Three Lanes and Seven Alleys {Old Fuzhou}

After we visited Ruby's orphanage this morning, our guide Maggie took both families to "Three Lanes and Seven Alleys" which is also referred to as "Old Fuzhou."  Click on the link below to find out more about this beautiful, historic area of Fuzhou, Fujian.

Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, located at the centre of Fuzhou City, is the well preserved architectural complex of the Ming and Qing Dynasty.As a famous ancient block, Three Lanes and Seven Alleys is an important symbol to show the long history of Fuzhou city. It enjoys a reputation of "the Museum of the buildings of the Ming and Qing Dynasty“. Nowadays, some of the local people are still living there.

There was so much to see and food to try- we didn't have near enough time!!  Plus, we were on a mission to buy 17 gifts for Ruby... one for each of her birthdays until she is 18.  I wanted them to all be from where she is from so I felt like this was where I had to do most of my shopping.  We will definitely have to go back here another day by ourselves and take our time!
 This little peanut was still snoozing by the time we got back to the hotel.  Look at her sweet arm. :)

Fancy Nancy Tea Party

The day after Thanksgiving my mom, Mary Beth and I went to the library for a tea party!
A Fancy Nancy Tea Party to be exact. Look at this spread!

rasberries in the pink punch!

frill picks in the tiny finger sandwiches! and REAL tea! It doesn't get much fancier than that.

Mary Beth went right for the pink frosted cookies of course- her favorite!

She was so happy that her Nonna was there to share it with her.

my camara was casting a dark shadow on things in a few pictures?!? my face was one of them.

there were craft projects...

and games...

they all made a fancy purse, ate all the sweets they wanted, dressed up in their finest fancy clothes, and listened to 3 stories about fancy girls and tea parties... perfect morning!

afterwards we went out to lunch and did some shopping downtown- fun, fun, fun!

flashback: 1st day 2008

I was just looking at some back to school pictures from 2 years ago and I thought I'd share them... they(of course) made me all teary-eyed.

Mickey: 2nd grade and Jeffrey: Kindergarten
the are all 2 years apart in school so 2 years ago was the same senario we are in this year- but this time Jeffrey starting 2nd and Mary Beth starting Kinder. Where did the last 2 years go??

Mary Beth was 3 and starting her first year of Pre-school.

Look at how teeny-tiny she was! My little peanut...

Tonight when I was giving Mickey a hug and kiss goodnight he told me to stay in his bed hugging him forever and ever. I quickly thought about how I had to go do about a million things(like laundry, dishes, paying bills, ect.) but then I realized how insignificant all that stuff was. So I stayed with him a LONG time because I wanted to cherish the moment. I told him that pretty soon he wouldn't want Mommy and Daddy to hug and kiss him goodnight. He looked mortified, gasped out loud, and asked why. I told him he would think he was to old for that. He got a very sad look on his face, hugged me super tight and said that he promises that will never, ever happen. I hope he's right because I don't think this Mommy's heart could take it. I don't like this whole growing up thing AT ALL.