DAY NINE: new kids on the block.

What day is it?? I’m not even sure but it was a fun one!

We started with a trip to the 24/7 Starbucks in our hotel for coffee and warm muffins. I was still mourning the glorious breakfast buffet. We can’t afford it everyday, but we earned it today.


Eventually, we took off on foot out around the hotel. We are in the same place the boys and I were but I didn’t have a lot of time …or sanity? Can’t remember… to get very far with them. Seems like our days were pretty packed.

We set off looking for lunch but walked and walked and walked and just kinda got caught up in it all and forgot we were hungry. It’s so beautiful! And weird how yesterday we were freezing in 30 degree weather and today it’s 70 and sunny. To be in a big city, there’s tons of old trees and pretty things and Layla loves all the buildings. We photographed people and clothes hanging to dry in windows and colors and life.

We forgot we were hungry. By the time we remembered we were actually starving, the closest restaurant was Italian. Pizza. Again. I was totally against it but didn’t actually have another other suggestions so I caved. Need to plan a little better I think.

It was fine, I am just OVER carbs. How do these people eat so many carbs?! I feel like junk. I guess they eat a lot of meat, we see people on the street all the time, but … that’s not for me. I like lean/clean meats… these animals on sticks just don’t seem the same somehow ;) Veggies, I want veggies. We did at least order pasta with broccoli. Score?

After lunch we went to the museum. We honestly didn’t even know what kind of museum it was, it was just something to do. It looked like one building, but once we got in it was HUGE. Again, my STEM baby loved it. Lincoln’s just along for the ride wherever we go. Ha. But for a 16lb baby, she sure gets heavy after a few hours! The tombs were cool and all the rituals etcetera. It will be a nice addition to Layla’s photojournalism presentation to her class upon her return and well worth the $2 it cost us to visit. Oh, and the views from the top were stunning!

Layla had a snickers for dinner. I told her early in the trip that most of the regular rules go out the window in China and she’s taking full advantage ;) We always seem to make lunch our big meal of the day (we're mid-day people!) and aren’t hungry much at night. Except Tiny Panda who scarfs down every bit that she’s offered. I think she’s starting to fill out a little! Plus, it’s definitely building trust that I am here to take care of her. She still won’t drink much but did at least attempt a little formula from her soft spout sippy today. That‘s a first! We‘ll keep trying. She also didn‘t scream in the tub! Progress!  Baby steps.

Apparently it’s New Year’s Eve?! I had kind of forgotten. It’s normally kind of a thing for us, since that’s how Nathan and I started. This year’s just different. The girls were asleep by 7:30 and I wasn’t far behind them! I know it probably would have been pretty groovy to see China celebrate, we just didn’t have it in us. Oh well. HAPPY NEW YEAR! I think it’s gonna be a good’un.

DAY EIGHT: GZ

We left Xi’an for Guangzhou today!

Bittersweet. Ready to move on, closer to home, but always tearful for me when my babies say goodbye to their hometown. Lincoln doesn’t know, but I feel it for her. Obviously, she will be loved and cherished as a daughter and a sister and her new forever ain't too shabby, but still… this is her’s. This is all she’s ever known and she’s leaving it for good. Bitter and sweet.

We got everything packed up and put in it’s place for check out and scooted out the door for one last lunch. They were coming at 1:00 to pick us up and I honestly had no idea what time our flight was or what time we’d be in GZ or when we’d eat again. Last time with Roman, it was hours and we were hungry so I wanted to be prepared. Layla wanted Pizza Hut one more time, which didn’t quite go as easily this time. We ended up with ham, I think. Not totally sure.

Sherry got us checked in for our flight and we eventually made it through security. We had to prove ourselves several times over and let them check every inch of us, our bags, our baby, the whole nine yards but we made it. We made a quick stop in the bookstore where Layla had spotted The Cursed Child in Mandarin and wanted to use some of her money on it. We made it to our gate long enough to grab one of the yellow sodas that taste like melted plastic to me but she seems to love, when everyone around us got on a bus. So we got on the bus too. The flight to GZ was about 2 ½ hours and pretty effortless. It was the first time we’d flown over China during the day though and the views were nothing short of spectacular. The fed us a meal, which we didn’t expect (and didn’t really eat… it was the worst so far). We landed in GZ around dinner time and our new guide got us checked in at the China Hotel.

