GREETINGS FROM GUANGZHOU!

Howdy Friends and Family:

We had a nice free day with the Thompsons. First, we walked through the park where we saw couples taking dancing lessons; elderly folks playing Chinese instruments and singing (they beamed when we clapped for them); and lots of people playing a version of hacky sack. They tried to get us to play too! We then went to the walking mall via the medicinal and cooking herb market. Wow, very odd smells! The kids were hungry so we went to McDonald's. I accidentally ordered Ericka the Spicy Chicken Wings. Dan, you would have loved them! They also had fried green bean pies. GROSS! Abbie did not like her lunch at all and it all ended up on the floor, piece by piece, where a worker was promptly stationed to immediately clean up the princess's mess. We shopped for lots of treasures, including undies for Abbie and shorts for Ericka, but I quickly learned in the shoe market that they do not make sizes for our big American feet in China. I asked for a size 40 (Chinese measurement) and the worker responded "no big feet." The story of my life. I did find one pair of decent sandals and met the "Chicken Man", as you will see in the picture. Abbie had her first grape flavored ice cream cone and loved every sticky spoonful. We were ALL sticky! On the way back, we passed many men fishing for who knows what in the Pearl River and some people doing their laundry in the river. Abbie is feeling much better now and is more compliant. She is such a ball of energy! A Teochew (again, pronounced Chow Joe) woman taught me to say "Jim Jim" (spelling?), which means "Kiss Kiss." Abbie promptly puckers up and gives me big drooly jim jims. I love it! When we returned to our room, we were all hot and sticky. I decided to take a bath and took a chance by plopping Abbie in the tub with me. After watching me wash my hair, she sat down and washed and conditioned her own! It was so cute. She played with her bath toys and made a big splashy mess. She did really well today! We ate dinner at the Cow and Bridge Thai food restaurant. I had coconut rice with pieces of coconut, shrimp and vegetables. For dessert I had mango pudding in the shape of Hello Kitty. It was so darned cute! Abbie ate most of everyone's dinners. She had baby fruit, congee and beef, Pad Thai, Thai noodles, Hello Kitty's ears, rice, and my entire can of Sprite! I have no idea where that little one puts it all!! Ericka had shrimp cakes and steamed rice. We sat out by the pool for a while and enjoyed a nice tropical breeze. It really was a lovely day from many perspectives. Love and kisses always, Tracie, Ericka and Abbie the Wild Woman. XOXOXO