Settling in.

Being home reminds us that our lives are busy. One of us is home running the show, while the other is at the office. Sharing a full time job is working out great so we can spend more time with Sydney, Peter, and Henry.

She is adjusting to life in Minnesota wonderfully. Learning english and searching the house to see what all is here.

We appreciate all of your emails and phone calls. We also wish you all a Happy Holiday! We are so glad to be home. Boys are loving having a sister.

@ Home!

Sydney got to see her new home, and we all are in our own beds. Kids asleep by 6, and we are close behind. Aunt Jill again taxied us from the airport and supplied our fridge, and neighbors brought food and treats as well. Thanks to everyone who have followed us to China and back. Getting your messages really helped us along the way.

The last few hours have been great. Sydney is taking all this in, and she seems very happy, as are the rest of us.

Love,
the Nomeland Five

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy....All work and ....

We are heading home, leaving the hotel in 2 1/2 hours for the airport. It has been a loooonggg day of waiting.
Our flight leaves at 9 pm from Guangzhou and arrives in LA at 5pm on the same day. Go figure.

We head to the airport Embassy Suites for a break, and then head for home really early Saturday morning.

Currently the boys are taking turns giving Sydney stroller rides in the hallway. Living in a hotel without "potable" tap water is starting to get a little like Jack Nicholson in the Shining.

Waiting to come home.

It is noon on Wednesday, and we are really feeling ready to go home. Yesterday we had a free day. Our agency reps took our paperwork to the US consulate and everything was good. Today we go to the consulate and give some type of oath. Then tomorrow we receive Sydney's passport with her new visa. That is our last leg of the paperwork journey. Some families are leaving Thursday, but they are heading by train to Hong Kong. From there they go to Tokyo and then to the US. We head out Friday, but get to go straight from the Guangzhou airport to LA. Just to be able to brush our teeth with tap water seems like a luxury.
Sydney is using more and more English. Juice, Shoes, Boys, Potty, Peter, Henry, Mommy, Daddy, Purse, ABCDEFG, Hello, Hi are all part of her new vocabulary.

We ventured to the local market where we saw more ginger root and dried seahorses for sale than you can imagine. Thankfully the rain has stopped. Unfortunately the construction has not. We are smack dab in the middle of a gigantic renovation, and it has made every walk an adventure. You basically are allowed to move right through the projects.

More pictures to come soon. Just too lazy to get it all done for now.

Love to all,
the Nomelands

Sunday took us to a Buddist Temple, a local museum and shopping. Mom and Dad really liked the temple, the boys liked the museum, and Sidney was tired. Probably from the 6 shots yesterday. We all got a bit run down from the day.
Becky and Sydney got blessed by a Buddist monk at the temple. It was pretty cool to watch.
Guangzhou is much better for walking, and we are enjoying being outside in the 70 degree weather. Sydney loves riding around in a stroller. She sits in it in the hotel.
Guangzhou is also under construction/renovation- everywhere. Our hotel area, Shamian Island, is full blown scaffolding and heavy machinery. They tell us its all for the Asian Games, which will be held here next November.
Tomorrow we are laying low. I (T.J.) am looking forward to Starbuck's in the morning.

WalMart eels, Maggie, Guangzhou and dresses.....

but pictures are in no particular order. I haven't figured that out yet.
We made it out of Hefei, and while we enjoyed our time there, Guangzhou is a wonderful change of pace.
Sydney was brave for her medical exam and shots. Mom felt bad, and bought her two dresses on the way back. She is wearing both of them at the moment.
Gaungzhou has been 70 and sunny all day today. Trying to be outside as much as possible.

We are enjoying our time here, but cannot wait to come home. It will be so nice to be able to have everyone get to meet her. She couldn't be a better fit for our family.

First Moments Video

Here is a clip from our first moments with Sydney.