Big. Fat. Bummer. to find out we weren’t upgraded this time. I mean, I knew we may not be with the holiday, they’re pretty full. But that breakfast buffet!! Waaahhh. I’d been looking forward to it all week and promised Layla unlimited amounts of bacon and French toast! Ya’ll know the executive lounge SAVED MY LIFE last time, but dinner is easier this time around with an almost-13-yo and a baby who’s pretty chill. The breakfast shot me right in the heart though. That’s been the hardest part, food-wise. They did offer to let us pay for it, but no way $30/day made sense. Whatever. We’ll manage. Mama just had the teensiest of meltdowns is all.

The girls were out pretty quickly while I unpacked. The room is pretty small so we have to find a place for everything or it can get out of control fast. Blah. Grumpy tonight. Going to have some melatonin gummies and hit the sack. Our guide let us know between the holiday (New Years) and her friend’s wedding, she was leaving for the week and we are on our own. Her colleague will come get us for our medical appointment Wednesday. Sooo. Cool. The adventure continues.

DAY SEVEN: explorers

Another free day to explore Xi’an!

We took it easy in the hotel this morning. That seems to be our jam… wake up slow, head out mid-day and have lunch, do whatever activity and come back in for the night by late afternoon. And every day we try new places for lice treament. CAN NOT BELIEVE it is this difficult to find.

Headed back out to the Chinese/English restaurant by our hotel for lunch. Ordered kung pao chicken and cabbage at Sherry’s suggestion. OMGosh so good. Fav meal so far. But can I just say? I adore Layla. All her uniqueness and quirks and I absolutely cannot talk about Hamilton anymore. I cannot. I love it and I’m a broadway baby and I have created a monster. I’ll take it over Warrior cats any day (truly grateful to have shifted, really) but holy heck guys. I have never seen anything like this. I mean, when I was her age I was this obsessed with NKOTB so the fact that it’s broadway and history and all that is not a bad thing. BUT. But. First it was the show and everything about it, then it was the actors in the show and everything about them, then it was the historical figures the show is based on and everything about them and at this point I just know way more about our forefathers that I ever thought possible and I just don’t like them as humans that much and I just cannot talk about it anymore.

Otherwise, she’s the easiest breeziest little mother’s helper on the planet ;)

So lunch was delicious and full of Hamilton.

We walked around for a while,  just discovering new places or seeing what we found. She picked out a giant panda head at a bakery to have for breakfast tomorrow and we searched high and low for these snacks Roman wants but can’t really remember. I sent him seven pictures based on what he described- no dice so far. We grabbed a few things at Walmart and cut back through the mall because it’s warmer.

This is where the ice cream adventure began.

Layla has been so brave until it was time to order her own ice cream. She was seriously panicked and I made her do it anyway because I encourage my children to conquer their fears! And because it was entertaining me and I wanted a picture. The first shop we tried…. It didn’t work out. I think they were out but I’m not really sure. We just slowly backed away after a few minutes of trying and then slinked into the crowd.

That’s when we saw the dog and bunny snuggled on a bench. WHY were a dog AND a bunny in the mall on the bench snuggling?? Because China, that’s why. So we went back down the escalator so we could ride back up and get a picture, but then we realized there was another ice cream shop underneath. I think I documented that already. So funny.

We took the underground route back to our hotel and settled in for the night.


Talked to my babies. Brynnie was the one with tears in her eyes this time. At least they are taking turns?

That girl though… Nathan (everyone) says she’s been a rockstar. She just gets stuff done. Always and without being asked. I know Nathan values her help! He says they’ve all been good though. She’s been a bright light for me too. She left notes all in our suitcases! We keep finding them and they are precious. They’re typed, so she obviously put some time and effort into it. She created word puzzles on her own “in case we are bored” and wrote little love notes for us hidden throughout. She even wrote/typed an entire story for Layla “because she loves to read”. Her heart, I swear. She’s a gem. I love you Queen B!!!

Sherry picked up our notarized documents tonight and brought them to us. They had Lincoln’s passport ready too so we are all set to head to GZ tomorrow! Whoop whoop. Bring on the buffet!!!!