WE MADE IT!!!!

this is our first post from CHINA!!!!! After the longest sleepless flight ever, we arrived into Beijing at 3 p.m. yesterday. We actually flew over the North Poll, wich I thought would win big brownie points with Ethan, and when we called him this morning he could hardly care. (Christmas so soon forgotten) We arrived at the airport and were met by Great Wall guides. They loaded us on a bus for the Plaza Hotel. It was an excrutiating 45 minute drive, a fight to keep my eyes open the whole time. We drove on one of Beijing many Ring Roads (think 610 loop) so we didn't see much. Lots of high rise buildings and a ton of construction for the Beijing Olympics 2008. When we got here I immediately fell into a comatose state that lasted 12 hours (thanks to the happy pills my dr perscribed, hee hee) Brad went on a little walk with another couple in our group to a convienence store. The guides specifically recommended that American tourists should not cross the road on there first day here, but Brad threw caution to the wind and nearly got ran over.

We are headed out to tour the Forbidden City in a balmy 25 degree day. They said it was going to snow last night. God help me that my thin Texan blood with hold up today!!! I hope the Starbucks in the Forbidden City is on the tour, if not we will have a mutney on our hands. After that we will have our first "official" Chinese meal and go to the great Wall. Brad can't wait to start eating real Chinese food and I am probably going to be dropping a few more pounds on this trip.

I am still in shock that we will have our Gwynnie in our arms tomorow afternoon. It has always seemed so far away. We will post again tonight when we get back, and before I take another sleeping pill, I promse.

p.s. yesterday I forgot to mention the great men behind the Grandma's. My dad, Hi is so generously loaning us my mom for three weeks. My father in law, Roy has agreed to live with the insanity also known as my kids for a week. THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!!!! We love you all!!!!!!!!!!!