We have a Fish and some Fancy-Pants Outfits

(Tuesday in Guangzhou)

"Abigail, hold your brother for
a picture here."

The only thing we had scheduled for today was at 4:30 PM so we had a leisurely morning with the kids.  We had a long, slow breakfast and then played in the room.  Abigail didn't like any of her clean clothes that she has left, so she stole her brother's swimming trunks and wore them as shorts.  After that, we joined another family for a walk in the giant park and we explored yet another section than Abigail and I did yesterday.  (It didn't have as many tai-chi people, but it was still nice.)  While in the park, Larry made friends with an old Chinese man and did hackey-sack with him!!  I also heard one of my favorite quotes from the trip: "Chinese food is so much better in America.  I miss beef and broccoli."  - Joe, fellow group member.

"Seriously.  Abigail.
Hold him up."

"Mama!  He's ROLLING."

Larry said this was all about learning the culture first-hand

Larry's new friend.

After the 2 hours in the park, we were slightly hot (it was over 90, with 90% humidity that was so thick you could see it).  So we went to the outdoor pool at the hotel.  Joseph LOVED it, although we weren't surprised since he loves bath time.  What surprised me the most is that he kept putting his face in the water, ploop!, and then pulling his face out if the water and giggling like a mad-man and doing it again. Abigail is a good doggie-paddler, but she hates to put her face in the water.

Blowing kisses

She is independent in the water with her
floaties on her arms. 

This evening was the scheduled group pictures, family pictures, and baby group pictures.

Joseph got formal Chinese outfits with pants.
Abigail wanted some too.
(to hell with all the dresses we bought her on the last trip; if only we had known!)

We tried to get a good pic of both kids
together wearing their fancy Chinese
outfits, but it didn't work: one wasn't smiling
or the other wasn't looking or it looked forced.

So we tickled them instead.

 




























We ended the evening with the whole group doing family-style dining at a local Portuguese/ Cantonese restaurant tonight. Larry and fellow group member Kerry have been joking for 2 days about this as a food fusion restaurant, but it was very good.  I think it had the best rice and best noodles of the trip.  (Joseph had 2 bowls of noodles, the second of which our guide Kathy expertly fed to him using chopsticks.  I wish I had a picture!)