Day 3 with Andrew - The Great Wall

1-23-10
Today started off much better, Andrew slept for almost 7 straight hours. This was our big day. We finally got to go to the Great Wall again! Getting all of our supplies took quite awhile saying it was 3 degrees Celsius. It takes awhile to bundle everyone up in hats, scarfs, and snow suits. First stop was the Jade Factory where we were very disappointed. All of the prices were way above our price range so we did not buy anything. We are looking forward to the silk market where the prices should be much better. We arrived at the Great Wall and were told we had an hour and twenty minutes, we thought this would not be enough. We soon realized with 2 toddlers dressed like Abominable snow men that it would be enough! We took our group picture and then we all started to climb--The hard side! Walter, Mary, and Hal took Adam and Hayne to start climbing up the wall. Adam and Madison climbed the highest of everyone in the group! Ashton and I kept the little ones and had lots of fun taking pictures. We climbed two sections of the wall and had to call it quits. It was way too hard carrying toddlers. Tons of people stopped us to have their pictures made with Andrew and Anna Grace. I think it is safe to say 30 different strangers now have pictures of Anna Grace and Andrew on the wall! According to Hal, Hayne was quite the rockstar during his climb. 20 or so girls asked for his picture! We were all told to meet on the bus at 12:30 but of course Hal and Walter were late. We had lunch at the Friendship Store and it was great! I enjoyed a special moment on the bus when Andrew and Anna Grace fell asleep on my lap. We are now back in the hotel room and about to go to dinner. It is 4:30 AM here and I can't skype anyone. It has been SO much fun to talk to everyone and share Andrew LIVE. Tomorrow we are going to the Forbidden City and then to an Acrobat Show! I am so excited to go see a real one!!
A little bit to know about Andrew--he loves, loves, loves stickers. He puts them all over his arms. His car is still his favorite toy and we go nowhere without it. The back up is in my backpack at all times. He now talks on his cellphone----My favorite part of the day-as we started to leave for the Great Wall, he grabs his cellphone and sticks it in his pocket while saying bye bye---He is my child:) He laughs the sweetest little laugh with his whole face-Mouth wide open and eyes twinkling. He gives kisses freely to mama and baba--so precious. He holds his hands out to us when he wants us and it just melts our hearts. He has the sweetest little pouty lip when things do not go his way but his attitude is so sweet that it is hard to say no. We did start him on an antibiotic as he is congested. We want to make sure he does not have an ear infection before we fly to Guangzhou. He loves his brothers and sisters very much. Ashton is beside herself with joy-she can't get enough of him :) She is a great Jie Jie and has done a great job loading pictures to share.
Thanks again for all your prayers. We feel them each moment of the day. Can't wait for you all to meet our precious new addition. Although I must admit, after the Great Wall today, I now know it will be quite awhile before I can venture out on my own with 2 by myself :)


Love from China,
The Rice Family
Hal, Angel, Ashton, Adam, Hayne, Anna Grace, and Andrew!