Getting ready to leave....

Well we're getting ready to head to the Beijing Airport and we're ready to come home. The Summer Palace was beautiful but it was sooo cold outside.  It is right on a lake and the wind was strong that day.  It was hard to enjoy it really – we just wanted to race through it.  We'd like to visit it again, but in the summertime.  Some families went to a Tea Ceremony afterwards but we came back to the hotel for some down time. The next day was busy busy again.  This time shopping!  We went to the Silk Factory where we got to see what the silk worms look like and how they harvest the silk from them.  Very interesting and the products we're beautiful.  They sold duvets and covers, clothing, scarves, shoes, etc there.   Then off to the Pearl Market!  Two giant buildings, with 5-6 floors each and some very aggressive shop keepers!  We finished off our Christmas shopping (yah!) and then some.  Ordered pizza for a very quick supper (about 15 mins to eat and clean up) before we headed out an Acrobatic Show.  Tahlia love it.  The music was quite loud but she does this Stevie Wonder impression – groovin' to the music – she's sooo funny. Yesterday we went to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.  Tons of walking – the group ended up only doing half of the Forbidden City.  We had already been walking for 2+ hours and the babies we're getting hungry!!  Some of the ladies headed back to the Pearl Market for more shopping, but we came back to the room for Tahlia to nap and for me to start packing.  We bought an extra suitcase and needed to make sure we didn't need another!!   For supper we had a Farwell to China party!  Tahlia got all dressed up in one of beautiful dresses I found here.  Dinner was great and they had a clown magician come in for the kids.  Tahlia thought it was great!  She had her first piece of cake and loved it.  She was a little irritated that I wouldn't let her eat the entire piece! Today has just been packing and relaxing in the room – getting ready for our long flight home!   The smog is really bad here today.  Haven't really noticed it other days, but today its crazy.    Notes; The Food – it's been fantastic.  We only ate at McD's once out of desperation and it wasn't good.  Our local restaurant has been wonderful – we've tried to order different things each time.  It's been nice to have a large breakfast buffet with both western and Asian food.  I'm going to miss having Bacon everyday!! J Spending the entire day together as a family – it's been great living together again and spending this time getting to know Tahlia and letting her know us.  We've gotten into a nice routine (touring and shopping – ha,ha). Normal Life back in Canada – Hopefully all three of us will be in the same place within a couple weeks.  I can't wait to have a washing machine (doing laundry in the sink is getting old!).  Sleeping in our own bed and just being home. Talk soon!