TRAVEL ITINERARY

I wanted to share our travel itinerary now, before things get even busier as we prepare to leave for China!  (LOL, between now and our departure, we are celebrating Ashlie's 8th Forever Family Day (today!), hosting a Pool Party tomorrow for Annie's friends for her 6th birthday party, going to Illinois/Indiana this weekend to visit Rick's family, and celebrating Annie's 6th birthday with family on her birthdate on Monday!)  Yeah, . . . gonna be a little busy!

But here is all the info you'd like to know and more, I'm sure,  about our upcoming trip:

Monday, Aug 1st, drive to St Louis in the evening.

Tuesday, Aug 2nd, 6:00 flight from St Louis to Atlanta.  Yikes that's early.  From Atlanta we will fly to Shanghai, arriving in the afternoon of August 3rd, Shanghai time.

August 4th - Sightseeing in Shanghai - Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, and Chenghuang Temple

August 5th - Sightseeing in Shanghai - French Concession, Stone Gate and the Bund area

August 6th in the afternoon, take the train from Shanghai to Hangzhou

August 7th - free day.  We plan to take this time to get settled into our room at the Hai Hua Resort, and hopefully get our bearings, walk around the area, etc.

AUGUST 8th - our itinerary says "MEET THE BABY!"  Yes, this will be Max's Forever Family Day and we will do the adoption registration on the same day.    I get teary eyed just reading about this day and thinking about all the significance that it will hold for our family.

August 9th - get adoption registration certificate and notarization

August 10th - sightseeing at West Lake by boat

August 11th - sightseeing at Linyin Temple

August 12th - receive Max's passport (please pray that this works out!), adoption registration card, birth decree, abandonment decree and Article 23  Then at 7:00 p.m. we fly from Hangzhou to Guangzhou, where we will once again stay at the White Swan hotel.

August 13th - medical check, photo taking and TB test for Max.

August 14th - sightseeing at Safari Park

August 15th - get medical result in sealed envelope and shopping at the wholesale market

August 16th - Consulate Appointment at 8:30 a.m., and swearing in ceremony

August 17th - sightseeing to Six Banyan Temple and more importantly - GET MAX's VISA!

August 18th - take the 10:39 a.m. train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, have driver take us to the Airport Regal Hotel (which is attached to the HK International Airport)

August 19th - FLY HOME!!!  We'll leave HK around 9:30, fly into Detroit, and then on down to St Louis.  We're really hoping that we'll feel like driving home that night and can stay awake to do it!

It's going to be a long trip, but we're fully committed to appreciate every day that we have in our youngest children's country of birth.  We've done all we can in the planning stages to make sure that things go smoothly for the girls and for Max, and we ask for your prayers for all of them, especially Max, as his world is turned upside down on 8/8.   I am a little concerned about getting all the kids fed on our travel dates, as we'll have two early mornings at airports, and one departure that will be interfering with dinner time for them.  Travel days are stressful enough, but we can't expect the kiddos to do well if they're hungry.  If any of you have some great ideas, I'd appreciate hearing them!

Twelve days till we head for St Louis, . . . Nineteen days till Max is in our arms,, . . .