The beginning

It started in 1996 when we went to China for the first time to get Kimmie. Our 2nd trip in 1998 to get Ali (Margaret and Karen- Jim and Kimmie stayed home). 2004 Beijing with the girls and now 2008 right before the Olympics the visit to the orphanage. We are sad that the Perins, Mathis and Robinson's are unable to join us.

Both Godmothers are joining us in the adventure: Margaret: affectionately called the bag women. Margaret was my travel companion when we got Ali. Ali would have nothing to do with Margaret. In fact poor Margaret, sweetiest woman in the world, children love her, but for some reason every time she held Ali, Ali would scream. So Margaret hauled the bags and I held Ali. Not a bad set up I would say.

Marguerite is Kimmie's Godmother, will be traveling to China for the first time. She will be Margarets suite mate. (not bag lady)

We are so excited....

The intention of this trip is travel to the girls orphanage and see if we can get any further information about the girls time in the orphanage and history. We do not intend to look up the birth family, as there is both good and not good reasons for doing so: lots of info on the web for this.

We are most excited about the nonstop flight to Shanghai merely a 15 hours flight from Chicago, verses the 37 hour travel time, 11 and 9 years ago. How sweet!!

We are lucky.