Beijing, the next step (and some random pictures)

Anson and Kristen at the Harbor near Beach No. 1

Oddly enough I wasn't too sad to leave Qingdao. I looked at our empty apartment on our way out and felt a little tinge of sadness and uncertainty, but it wasn't lasting.
Our Qingdaoer friend, Kristen, helped us in the small hours of the morning to take our luggage down the street to buy tickets for the airport shuttle. The shuttle station was across the street from Carrefour, so only about a fifteen minute walk down the road. When the shuttle (more like a massive charter bus) came, we were prompted to board post haste.

 The family room at Dad's

 The TV in the family room at Dad's

The Dining room at Dad's

The Qingdao airport was a bit of an adventure, good and bad. On the bright side, one of our bags was pretty overweight, but the clerk didn't make us pay a fee. Dad says that it is because Chinese people flying domestically don't take a lot of baggage, so the airlines aren't very strict about the weight limit.
On the not so bright side, there were no food options on the domestic-flights side of the airport and we hadn't eaten breakfast. We had a few bags of danish butter cookies in tow, so I snacked on those until I felt sick. Then we had one of those moments that tests our parental patience. Anson was playing on some steps and launched his new favorite McDonald's toy off the stairs, which sent it clattering down a few stories through a slot in the wall. He was so distraught and the workers that had been watching him play felt really bad for him.
In the midst of his mourning (loud tantrumming) over the lost toy, I noticed Adrian's diaper was oozing yellow goo. In a matter of seconds a puddle had formed around his bottom that was quickly spreading over the chair. I called Paul over and Project Cleanup began. We spread out the changing pad right on the floor of the airport terminal and went to work (I thought it would be pretty stupid to try to go to the bathroom, seeing as a puddle of baby diarrhea was on the chair and the bathroom only boasted a bunch of squat toilets and a couple dirty sinks). It took half a package of wipes, several trips to the trash and sink, a clean diaper, a new outfit, a trash bag, and lots of patience to cope. It was like a relay race. All the while Anson is hollering at the top of his lungs about the lost, darn McDonald's toy.

Anson's beans, salt, water, and rice transfer exercises

About the time we cleaned up, some blessed customer service person came up with the miraculously retrieved toy and life returned to normal. We said a little prayer that the baby wouldn't have another intestinal explosion while we were on the plane.
The only other hiccup in the travel plans was that the plane was delayed by an hour because of some typhoon weather in Southern China. It was a blessing, though, because it gave us time to change the baby.

 Anson cutting play dough

 Our collaborative play dough creations

That afternoon Dad picked us up at the Beijing Int'l airport. It was so nice to buckle the kids into their car seats. It meant I didn't have to worry about them catapulting into the bars in the taxi at every stop or wrestling the hyper baby. The kids were surprisingly thrilled to be in their cozy car seats as well and they both fell asleep on the way home.

 Anson in the fountain at May 4 Square

 Andrew, Adrian, and Anson in the fountains at Marina City Mall

Today was an adventure as well. We set out for church at 9:30 for 10:30 church. We rode the very nice, clean subway for an hour and a half. Then we started walking to where Paul's GPS directed us to go. Five minutes in, we took Anson to the bathroom at a nearby Super 8 Motel. Then we walked around in search for the church building for the next 2 hours. Finally, exhausted and practically melting, when we were about to give up, we looked up a better address and after 20 minutes found our meeting house. We made it just in time for Anson to have snacks in nursery (he had worked up an appetite) and I took Adrian to Relief Society with me. I won't lie, I miss our Qingdao branch. I didn't feel very needed or even noticed today. Granted I have become a little spoiled lately, since everyone in Qingdao noticed me and the kids whether I liked it or not. In Beijing it is SO nice not to be stared at all the time, but it takes getting used to, especially when I walk into a room and not everyone automatically notices and welcomes me. One lovely English lady about my age invited me to a baby group and talked to me, and that made me feel much better. But I couldn't help but feel the difference between the two branches. I felt a little let down. Our Qingdao branch was just so small that I felt so needed and loved. But I know when we adjust and make friends things will begin feeling normal again.

 

Anson, Kristen, and I at a restaurant

 The skyline near Beach No. 1

On our way home Paul was holding Adrian as he was sleeping. He noticed that Adrian's diaper was dripping diarrhea through his pants onto the subway floor. I wiped up as best I could and we got off at the next stop. Oh dear. So we did the whole clean up routine again, this time on the floor of the subway platform. I was pretty grateful that it was a nice, clean floor (compared to New York's subway).
After picking us up from the subway, Dad said that we probably have a good thing coming and that Heavenly Father was testing us to see if we were dedicated and patient. I hope that is very true.
Tomorrow we are going to extend the kids visas. I hope all goes well!

 

Paul in his Peking Opera get up before his class performance last Friday.