Today was S-S-S day … Shopping-Swimming-Shoping!  We started out today heading down the hall for breakfast and running into the other Madison family who arrived late last night.  It was nice to have another family around to share your experiences with!  They are a wonderful Christian family who is adopting a 9 year old little girl who has had a couple of heart surgeries, but the last one was when she was 3 and she seems like a completely healthy little girl now!

We started by heading down to the play area for a few minutes to wear the kids down before the heavy shopping began.  You fool them a little into thinking you really are NOT going shopping, and then when they are all sweaty and tired, you lure them into the shops.  It doesn’t always work, but it did today.

Brittany and her new playmate played on the teeter-totter while an elderly gentleman stared on.  In the US this would seem rather creepy, but here it is perfectly normal.

With the blond haired girls added to our processional, the frequency of picture requests has risen dramatically.  I guess we just weren’t different enough for people to get over their inhibitions, but add a couple of Swedes to the mix and now everyone becomes brave!

Yes, Caleb slid down this pole today.  Well, it was more of a controlled fall, but he is ALL boy!

Imagine … he also likes to climb!

 It was fun to watch this group of older ladies kicking a ball around for exercise.

Now that the kids were tired out, it was off to the shopping part of the day!

Here is the little girl with the heart surgeries.  Sorry, I can’t pronounce her name, let alone say it.  Maybe here parents will comment with the correct spelling!

I HAD to take the picture of the statue taking the picture!

Once again, the weddings were out in force today.  I had to take these shots because the brides were wearing traditional dresses.  They were quit beautiful.  I would love to shoot a wedding here!

I thought this was funny because it wasn’t the only time we saw it today!  A bride-to-be running around the construction area desperately trying to keep her beautiful white dress clean!  I also liked the little pink sandals! 

With the morning shopping period finished (and a little Subway under our belts … mmmmm) …

…we headed to the pool for a little swimming.  Yes, the pool water was really this green and, yes, we still went swimming.  We are heading for the medical exam tomorrow morning so we figured we can fix anything that goes wrong there!!this was Caleb’s first time in the pool and he did OK.  Not REAL sure about the water, but OK.

Taylor was SO happy.  Shopping and now laying in the sun.  What more could a girl want??

Brittany enjoyed a little sun herself!

Caleb started getting brave, lower himself all the way into the water and then pulling himself up.  Can I tell you how STRONG that kids right arm is!

Then, without warning, he turned into Aquaman!

If you should happen to come by and see us in the hotel this is the view you will most likely see:

Caleb is basically in charge of all button pushing on all elevators, regardless of us being by ourselves or with other families.  That is the way it is.  It is Caleb rule.

On our way to dinner, it was obviously a good time for some more shopping!

This guy below actually puts a paint brush into bottles and vases and paints the pictures on the INSIDE!  Very cool.

Cool enough that we ended buying a bunch of stuff from him.

Caleb truly was a bull in a china shop here, so I ended up taking him outside the shop.  You can see how very happy and excited he was with me concerning this decision.

He perked up a little bit later.  He usually doesn’t stay mad too long!

That night we went to a Thai restaurant and we had a very nice time just sitting and talking.

Caleb does enjoy his noodles!

Tomorrow we head out to the medical office to get an exam and any immunizations that he needs.  Now, it is time to go to bed!

Cameron