Merry First Christmas with our precious Meili...

Enjoyed a beautiful Christmas with family and friends.  Meili learned about Santa, met her Grandma and Grandpa for the first time, made a gingerbread house, and helped with Christmas dinner.  Merry Christmas to everyone!!  Here are some pictures from the last few weeks....

"shumao"!  (panda....Very big panda)

Great gift for Meili from some favorite friends)

Grandma and Grandpa watching their first granddaughter
opening Christmas gifts.

One of my favorite pics from our Christmas family photos

Merry Christmas from the Braces!

It is amazing to think that Meili has been home now for only two months.  She has adjusted well to our family and her new country.  She's learning English so fast and speaking more and more words everyday.  Happy New Year and love to all!!

One week home today...

We have had a fairly quiet first week home from China with Meili.  Our girl is slowly getting used to her new digs and the new sights, smells, sounds, and tastes.  It's a process but she's adjusting well, I think.  Alex and Andrew are back at school and getting caught up. I am so proud of those boys and how they have been diligent with the home work and catch up work!!
Bandit came home Sunday just as Meili was waking up from her nap and she screamed bloody murder.  We kept them away from each other for the rest of the night so she could sleep on it...Monday morning, Aaron & I carefully introduced the two.  By noon, Meili had warmed up to the dog and was leading him around and feeding him anything he wanted..  Including M&Ms!!  We know she did not intentionally try to poison Bandit with the Chocolate, was just trying to be nice.  And, yes, I called the vet...25 milk chocolate m&ms will only give a 22 pound dog an upset stomach, won't kill him....

Took a day or two for her to warm up to Bandit.

Halloween was a fun night and Meili figured it out very quickly. Alex and Andrew carved their pumpkins ninja style.... 

I want pumpkin piiiiieee!!!!

 Ready for HALLOWEEN!!!

Ok, so I'm supposed to wear this
ladybug suit, run out into the street in
the dark and eat candy....Um, ok, Mom,
I think I can do this;)

Brace kids Halloween 2013

 So many firsts for all of us these last few days, so overwhelmed, but...so far, so good!  

view from the peak..

More fun from Hong Kong...Was thinking about my Dad while we enjoyed these views and what it may have looked like when he flew into here in 1954 while in the Navy... Probably a few more skyscrapers than in the 50s...

We took the Peak Tram all the way to the top of Victoria Peak.  Can you tell that Aaron is nervous??  He was the first one down from the scenic point.  

view from the other side of the mountain to
the South China Sea, smog everywhere:(...

Birthday girl

Happy Birthday!  We did the tram tour on Meili's bday, not sure she

understood it was her bday or the present thing, but 

this girl figured out quick how to open gifts...

Hong Kong Disneyland, then, Home, Sweet Home!

Enjoyed a true unique cultural experience for Meili's birthday at Hong Kong Disneyland...A much smaller version of Orlando but just as magical!

Awesome parade...my
favorite part of the day

too cute

never thought I would see this day...

At least it's not too crowded, lol

Princess float.  Pretty sure this is the first pic I have
ever taken in Disney of the Princesses, Haha...

Toy Story land

Night market in Hong Kong

last night before heading home

Late night welcoming committee from our wonderful
neighbors and friends:) and freezer full of meals for  weeks.
A wonderful surprise, thanks everyone!!

my room:)

my house!

My bed!!  I'll NOT like to go to sleep here later and cry :(
but right now it's great!!

Long journey home...

So glad to be back in the US with the comforts of home...We are all jetlagged and bleary eyed but glad to be back, there is no place like HOME....Thanks to everyone for the happy homecoming, calls, texts, meals, goodies, and mail packages.. 

So thankful for all of our family and friends:) xo! Goodnight from home....

Made it to Hong Kong tonight...

So we are settled in the hotel in Hong Kong.  Feels like we a giant step closer to home with the more western culture here...

Moonlight over Hong Kong and the view
 from our hotel

Goodnight!

 The last couple of days in Ghuangzhou were warm in weather and busy in activities with the Consulate appointment, shopping, and sightseeing.  We liked our hotel and it was nice to connect with the three other adoptive families who were staying at The Garden Hotel, also.

Little Miss striking a pose in our hotel room.
We were lucky to get an "apartment" with
some extra room for us tall Americans.

Ni Hao!!  (hello)!!

Lunch - Meili eats her veges first.
Wonder how long that will last...

In the hotel lobby ready for the US Consulate Appointment
with our new, precious friend,  Ashlyn.

Visa Approved for Meili!  Congrats Brace Family!

Looking around town and LOVE this bakery called
 "Surprise Me." 

Everything we tried in the last few days was  delicious,
Andrew was a huge fan of the dough twists...

Andrew, Meili and I walked to a park and rented
a paddle boat to cruise around this pond

Meili waiting for the van to Hong Kong,
she's loving the iPad...

Has been a wonderful journey thus far but we all missing our home, our friends, our family, and our Bandit.  Hong Kong is an amazing place and so much more western than our last few destinations in China.  Had the best dinner tonight than in the last 10 days or so. Risotto, pasta, seafood bisque, we all were able to order our favorites at the hotel restaurant.  We are all looking forward to seeing some sights in Hong Kong in the next few days and hitting Hong Kong Disneyland.  Then....HOME!!