Climbing the Great Wall!!!

Sophie and Jada waiting for our delayed flight to Beijing.

First plane ride - very successful once we were actually on the plane!

Outside the Jade Factory (Zen, Kate, Jada & Sophie).

We climbed the other side!

Half way up - not an easy climb.

Sophie and Alison at a 'lucky tree' - the red ornaments are wishes or dreams that people would like to come true.  The tree is absolutely covered in red ornaments.  Sophie was facinated with them!

It was a very long day - Sophie slept the whole way back to the hotel.

We have had a great day today.  After arriving yesterday we all went to bed early and caught up on some sleep!  Today we went on a bus tour to the Jade Factory, the Great Wall and a Silk Factory.  It was a long day but a great trip.  The Great Wall was amazing - and incredibly steep!  We choose to try the side that was not as steep but our legs were still shaking.  Going back down was much harder than going up.  Carrying Sophie gave me quite a workout.  We were quite the tourist attraction while we were there - people wanting pictures with the babies, touching the babies heads and some wanting to hold them.  Sophie took it all in stride.  She has become quite the little flirt!  But she does not care for people reaching for her - she grabs on to me for dear life.  She is still quite quiet but the babbling is pretty much non-stop.  Guess she will fit right in at home!   Tomorrow is Sophie's immigration medical check-up.  We have to be on the bus by 7:40 a.m. - we will be getting everything ready tonight.  I think we will head to one of the large markets in the afternoon.  We still have some more stuff to buy ( we might need another suitcase too!).

Love to all,

Brad, Alison & Sophie   XXXOOO