we interupt this with this very important announcement

Hayden can SWIM!!!!  Yes ma'am she can do it all by herself.  We just finished 2 weeks of lessons that were everyday for 35 minutes.  She had a great teacher and she really trusted Abby.  It was a small class of just 3 kids, but the first week it was obvious that the other 2 kids that were older than H had already had a lot of lessons.  H's progress report was just okay after the first week....she would not put her face or head in the water and so it prevented her from moving forward in the class.  Well then we swam with her BFF Ronan one day who had just finished the same class the week prior and Ronan showed her how to put her face in and how to hold her breath.  After she mastered that little feat she was good to go.  The following week at her lessons, she was a BRAND new student.  After the class finished where she was recommended for the next level we went back to the pool(they have a baby pool that Hayden LOVES) She donned her wobble goggles and the next thing I saw was this.....

Now she is jumping in the deep part(5 ft) and getting dive rings off the bottom.  I swear I have NEVER been so proud of her.  I called David and told him that he needed to get up to the pool immediately to see her in action.  Hayden was insanely proud of herself.  I was beaming I was so proud of her.  Such an important milestone and such a fun activity to have mastered.  Obviously we still have many lessons ahead to perfect her swimming, but such a relief to know that she can easily get to the side. 

The other big feat she overcame in lessons was she let the BOY helper in the class hold her in the water and assist her with her lesson.  For those of you that know H.....this is a REALLY big deal.  Hayden does not care much for men or boys(even little boys really) so when she likes someone or lets them hold her.....well it is a big deal. 

Xi'an

mountains, mountains, and more mountains.....tunnels are the only way to get thru there.

we drove thru 68 tunnels in route to Xi'an

Yay we are here!!!

 look closely and you will see the little tiny gondola carriages going up the mountain....yeah we rode in them!!

the alternative was to walk up the mountain:(

Hayden's mode of transporatation.....mommy the mule!!

look at that face!!

waiting in line with all the other people who wanted to hitch a ride up the mountain.

you can't see how bad we were sweating!!!  LOL

yep this was the view from our carriage....GAH I hate heights!!!

mommy trying to pretend we were still on the ground.  Hayden....NOT scared at all!!

made it!!!

LOCKS OF LOVE at the top of peak one.  Hayden eating MORE fruit!!  LOL

back to China

Shiyu and H with the Chongqing skyline as the backdrop

last dinner in chongqing

Gambay!!!  Drink up:)

our little Chinese girl....Jo-Ma did her hair several days in a row and H LOVED it!!!

Hayden and Jo-Ma....match made in heaven, not sure who had more energy:)

Shiyu and her magwau family(American)

typical Chinese dinner with EVERYONE there and only a few of the dishes have been set out.

toasts and now the table is filling up with food...yes that was our OWN room for dinner with a beautiful view of Chongqing

David toasting Shiyu and sharing really funny stories of her 10 months with us.

Two mothers, two countries and one daughter:)

I finally drank a fair amount of wine!!  See I do drink.

Love this picture and LOVE them.  Shiyu with her aunt and uncle.

I have NO idea what is going on here....but this was pretty much a FULL description of Hayden's personality while we were in china....fierce!!!

Shiyu and her grandparents and my oh my does she LOVE them....and with reason, such kind and sweet people with a wonderful family!!!