Green Mountain Afternoon

This morning after breakfast, which we've had in the hotel every morning. We took a van with the Mansens and our guide Mandy up to the Green Mountain scenic area. Jack did great in the van for the 30 minute ride. We found the beginning a bit touristy, but the last two spots we made were quite nice. It was the first time I felt like I was in China. We went to a temple to a goddess that looked like Budha. We weren't allowed to take pictures because many people were praying by bowing repeatedly holding large clusters of insense called Joli sticks.

Jack took turns being held by Craig and I as we went to the different destinations. One spot was in a hillside field filled with trees that reminded me of Crate Myrtles at home. These trees apparently bloom during Chinese New Year and are a good luck blessing for those in love. You can see them behind Craig and Jack as they play Jack's favorite game. When Craig first held him he lifted Jack up in the air like that. Now its pretty much required everytime he is handed to Craig. (We have been very aware of making sure that no one else holds Jack . We've seen many other adopting families have lots of other people hold there child. I think to bond with an older guy like Jack he needs the consistency of just us.)

Another spot was the most peaceful place we have been the whole trip. There was a huge set of stairs that seemed to go forever. Once you reached the top there was a very tall pagoda, which you could climb. Neither Craig nor I went to the top (our backs are strained already). Jack showed that he is feeling like part of the family as he sat down at the foot of the stairs. Craig called that picture, "the Kempf attitude is strong in this one." On the opposite side of the walkway from the pagoda was a large lake where you could feed massive coi-type fish. Jack got fired up about feeding them.

[SPECIAL NOTE TO HAWK: If Jack got so excited about seeing those fish, I wish he had been part of our family when you had Buck. He would have love to sit in your room and watch him swim around. I love that you made a blog. I have been showing Jack pictures of you on the computer teaching him about you. Now, he can get updated pictures. I read to him about how you like showers and he smiled sooooo big! We miss you and love you so much.]