Shamian Island fun and American consulate

It is Tuesday afternoon and we are essentially finished here in China!  Today we did our consulate appointment and Ian was given the opportunity to say if he wanted to come to the US.  He was also asked if he knew his biologic parents.  He said "yes" and "no"  in the correct order.  :)  This was the final step of many that will allow him to get a US visa to come into the US.  Hopefully, if all goes according to plan, he will have a US Visa on Thursday evening and we will leave Guangzhou on Friday.  His Tb test came back normal, so Yea!, he does not have tuberculosis.  He continues to do well and is trying to learn some English.  He has a couple of phrases but it will be a LONG time before he is fluent.   

After the visa appointment, he fell asleep in Daddy's arms.  When we got back to the hotel, we met up with the other family and went to Shamian Island.  That is the place that all Americans used to stay.  It has a giant hotel that used to cater to adopting families.  It has been closed 4 years now for renovation and the American consulate has moved into the city center.  These changes have left the island pretty deserted.  It has a lot of classic locations for family photos and we took lots of pics.  Unfortunately, the temp and humidity were both high and we were all drenched.  I haven't looked at the pics yet, but I'm not expecting much.  :) So now, the little boys are at the pool with Laura and Dad, Mitch and Katie are sleeping and I'm watching gymnastics with Chinese commentary on TV.  Tomorrow is a rest day so probably some pool time and the YUMMY hand-pulled noodles from a near-by noodle shop and maybe a first pass at organizing in preparation for leaving the hotel Friday am.  Hard to believe that so much of the trip is already behind us.  

The guides have been great, the food has been delicious and plentiful,  the weather has been gorgeous and all of the kids (big and little alike) have been flexible and sweet!  There isn't anything that I could have wanted to go differently.