Photos of Day 1: Hanoi

Photos...Hanoi from our hotel room, Jason carrying bags, power line nightmare, the streets of Hanoi, the outside of our hotel....




It's a rainy day! We went to breakfast downstairs in the hotel and it was really good. Omelet station, pancakes, and some awesome passion fruit juice. We met a couple in the restaurant, another CAS family who adopted an adorable baby boy from Da Nang province. They are waiting on his US visa. We told them we were one of the TQ families with RFE and their response "You guys are brave"!
We made our way to the Hanoi Star Supermarket and bought water, formula, clothes detergent, dish detergent, peanut butter & jelly/bread...we also have tons of snacks in the room.
I have attached photos of "Hanoi city sights". Lots of motor bikes, and the power lines. WOW!!! No wonder they have frequent power outages in this city!!!
Jason talked to Ninh and he is picking us up in the morning at 6:30am for the trip to Tuyen Quang to officially adopt Halle-Grace. Tuesday is a holiday here so we will get her Vietnamese Visa on Wed. and find a "home away from home" a realtor is picking us up to find an apartment (I'll do good Mer)
Tomorrow, I will post photos as soon as I can and video, etc. I am so excited I can barely stand it. The trip to Tuyen Quang is an ALL DAY TRIP. 4 hours there...G&R...kiss all of the babies and the nannies....Ninh getting affidavits signed (YEAH!!!!! all the CAS families and hens will scream when they read this)....taking lots of photos....then 4 hours back and sleep all night with Halle-Grace (I will stare at her all night)! God is GOOD!

Love you all!

Shannon & Jason (soon...Halle-Grace too)!
Gotta run...I have to pack her diaper bag and get all set for tomorrow!
PLEASE keep our family in your prayers!

HELLO HANOI

We made it! We made the first BOO BOO! DO NOT RIDE IN A TAXI that is not listed as one!!! LOL. We have NO idea who brought us across town last night! We are safe but and are laughing about it now. It is pouring rain, we are hungry...going to eat breakfast...going apartment hunting (they may be closed until Wed.) so Halle-Grace will maybe get to help us pick out a place. Will type more as soon I can. HUNGRY! Upset that ASU did not win:( Happy to be in Halle-Grace's birth country and a day closer to seeing/holding/loving her for the rest of our lives!!!! WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO

Love you all

15 hours and we are in Korea! G&R set for LABOR DAY!!!

Jason & I left Atlanta and flew Korean Air to Korea! 15 hours later we are anxiously awaiting our flight to Hanoi. That is only 4 1/2 more hours in the air! That's a piece of cake! I have to tell you I LOVE KOREAN AIR! My goodness they feed you like a Queen...US Airways needs to take some lessons! They bring you hot towels, a personal kit with a toothbrush, socks and night blinders. They also shut all window shades and turn the lights out to help you get on "Korean time" which is one hour behind Hanoi time! By the way, Vietnam is exactly 12 hours ahead of eastern standard time. GOSH, I am going to miss the ASU/ LSU game...GO APP STATE. Hunter, you watch it for me and tell me all about it!

The Korean Air crew dresses in "Tiffany" blue and they look beautiful! They bow to you and they are SO friendly! Normally, I am afraid to fly...not today! I was so excited that I cheered when the plane took off! Jason & I stayed with Caitlin-Brooke in Atlanta and that was a nice treat! I can't believe she is 15! They grow up so fast...never miss a moment...which brings me to GOOD NEWS! Originally, we were told our Giving & Receiving Ceremony was scheduled for Sept.3rd. I received an email from our AWESOME coordinator at CAS, Allie...she reported MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st! That's Labor Day in America...and Halle-Grace day for us! I can hardly contain myself! Jason & I will have to catch up on our sleep and get ready for our precious Halle-Grace! You can see her in the video in the posts below! She is just simply adorable! We are praying about meeting our daughter, we are MORE than ready. I hope God prepares her little heart for all the love!!!
We will be off to Hanoi soon. When we step on Vietnamese soil, we are standing in Halle-Grace's birth country...how cool is that going to be. I will probably cry...Suzie is crying just reading this (I know my sister)!! AND I love her so much!

Oh...Jason was sleeping but woke up to call his mom to make sure Gabby is getting her Atopica! He is going to spend a million dollars calling at 6 & 7 (am & pm) making sure Gabby is getting her meds!

Talk to you all from HANOI, VIETNAM!!!!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL..HALLE-GRACE PHOTOS COMING SOON