's my girls!

There's Daddy's Girl!

Kai went straight to "Mah, Mah" without hesitation.

Perfect.

Getting my "welcome home" hug.

I don't want to let go.

Uncle Trav is beat.

Still hard to believe he's here.

"Ready to get the hell outta here?"

Four Floods...going home.

Leaving Chicago. On the way home!

Through immigration...Kai is an American citizen.  Going home. 

More of Guangzhou and the Six Banyan Temple

Yes, we are already home but I thought I'd catch up with a few photos of Guangzhou and misc others...the internet was less than cooperative the last few days in China...thought I'd put a few extra photos up.

A monk blesses Kai...and some other dude n' son.

...after the blessing...

The Six Banyan Temple - a little piece of Buddha is supposed to be housed in this mighty pagoda.  Dunno which piece.

Prayers at the temple.

More prayers...some for my bald spot.

Monk blessing Kai and my baldness.

Happy monks.

Uncle Trav and Cobra Kai

One of the Banyan Trees...Hey! a monk with a cell phone!?

Heading to the pedestrian market...(meaning, NO CARS OR SCOOTERS!)

...market by day...

...ladies and pearls...

Market by night.

Where is the damn cab!

His name is Dong...really.

Hong Kong International

Birthday presents on the plane home.

American Consulate. Almost Home.

Today was the consulate appointment.  I submitted all the documentation (some things from Changsha) and took the Oath on Kai's behalf.  Tomorrow we will pick up Kai's visa before heading for Hong Kong and stay overnight...then we will fly away across the ocean to our home.  This may be my last post while in China.  We will be busy getting things ready for check-out.   So excited to bring Kai home!  Can't wait for Melissa and Ryleigh to meet him...Skype has not been working the past few days so we have been looking at pictures of Mommy and Sister.

Adoptive families at the Yuntai Garden

...being a pissant...

working on expanding Daddy's bald spot

"Great Ball of Many Gods" or something like that

...just walk away...

Market street in Guangzhou

"Fresh" fish market.

Local shop owner,  Lily and an Artist in her shop (can't remember his nam...Prince, I think)

...he can be cute...

On the way to Six Banyan Temple to be blessed by the monks.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou is much better than Changsha...no scooters allowed.  It is in the southern province of Guangdong.  Not too far from Hong Kong.  The weather is warmer...the traffic is regulated.  You can definitely feel the influence of the coast. The people here are a little more used to foreigners with asian children.  Fewer stares.  This is the home of the American Consulate...it is where all adoptions in the entire country of China are processed for visas.  Kai will get his medical exam and have his picture taken for his visa. On December 19th I will submit final documentation and be sworn in at the consulate.   All of of the tedious work in Changsha comes to its end in Guangzhou. 

Arrived late and the little duffer is out cold.

...one in every closet in China...

Views from The Garden Hotel

The only clinic in China that performs the the medical exams for adopted children.

Waiting our turn.

Uncle Trav entertains Kai.

The line snakes around the corner

Kai is pissed

...and pissed...

The Doctor's exam

...pissed again...

better now

...oops, pissed again...

Rescued by Uncle Trav

All done.